News readers are bombarded with poor economic news on a daily basis. The gloom and doom coming out of newsrooms is likely being augmented by the fact that the news industry is among those that are struggling. As the news industry struggles to redefine itself, public relations practitioners are left with a changing industry. How should successful practitioners adapt to […]
The following was submitted by Dr. Steve Iseman, APR, Fellow PRSA, who currently serves as the faculty advisor for the National Committee. Jack O’Dwyer has been a long time critic of PRSA and I congratulate him for it. I think that critics are important. They cause organizations to think about what they do and examine policies and procedures carefully. But […]
Networking is critical for a successful communicator. A great network of contacts can help a practitioner land a new job or learn new skills. While the word “networking” frequently appears discussions about public relations, how to network is a mystery to many. What is effective networking? How can students learn to successfully network?
Transparency has become increasingly necessary in our society. As communicators, we are tasked with sharing information from our organizations with members of the public. How can a communicator assure the public the organization he or she represents is a transparent one? How should a communicator handle information that is negative?
Getting an entry level position in public relations usually requires portfolios documenting the experience students have had. Putting one together and deciding what to use are difficult for a student whose experience is limited entirely to the classroom. PRSSA provides some opportunities that allow students to build their portfolios. These include working at student-run firms, submitting articles to FORUM and […]
The 2008 National Conference in Detroit has been incredible. Ofield Dukes gave a compelling keynote address that put into perspective many of the situations members find themselves in and gave practical advice for personal success. His personal experiences were inspiring. The conference also divided into sessions and listened to other leaders in public relations. We have all had great learning […]
We live in a world where changing values and perspectives influence the decisions people make. In this time of uncertainty, a trusted communicator can be invaluable; however, finding and identifying one is a difficult task. What role can professional organizations like PRSA play in endorsing trusted individuals?
This last week has seen the United States’ stock market take a serious hit. Many companies have lost the confidence of American investors and the restructuring of our policy is still a matter of public discussion. While financial solvency can be restored through government buyouts, trust in these organizations might not come as easily. How do you think the last […]
One critical role of public relations professionals is to warn management of possible crisis’ that may occur in the future. As we do this, we may come across as being overly negative or even down on the organization that we work for. In order to be effective, we need to be trusted and considered part of the team. What do […]
Public Relations is a dynamic field with increasingly varied opportunities and roles. From the days when one “in-house journalist” would write stories on behalf of a corporation, the field has rapidly grown and now whole departments and firms are devoted to specific activities like crisis management and investor relations. This growth certainly has been as unpredictable as recent technological advances […]
