Diversity In PR

The op-ed was published as part of PRSA’s celebration of Black History Month. Throughout the month of February, PRSA is publishing a blog series and other commentary from prominent African-American practitioners.

Rosanna M. Fiske, APR, chair and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) commented in a Dec. 8, 2011, article in PRWeek on the passing of public relations industry pioneer Ofield Dukes, APR, Fellow PRSA. Fiske remembered Dukes’ passion for enhancing diversity within the profession and the many efforts he made to help her and other PRSA members enhance their careers.

 

“We are proud to honor the accomplishments of our PRSA Chapters in advancing and supporting diversity within their communities and the public relations profession,” said Anne Dean, PRSA Diversity Committee chair and senior director of communications at Argosy University. “Their efforts demonstrate a commitment and dedication to ensuring that our work as practitioners reflects and engages the diverse populations we serve and support.”

PRSA Chair and CEO Rosanna M. Fiske, APR, comments on the growing stature of women in senior management positions in public relations in a Sept. 6, 2011, Financial Times article. Focusing on the unique value and perspective that female public relations executives bring to clients, Fiske notes that the profession has seen a “rising number of women leaders at the agency level, and an increasing number become independent practitioners who are setting up their own shops.” She notes, however, that within corporate public relations, executive-level positions for females still lag those of male executives.
 

Fiske goes on to note that the relatively high percentage of women public relations practitioners versus men can be explained, in part, because public relations jobs require skills that tend to come by women naturally, such as empathy, ... Read More

PRSA Chair and CEO Rosanna Fiske, APR, writes about the gender divide in public relations and what steps the profession should take to introduce more women to senior-level management positions in a guest post titled, “PR — A Female-Dominated Industry," in the Public Relations Consultants Association blog. The post reflects on results of the 2011 U.K. PR Census, which found that the U.K. public relations industry is comprised of 64 percent women.