Pioneer: Ida Tarbell (1857-1944)
The Institute for Public Relations
IPR has partnered with The Museum of Public Relations during Women's History Month to feature some of the many female pioneers who had a positive impact on the field of PR

Ida Tarbell (1857-1944) was one of the Gilded Age's leading muckrakers and was a pioneer of investigative journalism.

Tarbell is best known for her 1904 book The History of the Standard Oil Company, in which she uncovered the illegal business practices that were being used by John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company. Tarbell's investigative journalism contributed to the dissolution of the Standard Oil monopoly and led to the creation of several federal legislative developments, including the creation of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Tarbell also wrote several other works and was known for taking complex subjects such as the oil industry, tariffs, and labor practices, and breaking them down into easily understood articles. She participated in numerous professional organizations for authors and served on Presidential committees for President Woodrow Wilson and President Warren G. Harding.

Read more to learn how Ida Tarbell redefined the power of the press.
Asia-Pacific Communication Monitor 2021
Asia-Pacific Association of Communication Directors, EUPRERA, Truscope, Nanyang Technological University, PRovoke
The Asia-Pacific Association of Communication Directors and industry partners explored current strategic issues, competency development, ethical challenges, and gender equality in the Asia-Pacific communication industry in this newly-released research study.

An online survey of 1,236 communication practitioners in Asia-Pacific was conducted from September to November 2020.

Key findings include:
  • 38% of respondents said "coping with the digital evolution and the social web" was the most important strategic issue for communication management until 2023. Other issues included:
  • 37% of respondents said "using big data and/or algorithms for communication"
  • 34% said "building and maintaining trust"
  • Leaders are confident about their business, management, and communication competencies, but ranked themselves equally to their subordinates in technology and data competence.
  • Ethical challenges are more common in governmental organizations (with 52% of respondents reporting "several ethical challenges") compared to other types of organizations.
  • Female communicators are predominant in all organizations, but female leadership is strongest in nonprofits (70% of leaders are female).

Read more to explore the state of the Asia-Pacific communication industry.
Assessing and Advancing Gender Equality
Angeles Moreno, Ph.D., President, European Public Relations Research and Education Association; Professor, University Rey Juan Carlos

In the last few years, the United Nations named gender equality the fifth of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Additionally, the #MeToo social movement brought deep-rooted gender discrimination issues back into the arena, specifically in the business environment.
 
Gender issues remain a particular concern in an industry where three-out-of-four departments and agencies in Europe employ more women than men, but still only one-out-of-two leaders are women. Over half of practitioners (55%) observe an improvement in gender equality in their country, but disagreement arises when it comes to evaluating how much has actually been done to support female practitioners: 50% of men believe enough has been done, while 45% of women disagree.

Annually the European Communication Monitor assesses female practitioners and gender issues in the profession. This year it evaluates how gender equality achievements are perceived.

Read the rest of Dr. Moreno's blog to see how advancing gender equality will impact the communication profession.
News is Losing Influence in the United States
Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center explored Americans' confidence and skepticism regarding news media.

A survey of 10,300 U.S. adults was conducted from February 18 to March 2, 2020 and a second survey of 13,200 U.S. adults was conducted from August 3 to 16, 2020.

Key findings include:
  • 48% of Americans said news organizations are "declining in influence," compared to 32% who believe they are "growing in influence."
  • 40% of Americans said the public has "too much" confidence in the news media.
  • 75% of respondents said confidence in news media could improve.
  • 48% of respondents had confidence in journalists to act in the public interest, lower than several other professions, but higher than elected officials (37%).

Read more to discover how news outlets are losing influence on Americans.
The State of Journalism 2021
Muck Rack
Muck Rack explored reporting, social media, habits, and preferences for working with public relations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A survey of 2,482 journalists was conducted from January 11 to February 8, 2021.

Key findings include:
  • 45% of respondents said they consult a company's social media when reporting on that company.
  • 70% of journalists said a story is more shareable when the "subject is connected to a trending story" and 64% said it is more shareable when it "contains an image or infographic."
  • 47% of journalists agree that the way most companies share information with the media is outdated.
  • 59% of respondents said their relationship with PR teams and people at PR agencies are "mutually beneficial, but not quite a partnership."

Read more to learn about journalists views of the profession in 2021.
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