PR and corporate communication professionals rated “coping with the digital evolution”, “dealing with the speed and volume of information”, and “using big data and algorithms for communication” in their top four issues between 2018 and 2020. As they look towards 2025, how are new technologies being used and what are the key challenges facing practitioners?

These are questions that will be answered in the Asia-Pacific Communication Monitor – a biannual survey launched in 2015 and conducted across more than 20 countries in the region.

The 2020–2021 survey is now open and will examine the main communication channels used by practitioners today; application of new technologies; strategic issues facing practitioners; key competencies perceived as necessary for the future; ethical challenges; and gender equity. To participate in the survey, click here for English and here for Chinese.

An important feature of this research study is that it is part of the global Communication Monitor series organized by the European Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA) and regional partners. Communication Monitor studies are now conducted in Europe, North America, and Latin America, as well as Asia-Pacific, covering more than 80 countries worldwide. This allows comparison of local practices and trends with those around the world.

The 2020–2021 Asia-Pacific Communication Monitor (APCM) was launched on 20 September and the online survey will be open until 22 November.

PR and communication professionals across the Asia-Pacific region are being urged to participate in the survey.

Lead researcher, Distinguished Professor Jim Macnamara, from the University of Technology Sydney, said “it is important to understand what is different in Asia-Pacific countries, as well as what concerns and trends are common worldwide. We can learn from global findings, but we also want to understand industry and cultural issues that are unique to our region and countries in the region.”

The APCM survey is available in English and Chinese and is open to PR and communication professionals in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“PR and communication industry associations, institutes, and societies in these countries are supporting the study, so we hope practitioners across the region will fly the flag for their country and give us their insights,” Distinguished Professor Macnamara said.

The 2018–2020 Asia-Pacific Communication Monitor survey was completed by more than 1,000 PR and corporate communication professionals from 20 Asia-Pacific countries.

The Asia-Pacific Communication Monitor is supported by the Asia-Pacific Association of Communication Directors (APACD), industry bodies and universities in the region, and regional partners including Truescope, an innovative real time media intelligence platform; PRovoke Media (Media Partner); and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (Academic Partner).

The study is led by four leading academics: Distinguished Professor Jim Macnamara from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS); Professor May O. Lwin from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU); Dr Flora Hung-Baesecke from UTS and formerly from Hong Kong Baptist University and Massey University, New Zealand; and Professor Ansgar Zerfass from the Leipzig University, Germany and leader of the global Communication Monitor series.

The Asia-Pacific Communication Monitor survey questionnaire is accessed at:
English – www.unipark.de/uc/apcm2020_eng
Chinese – www.unipark.de/uc/apcm2020_cn