Global Leaders Aim to Show Industry's Value

16-18 June World's PR Measurement Leaders to Unveil Barcelona Declaration of Research Principles

LONDON, May 18, 2010 - For the first time ever, leaders of global public relations organizations
will come together to articulate and agree on standard metrics and
measurement techniques and will seek adoption and implementation across the
industry through outreach to their respective members.

More than 150 representatives from the world's top measurement companies
and PR agencies will participate in a plenary session at an international
conference in Barcelona for what the leader of the session, David Rockland,
partner at Ketchum and CEO of Ketchum Pleon Change, described as "a pivotal
long term decision for communications credibility."

Rockland, who serves as managing director of Ketchum's Global Research
Network and is a respected international authority in communications
programme measurement, said, "We regard this as the industry's 'Commitment
Conference'. This is a very powerful moment in time in the history of public
relations. It's time to replace outdated programme measurement models. We
need to educate not only our clients in major global companies, but also
educate a new generation of communications professionals coming into our
industry."

The debate, which will be the highlight of the Second European Summit on
Measurement, was conceived by AMEC, the International Association for
Measurement and Evaluation of Communication, which is organising the event in
concert with the Institute for Public Relations.

"Until now, public relations has been undervalued due to its inability to
measure itself," said Rockland. "The goal of this summit is to establish
consistency in order to increase credibility."

It is the first time the leaders of five global professional bodies will
share the same conference platform to evolve what will be known as the
Barcelona Declaration of Research Principles.

Speakers in the Declaration Debate are John Paluszek, chair of the Global
Alliance and senior counselor, Ketchum; Gary McCormick, chairman of the
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and director of partnership
development, HGTV, Scripps Networks; Richard Houghton, president of ICCO and
partner of Carrot Communications; Pauline Draper, chair of the IPR
Measurement Commission and Tim Marklein, executive VP, Measurement &
Strategy, Weber Shandwick, New York, representing the AMEC U.S. Agency
Research Leaders Group.

Barry Leggetter, executive director of AMEC, said, "At AMEC we believe
organising this special debate shows leadership and new thinking. We hope the
global PR community will now get behind this issue and contribute to the
development of the new industry standards."

Rockland added, "We need to leave Barcelona with a set of standards for
which every organisation -whether government, nonprofit or private enterprise
- should expect to be accountable and show proof that their programmes are
working."

The three-day conference is designed for communications and public
relations professionals and academics to share the latest thinking about
measurement and evaluation of public relations programming. DIRCOM and the
Acceso Group are the event's Spanish partners.

The Summit will be held in Barcelona from 16 to 18 June. Organisers
expect 150 delegates from around the world to attend. Booking details can be
found at www.ameceuropeansummit.org/

About AMEC

AMEC, the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of
Communication has grown to become a global trade body for agencies and
practitioners who provide media evaluation and communication research. AMEC's
purpose is to define and develop the industry on an international scale with
better professional standards for both companies and individuals.

About the Institute for Public Relations

The Institute for Public Relations is a global, independent non-profit
foundation headquartered at the University of Florida. It bridges the
academic and professional communities supporting public relations research
and mainstreaming this knowledge into practice. Further information is
available at www.instituteforpr.org.

    For further information contact:

    AMEC
    Barry Leggetter
    Executive Director
    +44-1268-412414
    barryleggetter@amecorg.com

    Ketchum Pleon
    Anastasia Ivanova
    +44(0)207-611-3669
    anastasia.ivanova@ketchumpleon.com

    Ketchum
    Alicia Stetzer
    +1-646-935-3910
    alicia.stetzer@ketchum.com

For further information contact: AMEC: Barry Leggetter, Executive Director, +44-1268-412414, barryleggetter at amecorg.com; Ketchum Pleon: Anastasia Ivanova, +44(0)207-611-3669, anastasia.ivanova at ketchumpleon.com; Ketchum: Alicia Stetzer, +1-646-935-3910, alicia.stetzer at ketchum.com