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Two thirds of public relations practitioners in the Channel Islands think digital communications will be a key growth area for the industry locally, according to a recent ‘snapshot’ survey.
Members of the Channel Islands Group of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) were surveyed about the future of the industry ahead of the inaugural ‘Channel Islands PR Forum 2015: Future Reputations’ event, taking place in Guernsey next Thursday (24 September).
The survey also revealed that nearly two thirds of Channel Islands practitioners think that local businesses need to focus more on the international context of their work and their digital communication capabilities.
The Forum, which will explore the trends shaping the future communications landscape globally, will feature a diverse line-up of visiting speakers from digital, international and academic PR practice including Paul Mylrea, ex-director of communications at the BBC, and current CIPR President, Sarah Pinch.
Digital communication will be a central theme of the Forum with a panel session featuring Stuart Bruce (principal of Stuart Bruce Associates), Steve Dunne (CEO of Digital Drums) and Andrew Bruce Smith (managing director of Escherman) debating the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving digital communications environment.
Meanwhile, the Forum is also part of the CIPR’s national Ethics Month programme - a series of events designed to give PR professionals the opportunity to reflect on their ethical responsibilities as practitioners and educate CIPR members and the wider PR profession on key ethical issues impacting the industry.
Adam Riddell, Chair of the CIPR Channel Islands Group, said: “It’s clear that digital communications is a key focus for the local PR industry at the moment and increasing expertise and understanding in this fast moving area is extremely important. The Channel Islands PR Forum will give local practitioners the opportunity to discuss this and other key issues impacting the future of PR with their peers and a line-up of industry experts. Professionalism and ethics are also hot topics for the industry at the moment, and they will very much be on the agenda.
“I’m also delighted that we’ll be welcoming a number of media studies students and potential future PR leaders from the Grammar School in Guernsey at what should be a unique opportunity to discuss the major issues impacting our industry’s future.”
The ‘Channel Islands PR Forum: Future Reputations’ conference, for which BL Magazine is media partner and Orchid are sponsor, takes place at the i2 offices in St Peter Port, Guernsey from 12.30pm – 5pm on 24September.
