Canadian Public Relations Society Edmonton Chapter

Presentation to Grant MacEwan UniversityPublic Relations program

September 28, 2009

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Background

EducationEmploymentInvolvement with

Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS)

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What is public relations?

CPRS definition:

"the management function which evaluates public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or organization with the public interest, and plans and executes a program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance."

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Public relations practioner

CPRS definition: designs public attitude research assists organizations in interpreting and managing their

socio/political context designs and implements public affairs programs designs, manages and implements communications programs

or parts thereof, which use techniques such as news or trade media contact, newsletters or brochures, audio or audio-visual media, special events, public speaking, or other technical means of reaching and communicating with defined audiences or is a career teacher of public relations/communications at a post-secondary institution.

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Areas of work

Community Relations Fund Development Issues Management Publicity Special Events Employee Relations Consulting Government RelationsMarketing-

Communications

Corporate Communications

Investor Relations Industry Relations Media Relations Public Consultation Public Affairs Research Social Media

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Why join a professional organization?

NetworkingShare ideas/best practicesFind out about employment opportunitiesProfessional developmentVolunteer opportunities

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About CPRS

16 member societies in CanadaNational founded in 1948, incorporated in

1953CPRS Edmonton founded in 1963Member of the Global Alliance,

established in 2000 with 100,000 members on 5 continents

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CPRS membershipCode of Professional Standards, confidentiality/privacy/

conflict of interest declarations & CPRS Policy Statement Communications in Social Media

Professional development sessions (local, provincial, national)

e-newsletter (PR Edmonton)e-JoblineAccreditation (APR)Volunteerism Awards programs (Arété & national)LinkedIn and new CPRSEdmonton.ca site

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Benefits of student membership (Sept.-Aug.), student member extension

Student professional development sessions Networking benefits Areté Student Awards

(deadline end of March)

CPRS student membership

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Learn from mentors

“You’re more than a just a communicator. If you’re really good, you’re also a coach, counselor, comedian, confessor, and confidant. You’re a critical asset delivering guidance and direction. You’re in there as part of the team, giving all you know and value. And being that total, professional counselor brings a satisfying high that’s difficult to duplicate in any other way. So savor it, and grow as a result of it.”

Excerpt from “Ten key lessons I’ve learned during 40 years in PR”Bart J. Mindszenthy, APR, Fellow CPRS

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Joining CPRS Edmonton

Aric Johnson, Membership chair 780.410.4128aric.johnson@collegeofparamedics.org

www.cprsedmonton.cawww.cprs.cawww.twitter.com/cprsedmonton Student membership formwww.slideshare.net/dibegin