For Fourth Consecutive Year, UA’s PR Program Finalist for Education Program of Year

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s public relations program is one of five finalists for PR Education Program of the Year, according to national awards compiled by and published in PRWeek magazine.

The number one program for 2012 will be announced in New York City March 1.

“For the fourth year in a row, our program is recognized as being among the very best in the United States,” said Dr. Joseph Phelps, chair of the UA advertising and public relations department. “I’m proud of our students and faculty for the hard work they put in every day to ensure that we remain an elite program.”

UA’s PR program has been recognized as a finalist all four years that PRWeek has included a PR education category in its annual awards program that honors the best corporate, nonprofit, agency and education teams in the industry.

The other schools among the five finalists include Brigham Young University, Georgetown University, Syracuse University and New York University.

“For the public relations department to once again be named a finalist in this competition is a great testimony to the quality of students and faculty that continue to be a part of the program,” said Dr. Loy Singleton, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences.

UA’s department of advertising and public relations, with more than 1,000 students, is the largest department in the College of Communication and Information Sciences.

PRWeek provides timely news, reviews, profiles, techniques and ground-breaking research for practitioners. The magazine launched the PRWeek Awards 12 years ago to showcase and recognize the best practices in the PR industry.