Public Relations Professionals Discuss Crisis Communication

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Lemke Department of Journalism invites students, faculty and staff to attend a professional panel, "Public Relations/Crisis Communication," from 2-4:45 p.m. Thursday, April 14 in room 218 of Willard J. Walker Hall.

The goal of this event is to provide practical and valuable information regarding public relations, crisis management and communication and issues management.

The event features two speakers representing both private and educational sectors to showcase diverse aspects of crisis management and communication.

John Kyte is managing director at the public relations and communications firm Burson-Marsteller. He specializes in issues management, crisis communications and government relations. He will discuss his 16 years’ experience serving clients involved in facility siting, power plant operations and community relations, chemical contamination of land and waterways, and hazardous and nuclear materials and waste management. Clients include ABB, Albemarle Corporation, Benteler Steel, Chemtura, Dow Chemical, Entergy, First Solar, Kaiser Aluminum, Los Alamos National Labs, ONEOK, PG&E, Safety-Kleen, Waste Management (WMX) and Waste Control Specialists. Kyte previously practiced environmental and energy law and regulation in Washington, D.C., specializing in congressional and government agency affairs, and media strategy.

Gary Shutt is director of communications at Oklahoma State University. He is responsible for planning, implementing and assessing the activities required to meet the university's public relations and communications needs, including external, internal and executive communications. Shutt's team dealt with the events of Oct. 24, 2015, when a driver drove into Oklahoma State's homecoming parade. Four people died in the tragedy, and more than 20 people were injured. Shutt's experience also includes more than 23 years of experience with SBC Communications Inc. (now AT&T). He was assistant sports information director for the University of Arkansas from 1979-1981.

For more information please contact Jee Young Chung, jychung@uark.edu, 479-575-5213 or Debbie Miller, deborahm@uark.edu, 479-575-6796.