A message from Justin Green, President & CEO, Global Alliance for Public Relations & Communication Management
Ladies and gentlemen, we are living in extraordinary times, and that only makes it all the more important that we take stock as we begin a new year.
While the fast-changing picture around COVID-19 means none of us can look forward with complete confidence to the year ahead, I certainly see grounds for optimism.
The resilience that our profession has shown gives us reason to look forward with hope and measured confidence.
While there are certainly issues of equity around how vaccines have been deployed globally, they are making a clear difference in stemming the tide of COVID-19, and especially in reducing the risk of an extreme outcome for those who are infected.
When one considers the other great challenge of our times – the climate emergency.
There are again some first signs that political leaders and societies are finally seeing global warming as the grave danger that it is.
This acceptance is the first step on the road to recovery, and to taking the actions necessary to avoid the worst of possible outcomes for our fragile planet.
What both COVID-19 and the climate crisis have in common, is the pivotal role that communications and public relations professionals play, in sharing verified information and in fighting the disinformation, that social media has been a huge accelerant for.
Whether it be at the frontline of healthcare, or in promoting environmental sustainability, our peers and colleagues are doing vital work each day that is making a real difference.
As President, I could not be more proud of the more than 320,000 professionals and academics across over 120 countries who make up our Global Alliance membership.
How you have worked through the challenges of the last two years is something that you should reflect on with pride.
You are part of a special group whose work every day helps people to better connect and understand each other.
This is noble work and the skills you bring have seldom been more needed than they are today.
From a Global Alliance perspective, we have redoubled our efforts over the last 24 months to fine-tune our member offering so that we continue to add value and stay relevant.
While the continuous improvement journey goes on, the feedback from members suggests we are great making progress. There is a particular appreciation for how we have added content, and built useful online resources, that are accessible anywhere at any time.
Through 2021, we continued to focus on key themes.
For instance, November was Student & Young Practitioner Month, as we put the spotlight on the emerging professionals, who will lead our sector forward.
December was Best of Education & Training Month, and we continue to offer a wide range of free education and training programmes that you can learn more about at globalalliancepr.org
As we start the new year, I encourage you to consider how you can contribute to and benefit from Ethics Month in February, and Global Trends & Communications Transformation Month in March.
In looking to 2022, I also encourage you to stretch and challenge yourself – make this your year.
Don’t sell yourself or your profession short.
You provide strategic counsel that leaders need, and you apply all of your communications armoury to build a two-way bridge between them and their audiences.
So, wherever you play on the communications and public relations team globally, and whatever point your career has reached to date, think big and aim high in the year ahead.
Set no limit on your ambition and don’t allow others to!
Our work was seldom more relevant than in today’s information and misinformation blizzard.
Through ethical leadership and with a clear focus on diversity and inclusion, we can build an even stronger profession. A profession to be proud of, and a profession that is recognised for its positive social and economic contribution.
My parting word to you, is to encourage you to also proactively manage your health and wellbeing in the months and years ahead. It’s a cliché that health is wealth but it is also very true.
Mind yourselves – if you need help, don’t be afraid to reach out for it.
Similarly, look out for family and friends around you, and be mindful that times can be tough for even the most confident-seeming people.
I wish you and yours a year of health and happiness. So please mind yourself and take care.
Thank you,
Justin Green, Hon. Life Fellow APRA, Hon. Life Fellow PRSK, Life Fellow PRII, Hon. Life Fellow ABERJE, Hon. Life Fellow ASEAN, Hon. Life Fellow PRGC, Hon. Life Fellow EIC, Hon. Life Fellow SCCECRL, Hon. Life Fellow APCE, Hon. Life Fellow PIC, Hon. Life Fellow TPRA, Hon. Life Fellow FERPI, Hon. Life Fellow ARPPR.
President & CEO, Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management