Social award CCA attracts 4,000 entries from 21 countries

The Concerned Communicator Award, instituted by Rajasthan Patrika, has received 4,000 entries from 21 countries, prompting CCA to announce an international category

The Concerned Communicator Award (CCA), instituted by Rajasthan Patrika in 1997, has received more than 4,000 entries from 21 countries this year -- double the number of entries in 2006. CCA recognises creative excellence in social communication. The judging process was held in Mumbai on Wednesday to pick the best of print ads which promoted a social cause.

The judges on the panel included Prasoon Joshi , executive chairman & regional creative director, South and South East Asia, McCann; Piyush Pandey, executive chairman and national creative director, Ogilvy & Mather India; Bharat Dabholkar, director, Why Not Communications;. Kaushik Ray, president, Reliance, and Prahlad Kakkar, chairman, Genesis.

The judges remarked that the number of entries was overwhelming, particularly from the international advertising community. Apart from India, entries were received from countries like Afghanistan, Brazil, Ecuador, Oman, Pakistan, Slovenia, UK and US. In fact, CCA has announced a new category for international entries.

Winners of the CCA are awarded a cash prize of $11,000 for the best print ad on a social issue. There is also a UNICEF Special Mention Award and 12 Special Mention Awards. The CCA-UNICEF Special Mention Award is being judged by Prahlad Kakkar and Piyush Pandey.

The CCA has been supported by 'social ambassadors' like John Abraham, Anupam Kher, Kiran Bedi, Sabrina Lall, Shabana Azmi, Raveena Tandon and Maneka Gandhi.

Some of the organisations associated with CCA are International Advertising Association (IAAA), Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), The Ad Club Bombay, International Newspaper Marketing Association, IFRA (International body), UNICEF, Make-A-Wish-Foundation, PETA, Cinemax Multiplex, Bright Adver