THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 21, 2026
The Bhubaneswar Chapter of the
Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) celebrated National Public Relations
Day 2026 on Tuesday at the Press Club of Odisha here, bringing together a
distinguished panel of communication experts, media veterans, and academicians
to deliberate on the future of the profession in an era shaped by digital
transformation and regional aspirations.
Addressing the gathering,
Prashant Hota, President and Head of Corporate Communications at Jindal Steel,
highlighted the strategic role of public relations in the state’s development.
He urged professionals to move beyond corporate image management and contribute
meaningfully to nation-building.
He further said, "PR
professionals have a critical role in realizing the vision of Vikshit Odisha
and we must create a unique Brand Odisha. PR is fundamentally about managing
human relationships and building trust, not just managing corporate
perceptions. There is nothing to feel insecure about AI, as it is just a tool,
not the master. It can process data, but it cannot dream or manage the nuances
of human relationships."
Providing an academic
perspective, Prof. (Dr.) Anand Pradhan, Regional Director of IIMC Dhenkanal,
underscored that ethics remain the bedrock of the profession. He noted that PR
professionals function as public communicators in a democracy and emphasized
that messaging must be inclusive and reflect diverse viewpoints to retain
credibility.
"Public Relations without
ethics is merely propaganda," he remarked.
Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Bytes and Odisha Sambad Group Editor Sandeep Mishra called on practitioners
to keep an "ear to the ground," reminding them that while PR may
serve organisations, its ultimate accountability is to the public interest and
the nation.
The session was chaired by PRSI
Bhubaneswar Chapter Chairman Sudhi Ranjan Mishra, who reflected on the growing
need for credibility in a fast-evolving digital ecosystem. The event concluded
with a vote of thanks by Secretary of the Chapter, Krushna Chandra Mahapatra.
The gathering reinforced PRSI’s
commitment to promoting professional excellence and upholding ethical standards
among practitioners, students, and media representatives alike.
