Call For Papers

Theory in Practice in Public Relations through to the Fully-Functioning Society:
Papers in Honor of Professor Robert Heath

Almost a decade on, although the names of the planets may vary, few would deny van Ruler's (2005) identification of a massive gap in her claim that "Professionals are from Venus, Scholars are from Mars." Yet a history of interplanetary communication can be found in Professor Bob Heath's distinguished career in consulting and the academy. This conference wish to honour those achievements not just by recognizing the work but by evaluating the legacy and by building on it. Such is the range of his oeuvre, and the multiple linking of theory and practice, that this puts few limitations on this call for papers. Accordingly, while we particularly welcome proposals for papers or panels that draw from, or contest, his work on PR issues, PR Theory, Crisis, Rhetoric, Risk, and the Fully-Functioning Society, we are also open to general papers in those areas not linked to Heath's work.

Accordingly, we offer the following questions and suggestions – more will follow on the website. As usual, we stress this is NOT put forward as any kind of definitive list – but as prompts for a spread of responses:
 

• How big is the gap between practice and theory?
• What does PR practice do well and what could it do better?
• What does PR theory do well and what could it do better?
• What is the state of play in relations between PR theorists and practitioners?
• Does that state of play vary between countries and/or between regions?
• What practical or research initiatives have been taken, or are underway, to bridge the gap between PR theory and practice?
• Is PR theory an oxymoron?
• Does PR practice have a theory in practice or an espoused theory?
• Is there any PR theory or just PR education?

In line with our consistent practice as conference organisers, we invite a wide range of contributions and welcome any proposals that help explore the spectrum of concerns of contemporary PR. We hope to publish both a special issue in Public Relations Review and an edited volume and will keep you in touch with development. Please feel free to contact one of us directly if you wish to discuss the relevance of any proposal for a conference paper or panel.

Van Ruler, B. (2005). Commentary: Professionals are from Venus, scholars are from Mars. Public Relations Review, 31, 159-173.

• PDF CFP BCN PR Meeting #5

Sending a contribution

To take part in the contribution selection process, participants should send an abstract of between 250-300 words or a panel (3 presenters maximum and overall submission to have 250 word abstract and 3 shorter abstracts up to 200 words each) to prconference@uoc.edu. These should include the following sections:
 

• Title of the proposal
• Authors
• Institution
• E-mail address
• General description
• Bibliographical references

Proposals should be presented in English or Spanish. The science committee will be responsible for the contribution assessment and selection process, which will be conducted following a blind peer assessment process.

Full communications

The following files provide a template for writing papers for the conference. The full paper file shall be written in compliance with these instructions. The author is asked to submit the paper in MS-Word and PDF Portable Document Format (PDF). Both files shall be saved with the full first author name as name of the file.
 

• Full Communications template (.doc)
• Full Communications template (.pdf)

Presentation formats

Oral presentations lasting 15 minutes followed by a debate. All the sessions will include the support of a coordinator responsible for organising the presentations and chairing the debate among the participants.

Publication

The PR Review Special Issue on last year's theme "Configuring Intelligences for 21C Public Relations" is ready to go and the portal is open - if you wish to submit, please take care to press the Special Issue tab and choose "Configuring Intelligences" http://www.journals.elsevier.com/public-relations-review/

Guidance and Call for Articles for the Special Issue.:

Instructions for submitting your paper PDF

CFP- PDF

The conference organizers will invite a selection of the best papers to take part in a scientific publication coordinated by the scientific committee.

Special Issue Public Relations Review: extended deadline 31st January 2015

Conference deadlines
 

To submit an abstract for an individual presentation (abstracts of between 250-300 words) or a panel (3 presenters maximum and overall submission to have 250 word abstract and 3 shorter abstracts up to 200 words each): EXTENDED DEADLINE (February 16) April 9, 2015.
 

• Abstract submission: EXTENDED DEADLINE (February 16) April 9, 2015
• Acceptance notification (by email): will be no later than: EXTENDED DEADLINE (February 23) April 16, 2015
• Early bird payment: March 27, 2015
• Submission of selected papers: before the conference

For further information: prconference@uoc.edu