Theme and sub-themes

Major theme

Through its major proposed themes, the works of the EUPRERA 2009 Congress will illustrate the European developments in the last decade and formulate evidence of the establishment of a European shared area of theories and practices.

A paradigm shift is emerging in Public Relations, caused by the new media usage . The speakers are invited to reflect upon the role of organisational public relations compared to non-incorporated forms of expression in the (electronic) public sphere .

Taken into account the geographic position of the country, the organisers of the EUPRERA 2009 Congress firmly encourage the participation of professors, researchers and Public Relations specialists from Southern and Eastern part of Europe . Due to the departmental profile of the main organiser, special attention will be paid to the interdisciplinary character of papers and projects, and to emerging issues in Public Relations and communication sciences .

Specific topics

For the EUPRERA 2009 Congress, the following sub-themes have been envisaged:

1. Corporate reputation and social outcomes.
2. Business environment and investment in education & research.
3. Public Relations impact in support of business competitiveness.
4. Public Relations in transition and post-transition societies.
5. Trends and actual practices in European public affairs .
6. Others (free papers).

Alternative subtopics may refer to: the role of the State vs. private business in addressing social issues; the use of lobby and advocacy groups in influencing public opinion (national and EU level); functions of new media in corporate Public Relations ; Effective Public Relations cases; public-private partnerships in education and culture (case studies). Doctoral and master degree papers will be included in normal session format, to allow interactions with senior researchers.

Corporate roundtables and workshops on special issues

Experts and specialists representing firms and departments of marketing and Public Relations in private, public and nonprofit organisations are invited to submit workshops and case studies relevant for their corporate experience, for the EUPRERA 2009 Congress.

Post-congress PhD networking session

Further to the within the EUPRERA 2009 Congress, a dedicated workshop for doctoral students will allow sharing ideas and methodologies in public relations and communication.