If there is one thing public relations professionals enjoy, it is engaging in a spirited debate; none more so than the future of our profession. That was evident in the overwhelming response we received for the “Public Relations Defined” initiative during the initial public submission phase.

Because of that unprecedented response and interest, PRSA’s Definition of Public Relations Task Force is taking additional time to analyze the data collected. We are also providing more time for our 12 global partners to offer their feedback.

As such, three candidate definitions will now be posted on the PRSA website for a public vote in early-to mid-January. At that time, we will make an announcement to invite you to vote for the new definition of public relations.

We hope to announce the results of the votes and the new definition in late-January. This should allow for greater exposure for the new definition, befitting its significance to the future of the profession.

Continue reading " #PRDefined Update: Revised Timeline "

After more than 900 submissions, 70 comments and 16,000-plus page views, it comes down to this: the final snapshot word cloud of the “Public Relations Defined” initiative. While submissions are still being accepted through 11:50 p.m. EST today (Friday, Dec. 2), we wanted to provide a glimpse of what your hard work in submitting modern definitions of public relations has produced — at least in terms of the raw data.

Keep in mind that what you see below doesn’t necessarily reflect the words that will comprise the three draft definitions that the PRSA Definition of Public Relations Task Force will develop the week of Dec. 5. They merely represent the 20 most popular words submitted across all four boxes of the definition submission field.

PRSA’s Definition of Public Relations Task Force will objectively analyze all of the submissions, along with blog posts, comments and all other submitted content. Task Force member will then use a subjective consultation process to develop three definitions from the data. Those draft definitions will go up for a public vote, for a period of 10 days, on the PRSA website.

After 12 days of submissions, the following are the 20 most submitted words to the “Public Relations Defined” initiative:

• “organization” (present in 388 submissions)
• “public” (373)
• “communication” (280)
• “relationship(s)” (260)
• “stakeholders” (172)
• “create” (170)
• “mutual” (158)
• “understand” (153)
• “build” (152)
• “audiences” (147)
• “inform” (144)
• “management” (124)
• “brand” (119)
• “company” (116)
• “business” (112)
• “people” (100)
• “engages” (94)
• “client” (92)
• “awareness” (88)
• “maintain” (81)

Continue reading " Snapshot: #PRDefined Word Cloud — Day 12 "