WATCH: President Mandy Pearse’s April video update

In April’s update to members, President Mandy Pearse reflects on a busy month dominated by discussions surrounding lobbying and our call for new regulations, as outlined in our lobbying position paper, published earlier in the month. The paper "outlines our view that legislation is needed to ensure that this important part of our democracy is carried out openly and transparently".

Mandy highlights two new member benefits; the launch of the PR Research fund - designed to support members in conducting critical research of PR practice - and our new skills guide, 'How to avoid PR disasters on Wikipedia’, which provides "essential reading" for PR practitioners in ensuring they "engage ethically” when using Wikipedia.  

Looking forward, Mandy encourages members to join our ‘Climate Change and the Role of PR’ conference, aimed at supporting PR practitioners in "advising their clients and organisations on how to tackle climate change".

April highlights: 

• We published new research on public perceptions of lobbyists and announced a new event with our Public Affairs Group. More here.  
• Our regional PRide Awards return in 2021 to celebrate the outstanding PR work across the UK. More here.  
• We welcomed the government's decision to investigate former Prime Minister David Cameron’s lobbying activities urged this to include a review of current lobbying legislation. More here.  
• We supporting Global Alliance’s 'Education and Training Month'. More here.  
• Our #AIinPR Panel partnered with the Page Society partner to launch the Global AI Literacy in Public Relations survey. More here.
• We welcomed three new Fellows during quarter one for their outstanding contribution to CIPR and the PR profession. More here. 

Keep an eye out for:  

• Our 'Climate Change and the Role of PR' conference, will support practitioners to better understand the “hugely important” role public relations can play in tackling climate change. More here.