Renewing Our Promise to Champion Diversity in Public Relations

Dean Mundy, Ph.D., University of Oregon

PR and communications professionals have an important role to play in seeing that there is a sustained focus on diversity in American life. Leaders should use strategic communication to mobilize social movement by reaching underrepresented groups.

New tools and technologies are providing a more powerful voice for diverse groups. Leaders can become advocates of these movements and influence others to follow.  Read more.

Five Tips for Practicing Public Relations in Asia

Kara Alaimo, Ph.D., Hofstra University

David Brain, President and CEO of Edelman's Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa business, notes that as the region's astonishing rate of economic growth has slowed in recent years. Local governments are under pressure to protect domestic businesses. "This can make them unpredictable towards businesses and brands, especially 'foreign' ones," Brain says. "So it's more important than ever to show your wider economic, social, and environmental contribution in this region."

One way to communicate your positive social impact is through mobile platforms. Brain said that because the average daily commute in Asia and the Pacific is one hour and many people spend this time on their phones, mobile strategies are a must for PR professionals. Read more.

Changing Organizational Cultures by Injecting New Ideologies 

J. B. Hamilton III, Ph.D., University of Louisiana-Lafayette and William A. Wines, Missouri Western State University

Organization culture is an organization's invisible, intangible, yet most powerful force. Occasionally, organizations will need to initiate a change of organization culture, at times when corporate, legal and ethical meltdowns create harm to companies and society.

Conventional wisdom suggests that a successful change of organization culture requires massive personnel layoffs, which is undoubtedly expensive in financial and human terms. However, a genuine change in organizational culture requires an empowered, autonomous, and well-funded ethics office to actively endorse the organizational change. Read more.