Graduate students and faculty from the BYU Department of Communications honored at the International Public Relations Research Conference (IPRRC) on March 12 in Miami, Fla.
by Bradley PR Agency
Laney Hawes, Brad Rawlins and Kenneth Plowman (Brigham Young University)
won the Institute for Public Relations Top Three Paper Award at this year's
International Public Relations Research Conference. Hawes gives a short summary
of their paper, "Transparency and City Government Communications".
Winner of the Institute for Public Relation's Top Three Paper Award,
Chris Wilson (Brigham Young University) presents the paper,
"Autonomy-Dependency Paradox in Organization-Public Relationships:
A Case Study Analysis of a University Art Museum". The paper was
co-written with Brad Rawlins (Brigham Young University) and
Kevin Stoker (Texas Tech University) and was presented at this year's
International Public Relations Research Conference.
Winner of the Koichi Yamamura International Strategic Communication Award
at this year's International Public Relations Research Conference,
Kenneth Plowman (Brigham Young University) summarizes his research,
"Strategic Communication for Multi-National Forces in Iraq: Development
of Four STRATCOM Plans".
Research conducted by Jennalane Hawes and Chris Wilson while Master’s students were recognized with Top Three Paper Awards. Dr. Ken Plowman also received an award for his research on strategic communication.
Hawes and Wilson produced their award-winning papers from their Master’s theses. Hawes’ paper was co-authored with Drs. Brad Rawlins and Plowman. Wilson’s paper was also coauthored with Rawlins and a former BYU faculty member, Dr. Kevin Stoker, who is currently at Texas Tech University.
In the acknowledgements section of her paper, Hawes described the challenging process.“Through tears, laughs, frustration, desperation, and many late nights, I can say, it was all worth it,” she said. “I have learned more than I could have ever imagined, and it has been harder than I ever could have imagined.”
Hawes’ study illustrates the importance of using transparency in city government. It also demonstrates the need for future research pertaining to government communications.
Wilson’s paper analyzes the paradoxical tension that can occur from the need for dependency and autonomy in building relationships between organizations and publics. He used a case study from the BYU Museum of Art, where he works, to demonstrate the tension.
Dr. Plowman’s work entitled, “Strategic Communication for Multi-National Forces in Iraq,” garnered the Media Gain Co. Strategic Communication Award.
“These papers are a long culmination of mentoring with graduate students and from my time in Iraq,” Plowman said. “It was great to get something academic out of that year-long trial in the desert!”
“I was thrilled to learn of the department receiving three top awards,” said Rawlins, who also serves as chair of the BYU Department of Communications. “In addition to these award winning papers, two faculty members, Dr. Wakefield and Professor Walton, and two graduate students, Lincoln Hubbard and Kathryn Burnett, are presenting some innovative and thought-provoking research. BYU is represented very well at the conference.”
The award ceremony will take place during IPRRC’s annual research conference. As a top venue for presenting new PR research, IPRRC is the only conference devoted entirely to research in public relations. Featuring informal roundtable sessions, the conference provides bridge-building opportunities between grad students, professors and practitioners. Learn more about IPRRC.
