Dr. Linda Childers Hon is a professor in the Department of Public Relations and Program Director for the Public Relations and Social Advocacy Project in the Center for Media Innovation + Research. The Project is dedicated to exploring collaborative communication solutions to social issues, particularly using digital activism. Hon also is Director of frank scholar, an annual conference in Gainesville that brings together top scholars who are committed to using communication to drive social change in the public interest.
Hon was executive associate dean of the College from 2006–2012. She is an Al and Effie Flanagan Professor of Journalism and Communications and also held the title of University of Florida Research Foundation Professor.
Hon’s teaching areas include digital social advocacy and public relations theory and research. Her current research focuses on grassroots activism in the digital era. Hon also has conducted research on evaluation, relationship management, and gender and diversity issues in public relations. She is the author (with Larissa Grunig and Elizabeth Toth) of Women in Public Relations: How Gender Influences Practice, a scholarly textbook published in 2001. Her research has been published in Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Journal of Public Relations Research, Public Relations Review, Journal of Communication Management, Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, Journal of Asian Pacific Communication, Journal of Applied Communications, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, Public Relations Strategist, as book chapters in Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management, Teaching Public Relations, The Future of Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management: Challenges to the Next Generation, Responsible Advocacy: Perspectives on Ethics in Public Relations, and as a “Gold Standard” paper from the Institute for Public Relations.
Hon was the recipient of the 2001 “Pathfinder” Award for Best Recent Program of Research in Public Relations given by the Institute for Public Relations. She was the editor of the Journal of Public Relations Research from 2000-2005. In 2012, she was inducted into PR News’ Measurement Hall of Fame.
Hon was an inaugural member of the Commission on Public Relations Measurement and Evaluation, Institute for Public Relations, and an inaugural member of the advisory board for the Plank Center for Public Relations Leadership at the University of Alabama. She is a member of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Public Relations Society of America, and Florida Public Relations Association.
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