ICCO Report: Big Challenges, Bigger Opportunities for PR Industry
The International Communications Consultancy Organization has just released its latest annual report, surveying thousands of PR professionals across the globe to probe the perils and promise of the industry. While challenges are growing, there have never been more entities looking for help to tell their story.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
The ICCO’s report identified ESG as one of the top two investment areas around the world. In an unpredictable climate (literally and figuratively), companies are looking for stable reputation management that speaks to the efforts they are making in this arena. Being fluent in ESG is a must for PR execs.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
But PR has a consistent issue within its own ranks: 55% of firms either do not have a person who specifically handles DEI or have a person in charge who was not specifically trained for the job. Only 30% of PR professionals believe the people working within their industry reflect their community’s demographics. And only 13% believe that the industry is highly representative.
It’s not all bad news, though. The percentage of respondents who have a DEI policy in place skyrocketed over the last year, from just 55% at the end of 2021 to 79% by the end of 2022.
Making sure these policies have heft, though, is essential to the continued thriving of our industry.
Taking Care of Your People
The pandemic took an astronomical toll on everyone—including PR pros. Not everyone has access to the mental health support they need, though. Though 45% of respondents experienced mental health issues in 2022, 28% of firms didn’t have a formal mental health or wellness program in place.
Regions like Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East would do well to follow in the footsteps of Latin America, North America, and the UK, which all have extremely high percentages of firms with mental health programs available (90%).
For more insights, download the report today.
