Public Relations Institute of Australia

Public Relations Institute of Australia
Established 1949
Type Professional association
Headquarters Sydney, Australia
Region served
 Australia
Membership
 3000
Key people
 Mike Watson, President
Ray Shaw, CEO
Website www.pria.com.au

The Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) is a peak body for public relations and communication professionals in Australia. It promotes high ethical standards in the public relations and communication industry through accredited membership, resources, training, and recognition.

PRIA was founded in 1949. It sponsors the open access Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal. The organisation is a member of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management

Projects

In 2014, PRIA projects included advising on lobbyist legislation, increasing the use of valid measurement in PR, and offering career development and professional support resources to practitioners.[1] PRIA also offers member training and professional development, runs a consultancy registration scheme, organises conferences and networking events, and presents annual awards for outstanding programs (the Golden Target Awards).[2][3]

Course accreditations

PRIA introduced accreditation of Australian public relations courses in the late 1980s and 1990s.[4] It identifies three core benefits to accreditation:[5]

PRIA continues to accredit courses for a five-year rolling period, but the Australian Government has not chartered the association and PRIA does not demand degrees from its members.[6]

Partnerships and sponsorships

When Deakin University began publishing the Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal in 1999, PRIA became a sponsor of the publication, and it continues its support today.[7]

PRIA is one of 25 founding members of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.[8]

In September 2014, PRIA announced a partnership with the International Special Events Society to enable PRIA members to earn professional development points by attending ISES events.[9]

History

When PRIA was established in 1949, Asher Joel was one of its founding members.[10]

PRIA established the annual Golden Target Awards in 1976, to recognise excellence in Australian public relations.[11] The University of Western Sydney's Ward Library is home to the winners collection which dates from 1998.[12]

Jon Bisset was appointed CEO of PRIA in July 2009,[13] departing in December 2012.[14]

When the Public Relations Council was formed in 2012, PR practitioners discussed whether Australia's PR industry was big enough for two peak bodies, generally concluding that the market could embrace both organisations.[15]

In 2013, PRIA announced a new membership structure breaking down organisational membership into four categories: government, corporate, not-for-profit, and tertiary education.[16]

In February 2014, Mike Watson was appointed president of PRIA.[17] At the same time as his appointment, the entire PRIA national board stepped down—with the exception of its Western Australian representative.[18] Watson told media he planned to take the organisation in a new direction.[19]

Past presidents

The following persons have been presidents of PRIA:

  • Terri-Helen Gaynor (2012–2013)
  • Nicholas Turner (2011–2012)
  • Robin Xavier (October 2009–2011)[20]
  • Tracy Jones (2008–2009)
  • Annabelle Warren (2005–2007)
  • Rob Masters (2003–2005)
  • Liz McLaughlin (2001–2003)
  • Jim Macnamara (1999–2001)
  • Marjorie Anderson (1992–1993)
  • Bill Mackey (1988)
  • Hat Myers (1981–1982)

References

  1. ↑ O'Sullivan, Neil (20 June 2014). "Ray Shaw to lead PRIA as new CEO". B&T. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014.
  2. ↑ Turnbull, Noel (2010), How PR works... but often doesn't (PDF), N.S. & J.S. Turnbull, p. 27, ISBN 978-0-646-53625-5, archived (PDF) from the original on 25 December 2014
  3. ↑ Freitag, Alan R.; Quesinberry Stokes, Ahsli (2009), Global Public Relations: Spanning Borders, Spanning Cultures, Routledge, p. 100, ISBN 0-203-89018-3
  4. ↑ Johnston, Jane; Macnamara, Jim (2013). "Public relations literature and scholarship in Australia: A brief history of change and diversification" (PDF). PRism 10 (1): 9.
  5. ↑ PRIA Accreditation for Educational Programs, PRIA, 2014, archived from the original on 23 September 2014
  6. ↑ Matchett, Stephen (14 July 2010). "The profession that dare not speak its name". The Australian.
  7. ↑ Journal Sponsorship, Deakin University, retrieved 2014-11-03
  8. ↑ Members: Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA), Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, retrieved 2014-11-03
  9. ↑ Gardiner, Emma (4 September 2014). "PRIA and ISES partnership explained". Spice News. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
  10. ↑ Sir Asher Joel, PRIA, archived from the original on 25 October 2014
  11. ↑ PRIA Golden Target Awards, Crowther Blayne & Associates 2014, archived from the original on 3 March 2014
  12. ↑ PRIA, Golden Target Award (GTA) past winners, PRIA, archived from the original on 29 October 2014
  13. ↑ "Jon Bisset is new boss of PR association". mUmBRELLA. 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "Jon Bisset departs PRIA". B&T. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Debate: Is Australian PR big enough for two industry bodies?, Marketing Mag, 6 November 2012, archived from the original on 5 July 2013
  16. ↑ Christensen, Nic (7 May 2013). "PRIA restructures membership of industry body". mUmBRELLA. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014.
  17. ↑ Christensen, Nic (10 February 2014). "Terri-Helen Gaynor out as PRIA president, replaced by Mike Watson". mUmBRELLA. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014.
  18. ↑ Christensen, Nic (11 February 2014). "PR industry body PRIA in 'turmoil' as national board resigns en masse". mUmBRELLA. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014.
  19. ↑ Drama and competing accusations at PR peak body, Crikey, 11 February 2014, archived from the original on 28 October 2014
  20. ↑ "PRIA welcomes new national president" (Press release). PRIA. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012.

External links

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