| Description | Minutes and papers of British Psychological Society BPS Standing Committee on Communications SCComms.
31 March 1984 Meeting to discuss draft paper by the Honorary General Secretary, Peter Morris for F&GP [Finance and General Purposes Committee] and later for 19 May 1984 Council 'A Proposal for a Standing Committee on Communications and the Appointment of a Full Time Member of Staff Concerned with Public Relations Issues';
13 September 1984 Inaugural meeting of the BPS Standing Committee on Communications Minutes [1-10] and Papers includes draft terms of reference, proposed new Committee Structure of the Society; role of communications secretary; proposed survey of psychology graduates working in industry;
23 November 1984 BPS Standing Committee on Communications Minutes [11-24] and Papers includes advertising for Communications Secretary ['Director of Information']; Committee terms of reference; 'National Book Committee - Don't Tax Reading Campaign' - VAT on publications; Norwegian Psychological Association public opinion survey; Scottish branch careers exhibitions; 'Veteran V. Novice' [case by Allan Sakne, Business Manager on the importance of recruiting expertise]; memo from Allan Sakne on using more informal titles to reduce distance; public relations MSC careers guide; work carried out by BPS Leicester Head Office on behalf of the BPS Standing Press Committee; discussion of promotion of 'Psychological Aspects of Nuclear War';
8 February 1985 BPS Standing Committee on Communications Minutes [25-34] and Papers includes promotion of 'Psychological Aspects of Nuclear War' includes press release; advertisement for Director of Information; proposed external communications system; need for mailing list for press releases; promoting Register of Chartered Psychologists; Press Committee regional network;
29 May 1985 BPS Standing Committee on Communications Minutes [35- 47] and Papers includes appointment of Stephen White as Director of Information; Psychological Aspects of Nuclear War; new house style, promotion of Charter; proposed delegate conference on new technologies; proposed 'Special Report' on the BPS to be published in The Times; press release on 'Occupational Psychology and Unemployment' [Division of Occupational Psychology Public Awareness Group];
19 September 1985 BPS Standing Committee on Communications Minutes [1-20] and Papers includes Parliamentary activity; minutes of meetings at the House of Commons with Michael Meacher and Frank Dobson MPs and Stephen Flett [DCP Parliamentary Liaison Officer] and Bruce Napier 10 June 1985; Honorary General Secretary's Reception; response to proposed new house style; report of Director of Information;
17 December 1985 BPS Standing Committee on Communications Minutes [1-19] and Papers includes benefits of psychology from EFPPA conference; proposal for an official BPS Council spokesperson; Stephen White [Director of Information] review of regional Branch structure; 'What is Psychology' draft text for exhibitions and display boards; cuts to Universities; Parliamentary report on 'Problem Drinking' campaign; promoting the Register of Chartered Psychologists; Australian survey of the Public's Perception of Psychologists and Psychology Relative to Other Professions; Royal Society 'Science is For Everyone' leaflet; advertising speakers to the Conservative Party; promotional items (ties, sweatshirts)
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| AdminHistory | The first report on public relations was in 1946 by T H Pear [see BPS Council Papers 25 May 1946].
The first British Psychological Society Public Relations committee was in 1955 and was a short lived working party. In 1971 Nicholas Georgiades and Professor Arthur Summerfield arranged a press conference at Brown's Hotel to draw attention to the BPS response to Sir John Foster's report on Scientology [See BPS/001/4/01/03/01]. After advice from Mr Christopher Hall, Barbara Castle's Information officer on setting up a press function - a Standing Press Committee was formed in October 1971 under the Chairmanship of Dr Georgiades.
In 1977 Alan Elliot presented a document to the Council entitled 'The Image and The Axe' expounding the view that psychology was seen by others would be a factor in government cuts which were expected. He further proposed that the Society should spend £20,000 for 'PR' activities. A meeting 'BPS 2000' was held in 1978 to [unsuccessfully] draw up a corporate plan but did lead to a report 'The Commercial Model' which recommended marketing and promotion to be a major activity of the Society. The Working Party on Public Relations [BPS/001/01/11/03] of 1983-1984 made suggestions as to an internal and external relations sub-committee and officer. After much debate and worries that calling the Committee the PR Committee would lead to an 'obscene' acronym the Standing Committee on Communications was formed. It was chaired by the Honorary General Secretary - Peter Morris. He was succeeded by J Graham Beaumont in May 1986 and then Ann Colley in 1989.
Stephen White joined the BPS staff as Director of Communications in 1985 and started organising press, communications and pr activities as well as regular media training.
By October 1991 the Press Committee was no longer a standing committee but a subcommittee of the Information Committee which took over from the Standing Committee on Communications that year.
The Information Committee became the Communications Committee/Board in 1998 as part of the Society's strategic plan. This became the Publications and Communications Board in 2000. The Press Committee was renamed the Media and Press Committee in April 2009.
The Society was restructured in 2017 with the creation of three new strategy boards Education and Training, Practice, Research and Public Affairs. |
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