Welcome to the quarterly newsletter of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.

The Global Alliance now has a membership of more than 60 associations representing over 150,000 members. The GA is here to facilitate discussions, launch work groups, examine standards and share its considerable collective resources for the greater good of the profession. News of some of the results of our work is included below (for full details of the "GA Vision", click here).

Please feel free to share this newsletter with your colleagues, contacts and others interested in the public relations and communication industry…

PR Landscapes: Profiling the Profession
As part of our ongoing work, the GA has produced a series of guides to the PR industry. Under the banner of 'PR Landscapes' and written in user-friendly language, the guides consider the political, social, geographical and media landscape in which public relations is practised around the world. Extensive web links in each document lead to more in-depth information about each country.

There are currently 10 guides available: Argentina; Australia; Canada; China; India; Italy; Japan; Mexico; Puerto Rico; and South Africa.

To access these free resources, visit www.globalpr.org/knowledge/landscapes.asp 

Public Relations and Regulation
A study profiling the regulatory environment of public relations practice in the UK, Italy and South Africa is now available. The study is intended to serve as a template for further research into regulation around the world, leading to a debate on the way in which the industry should (or should not) be regulated. 

Undertaken with funding from Edelman Worldwide, the study can be downloaded from www.globalpr.org/knowledge/guidancepapers.asp 

Global Alliance Council Meeting and AGM, CPRS Conference, Quebec
The next GA meeting will be held in connection with the annual conference of the Canadian Public Relations Society in Quebec City, Canada, from June 9 (GA council) to June 12 (10-12 for conference). 

Please check the conference website at www.quebec2004.ca for further details. As is our policy throughout the GA, members of a GA partner organisation will pay only the members rate. 

A New Strategic Plan
Following a meeting of the Executive Committee in March 2004, work has been completed on a new draft strategic plan.

In summary, the key priority projects/tasks for 2004/05 have been identified as:

• Promoting and completing the regulation study
• Adding more case studies to the GA website
• Launching the first series of PR Landscape profiles
• Pursuing the benchmark study on accreditation
• Consolidating our membership base and presence
• Developing a stronger financial base for the GA

The full plan is now available for review and consultation at www.globalpr.org/strategy

Additional News, Papers and Resources

• Corporate Governance and CSR Ownership, Management and Accountability (pdf file)
• PR Society thriving in Indonesia
• Italian President Commends FERPI for Promoting Transparent Communication and Reporting
• A Profile of the Practice of PR in Azerbaijan

Best wishes

Jean Valin
Chair 2004/05, Global Alliance