The Los Angeles Area Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is comprised of more than 500 public relations professionals representing many L.A.-area corporations, public relations agencies, independent practitioners, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.
Our diverse membership benefits from PRSA-LA's educational and networking opportunities, as well as services such as job listings, referral programs, internship opportunities, chapter meetings and other resources.
Milestones
1948
PRSA-LA incorporated as one of PRSA's first five founding chapters. Bob Roberts elected first chapter president.
1955
PRSA-LA hosts the national PRSA Annual Conference. More than 1,100 PR pros attend at the Ambassador Hotel.
1964
PRSA-LA holds the first annual PRism Awards competition and banquet.
1965
PRSA-LA elects its first woman president, Pat Penney.
1970
PRSA-LA Executive Director Barbara Shore is hired to run the chapter's day-to-day operations - a position she still holds 38 years later.
1985
PRSA-LA awards the first Joseph Roos Award to recognize PR professionals who have demonstrated extraordinary community service.
1988
PRSA-LA members Eric Stoltz and Tom Trevett form PRSA's first Young Professionals (YP) section.
1989
PRSA-LA awards the first Don Perkins Grant to fund PR services for worthy nonprofit organizations.
1990
PRSA-LA and the Annenberg School for Communication hold the first Kenneth Owler Smith (KOS) Symposium named after the beloved USC professor.
2003
PRSA-LA holds its first IPG (Independent Practitioners Group) Meeting.
2004
PRSA-LA Board Member Dawn Wilcox, APR stages the first Quality Time with PR Minds event and creates a model program for assisting nonprofits that is emulated by other PRSA chapters.
2008
PRSA-LA Celebrates its 60th Anniversary with the largest gathering of past presidents in the chapter's history. More than 20 past presidents chronicle their recollections about the history of the chapter.
Please send submissions to L.A. Connect Editor
Erik Deutsch at
or Assoc. Editor Philip Sokoloski at
.
Dear PRSA-LA Member,
What would you do if a producer from the new CBS reality series "Undercover Boss" wanted your CEO or client to be featured in an upcoming episode?
Having seen episodes where the president of Waste Management sorted recyclables and the CEO of Hooters filled buckets of wing sauce, how could you persuade your boss to appear on the show? Reality TV is unpredictable, and such an appearance could expose the company to a PR debacle that turns away customers. But if you think it would be a PR coup, how would you make the business case for such coverage?
Membership in PRSA gives you access to tools that can help you answer the tough questions your company's senior executives are likely to ask in such situations. For example, the recently launched Business Case for Public Relations toolkit is a uniquely worthwhile resource. It includes essays, white papers, data and measurement tools to help you demonstrate the value of PR to senior management and get the greenlight to pursue key opportunities -- even those as unusual as "Undercover Boss."
If you're not a PRSA-LA member, it's easy to join and gain access to such resources. In March, there's even more incentive, as PRSA will run a promotion that pays your first year local chapter dues. That's an $80 savings for new members. Visit www.PRSALA.org and click on "membership" for more info.
Eric Moses, PRSA-LA President Director, Communications & Public Affairs
Occidental Petroleum Corp.
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1 Night.
5 Locations.
Unlimited Networking!
ConneXions Mixers Return March 3rd!
L.A. is a very big place. That's why PRSA-LA will hold its next ConneXions Networking Mixer at multiple area locations on March 3rd.
The series of mixers will be held simultaneously at five different area hotspots, including venues in Long Beach, Pasadena, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood and Santa Monica.
They're free to attend, and guests will have an opportunity to network, meet PRSA-LA's leadership, learn about the organization and win some great door prizes.
Please RSVP directly to the host at the location you wish to attend. Click here for details.
Sponsored by:
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"State of the State of PR" Wrap-Up
Photo: Panelists (from left) Frank Mottek of KNX-AM, Fred Muir of Rose & Kindel, Patricia Fregoso-Cox of Time Warner Cable, Dani Dudeck of MySpace, Eric Moses of Occidental Petroleum Corp. (PRSA-LA President), Josh Gertler of Consensus Inc., and Colleen Haggerty of Bank of America
This year's installment of PRSA-LA's annual "State of the State of PR" event was held on January 27th at the Omni Hotel. The focus was on what lies ahead for L.A. PR pros and the industry as a whole in 2010.
About 120 PRSA-LA members and guests attended the panel discussion, which was moderated by Frank Mottek, host of the KNX Business Hour. The panel featured Dani Dudek from My Space, Patricia Fregoso-Cox from Time Warner Cable, Colleen Haggerty from Bank of America, Fred Muir from Burson-Marsteller and Josh Gertler from Consensus, Inc.
The discussion began with frank talk about the difficulties agencies continue to face retaining clients amid the economic downturn. The panelists agreed that while such challenges will remain in 2010, there will be cause for hope as the year progresses, so long as PR pros are willing to fight for their rightful place at the table (whether it's with clients or in-house management).
Of course the panelists touched on the rise of online social media and the decline of traditional media. There was consensus that the traditional media business will get worse before it gets better.
Other hot topics covered include how to adapt to the social media frenzy, and how to deal with the crises that can emanate from this brave new world.
by Cassio Trevisani, PR Manager, Hair & Compounds, Inc
Event sponsored by:
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PRSA New Member Promotion
March-April is a great time to join (or rejoin)
Want to enhance your career, expand your network or find your next job? PRSA can help you achieve these goals, and there has never been a better time to join!
PRSA offers three levels of membership. Simply visit the Membership Section on PRSA's Web site and select the type that best matches your experience in the field.
During March and April, those who join PRSA National at the "Member" level are eligible for a year of free membership in their local chapter (an $80 value for the Los Angeles Area Chapter). While you're at it, also consider adding a Professional Interest Section to your membership. PRSA offers 16 Professional Interest Sections, and enrollment is open to all members.
PRSA membership can help you:
Stay on top of emerging trends and industry news
Meet colleagues, engage with experts and receive professional support
Learn about new business/job leads
Enjoy member-only benefits, including discounts on professional development seminars, conferences and events
Participate in industry leadership and awards programs
Accelerate your career at any level
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Did you know that PRSA-LA has 16 different committees that offer members a range of leadership opportunities? Becoming actively involved with one or more of these committees is a great way for you to increase your business network, gain new professional skills and develop lasting relationships. You can view a list of committee descriptions (along with board liaison contact info) on the PRSA-LA Web site.
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Paid Advertisement
Featured Company/Event
LA Media Training Seminar on March 6th!
If you or your clients are in need of media training but can't find the budget, this seminar is for you!
For more than a decade, MediaWorks Resource Group has provided best-in-class private media training for Los Angeles area companies. Now MediaWorks is offering a rare full-day seminar specifically for individuals.
Mark Bernheimer - MediaWorks' founder/principal (and former CNN correspondent) - will put you through your paces with hyper-realistic on-camera interview drills customized just for you.
Enrollment is limited. Sign up before Wednesday, March 3rd to get your $50 PRSA-LA discount! For more information, visit the seminar Web site.
Do you or a colleague have professional news to share? Did you get promoted or receive an honor or award? Did your agency win new business? If so, let us know so we can share the good news with your fellow PRSA-LA members.
Please e-mail info to L.A. Connect Editor Erik Deutsch at
or Assoc. Editor Philip Sokoloski at
.
Bravo Scores Earth Day Gig
Long Beach-based Bravo Productions has been selected to produce an ambitious Earth Day celebration for the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. The free interactive event will help the public learn how to conserve natural resources and protect the environment. The Sanitation Districts are a confederation of 24 independent agencies working cooperatively to serve the wastewater treatment and solid waste management needs of 5.3 million L.A. County residents. Bravo Partner Greg Jenkins, APR expects the event on April 17th to attract more than 4,000 people.
Wolcott Tapped for Water District Project
The Wolcott Company of Santa Clarita has been hired by the Foothill Municipal Water District to conduct a public outreach and awareness campaign for the district's $60 million long-range water supply and reliability program. The public outreach campaign will focus on securing support for the program and a proposed bond measure to pay for part of the upgrades.
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Looking for Project Suppliers?
Find Them with PRSA-LA's Online Resource Directory
Did you know PRSA-LA publishes an online Resource Directory of suppliers that cater to local PR professionals?
The Directory lists and provides links to qualified suppliers in a range of categories. Best of all, you can browse the entire directory right from the chapter's Web site.
If you're a supplier interested in reaching local PR professionals, click here to access the directory registration form. PRSA-LA members are also encouraged to help get the word out by telling service providers about this valuable marketing opportunity.
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MEMBER MILESTONES
Pollack Turns 25 with Year-Long Celebration
The Pollack PR Marketing Group (PPMG) is marking its 25th anniversary with a year-long celebration that includes publishing a list of the 25 most defining PR moments of the past quarter century.
The Century City-based agency was founded by Noemi Pollack and Paul Setzer on March 25, 1985, in an era Pollack describes as "the analog age" before the Internet, e-mail and cell phones. Over the years, it has served clients ranging from innovative start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, with a focus on consumer products, technologies and services. In 1999, PPMG became a partner in The WORLDCOM Public Relations Group - a consortium of 110 agencies and 2,200 PR professionals in 94 markets worldwide.
PPMG began posting its list of the 25 most defining PR moments in January, and will continue add to the list - as well as publish related videos and guest blog posts - on the 25th of each month. The first guest post was from futurist and author David Houle (related content can be viewed on the PPMG Web site).
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Mark Your Calendar
Wed, March 3 PRSA-LA ConneXions Mixer
Five Area Locations (see details)
Thu, March 25 Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium
USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Wed, April 14 At Breakfast With... Details TBA
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Welcome New Members
Melody Babaian
Vanessa A. Barrientos TCM Group
Dani Dudeck
MySpace
Mark Giberson
Ernest Greene
University of Southern California
Erica Howard
Northrop Grumman
Negin N. Kamali
GolinHarris
JoLee Ann Liepman
GolinHarris
Alexis Ann Linn
GolinHarris
Katherine Susanne McDonald
Time Warner Cable
Kirsten Marlis Schmidt
Berlin Tourism Marketing, North America
Jessica L. Tullman
Subaru of America
John Vlautin
SpinLab
Mabel Zhang
CCG Investor Relations
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Publicity Volunteers Wanted for Charity Event
Human Rights Campaign is seeking volunteers to help with media relations for their upcoming gala on March 13th at the Hyatt Regency in Century City. Volunteers are needed to assist with media outreach and follow up, as well as on-site press check-in and press escorting to the red carpet for celebrity/VIP arrivals. Confirmed guests include Kathy Griffin, Portia de Rossi and Senator Barbara Boxer.
For more info on the event visit www.hrcladinner.com. If you would like to volunteer, contact Pearson Brown at and include a brief description of your experience and how you wish to participate.
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Attention Employers!
PRSA-LA Job Listings
The job listings section of PRSA-LA's Web site is a great resource for reaching qualified PR professionals seeking employment. Listings are free to post, and remain on the site for 30 days (renewable upon request). Click here to post a job.
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The Pollack PR Marketing Group (PPMG) is marking its 25th anniversary with a year-long celebration that includes publishing a list of the 25 most defining PR moments of the past quarter century.
Mark Your Calendar 
Human Rights Campaign is seeking volunteers to help with media relations for their upcoming gala on March 13th at the Hyatt Regency in Century City. Volunteers are needed to assist with media outreach and follow up, as well as on-site press check-in and press escorting to the red carpet for celebrity/VIP arrivals. Confirmed guests include Kathy Griffin, Portia de Rossi and Senator Barbara Boxer.
