APRRI has hosted international public relations festivals for the past several years, even in the midst of increasing political turmoil. In an email interview, Amir Rastegar, Director of International Affairs and a member of IPRA, stated that the objectives of the festival include "promoting PR professionals, knowledge, introducing successful models, identifying the strength and weakness of public relations, creating healthy competition, persuading to conduct research in public relations and reinforcing writing and translation in this field of study."
The festival has brought together all types of people from the PR world, from students, to new professionals to seasoned practitioners and academics, Iranians, Americans, Spaniards, and others. They come to discuss and hear lectures about the latest research, writing, and translating projects, to exchange ideas, and to commend those who have made significant accomplishments in any of these areas. Other goals of the conference include "preparing the ground to prioritize research in the activities of PR offices and identifying talents in the field."
2009 Symposium Emphasized Public Relations and Social Capital
The 2009 symposium focused on the relationship between public relations and social capital. Fifty academic papers were submitted, and sixteen were chosen by the committee for presentations. The discussions emphasized dialogue and mutual respect as alternatives to aggression and violence. Some of the presenters applied the pursuit of social capital to relationships between nations, a fitting topic in this international setting. One American IPRA speaker discussed international public relations as a vehicle for public diplomacy, a means for improving international relations. While public diplomacy has historically been linked with propaganda, new methods, practices, and partnerships between the government and private sector are increasingly becoming tools of restoring and improving relationships between nations. From an American perspective, the question of the efficacy and relevance of democracy and free markets goes hand in hand with public diplomacy, creating a thin line between propaganda and dialogue.
Two professors were given Lifetime Achievement Awards at the symposium: Don Wright of Boston University and Antonio Noguero Grau of Spain.
The Future of PR in Iran
The inevitable question arises when discussing public relations in an Iranian context: how do efforts at peaceful dialogue coincide with powerful repressive elements in Iran's government? How will these international exchanges in highly publicized settings affect the relationship between the U.S. and Iran? Future articles in this series will explore these questions, and more. For now, the APRRI shows good faith in making these events happen. If nothing else, it's a start.
Sources
Email interview with Amir Rastegar, March 2, 2009.
Website of Arman Public Relations Research Institute
Website of International Public Relations Association
Laura Kaufmann - Laura Kaufmann is a marketing associate who earned her B.A. in English from Covenant College on Lookout Mountain, GA, and an M.A. from ...
