Grad extols virtues of p.r, IR

The founder of the fourth largest public relations company in the world spoke last night at a program aimed towards International Relations majors. John Porter, a 1955 Wharton graduate and former University Trustee, began the lecture with his personal history, to give the students an idea of what lies ahead for them in the field of international relations. Porter, currently a trustee on the board of the University Medical Center, said he briefly worked for an advertising company in New York after graduation before being drafted into the army during the Korean War. After serving in the army, Porter worked for five years in London for an international marketing company. Upon returning to the United States, Porter worked briefly as director of public affairs for the Peace Corps, before starting Porter-Omnicomm, his public relations company. Porter explained that a public relations company helps place press releases in the media for other companies and also advises companies on how to deal with problems of public perception. Frank Plantan, associate director of the International Relations Program, sponsored the program primarily as a career day for IR majors, but his long term goal is to "create a professional network of alumni." "I think today if you're not an IR major, you're missing something," Porter said, referring to the global economy.