September 2026 Newsletter 
Calendar of Events
Lights, Camera, Conversation: A DEI Film & Workshop Experience
Date: Thursday, October 15, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Marketer Collaborative, 15 E. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine
What to Expect: October is Diversity Awareness Month. Join Cincinnati PRSA for an interactive evening centered around DEI-ing (2025), a candid and thought-provoking documentary film that dives into the world of diversity, equity and inclusion with bold honesty, exposing systemic failures and delivering actionable solutions for those ready to move beyond performative gestures to real change.
The evening will feature curated clips from the film, each followed by small-group breakout sessions to spark real conversation — and real application. Each breakout will challenge you to examine what you’re seeing on screen and connect it to your own work in PR, content, social media and marketing. What does authentic representation look like in a campaign? How do we move from good intentions to inclusive strategy? These are the questions we'll wrestle with together.
Save the Date: Chapter Banquet and Blacksmith Awards - November 19
More details and registration to come soon!
Reads and Resources
Final Call for Blacksmith Award Entries
Last chance to celebrate the wins by you, your agency or your organization with a Blacksmith Award. The deadline for late entries is 11:59 p.m. Friday, September 18!
Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Nominate a WVB Award Winner
Maybe it’s the mentor who always makes time. The connector who brings people together. The volunteer who keeps showing up. The PR pro who makes our profession stronger.
That’s why the WVB Award exists.
Since 1974, Cincinnati PRSA has recognized communicators whose service has made a difference to the Chapter, profession, community and PRSA.
Nominations close Sept. 21. Take a few minutes to nominate someone who deserves to be recognized.
On the Blog: What Makes a WVB Award Winner?
By Jill E. Dunne, 2025 WVB Award Recipient, 2026 WVB Award Chair
Every profession has people who make it better.
They excel in their professional roles. They mentor. They volunteer. They share what they know. They make introductions, open doors and show up for their colleagues and their communities.
In the tri-state’s communications world, Cincinnati PRSA’s Werner-VonderHaar-Bogart Award gives us a chance to recognize those people.
Read more on the blog about What Makes a WVB Award Winner.
Does this sound like someone you know? Nominate them before September 21.
On the Blog: When Nonprofit and For-Profit Communicators Compare Notes Event Recap
What can nonprofit and for-profit communicators learn from each other? That was the question behind Cincinnati PRSA’s August program, Mission vs. Margin, at Queen City Book Bank. With more than 40 attendees and less than an hour on the clock, we dug into the idea that we get better when we learn from people who don’t work exactly like we do.
Visit the blog to read about the interesting advice and some common themes came out of the conversation.
Sponsor Cincinnati PRSA's Biggest Event of the Year - Opportunities Available Now
The Cincinnati PRSA Chapter Banquet and Blacksmith Awards returns November 19, bringing together hundreds of communications professionals to celebrate excellence in public relations. Sponsorship is a great opportunity to increase your organization's visibility, engage with industry leaders, and support professional development within our local PR community.
View the opportunities here and reach out to [email protected] with interest or questions!
PRSA Cincinnati Members Save $200 on Content Marketing World Registration
Your next great idea probably isn’t hiding in another browser tab.
It’s waiting at Content Marketing World 2026 – in a session that flips your thinking, a conversation that gets you unstuck, or an example so good you’ll text your team on the spot.
But hurry! Time is running out to register for CMWorld — a specially curated experience where strategy, content, data, and creativity converge to fuel stronger ideas and turn them into work that drives impact.
October 5-7, 2026 | Denver, Colorado
Secure your spot today. Use code PRSACIN to save $200.
Ethics Moment
Ethics Moment: Ethics Is One Way We Earn Trust
By Shara Clark, APR, Cincinnati PRSA Ethics Director
Trust is easy to talk about and much harder to earn.
For public relations professionals, that’s why ethical practice is key to building and protecting relationships with the people and communities we serve.
Every day, we make choices about what to say, what to leave out, whose voices to elevate and how to respond when the facts are complicated. Sometimes the ethical choice is obvious. Often, it isn't. We may find ourselves balancing loyalty to a client or employer with our responsibility to the public or navigating pressure to tell a story in the most favorable possible light.
Those moments are where ethics matters most.
PRSA's Code of Ethics reminds us that our profession is built on values including honesty, advocacy, expertise, independence, loyalty and fairness. These are tools for making better decisions when the right path isn't always the easiest one.
As trust in institutions, leaders and information continues to be challenged, our role matters even more.
Kudos and Congrats
Congratulations to The Motion Agency!
Congratulations to The Motion Agency on expanding its Cincinnati presence with the acquisition of Vehr Communications, bringing together two independent, integrated marketing communications agencies with deep roots in the region. The combination builds on Motion’s continued investment in Cincinnati and expands the creative, digital and communications expertise available to clients. With the addition of Vehr, Motion will grow to nearly 90 professionals across Cincinnati, Chicago and Nashville. The acquisition will be effective October 1, 2026.
Did you land a new job? Were you recognized for your outstanding work? Did your pitch land a great media placement? Please write to [email protected]
Job Listings
Are you trying to fill a role in your organization? Are you seeking a new position? Check out the Cincinnati PRSA Job Board! Positions are posted for three months. Check out open positions or fill out the form to post your open role today.
