Marcia Watson, a doctoral student in the School of Communication at the University of Miami, is the winner of the 2004 Ketchum Excellence in Public Relations Research Award. The announcement was made today by Jack Felton, president and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations.
Ms. Watson’s winning research study will investigate what and how public relations practitioners interact in financial communication. She recently received her Master of Arts degree in mass communication/public relations from the University of South Florida in Tampa. In her first career, Ms. Watson worked at an investment management firm.
Ms. Watson’s faculty advisor is Dr. Derina Holtzhausen, associate professor, public relations, School of Mass Communication, University of South Florida.
Sponsored by Ketchum, the worldwide public relations agency, in cooperation with the Institute for Public Relations, the award consists of a $2,500 study grant to the winning student and a $7,500 eight-week internship with Ketchum in New York City.
David Rockland, Global Director of Research for the agency, said Ketchum sponsors the award each year to “promote, foster and assist in the development of new research in public relations.” Institute for Public Relations president and CEO Jack Felton added, “We believe this year’s study will make a significant contribution to the field of financial communication.”
All proposed research projects were judged for practical as well as theoretical value. The competition’s judges included Graham Hueber, director of research operations, Ketchum; David Rockland, Ketchum; Michelle Hinson, director of development, Institute for Public Relations; and PR Research and Measurement Specialist Walter K. Lindenmann, Ph.D.
Trent Seltzer, a Ph.D. candidate in the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida, was runner up in the nationwide competition.
The Institute for Public Relations (IPR) was founded in 1956 as the Foundation for Public Relations Research and Education. IPR is dedicated to improving the professional practice of public relations around the world and encouraging academic and professional excellence in the field of public relations.
The IPR includes the Commission on Public Relations Measurement and Evaluation which is widely regarded as the pre-eminent source of best practices and advocacy for research and evaluation. IPR’s work is funded entirely through contributions, and all publications and research studies are provided free on its website, instituteforpr.org.
