World PR Day Webinar by Makhanlal Chaturvedi Univ. addresses emerging PR trends and Challenges squarely

Bhopal: A lively  webinar organised by  Makhanlal Chaturvedi University of Journalism and Communication (MCU),  Bhopal  on World Public Relations Day   (July 16) turned out to be a refreshing experience for the PR practitioners and students alike. With appropriate topic The Future of PR in a Changing World  addressed  by veteran PR professionals Suresh Gaur (renowned PR Guru, India and World Record Holder and promotor of Blog PR Online) , MCU Vice Chancellor Prof. KG Suresh was convened  by Prof. Pavitra Shrivastava (HoD Deptt. of Advtg. & PR at MCU) highlighted the emerging trends in Public Relations;  its role beyond image management to reputation management and fire-fighting for the corporates viz-a-viz the hazardous quagmire of social media,  overtaking information management through speed and its style.

The keynote speaker Dr. Suresh Gaur underlined the four features of  PR as Technology, Trust, Content and Social Responsibility,  based on the orginal postulates of communication, the  4Ws.  As effective PR Communication has assumed a major function for the success of any enterprise; its content, trust and delivery (including mode and speed) play a very significant role in communication with consumers, clients and end-users.  With advent of worldwideweb  (www) the social media exercises tremendous impact and precedence before  the official PR communication reaches the target users/beneficaries.

Vice Chancellor Prof. KG Suresh narrated an incident, how the delay in communication by the MCU about an appointment  (due to ECI code)   gave a free field for social media operators and forced the University to bring in PR team   immediately in   fire-fighting mode.

PR veteran GS Bawa (Trainer, Mentor and avid writer on PR and Communication and founder member of PRS Delhi)  endorsed the views on PR communication through social media and its importance in today’s public relations. Veteran PR person Shraddha Prasad also gave her inputs on future of PR and challenges ahead.

Importance of mode of PR communication and speed, were also highlighted during discussion, apart from the quality of content during damage control operations by the corporate.

The webinar was attended by thousands of  students of the University apart from PR professionals.