Public relations (PR) professionals have said it is high time they had a body to promote professionalism.

Addressing members of the press and would-be members of the PR body on Friday at the World Bank conference room in Lilongwe, Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM) interim chairperson Lewis Msasa said if people have to take them serious, then they have to stand as one and make the profession tick.

“Just like any other profession, we need to set standards and regulations by working as a family with one goal. We know that the profession is just breaking new barriers in various organisations, so we need to set standards,” he said.

Commenting on the issue, PRSM interim secretary general Telephorus Chigwenembe, who is National Oil Company of Malawi spokesperson, said the body will make their job easy.

“The grouping will help set standards and respect, especially in our workplaces. We know some have broken the grounds, but others are yet to have been accepted as communications people. So, a grouping like this will help overcome such barriers,” he said.

PRSM was registered in December 2016 in accordance with the provisions of the Trustees Incorporation Act to create a platform for improved PR and communications practice