PR For Public Affairs - Online
A survey conducted by the Pew Internet Project looked at the number of Americans turning to the Internet for news or information about politics and the mid-term elections in
2002, comparing these numbers to August 2006 figures (see chart).
- In July 2002, 11 million Americans - 13 percent of online users - said they used the Internet for political information on an average day.
- On a typical day in August 2006, 26 million Americans used the online platform, which is equivalent to 19 percent of adult Internet users and 13 percent of all
Americans over the age of 18.
The numbers suggest a huge role for the Internet as a communications vehicle for PR professionals, especially in public affairs.
Chatty Solutions
Such online chat services as AOL's Instant Messenger got a boost last week with the release of a study from SupportSoft, Inc., a leading provider of software and services
that automate the resolution of technology problems. The survey poll of more than 300 employees in corporations with 1,000 or more employees shows:
- 69 percent of respondents want to use online chat to resolve technical problems at work.
- Of those employees who already have tried Web-based chat to resolve problems related to their PC hardware, software, Internet or email usage, 66 percent had a
positive experience.
- 71 percent said online chat would be the most convenient way to resolve their problem.
- 52 percent said it would be the fastest method.
The survey results give credence to the viability of online chatting as an internal communications tool, especially for the purpose of resolving technical problems.
A Creativity Economy
A study from Weber Shandwick by KRC Research surveyed more than 100 CEOs and CMOs. "The Changing Face of Marketing and Communications in Today's Creativity Economy" sums up
how the marketing and communications industry is changing - and getting a seat at the table.
- 86 percent of respondents feel the marketing and communication function has become an increasingly important tool for business success.
- 84 percent said their company is changing advertising/marketing and communication practices based on the Creativity Economy concept.
- 73 percent of respondents find their marketing function becoming more actively involved in the R&D or product development process at their companies.
- 68 percent said their communications practices are expanding as a result of the Creativity Economy. Examples? More emphasis on understanding and incorporating the customer's
viewpoint; working to provide customers with all of the information they need to make informed decisions; and a shift to marketing and advertising expenditures that enhance the
way you think and talk about a company, not just its products.
In Support Of CSR
A story in the Wall Street Journal suggests shareholders strongly favor more disclosure about social and environmental problems. In a study of 179 social-policy
resolutions filed so far in 2006, Proxy Governance found 38 percent of all proposals had more than 10 percent support, up from only 29 percent of proposals that got that support
in 2005.
Jim Letsky, a senior analyst at Institu-tional Shareholder Services, said shareholder proposals on social issues saw more support in 2006. "About 22 percent of all
resolutions filed on that got at least 15 percent support. In 2005, only around 15 percent of proposals filed got that level of support," he said.
Proxy Governance's study found the topic with the most proposals filed was the environment, with a total of 48 going to vote, receiving an average support level of 10.2
percent. The proposal with the strongest support was one on climate change at Standard Pacific Corp. with 39.3 percent approval.
Proposals on political donations and lobbying were the second most popular, appearing 35 times, with an average support level of 20.4 percent.