The European Association of Communication Directors just published its annual report

It provides insight into communication and PR professionals (survey from 2200 communication professionals from 42 countries in Europe), and has titled it:

Challenges and Competencies for Strategic Communication

Why am I covering this report?

The reason I am covering this report is because

• It show the biggest challenges for marketers and communicators today.
• Because it comes from a descent source
• Because it has data from previous years that allows to spot trends.

Key take-away’s from the European Communication Monitor 2012

• Most important strategic issues: Need to address more audiences with limited resources
• Ethical challenges: Six out of ten PR professionals faced moral problems within the last 12 months
• Barriers to professionalization: 84% state that top management lacks understanding of communications
• Integrating and coordinating communications: Shaping multiple identities is more relevant today
• Practice of strategic communication: Operational work takes 37% of a typical week
• Social media: Large gap between perceived importance and real implementation in most organisations
• Development and qualifications: Management and business knowledge needed, but training is missing