Principal Lecturer
Public Relations and Communications
Leeds Metropolitan University
The Rose Bowl
Leeds
LS1 3HE
0113 812 1739
Qualifications
BA (Hons), Literature, University of Essex MSc, Public Relations, University of Stirling PhD, in progress, Sociology, University of Essex (expected completion late 2010)
Responsibilities
Paul leads the subject group's work on assessment, learning and teaching. He also teaches on a variety of modules, mainly at postgraduate level, and is a well-respected researcher with an international profile. During 2010-11 he will be developing academic partnerships tha result in innovative programmes both in the UK and overseas.
Summary of Experience and Achievements
2007: Fellow, Higher Education Academy
2005: National Teaching Fellow
2004: Member, Higher Education Academy
2004: Excellence Award for Education; Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Paul's career spans journalism, public relations and academic posts. His academic writing is characterised by an interest in how working lives are created and sustained; he has led and directed undergraduate and postgraduate public relations programmes both in the UK and internationally.
His career in practice includes work in central government, for the UN and NATO, as head of public relations for two UK universities, and as a consultant to government departments, private companies and international NGOs.
His early career was as a journalist in London; he went on to edit and launch several consumer magazines.
Teaching
In 2010-11 Paul will be:
Subject group lead for assessment, learning and teaching, and working on the faculty ALT group Course Leader, CIPR Advanced Certificate Programme Module Leader, Public Relatiosn Writing Module leader, Public Relations and New Media Module leader, Parliamentary and Public Affairs Module leader, Critical Perspectives on Public Relations Paul will also be teaching on the CIPR Diploma programme, on the Issues Management module, will lead PACE/PPE tutorials, and will be supervising dissertations at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Expertise
The nature of working lives:
- gaining and sustaining careers
- embodied and emotional labour
- PR and masculinities
Social and political aspects of public relations
- UK Government PR
- lobbying
- international contexts (UN, World Bank, EU)
Practices and technologies
- new media
- project management
- storytelling and narrative
- risk and crisis
International experience:
Paul has taught and led programmes in China, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and has been a guest lecturer at universities in Turkey and Northern Cyprus.
Academic:
External examiner, Southampton Solent
External examiner, University of Worcester Board Member, Institute for Enterprise (CETL), 2009 - Board member, University of Central Lancashire, 2008-09 Board member, Central European Publishing House, 2008- Chair, SWRDA higher education committee, 2000-3 Director, S3 Consultancy, 2000 - 2007
Refereed
Elmer P (2008) Exploring embodied practices: public relations education and the problem of complex social performance, CIM 08, Vol 2, pp 783-798, Istanbul University Press ISBN 978-975-404-834-6
Elmer P (2007) Unmanaging public relations, PR Review, Fall 2007
Elmer P and Ferguson S (2005) 'Blurred Boundaries, Sharp Focus: Learning how to be a consultant' International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management.
Elmer P (2005) Constructing the public relations role, Journal of Media Practice, Autumn 2005
Elmer P (2001) Accounting for public relations: exploring radical approaches, Corporate Communications; an international journal March 2001
Elmer P (2000) Beyond professionalism: exploring a government model Corporate Communications; an international journal, December 2000
Books and Chapters:
Elmer, P (in press) Public relations and storytelling, in Edwards L and Hodges, C, Public Relations, Society and Culture: Theoretical and Empirical Explorations, Routledge, London
Conference Papers:
Elmer P (2009) Public relations people: cultural work and workers, CIPR Academic Conference, University of Stirling September 2009
Elmer P (2009) PR: Can it handle the truth? Uclan public lecture, 2009
Elmer P (2008) Beyond Bourdieu: body work in the cultural industries, Radical PR symposium, University of Stirling, June 2008
Elmer P (2008) What not to wear: embodied practices in public relations, NTFS conference, London, May 2008
Elmer P (2007) Unmanaging public relations: Reclaiming complex practice in pursuit of global consent, BLEDCOM, Slovenia, July 2007
Elmer P (2007) Credible fictions; didactic and dialogic roles in public relations, Critical management Studies 5, University of Manchester, July 2007
Elmer P (2007) Public relations as storytelling: challenging normative theory,10th International Public Relations Research Conference, University of Miami, March 2007
Elmer P and Cai, L (2007) When PR worlds collide: a Chinese case study, 10th International Public Relations Research Conference, University of Miami, March 2007
Other Publications:
Paul has edited several newstand magazines and written for a variety of trade and professional titles including Management Today, PR Week, Wine, Decanter.
