Honoring the 2024 PRSA Individual Award Recipients
October 2024
PRSA will present six individual awards during ICON 2024 in Anaheim, Calif., on Oct. 15-17, honoring members who have distinguished themselves in service to the organization and made a difference in the PR profession.
Gold Anvil Award
Rosanna Fiske, APR, Fellow PRSA
Professor of the Practice
Northeastern University
Outstanding Educator Award
Kelly Bruhn, APR
Associate Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Drake University
Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to PRSA
Michael G. Cherenson, APR, Fellow PRSA
Executive Vice President
SCG Advertising + Public Relations
The John L. Paluszek Atlas Award for Lifetime Achievement in International Public Relations
Judy VanSlyke Turk, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA (presented posthumously)
Professor Emerita, Virginia Commonwealth University
D. Parke Gibson Award
Anita Ford Saunders, APR
Owner/Principal
AFS Communication
PR Professional of the Year Award
Justin Angel Knighten
Associate Administrator, Office of External Affairs
FEMA — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
PRSSA Launches 2 New Chapters
PRSSA has established two new collegiate Chapters at Grand Canyon University (GCU) and The University of New Mexico (UNM).
The new Chapters mark a significant milestone at these universities, providing expanded access to professional development opportunities, networking and educational resources.
At Grand Canyon University, students can pursue undergraduate degrees in professional writing for new media, communications with an emphasis on broadcasting and new media, or interpersonal communication and human relationships.
As a member of PRSA for over 20 years, Cynthia Weaver, M.A., GCU professional writing instructor and faculty adviser, brings a wealth of knowledge from the PR profession. With the help of her university colleagues and fellow PRSA Phoenix members, Weaver’s goal is to expose students to the increased value of PRSA and PRSSA.
Similarly, students at the University of New Mexico look forward to establishing the foundation for a successful Chapter under the guidance of Steve Carr, APR, UNM director of communication and professional adviser.
At UNM, the communications curriculum involves a variety of courses, such as Persuasive Communications, Strategic Social Media, and Creative Concepts. Students are required to participate in an intentional comprehensive course of study.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
PRSA is proud to join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through Oct. 15.
Through curated content, which you can find here, PRSA honors the histories, cultures and contributions of people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Latest Issue of Public Relations Journal Now Available
The new issue of Public Relations Journal, the open-access academic journal presented by the Institute for Public Relations and PRSA, addresses top-of-mind topics for the profession and educational community.
“This cycle of expansion and the ‘gold rush’ of technology seems to be consistent for the field of public relations,” said Editor-in-Chief Hilary Fussell Sisco, Ph.D., APR, from Quinnipiac University. “We can embrace and adapt, but the hope is that we can also excel in our understanding, implementation, and guidance regarding AI use.”
The articles in this issue include:
- How visual images can enhance interest in health campaigns
- How data analytics can build better communication programs
- How individual characteristics predict public support for corporate social advocacy
You can access the Public Relations Journal on the Institute for Public Relations website.
Starting Your Day With Issues & Trends
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