The Institute for Public Relations is offering grants to encourage new research about diversity and public relations practice.
“This research program will focus on the science beneath the art of relationships with diverse constituents, communicating with diverse audiences, through diverse means, to support the value of diversity,” said Frank Ovaitt, President and CEO of the Institute.
Funded by an initial contribution from ConAgra Foods, Inc., the Institute is seeking proposals from scholars and professionals for grant awards of $1,000 to $10,000 to fund studies in this area. The online application form and more information can be found at instituteforpr.org.
“Public relations is fundamentally about managing relationships for institutions, and how we identify and communicate with diverse groups is critical to success,” said Michael Fernandez, a Trustee of the Institute who was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for ConAgra Foods, and now Vice President-Corporate Communications & External Relations for State Farm Insurance.
“But the core notion of diversity itself is different and changing. This will have profound implications for the messages we craft and the public relations tools we use for years to come. The goal of this research effort is to make sure that the profession is adequately prepared to meet the challenges ahead,” Fernandez added.
As an independent nonprofit foundation dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations, the Institute exists to build and document research-based knowledge in the field of public relations, and to mainstream this knowledge into practice. Thus, proposals that offer strong prospects for serving the needs of working public relations professionals as well as academics will have the best chance of receiving a grant.
