The 2016 National Black Public Relations Society, Inc. (NBPRS) national conference takes place on October 28 in Chicago, Illinois. This year the keynote speaker will be April D. Ryan. Ryan is the author of The Presidency in Black & White: My Up-Close View of Three Presidents and Race in America and a veteran White House Correspondent.
NBPRS president Neil Foote said that this year’s conference would offer a variety of seminars and workshops for every level of PR professional:
- Those starting their first job in PR
- Those making a career change to PR
- Mid or senior-level PR professionals
The conference aims to convey new insights, help refine skills, and provide networking opportunities.
The president of the Chicago NBPRS, Raschanda Hall, expressed excitement about having the conference in Chicago. She promised a full and creative program that will give PR professionals the additional devices they need to succeed in their jobs.
Besides featuring Ryan as a keynote speaker, Fred Cook, CEO of Golin, will also host a session. Public relations experts from Walmart, AT&T, Ketchum and Burson-Marstellar will be on-hand to run workshops which will include topics such as how recruiters target professionals at different skill levels. Strategies for social media, entertainment, sports and global public relations will be discussed in special Master Classes that will be offered as well. The conference promises to offer something for everyone.
The NBPRS was founded in 1998 and has more than 500 members. It was formed to serve black professionals in the communications industries including media relations, public relations, investor relations and government affairs. It offers opportunities for career advancement, internships, networking and other peer support.
In 2015, NBPRS published 2015 State of the PR Industry: Defining and Delivering on the Promise of Diversity. The white paper discusses efforts to move towards greater diversity within the profession.