A senior lecturer is Public Relations has put UCLan and its students firmly on the international research stage.

Paul Elmer presented two papers at the 10th International Public Relations Research Conference in Miami one of which was co-authored with Lili Cai, a student who who recently completed the departmentís MA Strategic Communication programme.

Paul linked her study of public relations practice in China to wider research into the PR role in management and corporate capitalism. The second paper, by Paul alone, was an argument against the dominant strands of public relations theory, and urged a reconsideration of marginalised and complex practice such as cultural, intuitive and emotional labour, and especially storytelling.

Paul has now taken up an invitation to appear at universities in Istanbul, where public relations is already a developed area of study. On his return he has been invited to join public relations thought leaders from around the globe in an international round table event at the University of Stirling.

PR: cultures & beliefs, transformations & travel will include Paulís contributions on alternative spiritualities, especially the commodification and marketing of escape, rebirth and renewal. He will also be presenting on business as spirtuality and the representation of leadership as a divine state of being.

But it isnít all hard work, as the picture shows. Paul is a keen motorcyclist, and as his research develops a sort of ëbikes from around the worldí picture strip is the unexpected offshoot. This one is a Harley Davidson, apparently. And he has the cheek to call it workÖ

More info
Applied Communication research
MA Strategic Communication

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