PR News/Cone Inc Survey

Communicating Corporate Responsibility Initiatives Survey Results

1. On a scale of 1 to 5, with one being strongly

agree and 5 being strongly disagree, how advanced is your corporate responsibility

strategy and communications?

1 2 3 4 5 No Response
We have prioritized key corporate responsibility

issues and understand their relative importance to our business and stakeholders

35%
12%
37%
16%
We have a clear corporate responsibility

strategy with measurable goals

39%
30%
31%
We have the necessary policies and processes

in place to meet those goals

35%
28%
28%
9%
We have the necessary staffing in place

to meet those goals

22%
45%
33%

2. On a scale of 1 to 5, with one being strongly agree

and 5 being strongly disagree, please characterize your company's corporate

responsibility communications?

1 2 3 4 5 No Response
Internally, we communicate our corporate

responsibility goals and progress in a transparent manner

65%
17%
3%

15%

Externally, we communicate our corporate

responsibility goals and progress in a transparent manner

45%
16%

3%
35%

We focus on a single corporate responsibility

issue in our communications

35%

57%
8%
We communicate a range of corporate responsibility

issues in our communications

57%

35%
8%

3. Which statement best describes

the alignment between your corporate responsibility strategy and corporate

responsibility communications:

Our company is acting responsibly in all/most

areas, so I am comfortable communicating our efforts

64%
Our company is acting responsibly in some

areas, but not in others, so I worry that our corporate responsibility

communications could seem disingenuous

24%
I believe there is a clear disconnect between

our corporate responsibility communications and our actual business practices,

and this needs to be resolved

7%
We do not communicate
5%
4. How often does your company

communicate about your corporate responsibility initiatives? (Please select

one) If you do not currently communicate, skip to question 7.

Monthly
36%
Only on a reactive basis
23%
Annually
19%
Weekly
13%
Do not communicate
7%
No response
2%

 5. What are the main business objectives

for communicating your corporate responsibility commitments? (Please rank

from 1 = most important to 5 = least important)

1 2 3 4 5 No Response
Enhance reputation
53%
25%
4%

18%

Increase sales
41%
25%
13%

21%

Be employer of choice
34%
12%
15%
10%
29%
15%
Combat negative press and public opinion
15%
23%
10%
11%
31%
10%
Gain permission for license to operate
18%

82%

6. Who are the primary target audiences for your corporate

responsibility communications? (Please select your top 3 audiences)

Customers
56%
Employees
56%
Communities Where We Operate
52%
Influentials
38%
Governments
29%
Consumers
28%
Investment Community
13%
Nonprofits/Activists
13%

7. What communications vehicles

do you use for corporate responsibility communications? (Please select

all that apply)

Public Relations
80%
Web
64%
Internal newsletters, intranet and meetings
63%
Events
51%
Advertising (print)
29%
Stakeholder Engagement Sessions
24%
CSR report
19%
Advertising (broadcast)
11%

8. How do you measure the value

of corporate responsibility communications? (Please select all that apply)

Impact on Relationships with Influential Stakeholders

(i.e., Nonprofits, activists, regulators)

45%
We do not have measures
40%
Impact on Brand Awareness and Favorability

38%
Impact on Retention/Recruitment
25%
Impact on sales
21%
No response
1%
9. During your next budget cycle,

how will your spending towards communicating your Corporate Responsibility

activities change? It will be:

About the same
46%
Don't know
20%
Somewhat more
19%
Significantly more
11%
Somewhat less
2%
Significantly less
1%
No response
1%