Worldcom Public Relations Group Adopts the Barcelona Principles for Measurement

International Partnership Recommends Public Relations Metrics for Industry-wide Use

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s leading partnership of independently owned public relations counseling firms, announced today that it has adopted the Barcelona Declaration of Measurement Principles for partner implementation as guidelines for performance metrics.

“The Worldcom Group views measurement as an essential element for our industry and the Barcelona Principles support the processes our partner firms are using as they report results to their clients”

The Barcelona Principles were formally published at the second annual European Summit on Measurement and have since been endorsed by the Global Alliance, the Institute for Public Relations, the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC), the International Communications Consultancy Organization (ICCO) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The seven principles present a standardized set of metrics that support qualitative and quantitative measurement to define meaningful PR measurement for the industry. Worldcom Group is the first global marketing and communications business group to formally adopt these principles for active use by its partners.

“The Worldcom Group views measurement as an essential element for our industry and the Barcelona Principles support the processes our partner firms are using as they report results to their clients,” said Matt Kucharski, Chair, Worldcom Public Relations Group and Senior Vice President at Padilla Speer Beardsley. “All of our partners strive to align campaigns with client business goals so that results provide concrete proof that the strategies contribute to the bottom line.”

An internal committee of representatives from Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia/Pacific regions will develop measurement systems and methodologies based on these principles. Worldcom Group also will provide partners with tools and training to facilitate the acceptance and use of these new standards by themselves and especially by their clients, who are being asked to measure program results against their corporate goals.

About the Worldcom Public Relations Group

Established in 1988, The Worldcom Public Relations Group, is today the world's leading partnership of independently owned public relations counseling firms, with 107 partner agencies worldwide, in 90 markets, in 46 countries, across six continents. With more than 2,000 employees, and revenue of more than US $265 million, partners collectively serve national, international and multi-national clients seamlessly, while retaining the flexibility and client-service focus inherent in independent local agencies. Through Worldcom, clients have on-demand access to in-depth communications expertise from professionals who understand the language, culture and customs of the geographic areas in which they do business. For more information, please visit www.worldcomgroup.com.