Publics: The Heart of the Business
By Stephanie Tran, University of Maryland

The development of new technologies such as the iPad mini has provided communications professionals with modern and innovative channels to reach their publics.  

However, according to Jack Martin, Global Chairman and CEO of Hill + Knowlton Strategies, PR pros must beware of chasing gadgets.

Martin, a 40-year veteran within the political and public relations sphere, was the keynote speaker at the Fifth Annual Grunig Lecture hosted at the University of Maryland. He delivered a lecture on the democratization of data and focused on the use of measurements and research to communicate effectively with desired publics.

Surrounded by communications professionals and aspiring students, Martin stressed the importance of the industry through his "Fifth Seat" philosophy.

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Humility and Forgiveness in Politics

At the 2012 IPR Annual Distinguished Lecture and awards dinner, Dana Perino recounted her days as a Deputy Press Secretary at the White House. "The most important lesson I learned about politics in 8 years, and in communications in particular, was the leadership quality of forgiveness."

Dana Perino and Mark Penn, a former pollster to Bill Clinton, discussed the communication lessons learned from the 2012 Presidential election. Videos from the event are available on the IPR web site.

Perino continued, "I really think that probably the most important lesson I learned was politics is politics and when you get dealt a bad hand, the measure of you is how you deal with the loss and how you play that hand."