On April 26th, the Council in association with PRWeek announced the opening of the second annual Diversity Distinction in PR Awards.  These awards honor excellence in promoting ethnic diversity and inclusion within public relations, and are intended to encourage professionals of diverse backgrounds to seek opportunities at firms and the PR industry more broadly. Last…

This past February, the UK telecommunications company O2 asked almost 3,000 employees at one of its offices to work from home for the day. The results raise eyebrows: Employees saved almost $15,000 in commuting costs, got 1,000 extra hours of sleep, were more productive (36% of them claimed as much), and spent more quality time…

Women and women’s issues have claimed a prominent position in the Presidential campaign in recent months, and that should only become more pronounced as November nears. But what about women in business? It’s no secret that public relations offers unusually exciting opportunities for talented women to establish careers and build companies of their own. At…

Does your growing PR firm need a Chief Operating Officer?  Quite possibly—and more urgently than you think! Today, many small- to mid-sized firms remain reluctant to designate someone to lead their operations. That’s not surprising, for unlike other top spots on the organizational chart, the COO position, even in global corporations, is difficult to define…

Two weeks ago, APCO’s Margery Kraus wrote in this blog of the blurring lines between every major marketing practice. PR firms are producing advertisements, ad agencies are controlling massive social media campaigns, and branding shops are helping define SEO strategies. As these traditionally silo-ed marketing areas continue to blend and overlap, one nascent offshoot in…

What are the truly inspiring stories in our industry today? Which agencies, individuals, teams, or offerings are boldly pushing the envelope, creating new value, innovating, seeing around the corner, making the world a better place, and inspiring others to do the same? Who are our big risk-takers, our thinkers, our trendsetters, and our heroes?

In last week’s posting, we began a discussion about the evolving talent needs of public relations firms in the age of social media. Talking to two prominent industry leaders, we learned that firms were looking for well-rounded talent that combined digital skills with strong marketing knowledge and strategic thinking ability. This week, we explore what…

Isn’t there a better way? I’m talking about RFP’s. Clearly they serve a necessary function: How else are clients  going to choose among the many potential partners  who can provide the service they seek?  But that doesn’t mean all RFPs are created equal.  One public relations executive we spoke with complained of “nightmare” RFPs, noting…

Is your firm thinking of going global? Is it already there? More and more US firms are opening up offices around the world, and the trend should only intensify next year. Nearly a quarter of Council members have offices overseas, while several others belong to international networks that provide clients with global reach and local…

The holiday season is upon us, and what a season it is. Darkness by 4PM. Holiday parties with bosses and semi-acquaintances. The chance to navigate traffic for hours as you shop for gifts. And then there’s that wonderful winter weather, especially if you live in the Northeast or Midwest. Is anybody stressed yet? Americans are…