A communicator’s guide to mitigating the risk of greenwashing

Angela Barter, CPRP, a sustainable communication strategist based in South Africa, drew from her presentation at the Global Alliance’s World PR Forum (May 2016, Toronto) when writing A communicator’s guide to mitigating the risk of greenwashing This is the first in a series of original, but WPRF2016-related, posts by presenters (from different countries) on PR Conversations Over the past decade, the media and the internet have helped create global awareness about key environmental issues, creating a shift in attitude and...

PRoust Questionnaire: Gregor Halff

The PRoust Questionnaire provides a quick insight into a public relations practitioner’s interests and point of view, as well as her or his professional beliefs and values. If you are not familiar with the original 19th-century Proust Questionnaire, please see details at the end of this post. PRoust Questionnaire answers from Gregor Halff: 1. What are your most striking characteristics as a PR practitioner? I like to shut up and just observe; one learns so much about...

The four Ps of public relations leadership

The chair of the Global Alliance introduces the Madrid Momentum (Learning to Lead) and details four Ps that constitute the cornerstones of PR leadership By Anne Gregory, PhD, FCIPR It was not that long ago (September 2014) that the World Public Relations Forum was held in Madrid where the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, together with DIRCOM, the Spanish Association of Communication Directors, hosted more than 800 professionals from 65 countries to...

Why public relations must wake up to wearables

Things ain’t what they used to be; the end of the beginning around wearable technologies and the device jumps PR practitioners are about to encounter Op-Ed by Catherine Arrow In kicking off this post, I was sorely tempted to indulge in a Buzzfeed-style headline, complete with obligatory quirky picture—probably JIBO, the world’s first family robot. I toyed with “61 ways to know if you’re ready for wearables,” tip-toed around “True Life: Why PR was disconnected...

Networks and mentors, workplace similarities and differences, complete a cross-border PR adventure

Final installment of a three-part global public relations narrative and adventure, from agency Australia to in-house Germany By Katie Sheppet Communication contacts and networks In part I and part II, I related communication contacts and groupings I was privy to at Allianz. In this final chapter I’m sharing external networking and mentor relationships that were going on behind the scenes. Prior to my departure, I had Edelman support from Grant Smith, general manager of Edelman...

Cause and effect of a cross-border public relations adventure

Part I of a three-part global public relations narrative and adventure, from agency Australia to in-house Germany By Katie Sheppet I’ve been invited to share with readers of PR Conversations the narrative about how voluntarily becoming involved with a global PR event (supported by my employer) and, in particular, meeting key senior PR practitioners, provided me with an incredible opportunity only a few years after completing my university degree in media and communications. I was...

PRoust Questionnaire: Fraser Likely

The PRoust Questionnaire provides a quick insight into a public relations practitioner’s interests and point of view, as well as his or her professional beliefs and values. If you are not familiar with the original 19th-century Proust Questionnaire, please see details at the end of this post. PRoust Questionnaire answers from Fraser Likely: 1. What is your most striking characteristic as a PR practitioner? An on-going desire to contribute expertise at the strategic level (rather...

By Jove, PR for PR works!

Public relations for public relations is effective! Why should we be surprised? Guest OpEd by Toni Muzi Falconi “I have nothing against regulation that verifies and controls, in the public interest, the consequences of our actions, because we need to be fully responsible for what we do. As journalists need to be free to write what they wish, we also need to be free to act as we wish. But over certain limits both of...

Who has seen the future of PR? (updated)

Guest post by Jean Valin, APR, FCPRS Who has seen the future of PR? Updated 6/22/2012 For PR Conversations readers, here is an update on this GA project which was generously supported by Enel–the Italian energy company. The study was customized to suit their needs. We conducted in-depth interviews with the heads of communication from Allianz (based in Munich), Philips (based in Amsterdam), Enel (ITaly), Novo Nordisk (Copenhagen and Petrobras (Rio de Janeiro). We also...

A one-two push to the Stockholm Accords: Integrated reporting and brand monetary evaluation

By Toni Muzi Falconi Stockholm Accords definitions As defined by the Stockholm Accords, the PR leader of a communicative organization plays two fundamental and strategic roles: 1.  A “political” role in supporting and providing the organization’s leadership with the necessary, timely and relevant information, which allows it to effectively govern value networks, as well as an intelligent, constant and conscious effort to understand and interpret the relevant dynamics of society at large. A “contextual” role,...