Fuzion Communications fly the flag for PR outside Dublin...

18 May 2010

Cork based Fuzion Communications has been shortlisted for a coveted Award for Excellence in Public Relations and is the only PR firm with a Head Office outside of Dublin to have been selected.  The leading agency beat tough competition to be shortlisted in the category of Best Public Affairs Campaign for its work with the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland.

The standard of entries in the annual awards is extremely high and only the best campaigns receive a nomination.  The judging panel, comprising industry experts and journalists, took almost two months to draw up the shortlist of over 30 top PR companies.  In reaching the final, alongside huge global agencies, Fuzion has now cemented its position as one of the best PR firms in the country.

Commenting on the nomination Deirdre Waldron of Fuzion said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for this prestigious award. It’s all the more special as there are no other agencies based outside the capital on the shortlist.  Our approach to PR is very holistic and we look at each client individually and how best to communicate their messages, both with traditional and on-line PR.  This works really effectively for our clients and being shortlisted for such a prestigious award demonstrates that our methods work.”

The nomination for Fuzion was made for its campaign on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland for dedicated CF facilities at St Vincent’s Hospital.  In 2008 the HSE announced plans to build a new 34 bed in-patient unit and adjoining day care facility at St. Vincent’s, to be completed by 2010, with an immediate interim measure of 14 temporary en-suite rooms.  However, in March 2009 it was reported in the media that the HSE was withdrawing its promise to provide the new unit.

An intense PR campaign devised by Fuzion working with the CFAI, was designed to put pressure on the Department of Health and the HSE and generate an immediate awareness campaign on the issues around CF and why the facilities were so vitally needed.  Along with the huge level of public support, the PR campaign contributed to the HSE reversing its decision.  The CF Unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital is on-track for completion.

“We’re truly honoured to be shortlisted for the first time and to be in the company of such well established and worldwide firms is a great achievement.  The CFAI is a very rewarding client to work with and this nomination is as much theirs too”, Deirdre added.

The Awards for Excellence in Public Relations, organised by the PRII and PRCA industry bodies, takes place on 24th June in Dublin.