Distinguished Lectures

51st Annual Distinguished Lecture and Awards Dinner

“Communications Lessons of the 2012 Campaign: Why __________ Won”

Nov. 8, 2012 – 6:00-9:30 p.m. – The Yale Club – 50 Vanderbilt Ave. – New York, NY

Nobody knows yet who will win the 2012 U.S. Presidential election. But we do know that two days later, one of the nation’s preeminent pollsters and one of the most celebrated White House communications counselors will team up to deliver the Institute for Public Relations (IPR) Annual Distinguished Lecture.

Mark Penn is Worldwide CEO of Burson-Marsteller and CEO of Penn Schoen Berland. He served as President Clinton’s White House pollster for six years and a key adviser in his 1996 reelection. In 2008, Mark was chief strategist for Hillary Clinton. He helped elect more than 25 leaders in the US, Asia, Latin America and Europe, including UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Venezuelan President Luis Herrera Campins. He has served as a senior adviser to corporate leaders such as Bill Gates, Sir Howard Stringer and Bill Ford.

Karen Hughes is Worldwide Vice Chairman of Burson-Marsteller, with more than 30 years of public policy, communications and political experience. Hughes served as counselor to President George W. Bush. She led the White House offices of communications, press secretary, media affairs and speechwriting. She reached out to audiences across the world as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs. She now works with clients as diverse as Ford, Johnson & Johnson, LIVESTRONG and the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

The Distinguished Lecture will be preceded by presentation of the prestigious Alexander Hamilton Medal for lifetime contributions to the profession of public relations. In addition, Dr. Bruce K. Berger, Reese Phifer Professor of Advertising & Public Relations, University of Alabama, will receive the Pathfinder Award for his scholarly public relations research.

Tickets to the event are $500 per person or $5,000 for a table of ten. Price includes cocktail reception, dinner and lecture. Your registration will support new research and the science beneath the art of public relations™.

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