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The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is a leading association for business communication professionals. IABC has approximately 16,000 members in more than 100 chapters in 70 countries. IABC members hold positions in a variety of communication professions, including: public relations, media relations, corporate communications, employee communications, public affairs, investor relations, government relations, marketing communication, community relations, writing, editing, advertising, graphic design, human resources and teaching. IABC's headquarters are located in San Francisco, California, United States. IABC was founded in 1970 from a merger of the American Association of Industrial Editors and the International Council of Industrial Editors. Its initial focus was on internal communication. However, IABC expanded its mission after research showed that members would leave after being promoted into positions with wider public relations responsibilities.[1]
[edit] AccreditationIABC members can seek accreditation as Accredited Business Communicators (post-nominal ABC). Accreditation is offered as an IABC professional development program. It offers communicators a way of demonstrating their ability to think and plan strategically and to successfully manage those skills essential to effective organizational communication, which could include internal communications, media relations, crisis communications and external relations. To receive accreditation, applicants must meet education and experience requirements, submit a portfolio that includes work samples with measurable outcomes, and pass both written and oral examinations. [1] Accreditation recognizes communicators who have reached a standard of knowledge and proficiency that is globally accepted among the communication profession. [edit] Code of ethicsThe organization has a code of ethics for those professionals in public relations. The themes of its values are that business communications must be "legal ... ethical, and ... in good taste".[2] Members are required to follow the IABC Code of Ethics. However, it has been observed that there is not an enforcement program in place that can realistically punish breaches of its code. [3] [edit] Research FoundationFounded in 1982, IABC Research Foundation serves as the research and development arm of the International Association of Business Communicators. The Foundation supports and advances the practice of organizational communication by providing IABC members with research that bridges the divide between communication theory and practice by offering in-depth knowledge and tools that improve organizational communication performance and strengthen the communication profession as a whole. [edit] Awards programsEvery year, IABC sponsors three levels of communication awards programs for members and nonmembers: Bronze Quill awards, Silver Quill awards, and Gold Quill awards. [5]. Communicators can choose to enter their best professional work produced during the prior year in these Quill communications contests. The specific divisions and categories for each contest can vary, but typical categories include marketing communications, member/employee communications, media relations, crisis communications, social responsibility, writing, graphic design, publication design, social media, interactive/web design, and photography. [2] Bronze Quill (BQ) awards programs are hosted by local IABC chapters. The respective chapter's board of directors plans and executes a BQ communications contest open to business communicators working with a specific city and/or a small region of a state/province. Silver Quill is sponsored by regional divisions, such as IABC's Heritage[3] and Pacific Plains [4] regions, and are open to communicators in the respective geographic area. Open to all communicators worldwide, Gold Quill typically receives entries from over 25 countries. The program aims to cross communication disciplines and reviews entries from professional communicators, ranging from strategists to tacticians. All Gold Quill Awards winners receive international recognition in IABC's magazine, Communication World; are eligible to participate in an awards ceremony at IABC's annual international conference, are mentioned on the IABC website, and are considered for publication in IABC's resource materials.[5] In 2008, the program attracted over 1,000 entries across 26 categories. IABC awards programs are open to both members and non-members of the organization. [6] Global Leadership Awards include the Fellow Award and the Chairman's Award. The IABC Fellow designation is the highest honor IABC can bestow on an individual and acknowledges outstanding leadership, professional accomplishment and service to IABC and the communication profession. Criteria for the Fellow Award include contribution to the organizational communication field and profession; career achievement; authorship, speaking and lecturing; contributions to IABC; and other professional recognition such as community activities and other business-related activities. The Chairman’s Award recognizes IABC members who have made selfless contributions and worked behind the scenes at the international level to enhance the association’s image, facilitate member development and benefit the communication profession. [7] [edit] PublicationsIABC publishes The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication (ISBN 0787980803), a 546-page guide to effective corporate communication. The 2006 edition is the fourth edition and was once known as Inside Organizational Communication. IABC also publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Communication World (ISSN 0744-7612), for its members. [edit] Annual conference and networking opportunitiesIABC holds a world conference each year. In 2006, the host city was Vancouver, Canada. In 2007, the host city was New Orleans, Louisiana and IABC partnered with Wells Fargo to volunteer and provide financial support to build homes through Habitat for Humanity for the city's hurricane-damaged Ninth Ward.[citation needed]. The 2008 conference was in New York City, and the 2009 event will be held in San Francisco from June 7 to June 10, 2009.[8] Eurocomm 2009 will be held in Lugano, Switzerland February 9 - 10, 2009 [9] IABC's world conference is open to communicators, regardless of membership. [6] As a professional association, IABC offers networking opportunities for students and other people entering the industry. As the United States Department of Labor notes, IABC "provides an opportunity for students to exchange views with public relations specialists and to make professional contacts that may help them find a full-time job in the field."[7] [edit] References
[edit] External links
IABC Chapters
IABC Student Chapters
Related organizations
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