After nearly five years of leading the Institute for Public Relations, Frank Ovaitt has kindly offered to share with us his insights into international public relations and what directions he sees the profession taking in the years ahead. The program, "International PR: Future Trends and Research. A Conversation with Frank Ovaitt, President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations," was offered to all members of the International Section.

On April 29, 2009, the PRSA Independent Practitioners Alliance offered a complimentary teleseminar to its members. The presentation features Vince Hazleton, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, of Radford University in Virginia, and Jay Rayburn, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, of Florida State University, sharing the results of their most recent survey of independent public relations practitioners and their business practices.    

What's the new formula into gaining coverage on these types of outlets? Get your questions answered on how to pitch and secure original feature content on the Web from this panel of the top voices in online media. Richard Beattie, editor, TravelandLeisure.com Garrett Graff, editor-at-large, Washingtonian Ben Mutzabaugh, travel reporter, USA Today

David Pavelko, head of industry travel, Eastern Region, Google, Inc., explores the best ways to grow your online presence, engage in meaningful dialogue with consumers and use the conversation about your brand to your advantage.

Peter Greenberg addresses the real PR challenges and how to survive the economic meltdown and recover from the recovery itself....The silver lining to the current financial crisis in the travel industry. After more than two decades as travel correspondent for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and travel editor for NBC’s “Today,” Greenberg continues to be America’s most recognized, honored and respected travel expert. An Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and producer, he is the consummate insider when it comes to reporting the travel business as news. Travel Weekly named Greenberg one of the most influential people in the travel industry, along with Al Gore and Richard Branson.

For the opening keynote session of PRSA's Travel & Tourism Section's 2009 Conference, Peter Shankman addresses the changing world of social media. Shankman is CEO, entrepreneur, adventurist and founder of "Help a Reporter Out" (HARO).

International Section Global Issues Forum presents an exclusive luncheon discussion with international pollster John Zogby and Egypt's foremost PR agency head Loula Zaklama. Jim Holtje is the moderator. It's a part of the world where opinion of the United States has been at record lows. President Obama, however, has sent strong signals he wants that to change. In his inaugural address, he told the Muslim world that the United States seeks “A new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” Days later, he gave his first foreign media interview with Al Arabiya, saying: “My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy.” Is Obama's message getting through? Are people in the Middle East receptive to Washington's change in tone? Join internationally renowned pollster John Zogby and Loula Zaklama, Egypt's foremost public relations practitioner and 2006 IPRA world president, for an interactive discussion on whether the tide of public opinion is starting to turn. Presentations include exclusive, never-before-released polling and focus group data. Public relations professionals and their organizations have a stake in how the United States is perceived overseas, and can play a role in helping build communications bridges.