The Institute for Public Relations has named Ed Block, former AT&T Senior Vice President and co-founder of the Arthur W. Page Society, winner of its 2003 Alexander Hamilton Medal of Achievement.
The prestigious award granted annually for “outstanding performance in public relations” will be presented at IPR’s 42nd Annual Distinguished Lecture Series to be held at the Union League Club in New York City, Thursday evening November 20, at 6:30 pm.
Edward M. Block was senior vice president, Public Relations, Advertising and Employee Information for the AT&T Corporation for 12 years until his retirement in 1986. His public relations career began in 1952 at Illinois Bell and later AT&T, where he eventually became responsible for corporate communications during AT&T’s historic divestiture of the Bell telephone companies and its expansion into international markets. He also held the additional post of assistant to the chairman of the board from 1980 until his retirement.
Recently cited by PR Week as one of the “100 most influential public relations people of the 20th century,” Ed Block is the 1997 recipient of the Gold Anvil, the highest recognition conferred by the 18,000 member Public Relations Society of America. In 1980 he was named Public Relations Professional of the Year by PR News, and in 1993 he received both the Lifetime Achievement Award from Inside PR and the Hall of Fame Award from the Arthur W. Page Society. He twice received the University of Missouri School of Journalism Blue Ribbon Award.
In addition to the Alexander Hamilton Medal, other awards will be presented by IPR for outstanding public relations research and scholarship at the November 20 event. Al Golin, founder and chairman of Chicago-based Golin/Harris International, will be the evening’s featured speaker with an address entitled “Trust or Consequences.”
Information on IPR’s 42nd Annual Distinguished Lecture Series can be found on the IPR web site (instituteforpr.org) or by calling (352) 392-0280. Tickets are $300 or $3,000 for a table of 10, and include cocktail reception, dinner and lecture. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible.
Founded in 1989, the Institute for Public Relations is dedicated to improving the professional practice of public relations around the world and encouraging academic and professional excellence in the field of public relations. The organization is the leading source and provider of information about public relations research, measurement, evaluation and education. Complete information on the Institute for Public Relations’ programs, seminars, publications, speakers bureau, and other offerings, is available at instituteforpr.org.
