Communication & Public Relations Resources

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Overview

Looking for useful resources to help you in your communication or public relations studies at Fairfield University? Then look no further than this page. Download documents for communication majors and minors, find news and resources related to the field of communication and public relations, and check out Comm.Unity, the Department's Student Club.

Please note: Many links provided on this page connect to downloadable files in PDF format, for which your computer requires Adobe Reader. If you do not have this application, download it for free.

Academic Self-Monitoring Tools

Getting Involved

Communication and PR majors are inherently social, so Fairfield is proud to offer a host of opportunities to get involved with your faculty and fellow majors both face-to-face and virtually.

Comm.Unity: The Student Communication Club

Comm.Unity is a student organization that serves to orient interested students to career opportunities in the Communication field. The club sponsors guest lectures from alumni and other professionals, as well as field trips, socials, and colloquia. Recent field trips have included visits to ESPN and other national television networks, and attendance at tapings of television talk shows. Club officers and members engage in fundraising activities, organize activity fairs, schedule meetings, and run yearly elections. Students elect club officers every spring, who set the agenda for the following year.

Active participation in Comm.Unity gives students the opportunity to get to know departmental faculty members outside of the classroom environment, develop a sense of community with other communication majors, and learn more about careers and internship opportunities. For information about Comm.Unity, contact Professor Colleen Arendt at carendt@fairfield.edu.

Lambda Pi Eta: The National Communication Honor Society

Lambda Pi Eta is the internationally recognized honor society for students and scholars in the fields of communication studies, rhetoric, and speech. Students who maintain a high grade point average, overall and in their major, will be invited by the department faculty to be inducted into Lambda Pi Eta during their senior year. Involvement in this honor society increases opportunities for individual potential and advancement, for example, through developing leadership skills, networking with international members, and contact with professional organizations. Membership in Lambda Pi Eta is also impressive on graduate school applications.

Active participation in Lambda Pi Eta gives students the opportunity to work more closely with department faculty members outside of the classroom setting. Students plan events, sponsor guest speakers, organize field trips, and other activities. Students may also choose to participate in national or regional communication conferences through the presentation of research and attendance at panel discussions. For information about Lambda Pi Eta, contact Professor Sallyanne Ryan at sryan@fairfield.edu.

Professional Organizations

Here you'll find links to news and resources pertaining to the professional field of communication and its job market.

Communication Currents

Published by the National Communication Association (NCA), this online web magazine offers current communication research published by academic journals affiliated to the NCA in a language that is easy to digest for general audiences.

National Communication Association (NCA)

"NCA is a scholarly society and as such works to enhance the research, teaching, and service produced by its members on topics of both intellectual and social significance." NCA is the oldest and largest national organization to promote communication scholarship and education. Founded in 1914, it takes the lead in publicizing the discipline's scholarship through press releases and regular contacts with policy makers.

International Communication Association (ICA)

ICA is an academic association for scholars interested in the study, teaching, and application of all aspects of human and mediated communication. ICA began more than 50 years ago as a small association of U.S. researchers and is now a truly international association with more than 4,200 members in 70 countries.

International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR)

IAMCR is the worldwide professional organization in the field of media and communication research. Its members promote global inclusiveness and excellence within the best traditions of critical research in the field. Its objectives include strengthening and encouraging the participation of new scholars, women, and those from economically disadvantaged regions, including researchers from African, Asian and South and Central American countries.

Eastern Communication Association (ECA)

"The Eastern Communication Association was initially established in 1910 and continues as the oldest professional communication association in the United States. As a distinguished service-oriented organization with a history of achievement in research, criticism, communication theory, and excellence in teaching, the association welcomes members who share the goals and objectives of a membership dedicated to participation in state, regional, and national activity." (From ECA's website, "About ECA," 2007).

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

Chartered in 1947, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the world’s largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals. PRSA provides professional development, sets standards of excellence and upholds principles of ethics for its members and, more broadly, the multi-billion dollar global public relations profession. We also advocate for greater understanding and adoption of public relations services, and act as one of the industry’s leading voices on the important business and professional issues of our time.

International Public Relations Association (IPRA)

IPRA is the world's most relevant, resourceful and influential professional association for senior international public relations executives.

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