Forum to help PR sector cope with recent economic and social changes

Turjuman Media Consultancy (TMC) will organise the first annual Arab Forum for Best PR and Corporate Communication Practices from February 21 to 24.

The forum will run with the participation of Dubai's Government Communications of the Executive Council, together with experts in public relations, corporate communication and media.

The forum, which has been organised in response to the recent economic, political and social changes and developments in the Arab World, and the changing role of corporate communication and public relations, will address the need to develop this industry to better cope with these changes.

Ahmed Odeh, Director of TMC, said the industry has seen tremendous growth over the past few years, with a fourfold increase in spending on public relations over the past two years alone.

"Industry reports estimate that value of the public relations market has grown to $100 million (Dh367m) in 2008, and is to see a further 200 per cent growth over the next few years," said Odeh.

"Although spending on the public relations sector in the region is still modest, the increasing growth rate demonstrates the significance of the role played by public relations in most economic, government, service and social sectors," he said. The forum will comprise 12 sessions addressing topics such as the role of TV journalism in creating public opinion, planning and managing PR campaigns, the role of public relations in managing media crises, internal communication and managing change, business and financial public relations, media content, CSR and the role of PR in e-governance.

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