Poll shows communicators want to increase CSR

A recent poll, conducted by Ragan Communications and PollStream, found communicators want to help boost their companies’ corporate social responsibility programs by increasing communication efforts and backing stand-alone CSR departments.

The poll asked respondents what they would change about their CSR communication programs; 43 percent of the 439 respondents want to increase it; 21 percent would measure its ROI; only 6 percent advocated slashing CSR communications.

While 70 percent of poll respondents indicated their companies practice CSR—and communicate it to customers, employees and investors—the poll showed this trend has a way to go: 30 percent of respondents said their companies have no CSR program.

Communicators from North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia responded to the poll.

CSR: A home of its own

Respondents expressed a strong desire for a stand-alone CSR department at their company.

Nearly 50 percent believe a stand-alone department reporting directly to the CEO should take charge of CSR programs. The remaining 50 percent split among media relations, internal communications and marketing.