NEW YORK (May 17, 2010) — Taking its cue from some of the major trends shaping the practice of public relations today, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has engaged influential thought leaders in the fields of social technology, online behavior and crisis communications to deliver keynote addresses at the
PRSA 2010 International Conference,
Oct. 16–19, in Washington, D.C.
The keynote speakers include:
Charlene Li, co-author of the business bestseller, “Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies,” and founder of the
Altimeter Group;
Bill Tancer, author of the popular “Click: What Millions of People Are Doing Online and Why It Matters — Unexpected Insights for Business and Life”and general manager of global research for
Experian Hitwise; and
Bettina Luescher, chief spokesperson for the
United Nations World Food Program.
“In a business environment where change is constant, public relations and communications professionals can gain practical insights from the experience and advice of these respected thought leaders,” said PRSA chair and CEO Gary McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA. “Hearing firsthand how to leverage today’s most powerful trends to generate results and create value for our clients and organizations is an opportunity you can’t miss.”
Also for the conference, PRSA has convened a special a
public affairs panel that will focus on public policy issues stemming from the health care overhaul, as well as other pressing legislative and regulatory debates in which social media tools, issues advertising and grassroots campaigns were integral in influencing outcomes. The panel will feature
Paul Anderson, vice president for Communication Strategies and Public Outreach at AARP;
Eric Lundberg, grassroots director at WellPoint;
Susan Neely, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association; and
Douglas Pinkham, APR, president of the Public Affairs Council.
Conference attendees can
save $200 by registering for the 2010 International Conference by
Aug. 27.
The PRSA International Conference is considered the world’s foremost gathering of public relations and communications professionals. The event, which attracted more than 3,000 attendees from 25 countries last year, offers professional development sessions led by hundreds of experts in a variety of public relations disciplines.
This year’s Conference theme, “Powering Progress,” recognizes public relations’ role as a driver of business outcomes central to organizational progress, while capturing the essence of Washington, D.C., as the seat of power and progress for our nation and the world.
About the Keynoters
Charlene Li
In her new book, “Open Leadership: How Social Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead,” Li addresses the challenges facing leaders of the modern organization as a result of the dramatic adoption and impact of social technologies on customer, partner and employee relationships. Li is also a co-author of the business best-seller, “Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies,” which reveals how readers can use to their advantage the force created by customers who are connecting in the social media arena.
As the world’s pre-eminent expert on online behavior and general manager at Experian Hitwise, Tancer provides cutting-edge research and insight into online consumer behavior and the application of online competitive intelligence. He mines his company’s database of more than 10 million Internet users each day to determine what people are really doing online and how they use Internet-based services. Tancer offers a unique perspective on human behavior in his best-selling book, “Click: What Millions of People Are Doing Online and Why It Matters — Unexpected Insights for Business and Life.” He tracks and analyzes the billions of trails left by millions of Internet users, offering surprising and practical insights that can be used in business and life.
Luescher will share how critical effective communication is, not only when representing your organization, but also when working to spur the world into action during times of crisis. Learn how the United Nations handles communications during disasters, such as those in Haiti and Chile, as Luescher reflects on her efforts to raise awareness of the hunger issue, and help communities rebuild their shattered lives. She will discuss the spotlight placed on the crucial role of public relations and communications practitioners this year as catastrophic events unfolded throughout the world that left victims in the hundreds of thousands in despair as they faced food shortages of epic proportions.
About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
With more than 31,000 members,
PRSA is the largest organization of public relations professionals and students. PRSA is comprised of 111 local
Chapters organized into 10 geographic
Districts; 16
Professional Interest Sections that focus on issues, trends and research relevant to specialized practice areas, such as technology, health care, financial communications, entertainment and sports, and travel tourism; and the
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which has more than 300
Chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. PRSA is headquartered in New York.
