Juan-Carlos Molleda, UF College of Journalism and Communications’ Department of Public Relations Chair and Trustee of the Institute for Public Relations, was the keynote speaker of the opening plenary at the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management’s (GA) Research Colloquium on Sunday, Sept. 21, in Madrid, Spain.
The Global Alliance started its operations in 2002. It is the world’s largest confederation with a secretariat in Lugano, Switzerland, that represents, unites, provides development resources, ands advocates for national and regional professional associations and institutional members of the public relations and corporate communication field.
The name of Molleda’s keynote address was “What can professionals and scholars learn from each other?” He is also the chair of the Colloquium session “Developing conversations in a globalized world.”
“I discussed the virtues of comparative research and how communication technologies are allowing academics and professionals to work together on conducting multinational studies and contributing to the body of knowledge and strategic practices,” Molleda said. “I explained methodological challenges and theoretical contributions for an evolving and expanding global profession and area of study.”
Molleda will also act as chair of the professional session “Values” at the 8th GA World Public Relations Forum. The confederation of the world’s public relations and communication professional associations and institutions hosts this event every two years. The host association is Dircom, the Spanish Association of Communication Directors.
At the Global Alliance’s Research Colloquium and World Public Relations Forum in 2012, delegates from 30 countries agreed on a vision of the communicative organization with three key roles for public relations and communication: The definition of organizational character and values; the creation of cultures of listening and engagement; and the instilling of responsibility in all its dimensions – individual, professional, organizational and societal.
This year, delegates representing 62 countries in the 2014 Forum in Madrid continue this conversation on the gathering theme: “Communication with conscience.”
“The outcome of the 2014 Forum centers on the key principles of communicative leadership: How can communication help organizations become leading actors? How can public relations and communication professionals play leading roles in this transformation? What personal journeys have leading communicators had to get them to leadership roles?” Molleda said.
