Lilongwe, December, 31, 2019 – The Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM) conveys compliments of the season and best wishes of 2020 to its members and all other stakeholders and takes this opportunity to remind Malawians on the importance of maintaining peace for the country’s positive image internationally. It is only a peaceful nation that can attract investors, tourists and financiers to support its economic development.

Public relations (PR) is about good image and PRSM – as the body that promotes best PR practices in Malawi – stands ready to support the country in earning a positive image internationally.

PRSM therefore calls upon Malawians to desist from spreading fake news and instead advocate for peace, contact and dialogue as the country patiently awaits the outcome of the May, 2019 elections case which is currently before the Constitutional Court.

PRSM is worried with the current spate of hate speech and misinformation by political party officials and their followers which – if not checked – could breed intolerance and violence on the basis of ethnic or political differences. PRSM upholds good PR and communications as vital in building peace under which Malawi can build its democracy and attain development.

As we start the year 2020, PRSM calls upon political institutions and other stakeholders to seek professional guidance and ensure that they only spread professionally crafted and peace-building messages to their supporters and the general public. This is key in helping to curb fake news and violence-inciting messages, especially through social media such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

PRSM also calls on the media to report responsibly and professionally and desist from spreading information that may fan hatred in the already volatile environment in the country.

On a positive note, PRSM acknowledges that the year 2019 presented more opportunities than challenges for the society and the profession in general. Among other things, PRSM observed widespread recognition of PR as a profession as evidenced by the creation of PR and corporate communications posts in an increased number of institutions in the country.

It was during the year when PRSM hosted the first ever PR conference under the theme: ‘Enhancing the role of PR in the Post Digital Age: Implications for Practitioners’. The conference accorded the practitioners an opportunity to share best practices and learn from a diversity of experts at both local and international level. PRSM also introduced the Annual PR Awards which saw Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira, CEO of FDH Financial Holdings, and Mr. Mbane Ngwira of the Reserve Bank of Malawi being conferred the inaugural Honorary Fellowship and PR Professional of the Year accolades respectively. This was also the year that saw PRSM members adopting the Code of Conduct and Ethics and the launching of our vibrant website, www.prsm.mw.

Representatives of PRSM also paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications as a way of enhancing our working relationship with the government while lobbying for professional and career development opportunities for PR practitioners in public institutions.

On the flipside, this was the year we witnessed practitioners in some public institutions being relieved of their positions or relocated to other non-PR posts on questionable grounds. PRSM urges both public and private institutions to appreciate and respect the role of PR and communications and create a good working environment for the practitioners to ensure that they discharge their duties professionally and effectively. The society calls upon institutions to place PR and communication as a strategic management function that is essential in the attainment of organisational goals.

PRSM promises to enhance professionalism and promote ethical practices among PR and communications practitioners by, among others, officially launching the Code of Ethics and Conduct for the practitioners as approved by its members at the recent Annual General Meeting.

Signed
Lewis Msasa, PRSM President
Cell: 0888834908 Email: prsm@prsm.mw Website: www.prsm.mw

FOR EDITORS:
PRSM was formed in 2015 to create a platform for the improvement of Public Relations and Communication practice and to raise the profile of the profession in the country. PRSM was registered by the Government of Malawi in December 2016 in accordance with the provisions of the Trustees Incorporation Act (Cap.5.03).