The revolution in communication technology for public relations

Abstract

Describing public relations professionals as a “creative, resourceful breed”, Betsy Ann Plank, in this Foundation Lecture, issues a call to arms to her colleagues, urging them to assume the responsibility of insuring that technology will improve the quality of American life. The implications of the Information Age require informed, deliberate activities from public relations practitioners if this profession, as well as others, is to adapt and grow with rapid changes in personal and vocational lifestyles, she says. Miss Plank proposes a symposium of “interested, knowledgeable people from public relations and the social sciences… whose objective would be to minimize human dislocations in the progress toward a changing social environment.” Such a symposium, she suggests, “would help to generate the national dialogue we so urgently need”. Betsy Ann Plank is assistant vice president, corporate communications, of Illinois Bell. In 1973, she was the first woman to serve as president of the Public Relations Society of America, and was 1976 international program chairman of the triennial World Congress of Public Relations. In 1977, she received PRSA's Gold Anvil Award as the outstanding public relations professional. She is past chair (1980–81) of the 100 leading women executives in the Chicago metropolitan area, and a member of the Illinois Governor's Commission on women's issues. Miss Plank joined the Bell System in 1973. She was director of public relations planning for AT&T, New York, prior to coming to Illinois Bell in May 1974. Before joining the Bell System, she was executive vice president of Daniel J. Edelman, Inc.