The Challenge of Fake News

When the phrase “fake news” first emerged, I thought it was literally fake news. I thought, “How could the journalism and communications industry allow such a thing as fake news to become so popular?” As an undergraduate public relations student at the University of Florida, our program has a heavy focus on writing. In a reporting class, a fact error […]

March Monthly Reading Round-Up — Diversity Champions, Teaching Ethics, Oxford Commas, Ad Stunts

Between midterms and spring break, it was tough to keep up with industry news in March. Below are eight interesting articles you may have missed this month. The Power of Conferences in a Social-Media Age Author: Alexandra Samuel Publication: The Wall Street Journal While being on social media at conferences seems like it would disengage attendees, it actually has the […]

Parman and West Join Forces to Honor Summar

This article was originally published in the University of Tennessee-Knoxville newsletter. You can find it here. Two 1994 University of Tennessee Public Relations alumni, Travis Parman and Mary Beth West, have joined forces to honor Dwayne Summar by increasing funding for the existing Dwayne Summar Public Relations Endowment. Their $35,000 collaborative gift will enrich the learning experiences of current and […]

February Monthly Reading Round-Up — Social Responsibility, Journalism Fights for Survival, Love Letter to Millennials, Super Bowl LI

It’s been a busy month to say the least, which makes it difficult to stay on top of industry news and trends. Luckily for you, the Progressions Monthly Reading Round-Up is here to help fill you in on what you may have missed. Below are eight interesting articles from this month. How to Weave Social Responsibility Into the Fabric of […]

January Monthly Reading Round-Up — Trump’s Twitter Environment, Thought Leadership, Filler Words, Winter Issue of FORUM

It’s a new year, and there is no shortage of news. But with the spring semester starting and trying to keep up with resolutions, it’s hard to find time to catch up on the latest industry news and trends. Below are eight interesting articles you may have missed this month. 5 Things to Know About Branded Content Author: Susan Payton […]

The Facts About ‘Alternative Facts’

The foundation of good public relations is facts. Facts do not bend, they do not break, and above all else, they are not fiction. Kellyanne Conway, former campaign manager and current counselor to President Donald Trump, recently referred to comments made by press secretary Sean Spicer as “alternative facts.” Spicer denounced news accounts that attendance of the presidential inauguration was […]

December Monthly Reading Round-Up — Instagram Live, Comms Pros and the C-Suite, Social Media Monitoring

With the end of the semester and the holidays here, it’s hard to find a moment to catch a breath — let alone read about industry news. Luckily for you, the Progressions Monthly Reading Round-Up is here to help. Below are eight interesting articles you may have missed this month. Instagram Makes Its First Live Video Offering Author: Kevin Allen […]

The Influence of the Media in the Presidential Election

The media is one of the largest platforms for influencing public opinion. Media includes both traditional channels (television, radio, newspaper) and new channels (social media, banner ads, blogs). Any work in public relations or communications often includes all these different forms of media. As future public relations professionals, it’s our job to be good stewards of media opportunities by demonstrating […]

An Analysis of the 2016 Presidential Candidates’ PR Flops

The campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were each clouded by controversy and punctuated by different scandals, and as public relations practitioners it is important that we acknowledge how these issues were handled. The candidates spent copious amounts of time and energy to build their self images and to brand themselves. So the question is posed: Was it effective? […]