My friend and PRSA colleague Ray Kotcher has said that public relations is a profession that moves “at the speed of light.”
This carries many meanings. News and information travels faster than ever before. Communications professionals must make critical decisions under enormous pressure and in compressed time frames. The reputations of the brands and organizations that we represent can be strengthened or tarnished in an instant.
In this environment, every action, program, activation and strategic initiative feels that it carries tremendous weight and urgency… and they often do. It is all too easy to fail to step back and to lose sight that there is an entire profession, a rich and vibrant industry, to which you belong.
Serving at the national level of PRSA is an opportunity for you to step outside your current role and organization, and gain visibility to the larger industry. It’s an opportunity to give back to the profession, to broaden your network of relationships and expand your perspective of the communications spectrum in its entirety.
You may have thought about becoming more involved in PRSA and volunteering to serve in a National Board position but it never seems to be the right time. I encourage you not to wait a minute longer.
PRSA and the communications profession, itself, have reached an inflection point. The digital revolution has blurred the lines between the various disciplines and, in a media environment that is a two-way dialogue, PR is uniquely positioned to lead. Communications professionals are taking on more responsibility as they wear more hats than ever before. Leadership is needed to help PRSA guide its members to succeed and thrive during this critical period of opportunity.
PRSA is looking for strong leaders to help guide our Society and the communications profession into the future. Please begin or complete your application today – the deadline to submit applications for board service is June 14.
Now is the time for our profession, now is the time to serve.
Joe Cohen, APR is National Chair, PRSA National Nominating Committee, 2014 National PRSA Chair and SVP, Communications at KIND Healthy Snacks. Follow Joe on Twitter @jcohenPR.
Hello Joe, Thank you for providing us such insights about the public relations and the careers relating to it. Public relation is playing a very critical role in the companies and organizations. In this digital age, careers in public relations are emerging with exponential speed. More such informative blogs are expected in the near future.