PRSA-LA

PRSA: Seeing the Whole Field
2026-03-18 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Seeing the Whole Field
Great communicators anticipate the play before it happens. Join Kelly Ross, internal communications manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates, on the next Strategies & Tactics Live to learn how internal alignment strengthens every external message.
Watch live on LinkedIn on March 18 at 1 p.m. ET.
Sign up now

FPRSA: Diverse Dialogues: She Built It
2026-03-18 13:00 - 14:00
Diverse Dialogues: She Built It
March 18, 2026 3–4 p.m. EDT
Behind many of today’s most impactful PR campaigns and purpose-driven agencies are visionary women who didn’t just rise through the ranks—they built the ranks themselves. In this powerful panel, hear directly from trailblazing women founders and CEOs of PR firms who have shaped the communications landscape across sectors—from healthcare to entertainment, public affairs to social change.
Moderated by a PRSA leader, this conversation will explore their bold decisions, the challenges they faced breaking barriers, and the lessons they’ve learned about leadership, resilience and redefinition. Whether you’re aspiring to lead a team or build your own agency, this session will offer candid insights and real-world advice for women communicators looking to chart their own path in PR.
Moderator: Natalie Ghidotti, APR, Fellow PRSA, CEO, Ghidotti
Panelists:
Priscilla Clarke, President/CEO, Clarke PR Global LLC
Grace T. Leong, APR, Fellow PRSA, CEO, HUNTER
Maria J. Rodriguez, President & CEO, Vanguard Communications
Event is free.
REGISTER HERE.

PRSA: Storytelling
2026-03-23 11:00 - 11:45
Storytelling
March 23, 2026, 1–1:45 p.m. ET
FREE TO PRSA MEMBER. Available to nonmembers for $60.
Storytelling isn’t just a creative skill; it’s a communication superpower. Join this discussion with our panel of storytelling pros as we unpack why storytelling is a critical skill for communicators. Together, we’ll explore the art of storytelling, the essential elements that make a story compelling, and how powerful narratives can elevate and amplify a brand by building deeper emotional connections and clearer messaging. Our panel will also share tips for turning your message into a story people remember, and one that moves your audience to action.
Panelists:
Lisa Arledge Powell, APR, CEO & founder, MediaSource
Rob Biesenbach, Communication Coach, Speaker & Workshop Leaders
Heather Morgan, APR, vice president of communication and business development, MHP Salud
Participants with the APR credential earn 0.5 ethics CEUs for this session.
This event is part of PRSA’s Member Monday. Member Mondays is an initiative designed to foster direct engagement and provide valuable information sharing within our professional community. Moderated by the PRSA 2026 Chair, Heide Harrell, M.A., APR, these conversations aim to create a space for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas.
REGISTER HERE

At Breakfast With... Crisis Communications: What Media Expect in the First 24 Hours
2026-03-25 08:30 - 09:30
At Breakfast With… Crisis Communications: What Media Expect in the First 24 Hours and How PR Pros Can Deliver
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 8:30–9:30 AM | Virtual

REGISTER HERE

When a crisis breaks, the first 24 hours can shape coverage, public perception, and long-term reputation. In today’s social media environment, information, and misinformation, spreads instantly.

We’re excited to welcome back Beverly White, retired NBC anchor and reporter, as moderator of PRSA-LA’s At Breakfast With panel on Crisis Communications: What Media Expect in the First 24 Hours.

Join PRSA-LA for a candid At Breakfast With conversation with working journalists who regularly cover breaking news and high-profile situations. They will share what they expect from communications teams in the earliest and most critical hours of a crisis, and what erodes credibility. This interactive virtual conversation will provide PR professionals with practical guidance on how to respond quickly, communicate transparently, and serve as a reliable source in moments of heightened scrutiny.
Speakers:
· Mike Rogers, Assignment Editor and “The Desk” on-air talent, CBS LA
· Frank Mottek, Host of “Mottek On Money”, 790 KABC
· Samantha Masunaga, Entertainment Business Reporter, L.A. Times
· Christopher Cabezas, Multimedia Journalist, Spectrum Noticias

This member-selected topic will explore:
•What reporters expect in an initial response
•How to provide verified information under deadline pressure
•Addressing fast-moving social media speculation
•Building credibility before and during a crisis

Whether you work in corporate communications, entertainment, nonprofit, government, or agency PR, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to navigate the first 24 hours with clarity, credibility, and confidence.

REGISTER HERE

PRSA: You’re Invited: Inside the Academy Awards: PR Strategies Behind This Year’s Winners
2026-03-25 13:00 - 14:00
PRSA: You’re Invited: Inside the Academy Awards: PR Strategies Behind This Year’s Winners
March 25, 2026 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)
REGISTER HERE

The Oscars may be over, but the real postgame for communicators is just beginning. Join PRSA’s Entertainment & Sports Section for a virtual deep dive into this year’s Academy Awards campaigns and what they can teach all of us about strategy, storytelling, and influence.
Our panel will unpack how this season’s winning and nominated films built momentum through media outreach, festivals, and events—and how those campaigns broke through with press, voters and audiences in a crowded, high-stakes landscape. Whether you work in entertainment or another sector, you’ll walk away with practical takeaways you can apply to your own clients and brands.
Hosted by the Entertainment and Sports Section and available to all PRSSA student members. Paid registration for non-Entertainment and Sports Section members includes the live webinar and video playback for one month.
Moderator

Rick Markovitz, president, Weissman Markovitz Communications, PRSA-LA Board Member

Featured panelists:

Debra Birnbaum, editor, Gold Derby
Ray Costa, president, Costa Communications
Joshua Jason, founder, Joshua Jason Public Relations | JJPR
Christine La Monte, producer, Oscar-nominated song from VIVA VERDI!

Participants will learn:

How this year’s winning campaigns differentiated themselves at festivals, in the press, and on the circuit.
What tactics and timing helped films break out with voters and key influencers.
How to adapt awards-style campaigning principles to non-entertainment clients and causes.

REGISTER HERE

2026 Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium on Public Relations
2026-03-26 17:00 - 20:00
2026 Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium on Public Relations
Thursday, March 26, 2026 • 5:00pm to 8:00pm PDT

Wallis Annenberg Hall (ANN), USC
Auditorium (L105A)
REGISTER HERE

Purpose under pressure: Navigating real-world decisions about sustaining and communicating corporate purpose.
This event will have a reception at 5 p.m. PT and the program at 6:30 p.m. PT. Featured speakers and panelists are listed below:

Purpose Award presentation to Ronald McDonald House
Jon Banner, executive vice president and global chief impact officer, McDonald’s
Joanna Sabato, chief marketing and communications officer, Ronald McDonald House Global
Jean Guerrero, visiting professor, “Our Unsilencing” project, USC Annenberg
Fred Cook, professor and director, USC Center for Public Relations

More information on panelists is forthcoming. RSVP HERE.

Free for PRSA members and USC Annenberg alumni
This program is open to all eligible individuals. USC operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the university’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other prohibited factor.

REGISTER HERE

PRSA: Shape How AI Understands Your Brand
2026-04-08 11:00 - 11:30
Shape How AI Understands Your Brand
Save your spot for our new demo days: Shape Brand Narrative in the AI Era with Agility PR Solutions, scheduled for April 8 at 2 p.m. ET. As AI answer engines begin to synthesize the news, mere mentions are not enough. Ensure your brand is accurately understood.
See how Visibility Intelligence lets you monitor how AI portrays your brand in real time. Learn to leverage strategic earned media to optimize those AI responses, keeping your brand’s story clear, credible and competitive.
Free Event – Register Now

PRSA Counselors Academy 2026 Conference April 13-15, 2026 | Carlsbad, California
2026-04-13 00:00 - 2026-04-15 00:00
PRSA Counselors Academy 2026 Conference
April 13-15, 2026 | Carlsbad, California
Here is an opportunity to attend the PRSA Counselors Academy 2026 Conference at a Special One-Day Pass Rate (Tuesday, April 14 only) designed to make the event more accessible, particularly for small PR firm owners and senior leaders who are not able to attend the full conference.
One-Day Pass (Tuesday, April 14): $795
PRSA Counselors Academy focuses on supporting agency owners and leaders through peer-to-peer learning, business growth, and leadership development. The conference brings together PR firm leaders from across the country for highly practical, operator-focused sessions.
More details and registration here:
https://www.prsa.org/home/get-involved/professional-interest-sections/counselors-academy/prsa-counselors-academy-2026-section-conference#registration

PRSA: APR Virtual Boot Camp
2026-04-29 00:00 - 2026-05-01 00:00
APR Virtual Boot Camp
April 29-May 1, 2026
The APR Boot Camp is a three-day intensive course for candidates to prepare for and be Advanced through the Panel Presentation, and take the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) or Accreditation in Public Relations + Military Communication (APR+M). This course is designed to provide a setting that will meet the needs of busy professionals whose schedules don’t permit extensive preparation time.
Pricing ranges from $100-$500. Register by April 15.
More resources:
APR Panel Presentation: Secrets to Success
View this FREE PRSA Learning Webinar to see what a “great” APR panel presentation looks like as Juanita Traughber, MBA, APR, shares the presentation she made as part of her accreditation process.
This webinar teaches how to present a campaign’s research, planning, implementation and evaluation (RPIE) work, and answer tough questions. The webinar also shows why the project won national and regional awards.
Refreshed Brochure
Get answers to APR questions in this refreshed brochure.
Contact PRSA-LA APR Chair Justin Glover at justin@communicationslab.com to start your APR journey.

PRSA-LA, PRSA and PRSSA Hangout and Mixer
2026-04-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Arts District Brewing Company, 828 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90013
Join PRSA-LA and USC PRSSA for a PRSA/PRSSA/Emerging Professionals Hangout and Mixer on Thursday, 4/30 from 6PM to 8PM at Arts District Brewing Company (828 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013).
This event, generously sponsored by AIJ Communications, is simply an opportunity to casually socialize, network and catch-up with fellow students, emerging professionals and seasoned professional from across the Greater Los Angeles Area! We also want to celebrate and acknowledge PRSSA seniors as they countdown toward graduation!
Note: Guests under 21 are welcome until 7PM. Free to attend.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to PRSA-LA PRSSA/Emerging Professionals Committee Members Keenan Kurihara (kkurihara@flintridgeprep.org) or Ajay Benmoin (ajaybenmoin@gmail.com) or USC PRSSA President Taylor Altman (taltman@usc.edu) if you have any questions!
RSVP HERE

AAPI Heritage Month Networking Mixer
2026-05-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Emporium Thai, 1275 Westwood Blvd,, Los Angeles,, 90024, United States
Join PRSA-LA and AAJA-LA on Thursday, May 7, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM for our fourth annual AAPI Heritage Month celebration at Emporium Thai, 1275 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, bringing together Los Angeles’ communications and journalism communities.
Connect with a vibrant network of PR, media, and marketing professionals while celebrating the voices and perspectives shaping the future of storytelling. This annual gathering is an opportunity to build relationships, exchange ideas, and reflect on the impact of AAPI leaders across media and communications.
This year’s event will be held at Emporium Thai, a Westwood Village favorite known for its modern take on Thai cuisine and welcoming atmosphere—perfect for a relaxed and engaging evening of networking.
Enjoy a complimentary drink ticket along with light bites.
You must be on the RSVP list to receive your drink ticket.
REGISTER HERE.

PRSA-LA’s At Breakfast With...
2026-05-27 17:00
PRSA-LA invites you to a truly exclusive At Breakfast With… experience:
Inside the KABC Newsroom: A Tour and Behind-the-Scenes Conversation with News Leadership
May 27, 5:00 PM
ABC7 Broadcast Center
500 Circle Seven Drive, Glendale, CA 91201
Go beyond the press release and step inside one of Los Angeles’ most influential broadcast newsrooms.
This in-person event includes:

A behind-the-scenes tour of KABC’s newly renovated newsroom
A candid panel with the journalists and decision-makers who shape daily coverage

You’ll gain insight into:

How stories are pitched, selected, and produced
What makes a story stand out in a fast-moving news cycle
How to work more effectively with broadcast news teams

Space is extremely limited and expected to fill quickly. Max 2 people per agency.

REGISTER HERE.

PRSA-LA Sunrise Honors
2026-08-26 18:00 - 21:00 | Los Angeles River Center and Gardens, 570 W Ave 26,, Los Angeles, CA, 90065, United States
This year marks the eighth year of PRSA-LA’s Sunrise Honors. The event will be held on August 26, 2026, 6:00 – 9:00 PM at the beautiful Los Angeles River Center and Gardens.
Sunrise Honors recognizes trailblazers and pioneers in the public relations and marketing world who have opened doors to increase the diversity and inclusion of underrepresented populations into the field of Communications. Through their perseverance and tenacity, we learn how to continue the important work to make the PR industry more inclusive and embracing of diverse perspectives.
The Sunrise Honors is PRSA-LA’s way of celebrating the longtime work of these champions.
We are now accepting Nominations and Sponsorships applications.
Nominations is open now through June 15, 2026.
SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS HERE.
Be a Sponsor and celebrate these well-deserving honorees with us.
CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION.
