Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium Archives
Browse the archives of past Kenneth Owler Smith Symposiums on Public Relations.
KOS Symposium 2023: “New Reputation”
This year’s theme is “New Reputation,” a discussion about the evolution of corporate reputation and ESG. The program featured corporate leaders from companies and agencies whose work is making a positive impact on their brands and society. Speakers include Vincent Stanley, Patagonia’s in-house philosopher, and co-author of its corporate story, “The Responsible Company,” in conversation with NPR's Nathan Rott; Fred Cook, director of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations and chairman emeritus at Golin, sharing results of USC’s 8th annual Global Communication Report; panel moderator Chris Deri, chief corporate affairs officer at Weber Shandwick. Panelists include: Catherine Frymark, executive vice president, corporate communications, Mattel; Jonathan Adeshek, chief communications officer, IBM; Torod Neptune, chief communication officer, Medtronic.
Watch the video here.
KOS Symposium 2022: “The Future of Corporate Activism”
This year’s program and discussion reviewed CPR’s 2022 Global Communication Report research on preparing PR departments and professionals to engage with activists, nonprofits and other external influencers and featured corporate leaders from companies that are actively engaged in communicating about and supporting social justice issues. Speakers include Corley Kenna, head of communications and policy, Patagonia; Dominic Carr, vice president, communications, Lyft; Elyse Cohen, vice president, social impact and inclusion, Rare Beauty; Sean Greenwood, director of PR and communications, Ben & Jerry’s. The discussion was moderated by Willow Bay, dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and hosted by Fred Cook, director of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations and chairman emeritus at Golin.
Watch the video here.
KOS Symposium 2021: “Politics, Polarization and Purpose”
Robert Gibbs (former Obama White House communications director and current senior counsel at Bully Pulpit Interactive) was the keynote speaker for this event. The program was hosted by Fred Cook, and explored the issues that are creating a dangerous level of polarization in our country and discuss how communication professionals can leverage their role in business and society to foster collaboration. The event also included an interview with author Amanda Ripley about her new book High Conflict, a preview of The Polarization Index from the USC Center for Public Relations, Zignal Labs and Golin, and a discussion with Kait Rassi (Zignal Labs) and Jonny Bentwood (Golin) about what the index will measure and how it can guide PR and communication professionals.
Watch the video here.
KOS Symposium 2019: “Tech, the Future of Technology in Communications”
Corey DuBrowa (VP, Global Communications and Public Affairs at Google) was the keynote speaker on March 28, 2019. The panel on Technology in PR and Media was moderated by Melissa Waggener Zorkin (CEO at WE Communications) and included Gary Brotman (Head of AI Strategy at Qualcomm), Alex Smith (Data Visualization Engineer at Zignal), and Edith Moy (Managing Editor, Data Driven News & Automation at Bloomberg).
Watch the video here.
KOS Symposium 2018: “The Evolution of Ethics”
The keynote speaker for the 28th Annual Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium, held on Thursday, April 12, 2018, was Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman. USC Center for Public Relations Director Fred Cook presented highlights of the 2018 Global Communications Report, and Paul Holmes (Holmes Report) moderated the panel of PR experts in discussing ethics in public relations.
Watch the video here.
KOS Symposium 2017: “The Future of Truth”
On Thursday, March 30, 2017, Paul Holmes, a leading authority on the global PR industry, publisher, former reporter and prolific public speaker, delivered the keynote address on the “Future of Truth,” hosted by Fred Cook, Director of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations. Following the keynote, a panel of industry leaders discussed the findings revealed in the 2017 Global Communications Report.
KOS Symposium 2016: “Back to the Future”
Watch a journey from the past to the future during the 26th Annual Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium held on April 14, 2016, with Fred Cook, Chairman of Golin, and Director of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations (CPR), featuring a conversation with Willow Bay, Director, USC Annenberg School of Journalism, and Al Golin, Chairman of Golin, about how dramatically the business has changed since he started his agency 60 years ago.
Watch the video and explore photos here and here.