Bateman Case Study Competition

First established as the National Case Study in 1973 and later renamed to honor the late J. Carroll Bateman, APR, it challenges teams of students to research, plan, implement and evaluate a public relations campaign for an actual client. More than 75 teams enter the competition each year, giving students real-world experience that can translate to résumé additions, portfolio pieces and even jobs. After an extensive judging process, three finalists are chosen to present their campaigns to the sponsor, who receives the right to ideas presented. If your company is interested in enhancing the educational experience of public relations students while also benefitting from their hard work, knowledge and resources, find out more about becoming a Competition sponsor.

2024 Competition

The 2024 Competition will be focused on Culturs, and task students with creating awareness of the magazine on college campuses and its mission to enhance community and foster human connection of culturally fluid communities of multiethnic, multicultural, mixed race and geographically mobile people which includes immigrants, refugees and Third Culture Kids. Culturs activates 21st century cultural Diversity, because everyone should feel like they matter.

2024 Competition First Phase Judging Results

PRSSA Headquarters received 45 entries for the Bateman Competition. Of these submissions, eight entries received honorable mention and three were chosen as finalists to present their campaigns to a panel of judges on May 2. The results are below: 

Finalists

• Brigham Young University - Royal Team
• Montclair State University
• University of Florida

Honorable Mentions

• California State University, Long Beach
• Louisiana State University
• Loyola University New Orleans
  
• Penn State - Bellisario Group
• Syracuse University
• University of Colorado Boulder - Get CUltured
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• University of South Carolina

Competition Materials

• Client Announcement
• 2024 Timeline
• 2024 Rules And Guidelines
• 2024 Project Brief (Updated Oct. 3, 2023)
• Intent-to-Enter Form
  • Deadline: Oct. 23, 2023 (2 p.m. ET)

Client Information

• Client Webinar: held on Nov. 9 (3 p.m. ET)
  • Recording

• Culturs Onboarding* (Steps Listed Below)

1. Training
2. Non-disclosure Agreement
3. About Culturs – London
4. Culturs Audience – Israel
5. Marketing Questionnaire – China
6. Branding – Fiji
7. Resources – Egypt
   

* Please note, the full Culturs Onboarding has more steps, but the training was shortened for the Bateman Competition. Additionally, between step 1 and 2 there may be a 24-hour delay. However, you will progress forward after this step to subsequent steps by taking a short questionnaire. We suggest you not rush this onboarding but allow for at least 4–5 hours to review it all. Questions can be sent to PRSSA Headquarters at bateman@prsa.org. 

Whether you are new to the competition or have participated before, review these past campaigns to see the creativity, thoroughness and strategic thinking that go into winning campaigns each year.

• 2023 News Literacy Project
• 2022 Lymphoma Research Foundation
• 2021 PRSA Civility Task Force
• 2020 U.S. Census Bureau
• 2019 The PRSA Foundation
• 2018 With Purpose
• 2017 Campaign To Change Direction
• 2016 Student Veterans of America (SVA)
• 2015 Home Matters
• 2014 Fiserv
• 2013 Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Youth Bullying

Each year, more than 60 student teams at colleges and universities nationwide compete in the Bateman Case Study Competition. With guidance from advisers, each team researches, plans and executes a public relations campaign in its community for the client, which receives rights to the campaign ideas presented.

Benefits

As the Bateman Competition client and sponsor, you provide an outstanding educational experience for students — but good will certainly isn’t the only benefit of the sponsorship.

• Local Touch; National Reach. As the competition sponsor, your cause is advocated in various locations nationwide through campaigns tailored to fit each community’s unique demographics and values. You also receive the research findings that support these campaigns.
• Social Media Immersion. Students, immersed in new technology, are able to confidently apply social media strategies to support your cause.
• Creativity of Youth. The effective creativity of the student campaigns have been a highlight of the competition every year. As a sponsor, you receive a copy of every entry and rights to use in part or entirety all ideas submitted.
• Insight of Experience. Each student team has at least one Professional and one Faculty Adviser, who help ground each campaign in the principles of strategic public relations.
• Nationwide Media Coverage. As the Bateman competition sponsor, you have multiple public relations teams pitching targeted stories about your cause to their local media.

Become a Sponsor

The first step to sponsoring the Bateman Case Study Competition is to contact Jeneen Garcia at jeneen.garcia@prsa.org to discuss the program.

Sponsors are then asked to complete the sponsor RFP form (Word or PDF), which is reviewed for approval by PRSSA Headquarters.