Join PRSA Madison for a practical look at the First Amendment, privacy, copyright, content ownership and emerging AI issues.

From First Amendment protections to AI-generated content, today’s communications professionals are navigating an increasingly complex media landscape.

Join Kathleen Bartzen Culver, professor in the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, for a practical conversation about media law and what PR professionals need to know.

Kathleen Bartzen Culver is the James E. Burgess Chair in Journalism Ethics and professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism & Mass Communication and director of the Center for Journalism Ethics.

Long interested in the implications of digital media on journalism and public interest communication, Culver integrates research, teaching and service to advance integrity in media. She also studies free expression, especially in campus contexts. A recipient of multiple awards for her teaching, she has served as visiting faculty for the Poynter Institute for Media Studies and was the founding editor of PBS MediaShift’s education section.

PRSA Madison Members: $12.51

Non PRSA Madison Members: $28.52

Students: Free

REGISTER TODAY!

Come mingle with other professionals, make connections and grow your network at our summer social!

Free for PRSA Members. Register here.

PRSA Madison goes behind the "PR scenes" of the AmFam Championship, a premier PGA TOUR Champions tournament hosted in Madison each June.

Go behind the scenes of one of Wisconsin's premier sporting events with the communications team behind the American Family Insurance Championship (AmFam Champ). Janet Masters and Tom Buchheim will share how they develop media strategies, manage event communications, leverage social media, and tell compelling stories that elevate a PGA TOUR Champions event.

Presenters:
Tom Buchheim

Tom Buchheim manages communications, marketing and social media for the American Family Insurance Championship – a PGA TOUR Champions event held in Madison. Tom is an award-winning video producer and social media strategist, with experience in local broadcast journalism, public relations and video production. For the past 21 years, Tom has worked for American Family Insurance in a variety of roles in corporate communications and marketing, including as the brand’s social media manager. For ten years, he advised the company’s former CEO and other executives on social media and communications.

Janet Masters

Janet is an award-winning professional communicator, with decades of experience including all facets of public relations, media relations, storytelling and corporate communications. She has worked for both the agency and corporate employers, and for the last 19 years with American Family Insurance, currently in Media Relations. She helps achieve business objectives while proactively promoting products, innovations and partnerships as well as protecting company brand and reputation. She also serves on the Board of PRSA Madison as Membership Chair.

To attend the event, register here.

WisComsin Awards Ceremony: Celebrate with the Winners of the Sixth Annual Statewide Communications Award Program

The results are in for the sixth annual PRSA WisCOMsin Awards! Tune in for the virtual awards ceremony at noon on Tuesday, April 28 to see the winners of our profession’s statewide contest.

During this live, virtual event, you’ll hear from the communications professionals taking home the top project-based and practitioner prizes. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear first-hand what makes them (and their work) so special.

Don’t miss this unique event – join us in celebrating Wisconsin’s amazing communications
professionals. Register today!

Note: There is NO CHARGE to attend this special ceremony.

Go behind the scenes of UW–Madison Football communications and brand strategy with Patrick Herb at this PRSA Madison event.

Go behind the scenes of Wisconsin Football communications with Patrick Herb, Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications at UW Athletics. In this session, Herb will share how strategic messaging, media relations, and brand management support one of college football’s most recognizable programs.

For more information and to register, click here.

Transform your strategic communications work into recognition with the WisCOMsin awards.

It’s time to start thinking about the 2026 WisCOMsin Awards!

This awards program is a once-a-year chance for you to earn recognition for great projects or celebrate amazing colleagues. WisCOMsin Awards are judged by another PRSA chapter, so submitting entries is also a way to get professional feedback.

This informational webinar will pull back the curtain on WisCOMsin project awards:

• Gain insights into what judges look for

• Brush up on best practices for strategic communications projects

• Receive tips for producing the best award entries

How do your campaigns stack up against other projects from northeast and southwest Wisconsin? Attend this webinar and come away with insights on best practices. You’ll also learn how to display your project in its best light for the WisCOMsin Awards this spring!

The presenters:
Cindy Tomlinson is a seasoned communications professional with more than three decades of experience managing public relations, internal communications and social media. She is currently the senior manager of communications at Alliant Energy, a regulated energy company with more than one million customers across Iowa and Wisconsin.

Erin Elliott, APR is the public relations/social media account supervisor at Hiebing. Focusing mainly on content and media relations work, she serves a variety of clients remotely from her home in the Green Bay area. An experienced PR practitioner and longtime PRSA member, 2026 marks Erin’s sixth year of service as awards chair for PRSA Northeast Wisconsin.

Register today!

Grab Your Lunch and Join Us!

PRSA Madison, in partnership with Badger Talks, invites you to an engaging virtual session with Professor Emeritus Steven Zwickel on Tuesday, January 13 from noon to 1 p.m.

This interactive webinar is designed for current and aspiring leaders looking to strengthen their ability to inspire and guide others. Professor Zwickel will explore the essence of leadership — defined as “the ability to get people to participate in a journey from the way things are to the way they could and ought to be.”

Bring your lunch, your curiosity and your leadership questions for an energizing hour of insight and discussion!

Register here

• PRSA Madison Members: $12.51

• Non PRSA Madison Members: $28.52

• Students: Free

Steven Zwickel BIo:

Steven Zwickel taught Technical Communications (technical writing, speaking and document design) at UW-Madison from 1992 to 2020. He is a graduate of Binghamton University, where he majored in political science. He has a law degree (Brooklyn Law School), a M.S. in Social Work (UW–Madison) and a Diploma in Graphic Arts/Printing from Madison Area Technical College. Zwickel is author of two books on anger and workplace stress, of a text on technical presentations and professional speaking, and of a series of articles on agencies that helped American immigrants.

❄️ Join us for the second annual Snowflake Soirée: a holiday collaboration event! ❄️

Tis the season to mingle and jingle! The Snowflake Soirée is back—and it’s your chance to make merry with Madison’s marketing and communication pros. Whether you’re looking to grow your network, spark a collaboration or just have fun, this festive evening is the perfect way to wrap up the year. Cash bar available for beverages.

Location: The Sylvee, 2nd Floor, 25 S Livingston St, Madison, WI 53703

Cost: $15 (includes event entry, light appetizers, and a raffle ticket)

Holiday Spirit: Bring a non-perishable food item for Second Harvest, and we’ll throw in extra raffle tickets.

Schedule:

5 p.m. – Doors open

5–6 p.m. – Light appetizers, mingling, games

6 p.m. – Raffle drawing

Register today!

Hosted by Madison’s Marketing Masterminds:

• American Marketing Association

• LinkedIn Local Madison

• Madison Media Professionals

• Madison Area Business Consultants

• Public Relations Society of America

• Social Media Breakfast

Get an exclusive, insider look at how Madison’s trusted local media come to life!

Join us for a special behind-the-scenes tour of Channel 3000 and Madison Magazine, featuring an engaging discussion with Madison Magazine Editor Andrea Behling, a live viewing of the noon news broadcast and a Q&A panel with Channel 3000 journalists.

Lunch is provided.

LOCATION: 7025 Raymond Road, Madison, Wis.

Space is limited — reserve your spot early!

Unfortunately, this event has been canceled due to a scheduling conflict.

September is Ethics Month for communications professionals.

Join us for a virtual lunchtime discussion led by Joe Lynch, Assistant Professor at Madison College. Together, we’ll explore real-world ethical dilemmas, sharpen our decision-making and consider how ethics shape our everyday work. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, this interactive session is for you.

Come mingle with other professionals, make connections and grow your network at our summer social!

Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. - Fitchburg: 2980 Cahill Main Fitchburg, WI 53711

Register today

PRSA Madison Members: FREE!
Non-PRSA Madison Members $10

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances on the part of our speaker, this meeting has been canceled.

Join PRSA Madison in partnership with Badger Talks

Register for this in-depth online session on audience understanding and inclusive communication. Learn how to build trust and credibility by tailoring messages to diverse communities through thoughtful frameworks, expert collaboration and audience-specific strategies.

We’ll explore how to assess audience perceptions, ask the right questions and move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to foster authentic engagement in today’s complex communication landscape.

Learn about the speaker

Todd Newman is an assistant professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an affiliate of the Robert F. and Jean E. Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

Register today!

PRSA Madison Members: $10

Non PRSA Madison-Members $25

Students: Free

In today's fast-paced world, effective crisis communication is crucial for maintaining trust and credibility. 

Join us for an insightful presentation from Kim Sveum, SSM Health Regional Director of Communications, and Lisa Adams, SSM Health Communications Manager, as they share proven strategies and best practices for navigating challenging situations, managing public perception and communicating transparently during a crisis. 

Special Focus: Kim and Lisa will delve into SSM Health's response to the Abundant Life Christian School Shooting that took place in December.  

Discover how SSM Health effectively managed communication during the tragic shooting and learn about strategies for providing timely updates, supporting affected families and coordinating with local authorities to ensure accurate information dissemination.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical tools to strengthen your crisis communication capabilities. Register now and be prepared for the unexpected!

Location: SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Madison at 700 Park St. Madison, 53715 - Conference Room 6                     

Parking: Upon arrival at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Madison, please park in the main parking structure on Brooks Street. After parking, please proceed to the street level and enter the hospital through the main doors on Brooks Street. SSM Health will provide parking validation. Limited street parking may also be available.

Register today!

Kickstart your morning with coffee, conversation and connections!

Join fellow Madison-area PR professionals for a casual, come-and-go networking meetup in a relaxed setting. Grab a cup of coffee, enjoy some breakfast and mingle before your workday begins. Short on time? No problem—stop by to say hello and be on your way or stay and chat for a while.

Location: Barriques - Middleton, 1901 Cayuga Street, Middleton

📅 Drop in anytime between 7:30 AM – 9 AM

💻 Working remotely? Bring your laptop and co-work with fellow PR pros.

👥 Retired PR professionals are welcome—come share your insights and stay connected!

🚗 Free parking is available at the café.

Note: PRSA Madison does not provide coffee and food.

Reserve your spot!

Drum roll please! Learn who excelled in their communications efforts as the PRSA WisCOMsin Award winners are announced.

The results are in!  Winners of the fifth annual PRSA WisCOMsin Awards will be announced at this ceremony, recognizing outstanding work and amazing people in Wisconsin. 

Tune into the awards ceremony at noon on Tuesday, May 6 to see the winners and celebrate success. At this live virtual event, you’ll hear from strategic communicators receiving some of the top awards and learn what makes them (and their work) so special. 

Ceremony registration is required; the event is free. The 2025 WisCOMsin Awards are co-sponsored by the PRSA chapters of Madison and Northeast Wisconsin. Don’t miss this year’s special ceremony.

Register today!

Kickstart your morning with coffee, conversation and connections!

Join fellow Madison-area PR professionals for a casual, come-and-go networking meetup in a relaxed setting. Grab a cup of coffee, enjoy some breakfast and mingle before your workday begins. Short on time? No problem—stop by to say hello and be on your way or stay and chat for a while.

LOCATION: Mercies Coffee, 1748 Eagan Road, Madison

📅 Drop in anytime between 7:30 AM – 9 AM

💻 Working remotely? Bring your laptop and co-work with fellow PR pros.

👥 Retired PR professionals are welcome—come share your insights and stay connected!

🚗 Free parking is available at the café.

Note: PRSA Madison does not provide coffee and food.

Reserve your spot!

Kickstart your morning with coffee, conversation and connections!

Join fellow Madison-area PR professionals for a casual, come-and-go networking meetup in a relaxed setting. Grab a cup of coffee, enjoy some breakfast and mingle before your workday begins. Short on time? No problem—stop by to say hello and be on your way or stay and chat for a while.

Finca Coffee: 2500 Rimrock Road #105 Fitchburg, WI 53713

📅 Drop in anytime between 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM

💻 Working remotely? Bring your laptop and co-work with fellow PR pros.

👥 Retired PR professionals are welcome—come share your insights and stay connected!

🚗 Free parking is available at the café.

Note: PRSA Madison does not provide coffee and food.

RESERVE A SPOT!

Join PRSA Madison and Hiebing to learn fresh PR tactics for earned media success in today's evolving landscape. Network and gain insights!

It’s no secret the earned media landscape has undergone drastic shifts in the past several years, from the advent of the 24-hour news cycle and shrinking newsrooms to an ever-growing affiliate marketing universe and pushback on commercial messaging. In this hour-long session, Hiebing’s PR team of Nathan Dupont and Becca Vollmer will share case studies demonstrating how they’ve infused new life into tried-and-true media tactics (i.e., press events, groundbreakings, anniversaries, etc.) to generate impressive earned coverage for B2B and consumer clients alike in moments that matter!

Lunch will be provided. Please email leah.hauck21@gmail.com with any food allergies.

Location: Hiebing, 315 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, Wis.

Parking information will be provided closer to the event.

Space is limited and prices will increase on Saturday, February 22.

REGISTER TODAY!

PRSA Madison Members, Early Bird: $25

Non PRSA Madison Members, Early Bird: $35

Student: $20

Transform your strategic communications work into recognition with the WisCOMsin awards.

It’s time to start thinking of the 2025 WisCOMsin Awards!

This awards program is a once-a-year chance for you to earn recognition for great projects or celebrate amazing colleagues. WisCOMsin Awards are judged by another PRSA chapter, so submitting entries is also a way to get professional feedback.

This informational webinar will pull back the curtain on WisCOMsin project awards:

• Gain insights into what judges look for

• Brush up on best practices for strategic communications projects

• Receive tips for producing the best award entries

 How do your campaigns stack up against other projects from northeast and southwest Wisconsin? Attend this webinar and come away with insights on best practices. You’ll also learn how to display your project in its best light for the WisCOMsin Awards!

The presenters:
Angela Brumm, APR, is a senior manager in Internal Communications at Exact Sciences. As part of a company that provides cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Angela likes going home every day knowing she helps people. With 20+ years of experience, her specialties include corporate, executive and internal communications.

Recently, Angela served as the 2024 board president of the PRSA Madison chapter and now serves as the chapter awards chair.

Erin Elliott, APR is the public relations/social media account supervisor at Hiebing. Focusing mainly on content and media relations work, she serves a variety of clients remotely from her home in the Green Bay area.

An experienced PR practitioner and longtime PRSA member, 2025 marks Erin’s fifth year of service as awards chair for PRSA Northeast Wisconsin.

REGISTER TODAY!

Get ready to celebrate the season in style! The Snowflake Soiree is your chance to deck the halls, make new connections and maybe even walk away with some loot! Whether you’re looking for new friends, a mentor or your next big opportunity, this festive gathering of Madison’s top marketing pros is the place to be.

Schedule:

• 4:30 p.m.: Doors Open

• 5 p.m.: Networking & Games

• 6 p.m.: Raffle Drawing

Location: Karben4, 3698 Kinsman Blvd, Madison, WI 53704

Holiday Spirit: Bring a non-perishable food item or personal care product, and we’ll throw in extra raffle tickets. That’s right, more chances to win some sweet prizes!

Dress Code: Bring your festive flair—this is your time to shine! From ugly sweaters to sleek holiday threads, we’re ready to see you impress.

Don’t miss out on this holiday bash! Let’s get merry, make connections and close out the year with some serious fun!

Cost: $10 (includes event entry, light appetizers, a raffle ticket and a drink ticket)

REGISTER TODAY!

Hosted by Madison’s Marketing Masterminds:

• American Marketing Association

• LinkedIn Local

• Madison Media Professionals

• Public Relations Society of America

• Social Media Breakfast

Join PRSA Madison for an inspirational and joyful wrap-up to the year, presented by Mark Mohammadpour, APR, Fellow PRSA. This session will equip public relations leaders with balance, purpose and intention to remain afloat this holiday season by putting themselves first! The life of a public relations professional is a mixture of emotions: from exhilarating to frightening, empowering to worrying, purposeful to lonely. The key to living with these emotions is designing a path toward buoyancy. This interactive conversation will deliver on how to be a healthy and confident leader so you will be a trusted advisor for colleagues and clients and, most importantly, live healthy lives with loved ones this holiday season.

Mark Mohammadpour, APR, Fellow PRSA (he/him)
Founder and Chief Well-being Officer, Chasing the Sun
After spending his public relations career as an executive at Edelman and Weber Shandwick leading award-winning teams for Adobe, Microsoft and the U.S. Army, and losing and keeping off 150 pounds, Mark Mohammadpour founded Chasing the Sun to empower people to shine in the family room and the board room. Chasing the Sun delivers relatable, practical and actionable approaches for companies to create a Culture of Well-being™️. Mark is a proud PRSA Fellow, former PRSA Oregon President and Workplace Wellness columnist for PRSA’s Strategies & Tactics. Learn more about Mark's story here.

REGISTER TODAY!

Expand your network and celebrate summer with fellow public relations professionals in the Madison area!
Summer social at Cafe Hollander, 701 Hilldale Way, Madison.
$10 per person
Register today!

Learn how to measure the impact of your PR efforts and evaluate their effectiveness from Bob Giblin, APR.

Join us for an insightful online discussion with PR expert Bob Giblin, APR, on enhancing your public relations measurement and evaluation practices. Giblin will cover five key areas: inputs, outputs, out-takes, outcomes and outgrowths.

While many view evaluation as merely the final step in the Research, Plan, Implement and Evaluate (RPIE) process, Giblin will explore how various forms of measurement and evaluation are integral to each stage of RPIE.

Learn whether your practices align with the industry's best standards and how to improve them to showcase the effectiveness of your PR campaigns.

Bob Giblin, APR

Giblin’s career spans more than 40 years of agency, corporate, government and military experience. He is Accredited in Public Relations (APR), and he served for nearly 20 years on the board overseeing the public relations APR examination program.

Giblin has conducted workshops and training programs locally, nationally and internationally on PR planning, measurement and evaluation, improving awards entries and PR research management, for Fortune 100 companies, PR agencies and professional associations. He has served as a judge for the PRSA Silver Anvil Awards as well as numerous other public relations awards programs for PRSA chapters and other organizations.

Giblin holds a B.S. in agricultural journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a certificate in qualitative market research from AC Nielsen/Burke Institute. He graduated from the Department of Defense Information School.

Register today!

PRSA Madison Members: $10
Guests: $25
Students: Free