Communications is a discipline with a staggering potential for application. In modern society it is possible to be in communication with multiple people at any given moment. There are many that benefit from those with an understanding of communication, and this resource guide offers resources available to communications professionals split into four major categories. These are General Communications Resources, Public Relations, Public Relations, Marketing, and Journalism. Each category lists major associations, publications, and conferences for people interested in specializing in one of those fields, those seeking to move from one field to another, or for those that have already made a decision as to where they wish to specialize.

General Resources

National Communication Association seeks to advance the communications industry as a whole through the study and analysis of all forms of communication. NCA membership consists of communications professionals, teachers, journalists, and scholars.

Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals seeks to honor outstanding achievements in communications and marketing. The organization is devoted to pushing the envelope, and the field of communications forward by developing and holding competitions in concept, writing, and design of marketing and communications programs.

International Association of Business Communicators was founded in 1970 with the purpose of providing a professional network for its members that spans the various specialties in the communications field.

American Communication Journal is an online blind-reviewed journal that provides its readers with critical analysis of developments and innovations in communications thought.

International Journal of Communication is an online academic journal that seeks to tap the power of all multimedia platforms to disseminate its information instead of relying solely on print. This interdisciplinary journal is grounded in the subject of communications but also explores closely related fields.

Communication Research is a traditional print journal published by Sage. The journal provides its readers with cutting edge communications research, and analysis of that research.

New Media and Society is a highly regarded international peer reviewed interdisciplinary journal that publishes research at the intersections of communication, new media, cultural studies, anthropology, sociology, economics, politics, and information sciences.

ICA’s 63rd International Conference: Challenging Communication Research is themed around thinking outside the box in terms of communications, and challenging established beliefs and research with new ideas and perspectives.

The 2013 IABC Conference in New York covers topics as varied as street art and digital assassination. This conference is all about exploring both traditional and non-traditional perspectives in communications in order to strengthen the discipline as a whole.

National Communication Association 99th Annual Convention: Connections features a core lecture series on connections in various contexts. The conference also offers seminars, short courses, and a wide variety of sessions themed around various specific applications of the communications discipline.

Public Relations

Public Relations Society of America is a professional organization that offers members professional development opportunities and programs, resources, and copious networking opportunities.

International Public Relations Association was founded in 1949 when a group of British and Dutch PR professionals banded together to create the organization with the goal of improving PR theory and practice world wide.

Council of Public Relations Firms is a collective of Public Relations companies that have banded together intending to advocate for and advance the field of public relations. The CPRF seeks to set high ethical standards in the industry and contribute to the success of its member firms in tangible ways.

Public Relations Review provides an in depth examination of public relations through the publication of high impact articles and research. The journal also publishes book reviews, and summaries of new works in PR.

Public Relations Inquiry is a brand new journal, launched in 2012. The journal seeks to provide readers and writers in PR with a forum for the critical discussion of Public Relations concepts.

Journal of Public Relations Research is focused on the publication of research, that creates new public relations theory or expands on existing understanding. Because PR is such a broad and influential industry the journal highly encourages researchers to take a multidisciplinary approach to the field.

PR Week is the PR industry’s premier magazine. The magazine and its website feature extensive content relevant to the PR field including case studies, white papers, research reports, and major industry news.

PR Summit was started in 2010 with the goal of connecting PR industry insiders with the media in a setting, the purpose of which is to provide these professionals with a forum for the discussion of emerging trends in PR and the media.

PRSA 2013 International Conference brings together thousands of PR professionals and the industry’s leaders for several days packed with sessions, workshops, and discussion groups designed to make an impact on attendees regardless of their position in the industry.

International Public Relations Research Conference focuses on the presentation of new, high impact research. This is the only conference in PR devoted solely to the presentation and discussion of new research.

Journalism

Council of National Journalism Organizations plays an important role in the journalism field which is that of bringing together the dozens of specialized journalism professional organizations into one collective organization.

Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. is the premier organization for investigative journalists and editors. The organization is non-profit, and focused solely to improving the quality of investigative journalism, while providing its members with support and networking opportunities.

National Society of Newspaper Columnists is the premier organization for newspaper columnists. The organization provides its members with professional support, networking opportunities, and presents awards to the most distinguished newspaper columnists every year.

American Journalism Review is a national magazine devoted to covering print, television, radio, and online media. The magazine provides readers with a critical analysis of emerging trends in these mediums.

Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly publishes research regarding journalism and mass communication. Each edition explores new research, and the latest innovations in journalism theory and practice.

Journalism: Theory, Practice, and Criticism offers readers a critical examination of journalism. The journal features articles from a wide variety of professional journalists, researchers, and academics with an interest in the development of the industry.

Journalism Studies is a peer-reviewed international journal that seeks to provide readers and contributors with a forum for the critical analysis and discussion of the journalism discipline.

Investigative Reporters and Editors Conference is designed to provide investigative reporters and editors with a conference that focuses on helping them necessary skills unique to investigative journalism through special presentations and hands on classes.

AEJMC DC 2013 Conference is a full featured conference consisting of presentations on a wide variety of subjects, workshops, and an area specifically for networking and finding job opportunities.

Online News Association 2013 Conference exists to encourage the already powerful trend of entrepreneurship in the online news industry. Presentations specific to the online news market are one of the highlights of the conference, as well as the awards banquet where the ONA honors the best and brightest of online journalism.

Marketing

American Marketing Association was established in 1937. The AMA started by academics and visionaries that saw the opportunities for advancement in the field made possible by major innovations in communications technology.

Business Marketing Association was founded in 1922. The primary focus of the BMA since its inception has been business to business marketing. The BMA is the world leader among business to business marketing professional organizations. By mixture of maintaining the best B2B marketing resources, attracting the top practitioners, and developing industry best practices.

Academy of Marketing Science is one of the premier international scholarly and professional organizations in marketing. The AMS advances marketing as a whole through maintaining a devotion to excellence in the process of creating and communicating marketing knowledge.

Marketing Management is a publication of the AMA designed to provide executives access to top tier strategic thinking designed to serve their needs. The focus of this particular publication is on fleshing out the major issues facing marketing managers and executives, developing with unique and innovative solutions to modern problems.

Journal of Marketing was established in 1936, was one of the first scholarly journals of its kind, and has been a leader in marketing thought ever since. The journal focuses primarily on substantial issues and subjects relevant to both marketing professionals and managers from a scholarly, analytical and critical point of view.

Journal of Market Research: The Journal of Market Research is a bi-monthly, peer reviewed journal that addresses the relevant issues in marketing research including the philosophy, concepts, theories, methods, techniques, applications, and more.

Journal of International Marketing bridges the gap between the theory and practice of international marketing. The primary target audience is marketing and communications managers, and aspiring managers. The journal seeks to equip its readership with the tools and understanding necessary for success in the highly competitive international marketing environment.

Search Engine Strategies Conference is the premier conference series on techniques and strategies employed by companies to optimize their use of search engine technology. The first step in communicating with people in the digital age is to be easily accessible online. More people use search engines to find websites now than ever, and the number is only going to grow in the future.

BMA Blaze 2013 Global Conference is the largest, most influential business to business marketing conference in the world. BMA Blaze will be filled with both personal and business to business networking opportunities, as well as professional development programs.

Marketing Management Association 2014 Spring Conference is one of the premier conferences for marketing managers and executives. This conference has it all from specially designed seminars and presentations, to copious networking opportunities.