PUBLIC RELATIONS LEADER TELLS IONA COMMUNITY:

”UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE PUBLIC

AND EXTERNAL FORCES IN BUSINESS”

FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY OCT. 18^th, 2001:

NEW ROCHELLE, NY, Oct. 18^th – A Gold Anvil Award Winner and one of the world’s best-known PR professionals urged communicators to “understand the external forces that impact your agency.”

John Paluszek, President of Ketchum Public Affairs, Inc. of New York City, and past PRSA National Chair, told Iona public relations students to tailor your message to meet your publics needs especially in today’s turbulent world.

Mr. Paluszek spoke tonight at the second “Public Relations Pathfinder” Lecture Series for the fall 2001 semester sponsored by the Iona College Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

“We must follow a controlled organizational structure to meet the needs of our publics,” said Mr. Paluszek. ‘We must follow certain ethical standards in doing so and realize that not only internal communication but external communication will impact our messages.” He urged future practitioners to understand who there publics are and address there needs so we can be better prepared to face any situation or crisis presented to us.

Mr. Paluszek then stressed the importance of “Hi Tech” communications to the more then 50 people in the Faculty Reception Room. He let his Senior VP, Mr. John Kessling explain the realities of the Internet and how companies must develop easy-to-use sites for their employees to allow easy communication. Mr. Kessling explained how more and more communication will be done through the Internet.

In closing, Mr. Paluszek and Mr. Kessling stressed how important it is for young practitioners to practice PR skills today to better prepare themselves for the rough and turbulent world they will face later.

The Public relations Student Society of America is the Nation’s pre-eminent pre-professional public relations organization with more then 225 chapters and 6500 students nationwide. PRSSA is chartered by the public Relations Society of America, which is the world’s largest PR organization with over 20,000 members worldwide. The Westchester/Fairfield PRSA sponsors the Iona PRSSA Chapter.

- xxx -