Insider

Dear Member: 

Welcome to the Winter edition of the PRSA Insider. I hope you enjoy reading about the many achievements and events that are taking place across PRSA. You can't help but be impressed!.

Anvil Awards Deadline Feb. 15

Next week is your last chance to enter the 2024 Anvil Awards and spotlight your organization's best work. New categories include Best Use of AI; Best AI Integration and Digital Innovations; and Best Solution Provider/Vendor. You can find details here. Good luck!

ICON Deadline Dates

ICON is one of my favorite events of the year, and here are some important dates to keep in mind as ICON 2024, taking place Oct. 15-17 in Anaheim, California, approaches:

• March 1: Super Saver Rate deadline.
• March 13: Call for Presentations deadline.
• Sept. 6: Saver Rate Deadline.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Board Nominations to Open in March

Have you considered serving on the PRSA Board of Directors? The application process for the 2025 Board will open in March, and further information will be available soon on the PRSA website. I encourage you to consider this opportunity to serve PRSA by contributing to and guiding its future path.

Welcome Anna!

We are thrilled to welcome Anna Yudina as PRSA’s new Chief Marketing Officer. Anna most recently served as Senior Director of Marketing Initiatives for The Toy Association, and also held positions at Sherwin-Williams, and International Playthings, Inc.

PRSA's AI Guidance

I’m hoping that all of you have at least experimented with ChatGPT and other AI generative tools, and realized their broad implications for public relations, and indeed all professions.

I recommend checking out Promise & Pitfalls: The Ethical Use of AI for Public Relations Practitioners. The guidance was created by PRSA and its Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS) and focuses on five Code of Ethics Provisions with each defined and examined in terms of best practices to help prevent and manage potential ethical challenges. It’s a timely and invaluable document for all of us.

New Certificate Program

Do you know a reporter who has recently become a PR practitioner? PRSA is offering a new certificate program, Navigating the Transition From Journalism to PR & Comms, which will provide journalists (as well as others in related fields looking to move into public relations) an overview of how their skills are relevant to a variety of positions in PR. The live, online program takes place March 12-April 9.

Heide and Scott!!

Congratulations to Heide Harrell, M.A., APR, and Scott Thornburg, APR, who were named Senior Counsel to the 2024 PRSA Board of Directors in January. Heide is Director of Communications for Central Arkansas Water, a metropolitan water system that serves almost 500,000 Arkansans in eight counties. Scott is Senior Director, Global Marketing and Communications for Sojern, a $100M+ travel technology firm.

Congratulations!

PRSA's "75 Years of Impact and Influence: People, Places and Moments in Public Relations History" continued its well-deserved awards streak as the 2023 winner of the Ragan PR Daily Award in the Print Publication category. This marks the fourth award the publication was recognized with in 2023, following a Platinum MarCom Award and Gold Excel and Trendy Awards.

Spotlight on 2023

PRSA had another exciting year in 2023, and our Year in Review highlights the extraordinary programs, events, partnerships, and other achievements which helped ensure continued growth in revenue and membership.

I look forward to the many events and programs on the calendar and the opportunity for continued collaboration. Thank you for all you do; it’s an honor to be a member of this organization.

Sincerely,
Joseph Abreu, APR, CPRC
2024 PRSA Chair