Current Issues & Trends in PR, from a student perspective

PR issues and trends are always going to be rotating, whether it is the use of media, political surroundings, ethical issues, social trends and so on. Here are a few that the students at The University of Greenwich came up with the other day.

• B2B shifting to B2P- the communication shift and relationship changing to the people and consumers rather down the business to business line as people are being put first.
• Companies become their own media- with many channels of communication being open to organizations and people therefore being able to own their media more, rather than delegating it off, such as social networks ( twitter, facebook pages).
  
• Increase in Media training for individuals/organizations, Misuse of Technology- Now the person has more control of what is said specifically written online, we need to know when to reply and to whom, what can be said and what is classed as sensitive (Good example; Nestle Facebook reply and comments).
• Transparency -More businesses are now letting the internal be external with most on show. This allowing us to tell apart the good and bad between them, who keeps information hidden and who fears nothing.
• Loss in Traditional Media- With the increase of smartphones, notebooks and touch pads media is inserting its self in different technology more accessible and ease of use for the public. Where will we be reading papers in 10 years time, the traditional paper newspapaer?
  
• Government Dominoes and Social Media- Egypt, Libya with the imprisonment of social networking. Who will fall next, North Korea, China?
  
• Influential Bloggers- The Public are now turning to their favorite bloggers to find information on current issues, lifestyle and general news. How no one can become some one with the power of writing. Who do you look for, for information, is it trustworthy source?
  
• PR being a main generator for money in a business- Some statistics now state how powerful PR is in any given business and brings in most of the money. PR constant grow and need within organizations.
  
• Being Unable to Define paid and earned media- Good or bad? When looking through a paper can you tell if the business has truly earned the space through good doings or simply paying someone.
  
• Social Networking, Less face to face- 6 Degrees of separation can be made more accessible through online networks, we can start conversations and relationships without meeting someone in person. (e.g. Linkedin) Keeping up relationships and in touch is no longer a letter or phone call but a quick message or comment.
  
• Ethical Guard- Are we forgetting our ethics and throwing them out of the window, not thinking before we right or talk, linking in with the loss of control.
  

(Nestle's losing battle)

What will be next, what are the next steps for Public Relations?