With Ostrowski set to take its top post, the Council's role in PR's growth must be noted

The relevance and significance of the Council of Public Relations Firms is growing, in spite of its critics.

As of December 1, the Council welcomes a new chairperson, Porter Novelli CEO Helen Ostrowski, who takes over from Harris Diamond of Weber Shandwick, making this a good time to review and also look ahead.

In a year that has seen many aspects of the industry under scrutiny from mainstream media and legislators, the Council's focus on its core function - that ...