The CIPR Specialist Diploma (Digital Communications) is suited to senior PR professionals who wish to enhance their knowledge, understanding and practical application of digital communications. The qualification and delegate will:

  • Explore the disruptive and transformative impact of digital technologies on society, business, organisations, and individuals

  • Understand the concepts and tools employed in strategic public relations planning with specific emphasis on the role of social media and digital communications management

  • Manage, plan, monitor, measure and evaluate digital and social media activities and engagement with stakeholders and online communities and consider legal and ethical

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Digital Communications is a level 7 qualification, similar to a master’s degree, and can be completed in approximately 6 months. The course is delivered via online distance learning, and virtual live classes (evenings or weekends).

Distance Learning

£1,25000+VAT
  • Virtual Classes £1350 +VAT
  • Face-to-face Learning £1450 +VAT
  • Not Including CIPR Fees
Course Enquiry

Free Access to All Specialist Diplomas

For delegates who sign up to any of our Specialist Diplomas, we are offering reading access to not only their selected qualification, but all four of our Level 7 Specialist Diplomas (Sustainability Communications, Crisis Communications, Digital Communications and Internal Communications).

Delegates who then wish to gain an additional Level 7 qualification through completion of an additional assessment, will be offered 50% off our course fees to do so.

Free Project Management Qualification

All delegates who choose to undertake their CIM or CIPR qualifications with us, will have the option of studying a free project management qualification as well. Delegates can choose between either the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification* (PFQ), the AgilePM Foundation or the PRINCE2 Foundation.

These courses provide a great introduction to project management skills, which tie in nicely to wider public relations roles. If you would like to gain the full project management qualification, you will just need to pay the assessment and/or book fees associated with your chosen course.

*Please note this offer is not open to ELCAS funded learners.

Course Structure

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Digital Communications has 3 main elements and on completion, candidates will be able to:

Explore the disruptive and transformative impact of digital technologies on society, business, organisations and individuals:

  • Examine the effect of existing and emerging digital technologies on communications functions and operations including ethical implications and sustainable development of digital literacy and leadership capabilities

  • Examine the impact of trends in digital communications usage including media convergence, citizen journalism, social media influencers and stakeholder activism on organizational communication

  • Use relevant frameworks, tools and techniques to analyse trends in online behaviour, media consumption, online user profiling, and the formation of network communities

Understand the concepts and tools employed in strategic public relations planning with specific emphasis on the role of social media and digital communications management:

  • Examine the range of concepts, models and tools to research external and internal environments to identify stakeholders and influencers and the issues affecting an organisation

  • Identify digital and social media tools, technologies, and platforms to improve stakeholder engagement, issues management and crisis responsiveness

  • Explore how to develop and manage audience-centred content and the role of owned, third party and user-generated multimedia content

  • Match communication strategies to specific platforms, technologies and channels (for example, Enterprise Social Networks)

Manage, plan, monitor, measure and evaluate digital and social media activities and engagement with stakeholders and online communities, and consider legal and ethical implications:

  • Determine appropriate integrated digital communication management approaches across platforms and technologies (including resource requirements)

  • Assess relevant methods of evaluating digital communication strategies and plans (including outputs, outcomes, impact, data analytics, insights and reflective practice)

  • Critically reflect on privacy and security issues and legal responsibilities in areas such as online tracking, behavioural profiling, data protection, digital security, and social media usage

  • Evaluate the ethical implications of the use of digital communications in developing, implementing and evaluating PR strategies and tactics

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