NEW YORK FESTIVALS/UNITED NATIONS PUBLIC SERVICE ADVERTISING AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED AT 1997 INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS SHOW

22 January 1998

Press Release

NEW YORK FESTIVALS/UNITED NATIONS PUBLIC SERVICE ADVERTISING AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED AT 1997 INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS SHOW

19980122 Television Campaign against Racism, Print Campaign Against Drugs, Radio Advertisement on Domestic Violence To Receive Awards

Advertising agencies from Switzerland, South Africa and Australia will be honoured for public service advertising on Friday, 23 January, when the United Nations Awards are presented by Samir Sanbar, Assistant Secretary- General for Public Information, at the 1997 New York Festivals International Television & Cinema Advertising Awards Show at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.

The United Nations Awards are presented annually and are jointly sponsored by the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) and The New York Festivals. They were established in 1990 to honour public service advertising that best exemplifies the ideals and goals of the United Nations.

This year's panel of judges reviewed work dealing with such United Nations-related issues as human rights, the status of women, the environment, health, the disabled, crime and violence, literacy, poverty and the fight against drugs. The judges selected three public service advertisements -- one each in print, radio and television -- to receive awards.

IMPULS Advertising AG of Switzerland will be presented with the Gold United Nations Award for their television campaign entitled "Campaign against Racism and Anti-Semitism: Thai/Refugee/Chinese". The Silver United Nations Award will be received by DDB South Africa for "Gutter/Body Bag/Girl", an innovative print campaign against drug use that was produced for the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Studies. The Bronze United Nations Award will go to Ogilvy & Mather Pty Ltd., Australia, for "Domestic Violence", a radio public service advertisement.

In addition to the winners, the following companies will be honoured as finalists: DM9 DDB Publicidade Ltda (Brazil), FJCandN Advertising (United States), TBWA Hunt Lascaris (South Africa), GGK Wien (Austria), Dreyfus Communications (Argentina) and Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising (Italy).

* *** *