I know you saw the news that PRSA determined the timing is right to modernize its definition of PR. I was ecstatic about this (and life got in the way of my ability to blog quickly), and I’ll tell you why.

For those of you in the community who’ve been faithful followers, you’ll recall our endeavor to define PR in spring 2011. Not sure why I embarked on this journey, but it was amazingly frustrating and rewarding at the same time.

The culmination of the experience of some 15 blog posts by global input (including many, many insightful comments from PRSA, mind you) is this post right here, “We’ve Defined PR, By Jove!” Upon reading it fresh this morning, I am happy to say that I like/love the definition we toiled to create:

PUBLIC RELATIONS HELPS PEOPLE

SAY THE RIGHT THINGS TO THE RIGHT AUDIENCES

AT THE RIGHT TIME AND IN THE RIGHT WAY.

What do you think? Does this still resonate with you?

Throughout the entire intense series we tackled, one of the posts was about the very un-modern and archaic definition by PRSA of public relations. I directly admonished them, and others whole-heartedly agreed. May we take some credit for nudging PRSA to the edge on redefining our profession? I’m saying YES! (Makes me a proud practitioner to have had a hand in helping push this.)

Now, how can you help?

Make it your responsibility to be accountable to your profession. The original blog post at PRSA (although, strangely, comments require moderation) is here where you can see the campaign launch announcement.

Go directly to PRSA here and submit your definition of PR by Dec. 2, 2011. (Interestingly, and I fully agree, a commenter suggested this was a failure by PRSA to announce the campaign so close to and during a holiday week; indeed, timing is a bit odd.)

A word cloud is forming now on the PRSA website and tweets are being captured at #PRDefined with all the key words we’re coming up with.  While I didn’t use a word cloud to help us come to somewhat of a consensus, I know how hard we toiled to make our definition as general and as  specific as we could with respect to the purists and the integrated marketers in our midst.

Will be fascinating to watch what comes of this project. Anything is an improvement over what we’ve had for decades. Stay tuned!