bledcom2022

27th EUPRERA Congress submission deadline is March 15

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:43:52 GMT

The 27th Annual Congress will be hosted by the Department of Audiovisual Communication and Advertising at the Faculty of Communications Sciences of University of Malaga in the city of Malaga, on the Costa del Sol of Andalusia, Spain, between 16 and 19 September 2026. The theme of the Congress is “Regenerating public relations and strategic communication in the face of the new global order: are we ready for this challenge?”

The Annual Congress is an opportunity to exchange knowledge, explore innovative methods, and disseminate the latest research outcomes. MARCH 15 is the SUBMISSION DEADLINE for short-length papers, full-length papers, and panel proposals.

Call for Papers is available here: CFP 2026 - EUPRERA ANNUAL CONGRESS

Abstract submission deadline: February 3, 2026

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:11:15 GMT

Abstract submission deadline for the 33rd International Public Relations Research Symposium BledCom is fast approaching. BledCom will be held on June 26–27, 2026 , in Bled, Slovenia . The conference theme is Disaster, Health, and Organizational Crisis Communication . The keynote speaker will be W. Timothy Coombs , advisor to the Centre for Crisis and Risk Communications, Canada . Professor Coombs is a leading author and authority in the field of crisis communication.

You are welcome to submit paper abstracts and panel proposals via email to bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si by February 3, 2026 (midnight, CEST) .

We invite abstracts of 500–800 words (including title and keywords), with up to five references . Please note that, as has been the norm in the past, BledCom welcomes all papers relevant to public relations and communication management , not only those that address the conference theme. Panel proposals are also welcome.

For more details, please view the BledCom 2026 Call for Papers : https://www.bledcom.com/bledcom-2026-call-for-papers

BledCom 2026 Call for Papers

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 07:20:25 GMT

Leading theme is Disaster, Health, and Organizational Crisis Communication . BledCom invites abstracts between 500 and 800 words (including title, keywords, and references) and panel proposals. We welcome all papers related to public relations and strategic communication, not just those addressing the conference theme. Submission deadline is February 3, 2026.

In a world increasingly defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, crises are no longer exceptions.They have become the rule. Disasters—natural and man-made—continue to ravage communities. Global public health threats such as COVID-19 have revealed systemic vulnerabilities and communication breakdowns. Further, organizational crises—from product recalls to reputational scandals—threaten not only economic performance but also trust, legitimacy, and stakeholder relationships.

Crisis communication is at the heart of societal resilience. How organizations communicate before, during, and after, crises often determine whether trust in the organization is preserved or lost; whether harm is mitigated or exacerbated; and whether reputations survive or collapse. Managing crisis communication is also a defining function of modern public relations, whose practitioners increasingly operate at the intersection of strategy, ethics, and emergency response. These reasons compelled BledCom to again focus on this critical organizational function by selecting it as the theme.

Coombs defined organizational crisis as: "a perceived violation of salient stakeholder expectations that can create negative outcomes for stakeholders and/or the organization." This definition reminds us that crises are not only operational, but also social, perceptual, and relational. A modern crisis may be triggered by a cyberattack, a climate event, a health emergency, a viral tweet, or even an armed invasion (the nuclear threat is a clear and present danger in the 21 ^st century). The responses must be equally complex, coordinated, and ethically grounded.

BledCom 2026 invites scholars, practitioners, and educators to explore the multifaceted world of crisis communication across domains including disaster response, public health, and organizational resilience. We encourage contributions that analyze crisis narratives, evaluate communication strategies, interrogate digital responses, or reflect on lessons learned across the three core crisis types as well as other types of crises as well

We therefore welcome presentations from scholars and practitioners focusing on the ongoing evolution of crisis communication.

Some topics relevant to the theme are:

- crisis communication management,

- internal communication in crisis management,
- social media and digital platforms and crisis communication,

- social listening and real-time feedback analysis,
- stakeholder activism and cancel culture,
- misinformation and disinformation challenges,
- ethics and equity in emergency messaging,
- cross-sector collaboration in crisis preparedness,
- comparative and international case studies,

- the influence of culture on crisis communication, and
- emotional, moral, and rational dimensions of stakeholder response.

As in previous years, BledCom welcomes all papers related to public relations and strategic communication, not just those addressing the conference theme. Panel proposals are also invited.

Guidelines for Submission

We invite abstracts between 500 and 800 words (including title, keywords, and references) and panel proposals.

Abstracts should include:
- Introduction and purpose of the study (including research question if applicable),
- Literature review (just long enough to situate the work in existing scholarship),
- Methodology (including data sources, rationale, and sample),
- Results and conclusions (highlighting implications and limitations),
- Practical and social implications.

Please provide 3–5 keywords that reflect your study. Use APA style (latest edition). Abstracts must be submitted anonymously, with identifying information included on a separate cover page. A list of references is optional but included in the word count.

Panel proposals should include:
- Title and focus of the panel,
- Name of the panel chair,
- Names of participants and titles or foci of their contributions.

Deadlines and Dates

Submission deadline: February 3, 2026
Notification of acceptance after peer review: March 3, 2026
Full papers (up to 6,000 words): due September 15, 2026, for inclusion in conference proceedings

Please send all submissions to: bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si

Program Committee

· Dejan Verčič, University of Ljubljana & Herman & partnerji, Slovenia

· Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, University of Colorado Boulder, USA

· Ana Tkalac Verčič, University of Zagreb, Croatia

BledCom 2026 Advisory Committee

· Amela Duratović Konjević, Slovenian Cancer Registry, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana

· Maja Jančič, University of Ljubljana

· Urška Kolar, National Institute of Public Health

· Samo Kropivnik, University of Ljubljana

· Saška Terseglav, University of Ljubljana & Association of Health Institutions of Slovenia

· Mitja Vrdelja, National Institute of Public Health

BledCom 2026 is supported by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS), under project V5-24042.

At the Intersection between Academia and Practice in Public Relations and Strategic Communication

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 08:21:20 GMT

The EUPRERA XXVI Annual Congress will take place on September 24-27, 2025 , in Lund, Sweden .

The congress is organized by Lund University’s Department of Communication and welcomes research At the Intersection between Academia and Practice in Public Relations and Strategic Communication. MARCH 31 is the SUBMISSION DEADLINE for short-length papers, full-length research papers, and panel proposals.

Submit here: EUPRERA 2025 Congress - ConfTool Pro - Login

Leadership and communication in the era of GenAI

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 12:17:58 GMT

IPRA webinar Leadership and communication in the era of GenAI will be presented by Imad Lahad, managing director APCO Dubai and Prof. Dr. Dejan Verčič, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia on Thursday 16 January 2025 at 12.00 GMT/UCT

This webinar will explore how generative AI (GenAI) is transforming the landscape of leadership and communication. As organizations navigate this new era, leaders are faced with the challenge of integrating AI into their communication strategies in ways that enhance engagement, efficiency, and trust. This webcast will discuss also how leaders can effectively leverage GenAI to meet these demands, address ethical considerations, and align their strategies with evolving expectations of transparency, authenticity, and inclusivity.

How to join

There is no pre-registration. Simply click on this Teams link on the day. And please mute your microphone and turn off your video when joining.

https://teams.live.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=%2F_%23%2Fmeet%2F931926971837%3Fp%3DYIzjjqZmBENkz7ILaj%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meet&deeplinkId=088f2615-c105-4ef5-8e43-3404cecc8e27&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true

Meeting ID:931 926 971 837

Passcode:7jF35H

Background to IPRA

IPRA, the International Public Relations Association, was established in 1955, and is the leading global network for PR professionals in their personal capacity. IPRA aims to advance trusted communication and the ethical practice of public relations. We do this through networking, our code of conduct and intellectual leadership of the profession. IPRA is the organiser of public relations' annual global competition, the Golden World Awards for Excellence (GWA). IPRA's services enable PR professionals to collaborate and be recognised. Members create content via our Thought Leadership essays, social media and our consultative status with the United Nations. GWA winners demonstrate PR excellence. IPRA welcomes all those who share our aims and who wish to be part of the IPRA worldwide fellowship. For more see www.ipra.org

Important dates for BledCom 2025

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:21:58 GMT

The 32nd edition of International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom) will be held IN-PERSON on June 27 & June 28, 2025 in Rikli Balance Hotel, Lake Bled - Slovenia. Important dates for BledCom 2025:

• Abstracts Submission Deadline: February 3, 2025

• Notification of Acceptance: March 3, 2025

• Preliminary Program: April 15, 2025

• Early Bird Registration Deadline: May 9, 2025

• Conference Registration Deadline for Speakers: May 31, 2025

• Conference Registration Deadline for Attendees: June 20, 2025

• BledCom 2025 Conference: June 27 & June 28, 2025

• Full papers for Conference Proceedings: September 15, 2025

Keynote Speech: The Future Impact of AI on Public Relations

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:12:47 GMT

The keynote speaker for this 32nd International Public Relations Research Symposium will be Marko Grobelnik, a researcher at the AI Lab at the Jožef Stefan Institute and co-founder of the UNESCO International Research Center on Artificial Intelligence.

Grobelnik collaborates extensively with major European academic institutions and leading industry players, including Bloomberg, British Telecom, the European Commission, Microsoft Research, the New York Times, and OECD. As a co-author of several books and co-founder of multiple startups, Grobelnik has contributed to over 100 EU-funded AI research projects. His keynote speech, titled “The Future of Artificial Intelligence and Its Potential Impact on Public Relations,” will delve into how AI advancements might reshape the PR industry.

Abstract: Since 2022, Artificial Intelligence has rapidly gained prominence in the public sphere, with no signs of slowing down. What does the future hold, and what should we anticipate? While we may understand how AI works, we still lack clarity on why it performs so effectively—an insight with important implications. AI’s progress owes much to tremendous computational power, and according to recent predictions (Jensen, CEO of NVIDIA, March 2024), machines are expected to be a million times faster within a decade, allowing systems like today’s ChatGPT to be developed in minutes rather than months. Thus far, we’ve seen AI achieve impressive results in a handful of human skills, such as speech recognition, vision, and simulated text understanding, while many more capabilities remain untapped. How might PR evolve alongside these developments? The field could be redefined as “computational empathy,” applying “world models” and deep insights into human belief systems. With the rise of AI agents, PR professionals may find themselves addressing not only human audiences but also AI-driven systems that disseminate and mediate opinions and beliefs.

This talk will explore key predictions for the future, highlighting shifts that may come sooner than anticipated.

BLEDCOM 2025 CfP: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Public Relations: Boon or Curse?

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:02:40 GMT

The 32nd International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom) will be held on June 27-28, 2025. Conference Theme is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Public Relations: Boon or Curse? BledCom welcomes ALL papers that are relevant to public relations and communication management. We also welcome panel proposals.

On June 20, 2024, when the northern hemisphere welcomed the summer solstice, Nvidia surpassed tech giants Apple and Microsoft as the world's most valuable company at USD 3.34 trillion – almost all of it driven by demand for its Graphic Processing Units (GPUs), the backbone for Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. Less than a week later, however, it had lost $500 billion in value and fell to third place displaying the uncertainty that surrounds AI. Thus the meteoric rise of this company's stocks has to be juxtaposed with the lack of understanding of this evolving technology and the resulting uncertainty in the minds of the general populace, including the educated. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey of Americans revealed that only 30% had a high awareness of AI use in their daily lives. The same study revealed that 38% of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI vis-a-vis ethical issues vs. only 15% who were more excited than concerned. Almost everyone seems to be playing 'catch-up' to the daily advances of this, as yet unproven, technology.

Public relations and communication management is no exception. AI, in particular generative AI, is transforming public relations and public communication practice beyond recognition. It is improving communication content creation (writing, editing, designing...) as well as the dissemination of messages. It is also helping in communication research and social listening thereby increasing efficiency and effectiveness. One can then identify AI as a boon for communication practitioners and scholars. Not so fast! Even in its infancy, the advantages of AI are accompanied, some may say overshadowed, by its many disadvantages such as standardization, a lack of creativity and originality, passivity among practitioners, and a lack of reflexivity. Concerns such as data privacy and protection, authenticity of messages and sources, pagiarism, mis- and dis-information and the increasing potential for multiple forms of manipulation abound. Because few people really understand this evolving phenomenon, it is fair to say that most people are shooting in the dark to address these concerns. As educators, we also face the challenge of our students, digitial natives, having a better handle on how to use AI than we do and therefore few of us may be equipped to detect, let alone deter, dishonorable use of AI for scholastic purposes.

Boon or curse, the AI genie is out of the proverbial box and so we have to learn to live with it – and the uncertainties that surround it – and strive to figure out ways of using it productively, prosocially and ethically.

These strong reasons led us to select the nexus between AI and public relations as the theme for BledCom 2025, with the knowledge that discussing AI will probably be part of every BledCom in the foreseeable future.

We invite scholars, practitoners, and educators to share their experiences with AI and how they have coped with the rapidly evolving technology. We realize that we may not have all the answers but it is important that we begin to ask the right questions along the lines posed above as a robust starting point so that we can strive to build a body of knowledge that is helpful to both scholars and practitioners.

Call for Abstracts and Panels:

Please use the following guidelines to present your abstract and kindly supply the word count at the end of the submission.

Format for the Abstract:

Please use the American Psychological Association (APA) style manual (latest edition) for your abstract and paper. Further, please note that the chances of your abstract being accepted are enhanced if you observe the following format in preparing it:

Introduction and purpose of the study (and research question if there is one) – helps summarize the purpose and rationale of your study. Literature review – Helps place your work in context with the existing body of knowledge. Methodology – Define the main method used for gathering data including sample size, and state the rationale for using this method. Results and conclusions – Helps summarize the answers to the research questions while also outlining the implications of the results. Also summarize the limitations of the study and offer suggestions for future research. Practical and social implications – Offer the potential implications both for practice and society. Also provide us with 3 to 5 keywords that highlight your study. Abstracts should come as blind copies without author names and affiliations, who are to be identified on on a separate cover page. Please use the suggested headings to structure the abstract. A list of literature is not necessary, but if it is provided it is included into the word count.

Panel proposal are also welcome. The proposal should describe the title and focus of the panel, name of the chair of the panel, and names of every member of the panel and title or focus of each presentation.

Deadline:

Paper abstracts and panel proposals should be submitted via email to bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si no later than February 3, 2025 . Decisions will be made by March 3, 2025 after peer review. Full papers not exceeding 6.000 words will be due by September 15, 2025 for inclusion in the conference proceedings.

Program Committee:

· Dejan Verčič , University of Ljubljana and Herman & partners, Slovenia

· Krishnamurthy Sriramesh , University of Colorado Boulder, USA

· Ana Tkalac Verčič , University of Zagreb, Croatia

BledCom 2024 Conference Registration

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:59:59 GMT

The 31st edition of International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom) will be held on July 5 & July 6, 2024 in Rikli Balance Hotel, Lake Bled - Slovenia. The main theme of the 31st conference is Public Relations and Human Well-being. Final registration deadline for attendees is June 30th, 2024 . For more info and conference registration, please visit: www.bledcom.com

Traditional BledCom Dinners

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:57:27 GMT

BledCom 2024 will feature three dinners in three different scenic locations: Bled Castle Restaurant in Bled, Gostilna Mihovec in Medvode and Gostilna Krištof in Kranj .

Dinner on Thursday, July 4, 2023 will take place in Bled Castle Restaurant offers traditional Slovene dishes with a modern twist. The goal is to place Bled Castle on the map of the most important culinary venues in Slovenia. Local and regional dishes are made in contemporary and sophisticated way with an aim to preserve the gastronomical heritage of Upper Carniola region and Slovenia. Find out more: https://www.jezersek.si/en/locations/bled-castle/bled-castle-restaurant

Dinner on Friday, July 5, 2024 will take place in Gostilna Mihovec, a typical Slovenian inn with the cuisine of previous generations, but also a touch of today's modernity. The bread oven and the welcome bar are a guarantee that you will feel at home. A family inn with chef Mojca Trnovec, where members of three generations add their stamp, with grains and vegetables from their own farm. Find out more: https://www.gostilnamihovec.si/

Dinner on Saturday, July 6, 2024 will take place in in Gostilna Krištof, a family restaurant oriented mainly in the modern culinary ideas that intertwine with Slovenian tradition and the world gourmet novelties. The inspiration of Krištof Bolka and his family comes from the fresh seasonal ingredients. Find out more: https://gostilnakristof.si/en/

The price of a 3-course conference dinner with a complimentary glass of wine is 55 EUR (22% VAT included). Seats are limited!

Paper submissions for Corporate Communications: An International Journal and BledCom 2023 Proceedings

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 09:17:40 GMT

Special issue of Corporate Communications

Dejan Verčič, Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, Ana Tkalac Verčič are guest editing the special issue of Corporate Communications: An International Journal , on Sustainability and Communication. The system for uploading manuscripts opens on September 11. Each paper will go through a double-blinded peer review.

The Call for Papers is published on the Corporate Communications website: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/calls-for-papers/sustainability-and-communication

Important information:

- Opening date for manuscripts submissions: 11 September 2023

- Closing date for manuscripts submission: 18 December 2023

- Registration and access: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ccij

- Author guides: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/ccij

- Email for submission queries: dejan.vercic@fdv.uni-lj.si

BledCom 2023 Proceedings

All papers presented at the jubilee 30 ^th edition of the Bledcom symposium (except those that will be chosen for publication in the special issue of Corporate Communications) are eligible for inclusion in the conference proceedings, an electronic publication with an ISBN number.

Deadline for manuscripts submissions is September 16 , 2023. Full papers should not exceed 6.000 words , including charts, footnotes, graphs, references, tables, and bibliography. Please follow the APA style manual.

Important Information:

- Deadline for manuscripts submissions: 16 September 2023.

- Email for manuscript submission and submission queries: bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si

BLEDCOM 2024: CALL FOR PAPERS

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:59:53 GMT

So far, eight books and nine special issues or sections of peer-reviewed journals have been published based on previous symposia (www.bledcom.com.). We attribute this success to the hundreds of colleagues who have participated over these years and of course our sponsors. We thank you all for sustaining this boutique conference for a quarter of a century.

31st International Public Relations Symposium BledCom

July 5-6, 2024

CALL FOR PAPERS

Conference Dates and Venue:

The 31 ^st International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom 2023) will be held on July 5 - 6, 2024, in Rikli Balance Hotel, Lake Bled, Slovenia.

Theme: Public Relations and Human Well-being

Scholarship has almost singularly focused on how public relations can contribute to organizational effectiveness – through multiple dimensions. As a result, the focus has also been skewed almost entirely to mass-mediated communication ignoring intra and inter-personal communication. We believe it is vital for our field to reflect on individuals and human well-being as all collectivities are made up of individuals. Individuals who harbor positive emotions, are content, and happy are more likely to be productive and effective organizational members contributing to organizational effectiveness and success. On the other hand, individuals who harbor negative emotions (depression, anger, stress and anxiety) are more likely to be poor contributors to organizational effectiveness and success and may actually do harm to organizational reputation. Individual well-being, then, can yield many desirable outcomes such as healthier relationshps, pro-social behaviors, greater productivity at work, increased creativity, etc.

When viewed from the prism of human well-being, our definition of, and orientation to, publics will invariably become broader and more holistic than it has been for almost five decades of public relations scholarship. A more holistic view of audiences will also include the well-being of the underprivileged and vulnerable groups of a society such as children, migrants, minority groups, and those disadvantaged economically and socially. For these and many similar reasons, mindfulness as a strategy for well-being has received a lot of attention lately helped by initiatives such as the International Day of Yoga suggested by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and adopted by the United Nations in 2014.

This theme certainly has the potential to broaden the horizons of our field and thus contribute to better its reputation as well. The theme can be addressed from a variety of perspectives and lends itself to multi-disciplinarity as well such as:

- How can we link public relations and communication management to human well-being? What are some evidence-based contributions that public relations practitioners have made to individual and societal well-being?

- How has our field contributed to understanding the link between culture, social structures, and organizational/institutional and individual and societal well-being ?

- Is management concerned with human wellbeing, and how it uses communication for that purpose?

- How is internal communication and employee engagement affecting employee wellbeing and life satisfaction?

- Are there case studies, or other empirical research linking public relations with well-being during crises and challenging situation?

- Can we identify the contributions public relations and communication management has played in charting well-being in an era of increasing environmental challenges?

- How is rapid digital transformation, omnipresence of social media and the emergence of AI affecting human wellbeing?

- How is our field being asked to contribute to enhancing the popularity of some of the ‘tools’ of human well-being such as yoga, spirituality, and even religion?

- On the flip side, how is our field being used by those who prefer a more atheistic/agnostic approach to well-being?

- Is there evidence of the CSR – public relations nexus vis-à-vis human well-being?

- How does corporate, government and international governance affect human wellbeing and what is the role of public relations in that context?

Obviously these are just a few questions that can be posed but there are many other dimensions to this theme that we invite authors to explore as well. As always, all methodological perspectives are welcome given the broad nature of the theme.

Call for Abstracts and Panels:

Please use the following guidelines to present your abstract and kindly supply the word count at the end of the submission.

Format for the Abstract:

Please note that the chances of your abstract being accepted are enhanced if you observe the following format in preparing it:

Deadline:

Paper abstracts and panel proposals should be submitted via email to bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si no later than February 5, 2024. Decisions will be made by March 4, 2024 after peer review. Full papers not exceeding 6.000 words will be due by September 21, 2024 for inclusion in the conference proceedings.

Program Committee:

· Dejan Verčič, University of Ljubljana and Herman & partners, Slovenia

· Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, University of Colorado Boulder, USA

· Ana Tkalac Verčič, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Special Issue of Journal of Public Relations Research: Reviewing Internal Communication

Fri, 12 May 2023 07:33:03 GMT

The Journal of Public Relations Research invites submissions for a special issue on internal communication. As communication within organizations becomes increasingly important in public relations and the scholarship, it is time to review what is new in internal communication. Increasingly, organizations invest considerable human and financial resources in shaping effective internal communication systems. Rapid digitalization has also had a massive effect on communication within organizations. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a huge shift in how we all communicate and a new level of computer-mediated communication (CMC) dominates our private and working lives, forcing a reimagining of traditional organizational boundaries. Employee perception and statements about the organization often form the basis of external stakeholders view of the organization. That is why, shifts in organizational environment drive a review of how internal communication is practiced and defined, especially from a public relations and strategic communication perspective.

Papers submitted to this issue should aim to elaborate, define, and re-define concepts within internal communication. The issue aims to capture the latest research in the field. Approaches from varied disciplines and methodologies are welcomed. A range of topics are also welcome, including but not limited to the following topics:
• Internal communication and issue/crisis management
• Employees’ perception, attitudes, and behaviors
• Employee engagement
• Employee voice and organizational listening
• Internal communication and employee well-being
• Internal communication, (social) media, and technology
• Leadership communication, including organizational advocacy
• Internal communication and change management
• Internal communication measurement
• Cross-cultural/global internal communications

Manuscript and Technical Requirements
• Content shall further JPRR’s primary purpose, which is to create, test, refine, or expand theory in public relations. Authors should explicitly articulate how their scholarship serves the purpose of the journal.
• Content shall reflect the highest standards of scholarship, regardless of the methods used.
• Manuscripts shall be submitted in APA 7 style and edited to the highest standards of English- language grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, word usage, etc.
• Manuscripts shall conform to the Journal’s standard limit of 30 pages of text (not including references, figures, tables). Manuscripts that exceed the standard page limit may be considered if the authors (a) justify the manuscript length in their cover letter and (b) keep to a reasonable length appropriate for the nature of the research method and the subject studied.
• Authors shall take care to indicate in the online manuscript submission system that their submission is, in fact, intended for the special issue on Reviewing Internal Communication. Failure to make this indication (in the cover letter AND in the appropriate selection box) will lead to the manuscript being entered into the Journal’s regular review process, rather than the special issue process.

Important Dates
• September, 15, 2023 (Initial manuscript submissions due from authors); February 2024: Publication of special issue.

Questions?

Contact Guest Editor Ana Tkalac Verčič (atkalac@efzg.hr) .

BledCom 2023 Preliminary Program is now online

Fri, 12 May 2023 07:23:00 GMT

After two successfully organized digital conferences (BledCom 2020 and BledCom 2021) and BledCom 2022 in hybrid format offering both in-person and online access, the 30th jubilee edition of International Public Relations Research Symposium will be held in-person in Rikli Balance Hotel (ex. Hotel Golf Bled), Lake Bled - Slovenia.

BledCom 2023 will be a bit different from previous symposiums: there will be two keynotes, more formats for presentation and more time to debate. This year’s keynote speakers are David Haig, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and Steve Shepperson-Smith, President-Elect of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). BledCom 2023 program will also feature 6 Parallel Paper Sessions, Panel and Roundtable, 1 Parallel Panel Session, 2 Research Focuses and 2 Debates.

Check out the program here: http s://www.bledcom.com/program-agenda

1st book on Corporate Communications in Ukranian language

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 13:46:05 GMT

Professor Dmytro Oltarzhevskyi, who was a keynote speaker at the 29th BledCom symposium in 2022, with Yevgen Zagorulko published the first book on » Corporate Communications: A fresh look « in Ukrainian language.

A public presentation was on 22 March 2022 at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with an introduction by the Rector of the university Prof. Volodymyr Bugrov. Prof. Dejan Verčič addressed the event online and congratulated the authors and the university for contributing and important element to the growing body of knowledge in public relations and corporate communication, and for preserving sanity in times of Russian invasion of their country: ”Life, living is the greatest revenge against an agression and death.«

Extension of Deadline

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 13:40:09 GMT

Dear BledCom friends,

In the past week we have received requests for an extension of the deadline from several authors who said they would not want to miss BledCom’s 30 ^th birthday but need a bit more time to finish submitting their abstract and panel proposals.

.We have individually acceded to their request and extended the deadline to those authors.

We thought it would be fair to extend the deadline uniformly to all interested authors also. So, please note that the revised deadline for abstract submissions is February 14, 2023 . Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Abstract Submission Deadline is February 1,2023 (Midnight CEST)!

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 08:35:38 GMT

30th BledCom will be held in-person on June 30 and July 1, 2023 at Hotel Rikli Balance in Bled (Slovenia). Submission deadline for paper abstracts and panel proposals is February 1, 2023.

The theme of the 30th conference is " Public Relations and Sustainability «. BledCom invites abstracts that are between 500 and 800 words (including title and keywords) with up to 5 references. We welcome ALL papers that are relevant to public relations and communication management and not just papers that discuss the conference theme. We also welcome panel proposals.

Please submit paper abstracts and panel proposals via email to bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si by February 1, 2023 (Midnight CEST) . Decisions will be made by March 4, 2023 after peer review.

Format your abstract proposals as follows: Introduction and purpose of the study (and research question if there is one) – helps summarize the purpose and rationale of your study. Literature review – Helps place your work in context with the existing body of knowledge. Methodology – Define the main method used for gathering data including sample size, and state the rationale for using this method. Results and conclusions – Helps summarize the answers to the research questions while also outlining the implications of the results. Also summarize the limitations of the study and offer suggestions for future research. Practical and social implications – Offer the potential implications both for practice and society. Also provide us with 3 to 5 keywords that highlight your study. Abstracts should come as blind copies without author names and affiliations, who are to be identified on on a separate cover page . Please use the suggested headings to structure the abstract. A list of literature is not necessary, but if it is provided it is included into the word count.

Full papers not exceeding 6.000 words will be due by September 16, 2023 for inclusion in the conference proceedings . The Program Committee will also be guest editing a special issue of Corporate Communications: An International Journal . Papers presented at BledCom 2023 will be considered for publication in the special issue.

BledCom 2023 Call for Papers is available here: https://www.bledcom.com/2022

30th Jubilee BledCom on Public Relations and Sustainability

maja.jancic@fdv.uni-lj.si (maja jancic) — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:11:57 GMT

BledCom will celebrate three decades of its existence next year. It is the oldest conference in the field of public relations in the world that is not affiliated with a professional or academic association. The jubilee, 30th international symposium on public relations research, will be held in-person on June 30 and July 1, 2023 at Hotel Rikli Balance in Bled (Slovenia). The theme of the conference is " Public Relations and Sustainability «.

BledCom 2023 will be a bit different: there will be more keynotes, more formats for presentation and more time to debate. We can announce the first two confirmed keynote speakers: David Haig , Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and Steve Shepperson-Smith , President-Elect of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

David Haig is the George Putnam Professor of Biology and Associate of Dudley House at Harvard University (since 2010). After receiving his B.Sc. degree in biology with First Class Honors from Macquarie University in Australia, Haig left academia, working variously as a dishwasher and clerk. He returned to Macquarie University, received his PhD in biology, and moved on to a Royal Society Endeavour postdoctoral Fellowship in plant sciences at St. John's College, Oxford University. As an independent researcher, Haig’s research has focused on evolutionary theory and has included a range of subjects from maternal-fetal conflict in human pregnancy to the evolution of plant life cycles.

Steve Shepperson-Smith ’s career started with Crystal Public Relations and Image Public Relations before he moved in-house as Head of PR for Sure in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Relocating to London in 2010, he become Head of External and Internal Communications for Cable & Wireless Communications. He is now President-Elect of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and a Senior Corporate Communications Manager for Vodafone Group, where he leads PR for the company's Africa portfolio and global reputation management programme.

How to submit your abstract and panel proposals

Bledcom invites abstracts that are between 500 and 800 words (including title and keywords) with up to 5 references. Please note that as has been the norm in the past, we welcome ALL papers that are relevant to public relations and communication management and not just papers that discuss the conference theme. We also welcome panel proposals.

Please submit paper abstracts and panel proposals via email to bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si by February 1, 2023 (midnight CET) . Decisions will be made by March 4, 2023 after peer review. Full papers not exceeding 6.000 words will be due by September 16, 2023 for inclusion in the conference proceedings.

The Call for Papers is available here: https://www.bledcom.com/2022 The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

EUPRERA CONGRESS 2023 - CALL FOR PAPERS

maja.jancic@fdv.uni-lj.si (maja jancic) — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 08:58:35 GMT

EUPRERA XXIV annual congress will take place on September 20-23, 2023 in Prague. The congress is organized by Charles University and will deal with the theme "Responsible Communication or Communicating Responsibility?"

Since corporate social responsibility became a theme in the late twentieth century, various forms of “responsibility” have come to play an important role within organizations and companies. The sub-theme of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) has steadily grown in importance in communication studies (European Communication Monitor, 2022, in progress). The need for a dialogue about the societal and environmental impact of communications has begun to increase along with the concern of the European and American publics about the side effects of global economic and population growth and their impact on the planet.

The big questions are about honesty and hypocrisy: to what extent are companies honest (transparent and truthful) with the public when it comes to their “greater good” actions? How much can they be? Drawing from Milton Friedman’s classic argument, is the sole responsibility of joint-stock company CEOs to their shareholders for improving financial results, or should they take the lead on societal issues as well (Edelman Trust Barometer, 2021)? What is the role of communication professionals in this complex environment, where they are often walking on eggshells?

Euprera Call for Papers 2023 is available here:

https://euprera.createsend.com/t/ViewEmail/i/635B7E2C79B4241E2540EF23F30FEDED/C67FD2F38AC4859C/?tx=0&previewAll=1&print=1&source=PrintPreview&context=BE1559E32AC7F640D744A813E2B67A32

BLEDCOM 2023 CALL FOR PAPERS: Public Relations and Sustainability

bostjan@meetpoint.si (Boštjan Namurs) — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:53:50 GMT

The 30 ^th International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom 2023) will be held on June 30 and July 1, 2023, in Rikli Balance Hotel, Lake Bled, Slovenia. Conference Theme is "Public Relations and Sustainability".

Conference Dates and Venue:

The 30 ^th International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom 2023) will be held on June 30 and July 1, 2023, in Rikli Balance Hotel, Lake Bled, Slovenia.

Theme: Public Relations and Sustainability

The main purpose of public relations is the synchronization of organizations with their environments – natural, social, cultural, political and technological. Crises and change are the driving forces behind the profession, and as the first become more frequent and the second accelerates the role of public relations in making organizations and societies sustainable increases.

Sustainability is the ability of a system (an individual, a group, an organization, society, the planet) to maintain continuity over time. According to the Brundtland Commission (the World Commission on Environment and Development, United Nations), sustainability means ”meeting the needs of the preset without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”

On one hand, it appears as though sustainability has become the holy grail of the continuity of capitalism: ”We focus on sustainability not because we’re environmentalists, but because we are capitalists,” wrote Larry Fink, Chairman and Chief Executive Office of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, in the 2022 annual letter to CEOs. On the other hand, as a normative concept, sustainability calls for a creative destruction of the current organization of production to alleviate global poverty. The political goal of sustainability, the ”2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” (the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as formulated by the UN: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda ). The business community has translated sustainability into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria to screen potential investments.

Meanwhile, we are witnessing an accelerated digitalization that is profoundly changing humanity, along with disruptors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the end of the End of History (F. Fukuyama).

Al the above prompt us to assess the role of public relations in making organizations and society sustainable. While we are on the brink of catastrophe, how can public relations contribute to the survival and development of communities and organizations, the human species, and the planet?

The following are some questions that can be addressed under this theme:

- What is the role of public relations in making the world more sustainable?

- Has public relations played any role in sustainable development? If so, what is it?

- What are some potential ways by which public relations can contribute to sustainability?

- What is the relationship between sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility?

Obviously these are just a few questions that can be posed but there are many other dimensions to this theme that we invite authors to explore as well.

Call for Abstracts and Panels:

Please use the following guidelines to present your abstract and kindly supply the word count at the end of the submission.

Format for the Abstract:

Please note that the chances of your abstract being accepted are enhanced if you observe the following format in preparing it:

Deadline:

Paper abstracts and panel proposals should be submitted via email to bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si no later than February 1, 2023 . Decisions will be made by March 4, 2023 after peer review. Full papers not exceeding 6.000 words will be due by September 16, 2023 for inclusion in the conference proceedings.

Finally, we hope we all will be able to meet in person in beautiful Bled in 2023 to celebrate 30 years of BledCom!

Program Committee:

· Dejan Verčič , University of Ljubljana and Herman & partners, Slovenia

· Krishnamurthy Sriramesh , University of Colorado Boulder, USA

· Ana Tkalac Verčič , University of Zagreb, Croatia

COVID-19 measures in Slovenia

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:04:32 GMT

As of May 31, 2022, measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections are no longer required in Slovenia, but please act preventively and make sure that you test yourself, if you have COVID-like symptoms (or even do so out of precaution).

A person who has tested positive in a coronavirus test will still have to inform all those with whom he or she has been in close contact. It is recommended that persons who are in close contact with an infected pearson from their household self-test for 7 days. In case of complications, please seek emergency first aid.

HAG and PCR Testing is available here : Zdravstveni dom Bled (Bled Community Health Center), Mladinska cesta 1, 4260 Bled, Web Site: https://www.zd-bled.si/?subpageid=136 Phone: 04 575 40 00, Fax: 04 574 18 43, E-mail: tajnistvo@zd-bled.si .

MONDAY-FRIDAY:

12:00 - 12:30: healthy population, self-paid tests

12:30 - 13:00 sick population

Location: Blue container next to the last entrance to ZD Bled (last entrance for physiotherapy), pre-ordering is not required (schedules might change, so please make sure to double check them).

Free HAG testing is for people: with symptoms of infection, who want confirmation of a positive self-test (a plate with a positive test or a photo of the test must be submitted), who want to break the isolation for 7 or 10 days. PCR testing as part of health insurance only on the order of a doctor. Self-paying HAG and PCR testing: price of HAG testing: 7 euros, PCR: 80 euros.

More info about the current Covid-19 measures in Slovenia is available here:

https://www.gov.si/en/topics/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/

Ukrainian professor to be keynote speaker at BledCom 2022

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 08:42:42 GMT

Dr. Dmytro Oltarzhevskyi, Professor of Advertising and Public Relations at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine) will deliver the keynote address at the 29 ^th International Public Relations Symposium (BledCom 2022) on July 1, 2022 .

Speaking on the topic: “The war in Ukraine: Rethinking values in communication,” Dr. Oltarzhevskyi will expound on the various dimensions of communication evident at various venues and among various stakeholders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 ^th . We hope you will tune in to listen to a first-hand account and analysis from Ground Zero.

BLEDCOM 2022 CALL FOR PAPERS: Reboot: Should Organizations Rediscover Communication with Internal & External Stakeholders?

bostjan@meetpoint.si (Boštjan Namurs) — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 13:17:55 GMT

The 29th International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom) will be held on July 1-2, 2022. Conference Theme is Reboot: Should Organizations Rediscover Communication with Internal & External Stakeholders?

BledCom is an annual gathering of scholars and practitioners in public relations and related disciplines to discuss contemporary communication and management problems. Organized annually since 1994, it is the oldest conference in our field that is not affiliated with a professional or academic association.

So far, eight books and nine special issues or sections of peer-reviewed journals have been published based on previous symposia ( www.bledcom.com ). We attribute this success to the hundreds of colleagues who have participated over these years and of course our sponsors. We thank you all for sustaining this boutique conference for a quarter of a century.

Conference Dates and Venue:

The 29 ^th International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom) will be held on July 1-2, 2022, in Rikli Balance Hotel, Lake Bled, Slovenia .

Conference Theme:

Reboot: Should Organizations Rediscover Communication with Internal & External Stakeholders?

The pandemic has demonstrated the fragility of humans and the societies we inhabit. Personal relationships were suspended and digitalized. Atomized employees were asked to work from home, and the very definition of the workplace seems to have been redefined. So, it is appropriate to ask whether organizations should be proactive and rediscover effective communication strategies and techniques. Is it time to explore the definition and distinction between what are internal and what are external relationships? Communication and public relations (in all its denominations: communication management, corporate communication, strategic communication…) have gained a new and bigger role in management around the world.

For all these reasons, based on the innate relationship between communication and this pandemic, BledCom 2022 selected this theme, which seeks to analyze questions such as:

- Have internal communication and employee engagement changed during the covid pandemic, and if so, how?

- Are there any changes in perception of what are internal and what are external relationships essential for organizational success?

- How has “social distancing” within organizations affected organizational culture? That is, with the complete cessation of personal meetings and interactions, what kind of organizational culture has evolved?

- How have relationships with external stakeholders changed (if at all) given the unprecedented changes to the way organizations have been forced to communicate with them?

- What impact has “working from home” had on employee morale?

- How many of the changes in communication patterns seen during this pandemic might remain as we return to a “new normal?”

- How has internal communication affected communication with external stakeholders?

- Is reliance on ICTs a boon or a curse given how the big tech companies are being accused of anti-trust activities among other things

Obviously there are many other dimensions to this theme that we invite authors to explore as well.

Call for Abstracts and Panels:

We invite abstracts that are between 500 and 800 words (including title and keywords) with up to 5 references. Please note that as has been the norm in the past, BledCom welcomes ALL papers that are relevant to public relations and communication management and not just papers that discuss the conference theme. We also welcome panel proposals.

Please use the following guidelines to present your abstract and kindly supply the word count at the end of the submission.

Format for the Abstract:

Please note that the chances of your abstract being accepted are enhanced if you observe the following format in preparing it:

Panel proposals are also welcome. The proposal should describe the title and focus of the panel, name of the chair of the panel, and names of every member of the panel and title or focus of each presentation.

Deadline:

Paper abstracts and panel proposals should be submitted via email to bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si no later than February 1, 2022 . Decisions will be made by March 4, 2022 after peer review. Full papers not exceeding 6.000 words will be due by September 16, 2022 .

Finally, we hope we will be able to meet in person in beautiful Bled in 2022!

Program Committee:

• Dejan Verčič , University of Ljubljana and Herman & partners, Slovenia
• Krishnamurthy Sriramesh , University of Colorado Boulder, USA
• Ana Tkalac Verčič , University of Zagreb, Croatia

BledCom 2022 Abstracts Submission Deadline is February 1st!

bostjan@meetpoint.si (Boštjan Namurs) — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 13:46:04 GMT

The theme for BledCom 2022 is Reboot: Should Organizations Rediscover Communication with Internal & External Stakeholders? Please submit paper abstracts and panel proposals via email to bledcom@fdv.uni-lj.si by February 1, 2022 (midnight CET).

We invite abstracts that are between 500 and 800 words (including title and keywords) with up to 5 references. Please note that as has been the norm in the past, BledCom welcomes ALL papers that are relevant to public relations and communication management and not just papers that discuss the conference theme. We also welcome panel proposals. The proposal should describe the title and focus of the panel, name of the chair of the panel, and names of every member of the panel and title or focus of each presentation.
Decisions will be made by March 4, 2022 after peer review. Full papers not exceeding 6.000 words will be due by September 16, 2022 for inclusion in the conference proceedings.
The Call for Papers is available here: https://www.bledcom.com/call-for-papers

BledCom 2022 to introduce Hybrid conference access

bostjan@meetpoint.si (Boštjan Namurs) — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 13:46:04 GMT

We have heard from several of you that you are excited at the prospect of being back in beautiful Bled for 29th BledCom conference to savor camaraderie with colleagues and friends in a beautiful setting. Those thoughts keep us excited at the prospect of having an in-person conference!

But we are also pragmatic in recognizing that public health authorities may have other ideas depending on the vagaries of the pandemic at various parts of the world.

So, we have decided that BledCom 2022 will be delivered in hybrid format offering both in-person and online access with the goal of broadening participation. So, as you plan your abstract submission you may rest assured that you will be able to participate actively in BledCom 2022 by choosing either mode.

We have begun exploring the platform for online participation and we shall keep you updated on the details.

In the meantime, please note that the 2022 conference theme is: Reboot: Should Organizations Rediscover Communication with Internal & External Stakeholders? Please be reminded that paper abstracts and panel proposals by February 1, 2022. The call for papers is available at https://www.bledcom.com/call-for-papers.

Please be reminded that paper abstracts and panel proposals by February 1, 2022. The call for papers is available at

https://www.bledcom.com/call-for-papers

BledCom signs an important international declaration

bostjan@meetpoint.si (Boštjan Namurs) — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 13:19:57 GMT

BledCom is the proud signatory of the International Declaration of Communications Professionals and Researchers for a Healthier, Viable, Better World.

BledCom is the proud signatory of the International Declaration of Communications Professionals and Researchers for a Healthier, Viable, Better World.
In the face of the pandemic and the global climate crisis, BledCom strongly believes in the role of communications to help build a healthier future. ‘’Our societies need both professional and scientific knowledge and know-how in communication and in the face of these threats, every group in communication around the world − professional and scientific − should support and endorse this mobilization, says Dejan Verčič, Co-founder’’: