PROFILE: THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNICATION DIRECTORS (EACD)

The European Association of Communication Directors (EACD), founded in Brussels in November 2006 by over 100 in-house communicators from 23 countries, is the network for communication professionals from all fields across Europe. It was established to promote diversity, overcome cultural barriers and formulate communicative norms in order to ensure quality and foster professionalism in communications. The association currently has over 2,300 members.

The Association meets the needs of communication professionals working internationally, and provides them with support in facing the exciting new challenges they deal with in the global arena. The world of communications is constantly in flux as new technologies and changing global dynamics influence the way communicators work. With this in mind, the Association is committed to providing flexible support, with the continual input and feedback of its members.

Activities

1. Build the image of the profession: The EACD is a non-partisan association which actively builds and enhances the image of communicators working internationally. The EACD outlines the profession and differentiates it from related professional groups. It supports the development of a clearly defined self-conception both within the EACD as well as in public.

2. Meet colleagues from all over the EU: The EACD provides a network for Communication Directors and Spokespersons and offers them various possibilities to exchange knowledge, experiences and opinions. It fosters the European idea of cross-national partnerships and exchange between communicators, and provides the relevant platforms for members to connect to each other – for example through its media, services and events. Networks are sustained via contacts. Decision makers in communications and the media establish and enhance their networks at professional gatherings. The EACD organizes such events as well as a large annual convention covering all topics relevant to their community.

3. Lobby for the profession: The EACD represents the interests of its members in European politics. It takes a firm stand in current debates concerning the profession and is an advisor on all legal matters as well as on other specific questions related to the work of communication professionals.

4. Enhances careers: Members of the EACD become familiarised with a large variety of career profiles and paths in companies, institutions and associations all over Europe. This helps them to discover new career options for themselves and enhance their individual professional progress.

5. Working Groups: The EACD organises workshops and meetings among members at regular intervals. They work jointly on papers and guidelines for specific issues and help to develop new communicative standards within their own field.

6. Common quality standards: The EACD supports common quality standards within professional qualification in the PR field, and in the daily work of European communication professionals.

7. Further training and events: By establishing common quality standards and advancing professional qualification within the fields of communication and media, the EACD offers means for qualification for those interested in further studies. Such training includes seminars, symposia and other events.

8. Overcome cultural barriers: There are different rules, laws and decrees that institute, organise and regulate communication activities in the EU countries. The EACD aims to establish universally valid principles of understanding and communicating with each other. It provides guidelines on communicative challenges within the specific communication cultures of all EU states.

9. Publications: The EACD releases several publications in print and online that keep the members up to date on all questions and issues which are relevant for their communicative work.