The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), the country’s premier organization for communication and PR professionals,reaffi...
The Public Relations Society of the
Philippines (PRSP), the country’s premier organization for communication and PR
professionals,reaffirms its position on the proliferation of fake news and how
best to combat misleading propaganda as it celebrates the National PR Month
this September. Themed “One for Truth,”this year’s activities underline the
organization’s call to unity in support of truth amid the age of disinformation.
Now on its 61st year, PRSP continues to
uphold its precept of “conducting all activities in full accordance with the
accepted standards of trust, objectivity, accuracy and good taste.”The
organization recognizes the need for concrete steps against false information
all the more so today with the advent of new technologies and platforms that
provide quick access to information anywhere, anytime.
“The new media has empowered
democracies all over the world through its amplification of free speech. Unfortunately,
some are abusing this communication innovation for interests that benefit them
solely. The rise of propaganda machinations online such as trolls and
lie peddlers is tearing societal fabric as we know it. This makes it even more
crucial for communicators such as PR professionals to continue championing
authenticity and accuracy. We must try to make truth everybody’s
business,”shared PRSP President Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, APR.
One
for Truth: Leading in upholding the truth
PRSP’s lineup of activities for the
2018 National PR Month asserts the organization’s position on the fake news
epidemic in the country. The different events hope to gather together and unify
communication practitioners and aspirants in the pursuit of truth, particularly
in the practice of communication.
Kick-starting the September celebration
is the General Membership Meeting on September 6.Themed “Humanizing
Communication: The Role of PR in Building Real Connections in Today’s Virtual
World,” the event will gather PR professionals to reiterate the organization’s
position on digital revolution and its impact on public relations and
relationship building.Marc Ha, managing director APAC Client Strategy of
Text100,a global marketing communications firm, is coming to the Philippines to
share his insights on the evolution of public relations in the age of
communication digitalization.
The PR Congress,set for September 27
to28, will gather seasoned public relations and communication practitioners such
as Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management Chairperson José Manuel
Velasco, Institute of Corporate
Directors CEO Dr. Alfredo Pascual and Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice
Antonio Carpioto discuss the
latest trends and issues concerning the PR industry. The 25th Congress, themed “Truth
or Trolls: PR in the Age of Disinformation,”will also tackle ethics and
governance in PR, identifying fake news, battling bashers, metrics for PR and
other trends impacting the PR landscape.
“The National PR Congress is not only
an avenue for sharing innovative and effective communication practices but also
a space for spurring conversation about matters that concern the industry and
the nation as a whole. The Congress will reevaluate the role of PR in building
trust and communicating the truth in today’s society,” shared National PR
Congress Chair Cherie Mijares, APR.
The exhibit, which will run concurrent
with the Congress, will showcase the rich history of PRSP, highlighting the organization’s
milestones and contributions across its more than six decades of history.
Capping off the month-long celebration
on September 29 is Professional Development 2018, which hopes to bring together
local communication practitioners to discuss global trends with foreign
industry professionals from the Global Alliance of Public Relations and
Communication Management. The event will be spearheaded by PRSP Director
Bernard Bagaman.
National PR Month 2018 Chairperson Ana
Pista shares how this year’s events put PR professionals at the forefront of
today’s battle for truth. “PR practitioners are storytellers of different
brands and organizations. We at PRSP make sure that we inculcate in our members
and other PR aspirants the need to have truth as the backbone of whatever
message we send across,” said Pista.
Established in 1957, PRSP continues to
be the guiding body of Filipino communicators and PR practitioners. More than
just highlighting its role in promoting truth, PRSP hopes that this year’s
celebration of the National PR Month will also make content scrutiny the
public’s responsibility and media literacy a government priority.
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