CIPR

The CIPR social media panel was launched this week and, as we would hope, there was a lot of online buzz. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive and the PR community online was enthusiastic about the initiative. Of course, that's not to say that there were no sceptical voices – there were – plus a lot of questions, which I will try to answer here:

• The panel was in many ways self-selecting in that all of the people on it are active online, contributing to the debates on PR and online. Contributors were recommended by me and other members of the CIPR team.

• Other members may be co-opted but more importantly, people that are interested can be involved from the start. We will use the tools available to facilitate discussions, develop ideas and to make recommendations public so that CIPR members and the profession can comment, suggest and input. The CIPR, as the Chartered Body, represents both its members and the profession. All are welcome to participate.

• The panel will tackle subjects such as (but not restricted to):
  
  • policy in online PR
  • convergence in marketing communications
  • how new tools impact the profession
  • how the PR profession asserts its authority in the sphere of 'earned media' (there are currently other bodies outside the industry attempting to set rules in this area)
  • social media measurement and evaluation.

• The panel is not the initiative but rather will facilitate and create initiatives.

• Some commentators have asked about the size of the panel and inclusion of more in-house and public sector representatives, freelancers and academics. The panel has been designed to shape an agenda and lead an open conversation on developments and initiatives that concern the public relations profession. All are welcome to participate, suggest and feedback. There may be specific areas of focus whereby different groups form to debate and consider (social media measurement for example.)

• The most important thing from our perspective is to get the conversation started. It will evolve and grow.

Once the panel has met, we will update all those interested on next steps. Thank you for all of the interest shown so far. We are looking forward to some very challenging and lively debates.

Rob Brown FCIPR, Chair, CIPR Social Media Panel