his was one awards list that has been looking beyond mere acclaim or commercial impulse. Recently Rajasthan Patrika hosted the Concerned Communicator Awards to reward outstanding press ads that have a social issue as their central theme. The six -year -old awards drew 2,000 entries of which 50 were shortlisted. The event was judged by Piyush Pandey, chairman and national creative director, O&M; and Prasoon Joshi, regional creative director, McCann Erickson.

The campaigns varied from public interest ones like gender in education, anti corruption, road safety, eye donation and save the girl child. Abhijit Karandikar, consultant (creative) from O&M; bagged the Concerned Communicator Award and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for the anti-wildlife-trade campaign. "How do you say stop the wildlife trade, in a way that hasn't been said before? In a way that's hard hitting enough, and more importantly, is effective?" enquires Karandikar.... more