Jacaranda FM broadcasting in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Northwest of South Africa has won five awards at the 2022 PRISM Awards.
The radio station has been rewarded for two campaigns and its world-class talent as the brand captured the hearts and imagination of many South Africans while Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were at an all-time high in 2021.
“We focused on giving our community an experience they could appreciate,” says Leith Smith, marketing manager at Jacaranda FM.
Jacaranda FM was the first to pull the trigger during the lockdown and created the free virtual world ‘Mzansi Quest’.
The station was awarded a Gold PRISM Award for Digital Media Relations and a Bronze PRISM Award in the Gaming & Virtual Reality category — a first for radio in Africa.
“I think this led to our results and awards. ‘Mzansi Quest’ was brave and innovative — the game attracted over 10 000 players over a week and elevated the broadcast sector by showcasing the use of innovative technologies in tandem with the marketing mix to promote a campaign,” Smith added.
Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp, host of Jacaranda FM’s Workzone, bagged the Bronze Presidential Award for Radio Presenter of the Year.
“We love the culture of excellence our entire team brings to the table — and Elana is no exception. Her consummate professionalism and relatability have made her a standout broadcaster and we are thrilled to see her honored by the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa,” Smith concluded.
At the ceremony, the radio station bagged two Gold, one Silver, and two Bronze Awards:
Gold: Digital Media Relations — ‘Mzansi Quest’ 2021
Gold: Corporate Citizen — Spar ‘Carols By Candlelight’ 2021
Silver: Digital Media Relations — Spar ‘Carols by Candlelight’ 2021
Bronze: Gaming & Virtual Reality — ‘Mzansi Quest’ 2021
Bronze: Radio Presenter of the Year — ‘Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp’
For the Spar ‘Carols by Candlelight’ campaign, Jacaranda FM won Gold as a Corporate Citizen after raising over R250 000 for Johannesburg’s most vulnerable over the festive season and giving local talent and musicians the chance to earn money when the events industry was crippled.
Jacaranda FM also won a Silver PRISM Award for Digital Media Relations in this category.