NEW YORK – April 3, 2023 – Four students from Texas Christian University will receive the 2023 Jack Koten Page Principles Case Study Award at the Page Spring Seminar in Brooklyn, NY, on April 13-14. Their submission analyzed how The Walt Disney Company took action against State Bill HB 1557 in Florida, which prohibited the discussion and instruction of sexual orientation or gender expression in classrooms and highlights the initiatives that businesses today must take in order to follow their stances on social issues with meaningful action. Winners Ayesha Djibo, Mya Estrada, Breahn Fisher, and Kelly Weinstock will be sharing more about their case at the upcoming Page Spring Seminar and in an episode of Page’s “The New CCO podcast.” Their faculty advisor is Dr. Liang Ma.
The Case Study Competition, sponsored by Page and the Institute for Public Relations (IPR), awards students whose original case studies best contribute to the profession's body of knowledge and provide practical suggestions for improving corporate communication as a function. This year's competition drew 36 entries, 27 from communications schools and nine from business schools, from 22 educational institutions across the United States, China, the Philippines, and Singapore.
The winning submission, “Trouble in Paradise,” analyzes Disney’s response to the controversial Florida law. Disney publicly opposed the law, despite the repercussions that it would have on its special district law status. The students explored how Disney navigated through discrepant expectations related to its stance on the bill from different stakeholders, along with the impact it had on the company’s reputation and financial standing.
“Today’s stakeholders expect businesses to advocate for changes in public policy or public attitudes on social issues,” Page President Roger Bolton said. “This winning case study highlights how Disney’s stakeholders reacted to the company taking a stance on a controversial sociopolitical issue and the resulting financial and reputational impact on the company.”
In addition to the overall grand prize, other winners include:
To read the winning submissions and to find more information about the competition, please visit: Knowledge Base
“We are thrilled to honor Ayesha, Mya, Breahn, and Kelly, along with their academic advisor, Dr. Ma, with the Koten Award for their thoughtful work on this case study,” said Dr. Tina McCorkindale, president and CEO of IPR. “This timely and relevant case demonstrates that when corporations advocate for one’s freedom of expression, it can reinforce brand values and enhance customer loyalty.”
The annual competition is judged by a panel comprising Page members, Page Up members, and IPR Trustees. Judges for this year’s competition included:
As the first chair of Page, Jack Koten was among the founding members who extracted from Arthur Page's lifetime of work the set of defining values that we know today as the Page Principles. These Principles not only serve as criteria for this competition but also as a guide for Page members in their daily work. Jack personified the belief that businesses should operate honestly and honorably, and with unwavering integrity.
Upon his passing in 2014, Jack bequeathed funds to Page that its Board of Trustees voted to use to fund in perpetuity the annual Case Study Competition grand prize, which that year was renamed the Jack Koten Page Principles Case Study Award.
Page is a global membership organization that brings together the world’s leading communications executives to strengthen the enterprise leadership role of the chief communications officer (CCO). Our purpose is rooted in the belief that a strong Communications function results in enterprises that are more responsible, trustworthy and responsive to stakeholders, which in turn helps transform business for the better. Page has nearly 800 members in 25 countries, representing a multitude of industries, leading PR agencies, influential nonprofits and NGOs, and highly respected academicians. We are dedicated to advancing the leadership capabilities of the CCO and the communications profession through thought leadership, learning programs and networking experiences to connect the brightest industry minds to create a better future. For more information, please visit www.page.org
The Institute for Public Relations is an independent, nonprofit research foundation dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations.™ IPR focuses on research that matters to the profession, providing timely insights and applied intelligence that professionals can put to immediate use. All research is available free at www.instituteforpr.org and provides the basis for IPR’s professional conferences and events. Follow us on Twitter @instituteforpr.