Institute for Public Relations
IPR is featuring some of the many Hispanic pioneers who have had an impact on the field of public relations in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Born in Colorado, Diana Munatones graduated with a B.A. and an M.A. in communications at Cal State Los Angeles.

In 1973, Munatones started her broadcast career at a CBS television station as host of "Bienvenidos" and co-host of "It Takes All Kinds." She became a reporter, associate producer, and host of "The Today Show." Munatones also went on to become an associate producer for the Emmy award-nominated "Noticiero Estudiantil," a staff teacher for the Emmy award-winning "Student News," and the host and producer of "Summer Faire" for the local PBS channel.

By 1977, Munatones was the highest-ranking Latina in broadcast management as the director of community broadcast relations for KNXT and director of special projects for CBS, Inc. She was also appointed to serve as a member of the Foreign Policy Advisory Commission under President Jimmy Carter. Munatones was well known for her involvement in many civic and religious groups and she helped raise money for people and organizations in need. Munatones died on March 18, 2012, in Arcadia, California at 66.
Patrick Thelen, Ph.D., APR, San Diego State University, Chief Research Editor, IPR Organizational Communication Research Center
This blog is provided by the IPR Organizational Communication Research Center.

The pandemic our world has endured over the past year and a half has dramatically transformed our lives. Not surprisingly, people are experiencing emotions such as outrage, anger, sadness, depression, emptiness, frustration, helplessness, and fear. The emotional stress caused by this reality has, without any doubt, played a role in bringing mental health and psychological well-being to the forefront of the conversation.

Given the turbulent times we are experiencing, it has become more critical than ever for organizations to gauge the psychological well-being of their employees and confirm that their concerns are being addressed. There are numerous variables that organizations can measure to make sure that their employees are not experiencing psychological well-being issues or mental health problems.

Organizations that seek to bolster perceptions of psychological safety among employees will create an environment where people are comfortable being themselves.

Mental Health America (MHA) explored the mental health challenges employees faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A survey of 5,030 employees was conducted from February 13 – September 9, 2020.

Key findings include:
  • 9 in 10 employees reported that their workplace stress affects their mental health.
  • 3 in 5 employees said they are not receiving adequate support from their supervisors to help manage stress.
  • 4 in 5 employees said they feel emotionally drained from their work, an early sign of burnout.
  • 56% of employees spent time looking for a new position in the past year compared to 40% in 2012.
  • Only 5% of employees "strongly agree" that their employer provides a safe environment for employees who live with mental illness.

EUPRERA examined a wide range of topics in the strategic communication and public relations industry in Latin America.

A survey of communication professionals in 20 countries was conducted.

Key findings include:
  • When it comes to managing ethical challenges, 89% of respondents place their personal values above the ethical guidelines from their organization or professional associations. 
  • 38% of those who work in the public sector claim not to have a crisis plan.
  • Respondents said the most relevant strategic topics moving forward are:
  • Digital evolution and the social web (39%)
  • Using big data and/or algorithms for communication (38%)
  • Exploring new forms of creating and distributing content (35%)

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