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about IABC

Find information on IABC membership and how to join, plus background information on the association.

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Overview of IABC

Founded in 1970, The International Association of Business Communicators provides a professional network of almost 16,000 business communication professionals in over 70 countries. Our members hold positions in:

 
  • Public relations/Media relations
  • Corporate communications
  • Public affairs
  • Investor relations
  • Government relations
  • Marketing communication
  • Community relations
  • Writing
 
  • Editing
  • Training
  • Advertising
  • Video production
  • Graphic design
  • Human resources
  • Teaching
 

IABC's professional network serves as a vibrant resource to:

Make A Bigger Impact in Your Job
Tap into thousands of years of collective experience of your peers for new ideas, fresh insights, and problem solving assistance.

Find the Hidden Job Market
Looking for the next step in your career? Networking online and face-to-face will help you uncover the hidden job market for communication professionals. Not to mention the job listings at www.iabc.com.

Enhance Your Skills
IABC's web site contains a robust library of how-to articles and case studies of successful communication in the real world. Available to members only and accessible 24 hours a day, this content can help guide you through countless professional situations and challenges. Moreover, professional development sessions on a wide variety of topics are available at member prices and are offered in the classroom, as well as over the web or phone. For reference or cover-to-cover reading are IABC's Knowledge Resource manuals, also at significant member discounts.

Find Clients, Find Friends
If you're a freelancer, IABC is a great place to find clients. And if you're looking to expand your social network, there's no better place than an IABC chapter.

Who Is IABC?

The following information on our members provides an overview of IABC and is based on information from December 2006.

Types of Organizations Where Members Work

Members work in the following types of organizations (extrapolated from 90% response rate to questionnaire):

Types of Organizations Where Members Work

  • 44% Corporations
  • 12% Associations/not for profit
  • 11% PR/communication consultancies
  • 6% Government/Military
  • 5% Self-employed/independent
  • 5% Management consultancies
  • 5% Education institution
  • 2% Utility
  • 2% Writing/editing firm
  • 1% State-owned corporation
  • 7% Other

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Industries in which Members Work

Top industries represented by IABC membership (extrapolated from 90% response rate to questionnaire):

Industries in which Members work

  • 10% Consulting
  • 10% Public Relations
  • 8% Finance/Banking
  • 7% Medical/Healthcare
  • 5.5% Education
  • 4.5% Insurance
  • 5% Government/military
  • 4% Manufacturing
  • 4% Professional Services
  • 3% Utility
  • 3% Telecomm
  • 36% Other

Other industries represented include: advertising • aerospace • agriculture • association • audiovisual • automotive • chemical • computers • construction • design • energy • engineering • entertainment • environmental services • food/beverage • graphic arts/printing • hotel/lodging • metals/mining • petroleum • pharmaceuticals • photography • publishing • real estate • retail sales • telecommunications • transportation • travel/tourism

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Members' Job Responsibilities

Extrapolated from 89% response rate to questionnaire

Member Job Responsiblities

  • 23% Corporate communication
  • 22.5% PR/public affairs/community relations/external communication/media relations
  • 18.5% Employee communication
  • 16% Marketing communication
  • 6% CEO/executive/senior management
  • 14% Other

Other areas of responsibility include: electronic communication • government relations • investor relations • member communication • publication production • research • teaching (college/university) • training • writing

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Experience Level of Members

Your fellow IABC members bring a wealth of experience (extrapolated from 84% response rate to questionnaire):

Member level

 

  • 14% began working in the communication field before 1980
  • 29% began working in the communication field between 1980-1989
  • 39% began working in the communication field between 1990-1999
  • 18% began working in the communication field between 2000-Present
Members' Titles in Their Organizations

Members offer crucial networking contacts (extrapolated from 89% response rate to questionnaire):

  • 36% of members hold one of the following titles:
    CEO, President, Officer, Partner, Vice President, Managing Director, Director, Practice Leader, Principal, or Associate (fewer than 2.2% hold the Associate position)

  • 23% hold the title of Manager

Other titles held by IABC members include: Account executive • Assistant Manager • Consultant • Coordinator • Editor/Editorial Assistant • Educator/Professor • General Manager • Graphic Artist/Designer • Photographer • Self-Employed/Independent • Specialist • Supervisor • Writer

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Where is IABC?

Our members live and work in the following countries (extrapolated from 100% response rate to questionnaire):

Argentina • Australia • Austria • Bahamas • Barbados • Belgium • Bermuda • Bosnia and Herzegovenia • Brazil • Bulgaria • Canada • Cayman Islands • Chile • China • Colombia • Costa Rica • Croatia • Czech Republic • Denmark • Egypt • Finland • France • Germany • Ghana • Hong Kong • India • Indonesia • Ireland • Italy • Jamaica • Japan • Jordon • Kuwait • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Malaysia • Mexico • Nether Antilles • Netherlands • New Zealand • Nigeria • Norway • Oman • Pakistan • Panama • Peru • Philippines • Poland • Qatar • Romania • Russia • Saint Lucia • Saudi Arabia • Serbia and Montenegro • Singapore • Slovak Republic • Slovenia • South Africa • South Korea • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • Taiwan • Tanzania • Thailand • Trinidad and Tobago • Turkey • United Arab Emirates • United Kingdom • United States • Venezuela • Vietnam • West Africa

IABC has over 100 chapters around the world, and the number is growing!


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