PRSSA, the foremost organization for students interested in the public relations and communications fields, announced that it is teaming with the News Literacy Project, the nation’s leading provider of news literacy education, for the 2023 Bateman Case Study Competition.
Originating in 1973, the Bateman Competition allows PRSSA members to exercise the analytical skills required for public relations problem solving. In 1983, the name of the competition was changed to honor the memory of the late J. Carroll Bateman, APR, a past president of PRSA and instrumental in the founding of PRSSA.
News literacy is the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information to recognize the standards of fact-based journalism to know what to trust, share and act on. This year, the Bateman Competition will challenge students to research, plan, implement and evaluate a public relations campaign centered on raising awareness around the importance of knowing how to separate fact from fiction and creating better informed, engaged and empowered individuals.
“The ability to recognize misinformation for what it is, and to continually seek the truth, requires constant vigilance, no matter the situation,” said Jeneen Garcia, Senior Vice President, Programs, PRSA. “Through this competition, our students will get the chance to educate themselves, as well as inform others, about the vital importance of the News Literacy Project’s mission.”
“Although young people are often called ‘digital natives,’ people forget that their sources of news are very different from their parents. Since they’re more likely to get their information from a wide variety of sources and platforms, they’re particularly vulnerable to consuming and spreading misinformation,” said Mike Webb, Senior Vice President, Media & Marketing for the News Literacy Project. “That’s why we’re so excited about this year’s competition, so that we can hear ideas from future public relations professionals about how to reach their peers who were raised in our increasingly diverse — and sometimes confusing — information environment.”
Entrants in the competition will execute their campaigns in early 2023. Three finalists will present their work to an esteemed panel of judges in May, and the winning teams will be recognized during an awards ceremony at PRSSA’s 2023 conference.
