Public relations is an ever-evolving profession. Technology and social media advances continue to move professionals further into the future with the access to new apps, platforms and other tools that accelerate the way PR pros do their job. Staying up-to-speed on these advances is one way PR pros can remain relevant.

In this week’s PRSA “Friday Five” post — an analysis of the week’s biggest public relations and business news and commentary — we look at how far public relations has come over the last decade and put the spotlight on a number of new social media advances, platforms and measurement tools that continue to launch the profession forward.

Continue reading " Friday Five: New Tech and Communication Tools Push PR Further Into the Future "

As we wrap up this year’s #PRin2013 series, here is a recap of what our 12 contributors predicted for the public relations industry in 2013.

Kirk Hazlett, APR, Fellow PRSA, kicked off this year’s #PRin2013 series with a prediction that 2013 would be about accountability. The public relations professional must go beyond merely reaching stakeholder audiences. They must ensure that the message is genuine and any promises made to the public are genuine.

Elise Mitchell, APR, Fellow PRSA, offered up six trends she sees on the horizon this year.

Continue reading " #PRin2013: A Look Back at the Predictions "

Editor’s note: This is the 12th in a series of 12 guest posts from industry thought leaders predicting key trends that will impact the public relations industry in 2013. Hosted under the hashtag #PRin2013, the series began Jan. 7, 2013, with a compilation post previewing some of the predictions.

You know how the end of the year typically brings about a slew of “what’s next” and “10 things to look forward to…” type of posts? I’ve never written one of those, since I’ve always felt I’m incredibly bad at making predictions.

Continue reading " Measurement, Management and the Media Consultant: PR Predictions for 2013 "

Editor’s note: This is the 7th in a series of 12 guest posts from industry thought leaders predicting key trends that will impact the public relations industry in 2013. Hosted under the hashtag #PRin2013, the series began Jan. 7, 2013, with a compilation post previewing some of the predictions.

A gradual change in PR’s mandate, tone & role — from control to influence

A new year always begins with prognostications — and many forecasters agree that this is an age in which public relations can lead like never before. The reason: As communication power shifts from organizations to audiences, PR is essential not just to reputation, but to an organization’s very legitimacy.

Continue reading " #PRin2013: PR to give organizations a new legitimacy "

Editor’s note: This is the 3rd in a series of 12 guest posts from industry thought leaders predicting key trends that will impact the public relations industry in 2013. Hosted under the hashtag #PRin2013, the series began Jan. 7, 2013, with a compilation post previewing some of the predictions.

PR going global

A Canadian practitioner being invited to contribute to PRSA’s 2013 trends series is one example of PR globalization!

Another is a South African-born former employee of USA headquartered Goldman Sachs publicly declaring—through global media (I heard Greg Smith on CBC Radio)—on the greed-obsessed, uncaring culture of the London, England-based arm of the financial titan.

Continue reading " Global PR and internal communication trends for 2013, paywalls and pragmatism…and more "