History
Background
The creation of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management came in a moment when a group of leaders from professional associations realized that Global trends and issues are affecting every profession and require global forums for discussing and adopting common positions.
More and more PR professional bodies exist and face similar challenges, benefiting from common strategies and resources. Transnational corporations increasingly trust the advice of PR professionals who need to share ideas and best practices, seek common interests and standards, and better understand the unique aspects of each culture in which they operate.
Many non-professionals say they are in PR but their actions are damaging our reputation as a profession. We need to show our professionalism by means of Global Standards enacted by national associations.
Formation
The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management was formally established in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 25 October, 2000 after a Public Relations World Congress sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America and the International Public Relations Association. More than 20 national and international associations were actively involved in the founding of this historic framework.
Landmarks
2003 – The first World Public Relations Festival was held in Rome, Italy, under the theme “Ethics in Public Relations”
2003 – Presentation of the Global Protocol on Public Relations Ethics
2004 – Launch of the PR Landscapes project, a series of profiles on how PR is practiced around the world
2004 – Presentation of the regulation study focusing on three countries with “hard legislation” about PR (Brazil, Panama and Nigeria) – supported by Edelman PR
2005 – Following the second World Public Relations Festival in Trieste, Italy, the Manifesto on “Public Relations and Diversity” is made available to the whole world
2005 – Partnership with Digital Management for the joint marketing of a State of the art communication and information management tool
2006 – Participation in the Rome World Congress on Communication for Development, promoted by the United Nations
2006 – Introduction of a joint initiative with the Executive Master in Communication Sciences of the University of Lugano to award GA Scholarships to non-Swiss students
2006 – Announcement of the “Letter of Brazil” following the third World Public Relations Festival in Brasília, Brazil
2007 – Presentation of the first Global Survey on the Economic Impact of the Profession of Public Relations
2007 – The fourth World Public Relations Festival is held in Cape Town, South Africa
2007 – Launch of the final Report on Professional Credentials for individuals, a study on accreditation schemes used by professional associations worldwide
2007 – The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication management hires an Executive Officer moving towards a more professional structure
2008 – Re-launch of the Global Alliance website making it one of the central resources for the on-line PR community
2008 – The fifth World Public Relations Conference and Festival takes place in London, UK
2008 - Global Alliance Center established at the Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
2010 - World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) 2010, Stockholm, Sweden
Current Chair of the Global Alliance
John Paluszek - USA - PRSA
Past Chairs of the Global Alliance
Colin Farrington - UK - CIPR
Deanna Pelfrey – USA – PRSA – Interim Chair
Toni Muzi Falconi – Italy – FERPI
Jean Valin – Canada – CPRS
Sejamothopo Motau – South Africa – PRISA
