Institute for Public Relations

The Institute for Public Relations has introduced the Essential Knowledge Project, an online guide to the best research into how organizations build and manage mutually beneficial relationships with customers, communities, employees and other stakeholders. There is a tremendous amount of research conducted over the years on all aspects of creating and sustaining public opinion, attitudes and relationships. The free online service offers authoritative summaries of relevant research with links to the original sources for those who wish to dig deeper. Three topics are already available: “Trust and PR Practice” by Brad L. Rawlins, associate department chair, Brigham Young University; “Ethics and ...

“Social Media and the Future of PR” is the theme of Euroblog2008, currently underway in Brussels (presented by EUPRERA, Edelman, IHECS and Département de communication, Université catholique du Louvain). I participated on a panel on chaired by Toni Muzi Falconi (who leads the Institute’s Commission on Global Public Relations Research). This gave me the opportunity to talk about two important research projects connected to the Institute. “New Media, New Influencers and Implications for the Public Relations Profession,” by a team of Fellows of the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR) “Examining the Increasing Impact of Social Media on Public Relations Practice,” by ...

Ay ay ay! It’s the election headache again, except this time around the old “cabeza” needs a little more aspirin. Never has the Hispanic/Latino vote been more important than in the 2008 election season. Whatever the political inclination, Republicans and Democrats realize that speaking to the heart and the minds of Hispanics/Latinos across the U.S., developing nuanced, sensitive messages and addressing culturally relevant issues have never been more important. In other words, Hillary, Barack, and Johnny cannot be Hispanic-light. Listening to McCain speak Spanish is as pleasant as watching Hillary Clinton dance salsa, but both understand they ...