PRSA, from its earliest days, has been focused on advancing the public relations profession and its practitioners. It has always been about more than recognition. It has been about the ethical practice of strategic communications to drive change for the
betterment of individuals, their businesses and organizations, governments and our greater society.
A lot has happened since 1947 at PRSA and in the world. We have pulled together a collection of major milestones at PRSA that have had significant impact on this organization, our members and the practice of public relations and communications.
PRSA is named Global Public Relations Association of the Year by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.
Establishes strategic partnership with the PR Museum.
First PRSSA Chapter in Mexico is established.
Tackling Misinformation: The Communications Industry Unites is released.
PRSA publishes Promise & Pitfalls: The Ethical Use of AI for Public Relations Practitioners.
PRSA launches two new DEI initiatives: Black Voices Affinity Group and Hispanic-Latino Affinity Group
The award-winning book, 75 Years of Impact and Influence: People, Places & Moments in Public Relations History, is published to celebrate PRSA’s 75th anniversary.
Strategies & Tactics Live launches on LinkedIn
PRSA approves its first 3-year Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan; launches first-ever virtual ICON during Covid pandemic.
PRSA unveils its newest publication, Strategies & Tactics, a monthly news magazine available in both print and online formats. PRSA retires PR Tactics and The Strategist.
PRSA adopts the following definition of public relations: “Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”
PRSA conducts a yearlong crowdsourcing campaign to modernize the definition of public relations.
D&I takes on greater prominence within PRSA with the intentional leadership decision to enfold the multicultural section and formally establish the National D&I Committee.
PRSA launches its blog, PRsay, in January.
Del Galloway becomes PRSA’s first openly gay president and establishes the organization's National Diversity Committee.
PRSA Code of Ethics is revised.
Seneca University (Canada) receives PRSA’s first International Certification in Public Relations Education.
Debra A. Miller, Ed.D., APR, Fellow PRSA becomes the first woman of color, first African-American president, and first educator to lead PRSA.
Luis W. Morales, APR, Fellow PRSA becomes the first Hispanic president of PRSA.
The Strategist, a quarterly public relations magazine, debuts in the spring.
PRSA publishes its first public relations newspaper, Public Relations Tactics, in July.
PRSA bestows the first-ever D. Parke Gibson Award, PRSA's highest individual award for contributions to the public relations profession within multicultural communities.
The PRSA Foundation is founded as an independent 501(c)3 organization to attract and support a diverse range of outstanding student talent in the industry.
PRSA College of Fellows founded.
PRSA launches a scholarship program for students of African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native American, Alaskan Native and Pacific Islander ancestry.
PRSA adopts a three-part code of ethics, adding a pledge of professional conduct and a detailed list of appropriate behaviors for PR practitioners.
PRSA adopts the following definition of public relations: “Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.”
PRSA revises its Code of Ethics with a new Declaration of Principles reflecting a commitment to human rights.
Betsy Plank is installed as PRSA’s first female president.
First PRSSA Chapters chartered at nine qualified schools: University of Florida, University of Houston, University of Maryland, The Ohio State University, San Jose State University, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin and Utica College.
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is established as the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications.
The Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential is established.
The American Public Relations Association (APRA) merges with PRSA and PRSA acquires the Silver Anvil Awards.
Formation of IPR, which recognized “the science beneath the art” of public relations.
Publication of the first edition of Cutlip and Center’s “Effective Public Relations,” paving the way for public relations courses at colleges and universities in the USA.
PRSA adopted its first code of ethics, later updated in 1954 and 1959 to provide for enforcement.
PRSA publishes its first code of professional standards, addressing “responsibility for the good character and reputation of the public relations professional.”
The first Gold Anvil Award was awarded to W. Howard Chase, APR, Fellow PRSA.
The first national PRSA conference - now known as ICON - is held in Chicago.
The Public Relations Journal is an open-access peer-reviewed, electronic academic journal covering topics in public relations and communication studies, published quarterly by PRSA.
The Public Relations Journal was established in 1945 by Rex F. Harlow (American Council on Public Relations). After this council and the National Association of Public Relations Counsel merged to form the Public Relations Society of America in 1947, it became a monthly publication of PRSA.
First PRSA Chapters chartered:
San Francisco
Los Angeles
New York
Hawaii
Detroit
Chicago (1948)
