Last week, I attended the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) conference in San Francisco to gain insights into the research shaping our profession. The theme of the 4-day event this year, “Global Bridges,” was attended by journalism and mass communication educators, researchers and practitioners from around the world.
At AEJMC, I attended a session featuring a panel of leaders on the topic of big data. The models they shared will greatly influence my upcoming work with IPR’s Measurement Commission as we begin the initial phases of a white paper on big data and the profession.
IPR’s leading researchers attended the conference and had a strong presence on the panels, presenting on a wide range of research topics vital to the field. Tina McCorkindale, Ph.D., CEO & president of IPR, and Marcia DiStaso, Ph.D., director of Social Science of Social Media Research Center at IPR, were part of a panel on Paid, Owned, Earned (POE) and strategies for teaching traditional, digital, social native advertising/branded content, big data and analytics. Don Wright, Ph.D., Harold Burson professor and chair in public relations at Boston University, led sessions on credibility and the reputation of public relations, crisis communication, and societal roles of public relations. Bruce Berger, Ph.D., professor emeritus at the University of Alabama, spoke about developing global leaders and best practices for helping students develop imperative leadership skills. IPR sponsored a pre-conference event and co-sponsored the AEJMC Public Relations Division social along with Arthur W. Page society and other organizations.
As IPR’s Director of Research, the conference provided a great opportunity to determine both the trends in PR and what is most relevant in the realm of research. IPR’s leading academics and practitioners were able to share their latest findings and strengthen our commitment to developing results that matters to the practice.
Sarab Kochhar, Ph.D., is the Director of Research at the Institute for Public Relations.
