News
15th BledCom characterised by trends and lively discussions
Nearly 150 experts in the field of public relations and marketing from all over the world gathered at this year’s BledCom to discuss the relationship between PR and marketing, as well as communication trends. The discussion was opened by one of the leading world futurists, Anne Lise Kjaer, who revealed some of the key trends with important implications for communication. BledCom reached its summit with a heated discussion on marketing and PR and their mutual (non-)recognition. Interesting interpretations were generated by comparative research on the effectiveness of advertisements and articles.
Anne Lise Kjaer presented her model for understanding trends, in which she combines intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual components of the modern world. Organisations wishing to connect with people and have some kind of a meaning and sense must be able to think and act on all four levels. She gave examples from her work for Toyota, Ikea and Sony.
At this year’s BledCom, there were four interesting and at times stirring discussions on the fashion fads in public relations and marketing, on marketing public relations, on the role of relations in marketing and public relations and on the social and governmental uses of public relations. At the Symposium, a book »Public Relations Metrics: Measurement and Evaluation« was presented for the first time in Europe. Expert work was edited by Associate Professors Dr. Betteke van Ruler from the University of Amsterdam, Dr. Ana Tkalac Verčič from the University of Zagreb and Dr. Dejan Verčič from Pristop and the University of Ljubljana. It came out in New York by the distinguished Routledge publishing house and will be available in Europe from September. Presentations from BledCom 2008 are already available at BledCom knowledge section.
Next year, BledCom will be marked by culture, as its central topic will be Culture and Public Relations. BledCom 2009 will take place on July 3 and 4 - at Bled.
