EUPRERA StrategyHistorical Perspective

Historical Perspective

• From 1959 to 2009: half a century of European PR history

• From CERP to EUPRERA

1959

1961

1970

1980

’80-’85

’86-’89

1989

1990

1991

1993

1995

1996

’96-’98

1998

1999

19992000

20012002

20032004

20052006

20072008

2009

1959

Foundation of “Centre Européen des Relations Publiques” (CERP) in Orléans (France)

"On a souvent tort d’avoir raison trop tôt, mais on a toujours tort d’avoir raison trop tard".

1961

Second congress of “International Public Relations Association” (IPRA): Lucien Matrat (Code of Athens, ‘65) suggests to found the “Conférence Internationale de l’Enseignement Universitaire des Relations Publiques” (CIEURP: International Conference on University Education for Public Relations)

« Les relations publiques sontla stratégie de la confiance »

1970

“Cercle Européen d’étude des techniques de Relations Publiques et de Communication” (CEDET) emanating from CERP wants to cover all PR Education in Europe; CIEURP targeted European university programmes only.

1980

•CIEURP ceases•Besides CEDET, 2 more groups

within CERP: – CEDAN « Conférence Européenne

des Associations Nationales de Relations Publiques » &

– CEDAP “Comité Européen d’Application et de Développement des Relations Publiques “ (CEDAP1= PR consultants and CEDAP 2= internal PR)

’80-’85

•CERP aims the recognition of PR as a profession in Europe;

•Education is neglicted; •CEDET’s president is a

practitioner; •Stagnation of membership

(about 200); •First linguistic unbalance

(English vs French)

’86-’89

CEDET becomes the major chapter and creates “Confédération Européenne des Etudiants en Relations Publiques” (CEERP – which becomes CERP Students in Nov. ’89 – PRime nowadays)

1989

•Research merges and takes its place besides Education;

•Spring ’89: decision to organise a “Teach the Teachers” conference in ’90

•CERP conference in Brussel in parallel with conference in Ghent “about PR Research”

1989

•November ’89, Strasbourg: “Conféderation Européenne des Relations Publiques” is restructured in 3 autonomous parts:

•CERP Consultants (CEDAP 1),•CERP PRO ( PR Officers, CEDAP

2), & •CERP Education (CEDET)

1990

•“Public Relations in the future. From theorie to practice”. (To teach the teachers)

•First European Seminar for PR teachers, practitioners and researchers

•150 participants in the European College

•Launch of “Newsletter” & “Data Review”

Bruges, 1-3 Nov.

1991

First edition of “Survey of full time study programmes in Public Relations in Europe” : 130 PR programmes in 14 European countries (EduInfo)

Jos Willems and Joost Buysschaert discuss a project blueprint for converting the CERP's Glossary of Public Relations terms in Seven Languages (ed. M. Nally, Published by Hollis Directories) to a database that respects the rules of modern terminography.

1993

“Communication Management; The Role of Public Relations in Organisational Communication”.

Second European Seminar for PR Teachers, Practitioners and Researchers

Prague, 6-8 May

1995

“Nothing is as practical as a good theory”.

Outcome of workshops’ analysis: practitioners do use theories when solving communication problems but cannot identify them as ‘theories’.

Under the aegis of CERP Education, the Glossary becomes: Electronic Dictionary of Communication Terminology (ELeCT).

Maastricht, 26-29 Oct.

1996

“Public Relations and Culture” International CERP Conference

Including a Research Seminar (Theme: Corporate Social Responsibility – and Conflict) & an Education Seminar (Theme: Teaching Public Relations in the Future)

Discussion: link with CERP

Decision of 1 working language: English

Copenhagen, 24-26 Oct.

’96-’98

•CERP EDUCATION becomes CERP EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (CER)

•CERP PRO disappears•CERP Consultants less active

1998

CERP EDUCATION AND RESEARCH becomes “European Association for Education and Research in Public Relations”CERP Education Award becomes the Jos Willems Award

1999

“European Association for Education and Research in Public Relations” defines:

– EBOK (European Body of Knowledge)

– Co-operation with BledCom– Annual conferences (instead of

every 2/3 years)

1999

“Transnational Communication in Europe: Practice and Research.”

RelaunchNew dynamic

‘Transnational Communication in Europe’, eds Barbara Baern – Juliana RauppVistas – ISBN 3-89158-288-9

Berlin, 28-31 Oct.

2000

•“Public Relations for non-profit organisations”

•The GA decides to become autonomous from CERP

•EUPRERA is born

Milan, 1-2 Dec.

2001

“Public Relations Education in Europe. Looking for new inspirations”• White Paper (Gerhard Bütschi)• First edition of ELeCT, the Electronic Lexicon of Communication Terminology

Warsaw, 25-28 Oct.

2002

“The Status of Public Relations Knowledge in Europe and around the world”. • EUPRERA congress in conjunction with the International PR Symposium BledCom•The Bled Manifesto on Public Relations, Betteke van Ruler – Dejan VercicISBN 961-90484-4-x

Bled, 4-7 July

2003

“Communicating Change.”

•Euprera Jos Willems Awards: BAchelor and MAster dissertations

Talinn, 9-14 Sept.

2004

“Public Relations and the Public Sphere; (New) Theoretical Approaches and Empirical Studies.”• White Paper (Günter Bentele)• Second edition of ELeCT, dubbed ELeCT 2.0.

Leipzig, 23-26 Sept.

2005

“New Challenges for Public Relations.”• Strategy: debate• Statutes: new statutes approved•Proceedings: “New Challenges for Public Relations”, Eds. José Viegas Soares - Mafalda Eiro-Gomes ISSN: 1645-7943

Lisbon, 10-13 Nov.

2006

“Public Relations & Social Software: Meeting the challenges of Weblogs, Podcasts, Wikis and RSS.”• First Spring Symposium• Impact of Social Media on Public Relations•www.euroblog2006.org

Stuttgart, March

2006

“Strategic Communication in a Multi-Cultural Context”•Euprera: The European Forum for Innovation in Public Relations•Announcement of Euprera Günter Thiele Award (PhD Award)

Carlisle, 6-9 Sept.

2007

•“Social Software: a Revolution for Communication?Implications and Challenges for Public Relations, Journalism and Marketing”•Second Spring Symposium•www.euroblog2007.org

Ghent, March

2007

“Interrelation between organisations and societies: responsibilities, legitimacy and its process, position of PR/communication in this perspective ”•European Communication Monitor•First Euprera Günter Thiele Award (PhD)•First PhD Seminar

Roskilde/Lund, 26-29 Sept.

2008

•“Social media and the future of PR: New ideas, new research, new business ”•Third Spring Symposium•www.euroblog2008.org

Brussels, March

2008

“Institutionalising Public Relations and Corporate Communication ”•New structure•New statutes•Second PhD Seminar•Third edition of ELeCT•European Communication Monitor

Milan, 16-18 Oct.

2009

•Fourth Spring Symposium

Venue to be confirmed, March

2009

•“Corporate Citizens of the Third Millenium Towards a Shared European Perspective”•Second Euprera Günter Thiele Award (PhD)•Third PhD Seminar

Bucarest, 23-26 Sept.

2010

“Communication in a Changing Society”• Fourth PhD Seminar

Jyvaskyla, 23-26 Sept.