Newsletter
Volume 30 | 2007 | Number 3
ABAI Launches National Public Relations Campaign
By Dr. Janet S. Twyman
The field of behavior analysis is often misunderstood. Public perception of the valuable work we do is limited, and, unfortunately, in some cases completely inaccurate. Working with a professional public relations agency is a potent way to build awareness, correct misperceptions, and enhance understanding of our science and field through mainstream media exposure.
To this end, ABA International is pleased to announce that we have retained the services of a nationally renowned, San Diego-based public relations firm to launch an ongoing national awareness campaign for the organization, its members, and the field.
The primary goals of the ABAI’s PR efforts are to secure mainstream print, broadcast and online media opportunities to bring greater awareness to the field and the science on which it is based, to position applied behavior analysis as effective, humane and viable, and to promote the importance of the field overall.
Our public relations firm will be involved in developing an online pressroom for ABAI, which will provide a platform for ongoing publicity information. The team will also be spearheading the public relations activities for the 2008 annual convention in Chicago and other special events.
The firm was originally hired to assist with the ABAI 2007 convention in San Diego, for which it successfully obtained both television and print coverage for various speakers as well as getting preview articles of the convention published in local newspapers. Several members of the media also attended presentations at the convention. (See Figure 1, below.)
..............Figure 1: Media coverage of the 2007 ABAI convention..............
Members of ABAI’s PR Task Force will work with the PR firm to strategically pursue positive media coverage, furthering the messaging and goals of ABAI. We hope you will join in our excitement about this important step for the organization as we prepare to share with the world the great work being done each day within our dynamic field.
If any ABAI members have ideas or suggestions for future public relations efforts, please contact the ABA office via e-mail at mail@abainterantional.org. Your input will be most welcome.