Lugano, 18th May 2009 - Leading Public Relations industry associations and institutions in Switzerland joined forces in Zurich mid May to inaugurate the «Swiss Corporate Communication and Public Relations Observatory». The key industry representatives (BPRA, HarbourClub, SPRG, SPRI), together with the University of Lugano have created a joint instrument, with the aim of providing annual comprehensive data on the PR industry.

Industry polls and market surveys abound. At the same time, however, there is a lack of scientifically based information or broadly based market insight. Although the BPRA's poll amongst its Swiss PR agency members and the survey conducted by the Swiss PR Association Professional Register contain highly relevant information thanks to the fact that they have been conducted annually for several years, these research findings cannot be transferred representatively across all areas of the PR industry.

Initiative from Lugano

The University of Lugano's (USI), Institute of Marketing and Communication Management, has now responded together with members of the industry and developed a unified survey tool. The «Swiss Corporate Communication and Public Relations Observatory» was spearheaded by Prof. Francesco Lurati, supported by the Swiss Public Relations Institute (SPRI) and the leading industry associations SPRG, BPRA and HarbourClub (Association of Swiss Chief Communications Officers), with main sponsor Trimedia Communications Switzerland.

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