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USC Center for Public Relations

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The USC Center for Public Relations’ mission is to connect corporations, agencies, academics and students to define the future of our industry and to develop those who will shape it.

Guided by university faculty and USC CPR board members, CPR examines current strategies, forecasts future trends, and provides meaningful insight and feedback to students and to help shape the department’s curriculum.

CPR publishes the annual Global Communication Report, a survey of the public relations industry, and the Relevance Report, a collection of essays and trend pieces from industry leaders and USC academics. CPR also hosts USC Annenberg’s Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium each spring, the largest gathering of PR professionals in Southern California annually since its founding in 1991.

Center for Public Relations

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By the numbers

24
published research reportsThe center’s research is covered through the Global Communication Report, Relevance Report, Brand Purpose Study and The Polarization Index.
The center’s research is covered through the Global Communication Report, Relevance Report, Brand Purpose Study and The Polarization Index.
25+
student volunteers and contributors CPR’s dean’s scholars contribute to our research, programming and outreach.
CPR’s dean’s scholars contribute to our research, programming and outreach.
100+
years of professional experienceCenter faculty and professional staff share their real-world agency and corporate communications experience with our students and USC Annenberg.
Center faculty and professional staff share their real-world agency and corporate communications experience with our students and USC Annenberg.
3
annual on-campus eventsCPR welcomes professionals and USC alums to join us for our Lead On! professional development, and our annual industry panels and mixers.
CPR welcomes professionals and USC alums to join us for our Lead On! professional development, and our annual industry panels and mixers.

Explore the center

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Research

The Center for Public Relations publishes regular research on the trends of PR, such as their annual Relevance Reports and Global Communication Reports, plus The Polarization Index and Brand Purpose Communication partnership with PRWeek.

Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium

The Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium has been the premier event for public relations students and practitioners in Southern California since its inception in 1990.

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#PRFuture Podcast

Hosted by CPR Director and Golin Chairman Emeritus Fred Cook, the #PRFuture podcast features discussions with communication executives, academics, students and more to define the future of the PR industry and to develop those who will shape it.

Our people

Under the direction of longtime Golin agency leader and current USC Annenberg professor Fred Cook, the Center for Public Relations conducts and publishes research reports forecasting the future of the PR industry and future-looking, thought-provoking content authored by our board of advisers, staff and USC colleagues. Our student research associates, volunteers and professional fellows lead the Center’s outreach efforts, including podcasts, public events and other produced content for social and owned media.

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