PRSSA and the PRSA Foundation Partner for the 2019 Bateman Case Study Competition In the Service of Diversity and Inclusion in Public Relations

NEW YORK (Aug. 9, 2018) — The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) will challenge participants of the 2019 Bateman Case Study Competition to develop, launch and promote a public relations campaign for the PRSA Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization, whose sole mission is to promote diversity in the fields of public relations and communications (www.prsafoundation.org).

Participants in the Competition will be challenged to develop a campaign that focuses on diversity in the public relations field and promotes the book Diverse Voices: Profiles in Leadership (October, 2018). This book, developed by the PRSA Foundation in partnership with the Museum of Public Relations, features candid interviews with more than 40 accomplished multicultural communications professionals, describing the successes and challenges they have faced during their careers. Diverse Voices is the latest initiative of the PRSA Foundation to help advance, attract and retain young adults entering the communications profession. 

“The PRSA Foundation is honored to be the cause of choice for the 2019 Bateman Case Study Competition,” said PRSA Foundation President Judith Harrison. “We are excited to see the skills and ideas of outstanding students of public relations and communications from PRSSA Chapters throughout the nation come to life in the service of accelerating progress in our industry’s critical drive to become more diverse and inclusive. We anticipate Diverse Voices: Profiles in Leadership will be a ground-breaking and influential work and look forward to incorporating the work of the next Bateman Competition awardee into our marketing and communications strategy.”                                                                        T

The Bateman Case Study Competition originated in 1973 as a national case study allowing PRSSA members to exercise the analytical skills required for public relations problem solving. In 1983, the name of the Competition was changed to honor the memory of the late J. Carroll Bateman, APR. Bateman was a past president of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and was instrumental in the founding of PRSSA.

“By embracing diversity, we as a Society can build stronger relationships with the professional community and enrich the public relations industry as a whole,” said PRSSA 2018–2019 National President Andrew Young. “I know participants of this Competition will use their skills and creativity to spark conversations on campus about diversity and inclusion, using Diverse Voices as a source of guidance and inspiration.”

For additional information and updates about the PRSSA Bateman Case Study Competition, visit www.prssa.prsa.org/scholarships-and-competitions/bateman-competition/.  

For additional information or to pre-order Diverse Voices: Profiles in Leadership, visit https://www.diverseleadership.net/.

About the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)

The Public Relations Student Society of America (www.prssa.prsa.org) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. Founded in 1968 by its parent organization, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), PRSSA includes more than 10,000 student members and advisers, and is active at more than 340 colleges and universities.

About the PRSA Foundation

Headquartered in New York City, The PRSA Foundation (www.prsafoundation.org) provides financial support in the form of scholarships, grants and awards to the next generation of multicultural communications professionals who will diversify the workforce and truly mirror the population and customer base to be served. Additionally, the Foundation works with employers and industry organizations to create workplace-based inclusion efforts to welcome, support and retain a diverse workforce.