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Full service advertising and communications campaign to be launched in celebration of Sophie Lancaster and to support fight to stamp out intolerance
Propaganda, the strategic and creative agency, today announced that it has won the marketing account, without pitch, for S.O.P.H.I.E, the Foundation set up in memory of Sophie Lancaster, who was murdered in 2007. Propaganda will work in conjunction with Sophie's mother Sylvia to promote the positive nature of different subcultures, to campaign for tolerance within society, and to provide a lasting legacy for Sophie, a young, intelligent, caring and beautiful girl who was murdered, simply because she dressed differently.
Propaganda is developing a full marketing and communications programme for the Foundation (which stands for Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere) that transcends all media platforms to successfully position the brand. It will be launched in November 2008 with a UK-wide press and outdoor advertising campaign. The campaign is inspired by Sophie's love of life, her freedom of expression, her desire to be individual, and the positive way in which she embraced who she was. The adverts will celebrate this, balanced with conveying the shocking reality of her murder in order to promote a new tolerance that is accepting of the different subcultures and the positivity that they bring to society.
On Saturday, 11th August 2007, Sophie and her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, were returning to their new home, walking through Stubbylee Park in Bacup, Lancashire. A gang of youths, aged between 15 and 17 savagely attacked Robert without provocation; when he was beaten unconscious they turned on Sophie who was cradling her boyfriend, trying to protect him. Laughing and egging each other on they kicked, punched and jumped repeatedly up and down on Sophie's head; both attacks were of such severity that the police could not tell which was male or female. The leading police officer described it as ‘one of the most violent murders he has come across in his lengthy career'.
Robert was in a coma with bleeding on his brain, but gradually recovered over the following two weeks. Sophie did not wake up, and despite thirteen days of hopes and prayers, Sylvia finally had to switch off her daughter's life support machine. The judge described the murder of Sophie and the attack on Robert as a ‘hate crime' and ‘degrading humanity'. The five violent offenders received sentences ranging from four years to life. They showed no remorse.
On seeing the initial creative work for the campaign, Sylvia Lancaster commented:
"I was so nervous before the meeting, but when I saw the work, it perfectly communicated the core message of the Foundation, and how I want Sophie to be remembered. For me it was really important to balance Sophie's character as a sensitive, intelligent and caring girl, proud of who she was as well as conveying the horrendous and senseless circumstances of her murder. We have to hope that through the Foundation we can change people's feelings and misunderstanding of alternative subcultures and drive out the feelings of hatred that seem to plague our society. It would certainly be a fitting and lasting legacy for Sophie who had so much she wanted to achieve, and so much to give to the world; an opportunity that in life was pointlessly taken away from her."
Julian Kynaston, chairman, Propaganda, commented:
"This has simply been the hardest job we have had to do and it is impossible not to get caught up in the emotion. We could have easily used disturbing images of Sophie in hospital that have been in the media to generate the shock factor, but Sylvia was rightfully adamant that the campaign should be positive and peaceful. Just seeing Sophie's beautiful face both conveys the way that she lived her life and the shocking reality of what has been taken away. I am delighted that Sylvia has given us the opportunity to help work with the Foundation, which continues to generate so much support and empathy on a worldwide basis. For us this is the beginning, and our determination to succeed has never been stronger."
Julian Kynaston, chairman, Propaganda, commented:"This has simply been the hardest job we have had to do and it is impossible not to get caught up in the emotion. We could have easily used disturbing images of Sophie in hospital that have been in the media to generate the shock factor, but Sylvia was rightfully adamant that the campaign should be positive and peaceful. Just seeing Sophie's beautiful face both conveys the way that she lived her life and the shocking reality of what has been taken away. I am delighted that Sylvia has given us the opportunity to help work with the Foundation, which continues to generate so much support and empathy on a worldwide basis. For us this is the beginning, and our determination to succeed has never been stronger."
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