The move aims to reflects PRISA's commitment to developing practitioners who combine commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and ethical practice.

PRISMS Young Voices was established with the aim to bridge the gap between emerging talent and industry leadership by giving selected participants direct exposure to the PRISMS judging process, award-winning campaigns, mentorship and meaningful engagement with some of South Africa's leading communications professionals, says PRISA.

The programme forms part of the 2026 PRISMS Awards under the theme, "Kaleidoscope: Patterns of Impact Across Past, Present and Future". In an evolving profession shaped by technological innovation and shifting audience expectations, PRISMS Young Voices aims to identify and develop the next generation of strategic communicators who will shape public relations across Africa, adds PRISA.

"Public relations is one of the few professions where you are expected to understand business, society, culture and people, often all at once. That is what makes it both challenging and incredibly rewarding," says Thabisile Phumo, Chief Judge of the 2026 PRISMS Awards. "For young professionals, there has never been a more exciting time to build a career in communications."

"As our profession continues to evolve, we need practitioners who are curious, commercially aware and able to think strategically. Creating opportunities to learn from experienced professionals and engage with award-winning work is an important part of building that future," adds Phumo.

According to PRISA, selected participants will receive:

  • industry mentorship and networking opportunities
  • exposure to award-winning campaigns and the PRISMS judging process
  • professional development opportunities and industry insight
  • visibility through PRISA and PRISMS communication platforms, and
  • Access to a growing network of PRISMS Young Voices alumni.

Applications

Applicants should submit either a 200 to 250-word motivation or a three- to five-minute video explaining why they should be selected for PRISMS Young Voices 2026. Applications should be emailed to prisms@prisa.co.za with the subject line "PYV 2026 Application: Your Full Name", says PRISA.

Applications have been extended and will now close on Saturday, 15 August at 23:59.

"Many young professionals spend years trying to gain access to the rooms where important industry conversations take place," says Phumo. "PRISMS Young Voices opens that door much earlier. It offers participants a rare opportunity to observe excellence, engage directly with industry leaders and better understand the standards that shape our profession.

"If you've been considering applying, I encourage you to take this opportunity. You never know where one application, one conversation or one connection could lead," Phumo concludes.

For more information www.prisa.co.za. You can also follow PRISA on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on X.

*Image courtesy of contributor