Creative luminaries, including Ray Black, angry that AWARD Copy School cancelled this year by management of The Communications Council

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Ray Black.jpgSeveral creative luminaries, including Ray Black, are angry that AWARD Copy School this year has been cancelled by the management of The Communications Council.

According to sources their reason given is that “It does not meet our business plan as we do not have a full complement of twelve paying students”.

CB understands that the school – now in its tenth year – has so far attracted six paying students this year but that there are quite a number of serious enquiries from young writers.

In an email to this year’s tutors, AWARD Copy School organiser Ray Black (above) said: “Times are tough for young students so we should do it at no cost for all twelve. AWARD and AWARD Copy School is all about raising standards. It’s about giving, not taking. Our tutors donate their time and talent. I have never accepted a cent for my involvement and we have a great venue at the Newspaper Works that is not costing us a cent. These facts were rejected by The Communications Council management.

“I suggested we could still go ahead with Copy School at no cost to The Communications Council and so would not upset their ‘business plan’. This was rejected.

“This is where we stand at the moment.”

AWARD Copy School was due to be held at Newspaper Works in Sydney from this Monday 16th September to Friday 20th September.

Justin Drape (chief creative officer at The Monkeys), Tom McFarlane (Asia Pacific, US regional creative director at M&C Saatchi), and David Nobay (creative chairman at Droga5) were among the list of leading creatives enlisted to guide this year’s students through the disciplines and understanding required from today’s copywriters.

Jonathan Kneebone.jpgOther industry creatives due to lead the course included: creative consultant, Rocky Ranallo, copywriter, Mark Sharman, co-founder of The Glue Society, Jonathan Kneebone (left), and Big Red Group’s Ted Horton. In addition, students were due to  attend a session with Fairfax Media’s Garry Linnell (group editorial director), and AFR’s Rowan Dean (AFR journalist and former AWARD chairman), offering young writers a journalistic perspective. 

CB has asked The Communications Council CEO Margaret Zabel for a comment. She was in a meeting so we expect her to respond some time today. We also expect a response soon from AWARD chairman Mark Harricks, ECD of JWT Sydney. Attempts by CB to contact Ray Black were unsuccessful at time of writing.