About us
About us
FERPI, the Italian Federation of Public Relations, was founded in 1970. Since then, the Federation has represented professionals operating in the Public Relations sector who, more specifically, create, develop and manage relations with influential publics in order to achieve the objectives of individuals, companies, organizations, associations, public authorities and other bodies.
The main objectives of the association are to promote initiatives, to analyse and improve the awareness of Public Relations in Italy at professional level and to enhance the specific characteristics of the PR profession. Ferpi non only represents its members on professional and ethical terms, but it also takes care of analysing, discussing, searching and finding solutions related to the different aspects regarding further development of public relations practice.
Through the adoption of professional codes of ethics and of self-regulatory behaviour, Ferpi protects the interests of third parties (employers, clients and external interlocutors) and the professional interests of the members of the association. Ferpi also supports various activities with the aim to provide a guidance to students who study Public Relations and its related services.
Ferpi has launched a series of significant activities to increase awareness and promote the importance of Public Relations throughout organizations and within public opinion. The main tools currently used to spread such information are the association’s website (www.ferpi.it) – which includes FerpiNet, the Social Network for Ferpi’s members – and FERPI Notizie, the magazine that provides information on Ferpi initiatives, news from the PR sector and debates on current issues.
To facilitate the exchange of professional expertise and knowledge on the current state of PR best practices around the world, the association organises and takes part in important events such as the World PR Festival, the Euprera Congress and the IPR World Congress.
One of the top priorities of Ferpi is to ensure continual professional training and dialogue with Italian universities that have courses in Communication Sciences and Public Relations. In this particular field, the Ferpi division Consulta Education Assorel-Ferpi, under the direction of Professor Invernizzi, is the only body in Italy to act as a dynamic link between universities and the business world. Its main aim is to provide ever more-skilled professionals in the PR sector through dedicated processes and tools. The student section of FERPI is UniFerpi.
One of the most interesting initiatives promoted directly by Ferpi is the National Award Oscar di Bilancio, granted to the organisation that has provided the best financial communication strategy in terms of continuity, effectiveness and innovation towards all target publics. The award represents the most important recognition in this field at a national level and over the years it has contributed to the strengthening of a culture of transparency.
In 2004, in cooperation with a dozen large organisations, Ferpi launched a project to draw up a “manual on the communication of social responsibility” that explains the fundamentals of social responsibility, its roles, the general guidelines and the best practices of CSR’s communication. In 2005 the FERPI Observatory on Corporate Social Responsibility was created to produce the first FERPI Report on Communication of CSR.
Ferpi also launched a project to promote major awareness and understanding regarding human migration realities, in order to increase the quality level of communication in relation to identity and intercultural dialogue issues.
In addition, the Association has a new area dedicated specifically to initiatives related to Public Affairs, Communication for local government and Territorial Marketing.
At an international level FERPI is the founding partner of Global Alliance, and is also member of Euprera.
