My firm's global network, PROI, recently convened in Beijing. I learned the following lesson: Before we can develop successful communications programs in China, we have to learn to do business the Chinese way. The country's history and culture make this a daunting - but rewarding - prospect for any Westerner.

The intense public interest in the presidential primaries and election has accelerated a key change in the way candidates - and companies - need to communicate.

Carl Icahn is known for making news. Every announcement he makes seems to become a headline, and most recently it was reported that he hired Thomson Reuters reporter Dane Hamilton to help write his blog, The Icahn Report - a smart move.

During my time at PRWeek, I've seen not only how valuable research and measurement can be to the industry, but I've heard several concerns related to how the industry measures its efforts.

With news of volatile stock markets, soaring gas prices, housing foreclosures, and bank failures making headlines, every conversation about new business understandably centers around one basic question, "Which industries should we pursue?"

Joe Nocera from The New York Times is one enviable man. The business columnist finally peeled away the walls of Apple to get an off-the-record conversation with one Steve Jobs about the Apple czar's health, a recent hot topic.

Public relations was a hot topic in San Francisco at the annual BlogHer conference, held from July 18-19, hosted by the number one community for blogs by women.

WA segment on the CBS Sunday Morning program several weeks ago - little noticed by anyone outside our profession - rocked the public relations world, causing many of us to question how far we have come in educating key opinion leaders about what public relations is, and what public relations professionals truly stand for.

Tell one person, tell the whole world. That's the old saying about how any old rumor or secret returns inevitably to the person being talked about. It could also apply to PR campaign proposals of all sorts, but particularly of those that seek to counter criticism or take on an opposition group.

When it comes to building a strong corporate, product, or personal brand, the Internet has become the Holy Grail for connecting with customers, friends, and coworkers. In this digital age, you must decide which face you want to show to the world. Every action you take can be heard and seen, and damage your brand in an instant. You can treat the Internet as a personal prison or a world of everlasting opportunities.