Mission statements:

The Institute for Public Relations (IPR) is dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations.™ We create, curate, and promote research and initiatives that empower professionals with actionable insights and intelligence they can put to immediate use.

The Page mission is to strengthen the impact of chief communication officers and their teams and to lead the profession into the future.

About the competition:

To advance the missions of IPR and Page, this annual competition invites students enrolled in business, communication, or public relations programs to write original case studies.

The objectives of this competition are to: 

  • Promote Objective, Fact-Based Analysis: Encourage students to conduct thorough, unbiased case studies by separating facts from assumptions, using credible sources, and avoiding unsupported conclusions. This emphasizes the importance of evidence-based analysis in communication and business decision-making.
  • Develop Strategic Communication and Business Insight: Foster a deep understanding of how communication impacts business strategy by having students analyze cases from multiple stakeholder perspectives, evaluate business repercussions, and create effective communication strategies that align with real-world organizational challenges.
  • Enhance Critical Thinking and Research Skills: Encourage the application of critical thinking to complex situations, aligning case analyses with IPR and Page Principles. Students are expected to demonstrate rigorous research skills, proper citation practices, and clear, well-organized presentations that engage both academic and professional audiences.

Student authors of winning entries and their faculty advisors will be awarded cash prizes. In addition to a cash prize, the First Place winner will receive the Jack Koten Case Study Award and have the opportunity to present their case to an industry audience.

What's New In 2024

In 2024, improvements have been made based on feedback from judges and faculty advisors to enhance the case study experience to better align with the core missions of both organizations.

Some of the updates include:

  • Removing the three submission per institution limit: The removal of the case study institution submission limit allows greater student participation. However, non-award-winning case studies will be eliminated faster.
  • Clearer Guidelines and a New Scoring Rubric: A detailed, standardized scoring rubric provides clear expectations and transparency in the judging process.
  • Increased Emphasis on Critical Thinking: A stronger focus on critical thinking encourages students to apply their case study to both the IPR and Page missions.
  • Online Submission System: A new online platform will streamline the submission process, making it easier for students and faculty to upload and manage entries.
  • Presentations to Executives: The top teams will present their case studies to senior communication executives, providing valuable feedback and networking opportunities.
  • Revamped Website: The competition’s official website has been fully updated with a user-friendly interface and improved resources for participants.

Additional resources will be added to the website in the coming months, including a hosted panel for students to ask questions about the new guidelines. 

Case Study Competition Submission Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Submission link to post in November 2024

Awards Notification: April 5, 2025.

In 2024, IPR and Page worked with judges and faculty advisers to improve the case study competition. Please note there are some modifications to the submissions and judging criteria.

For questions, please email info@instituteforpr.org with “IPR+Page Case Study Competition” in the subject line.