The UNION Francophone, chaired by Christian CAPPE
, is challenging young French-speaking advertising talents to take up the "Stop COVID-19 Fake News" challenge by creating advertising campaigns on social media starting March 30 to combat the "infodemic," a term chosen by the WHO to describe rumors and fake news surrounding the coronavirus.
How will it work?
Young advertising professionals (aged 30 and under) from five continents will work in teams of two or three from their respective places of confinement. Supported by their agencies, they will have a few days from the date of registration to submit their advertising campaigns, which will be published as they are received on the social media accounts of the Francophone Union, its partners, participating agencies, and international media outlets.
Entries are expected from around the world: Algeria, Belgium, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Ivory Coast, France, Luxembourg, Lebanon, Morocco, Senegal, Switzerland, Tunisia, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion), and more.
Two exceptional juries will be formed for the occasion: one for the media, with a group of journalists (radio, TV, print and digital press) and influencers involved in the "Stop COVID-19 Fake News" campaign, and one for advertising, with executives from advertising, media, and digital agencies.
They will all be invited to speak in the media and on social networks to relay the campaigns created by the young creatives.
The awards will be presented in early July via videoconference or in Paris, if health conditions allow it again on an international scale.
Who supports this initiative of the Francophone Union
In France, the Ministry of Culture (General Delegation for the French Language and the Languages of France) has decided to take action against this scourge and has expressed its support for the initiative of the Francophone Union. In addition, the President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire and President of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, Amadou Soumahoro, and Jacques Krabal, Member of Parliament for Aisne and Parliamentary Secretary General of the APF, have also confirmed their commitment to the Union: "All populations around the world are affected by this health crisis. The war against COVID-19 is total and is being fought on all fronts: health, social, economic, but also, let us not forget, in terms of information. It is essential that countries that share the same language and common values show solidarity in terms of health but also communication to protect citizens from fake news, which has dramatic consequences in terms of manipulating public opinion, respect for institutions, and our democracies."
Adweknow, a long-standing partner of the Francophone Union, will also relay the proposed campaigns.
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