I’m delighted and excited to commence my year as PRSA chair and CEO. While this year is just beginning, I’ve been an involved PRSA member and leader for many years, and so, in many ways, I feel as if the start of the year is simply a continuation of my service to an organization that I love.

Last year as chair-elect, I had the honor of leading PRSA’s strategic planning process. PRSA performs a significant rewrite of its strategic plan every three years, and last year involved one of those major efforts.

Continue reading " Planning for the Future — PRSA in 2011 and Beyond "

Delegates to PRSA’s 60^th Assembly, and the inaugural PRSA Leadership Assembly, turned their attention toward the Society’s strategic planning as they met prior to the start of PRSA’s 2010 International Conference, “Powering PRogress.”

Delegates were provided with a vision for PRSA’s future as part of the annual State of the Society Report, given via a joint presentation by Gary D. McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2010 PRSA chair and CEO, Rosanna M. Fiske, APR, chair-elect of PRSA and William M. Murray, CAE, PRSA president and CEO.

Continue reading " Leadership Assembly Focuses on Future, Strategic Value of Public Relations "

Summer in academia is one of two things — a great time to attend conferences and conduct research or a great time to do some traveling and reading. For me, this summer was about spending some time with and learning from some of the brightest minds in public relations.

As part of PRSA’s strategic planning process that takes place every three years, the chair-elect (yours truly) leads the effort that sets the vision for the organization’s business plans for the next few years. In this case, we’re crafting the 2011-2013 Strategic Plan.

Continue reading " My Summer Vacation: Planning for the Future of PRSA "

To commemorate PRSA Ethics Month, PRSAY is offering a monthlong series of posts on important ethics issues facing the public relations profession. This is the first in the series.

On Aug. 26, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that Reverb Communications had settled charges alleging that the public relations firm had engaged in deceptive advertising practices by having its employees write and post positive reviews of clients’ games in the Apple iTunes Store, without disclosing that they had been compensated to do so.

The settlement brings to a close the Commission’s first case under its revised “Guidelines on the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising,” which took effect on Dec. 1 of last year.

Continue reading " Unethical Product Reviews Have No Place in Public Relations "

Last year, I had the privilege of serving as PRSA Chair. I was the first, second-generation public relations counselor to serve as Chair and, from what I’ve been told, the youngest, as well. My tenure – like those of most leaders – was filled with challenges and opportunities that required a great deal of my time and attention. Still, chairing the Society was one of the greatest personal and professional experiences of my life; I’m a stronger leader, manager, communicator, counselor and person for it.

As PRSA embarks on the process of nominating its next slate of Directors, I would urge all members to consider serving the society and the profession in this role.

Continue reading " What I Learned as PRSA Chair "