An audience of over two hundred and fifty communication professionals from across Ireland gave a standing ovation to former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, as she was presented with the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) President’s Medal in recognition of her lifetime commitment to speaking truth to power and advocating for justice and climate action.
Robinson is only the seventh recipient in the seventy-year history of the Institute. Previous recipients include Nobel Peace Prize winner, John Hume, and broadcaster Gay Byrne.
The award was conferred at the PRII’s National Conference in Croke Park, where Robinson delivered the opening keynote address on the power of words in divisive times.
Presenting the award, David Geary, president of PRII, praised Robinson’s contributions to both Ireland and the world, stating: “Mary Robinson has always been more than a skilled debater and communicator – she is a tireless global advocate for the voiceless, a champion of justice, and an unwavering leader in the fight for climate action. Her work as a powerful, ethical communicator serves as a beacon to all of us in the profession. Awarding her the PRII President’s Medal in front of the country’s leading communicators is a fitting tribute to her unparalleled social impact.”
In a wide-ranging address to delegates, Robinson spoke about how frightening the words around the climate crisis could be and that she could understand that fear, but that there were also words to express the possibility of us gaining a better world. A world of reduced waste, increased use of sustainable energy, a cleaner environment.
‘We have to have a vision of hope. Hope is also a powerful word,’ she said. She told the delegates that communicators should, like her, say with pride that they too are ‘prisoners of hope’ and focussed on a better future.
An Taoiseach, Simon Harris, T.D, in a video message to the conference delegates, commended Robinson for ‘upholding the highest standards in ethical communication’ and her ‘incredible record of public service’.
He went on to tell delegates ‘The theme of your conference, ‘Building Communities’ is an important and timely topic for those of us in government, for communicators such as yourselves, and for all of society. We’ve never had so many channels to communicate through, but also the facts and the truth have never been so difficult to establish. That is why thoughtful communications is more important now than ever before.’
He added, ‘We all need to reach people where they are and communicate with them clearly, consistently and continually. I believe that good public communication, explaining and informing, is something that we in government need to focus on and always need to try and do better.’ ‘Ireland needs good and ethical communicators, and your profession has a big role to play in creating the healthy discourse that our country needs.’
Themed “A Community of Practice: Building Community in Divisive Times,” the conference gathered leaders in public relations from across the public and private sector to explore how the profession can be part of the solution to society’s most pressing challenges. Robinson’s keynote address set the tone for a day of discussions on the role communicators play in fostering social, cultural and economic resilience, rebuilding a sense of community, and inspiring hope in the face of division. Her message of ethical communication as a catalyst for positive change resonated deeply with the audience.
Geary opened the conference by saying to delegates, “Today’s conference is a call to action. We are here to create a community of practice, where we share insights and explore how we, as professionals, can rebuild trust, drive positive change, and make a meaningful impact on society.”
“In today’s world, where a pandemic of disinformation continues to undermine public confidence, fostering honesty, clarity, and integrity in everything we do and say is essential. We’ve seen how quickly disinformation can spread, particularly online. And with the rise of artificial intelligence, we face a new wave of challenges. AI, while a powerful tool for good, can also be exploited to create deepfakes, fake news, and other forms of misleading content. These threats can undermine elections, public discourse, and trust in institutions,” he said.
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