Professor Ralph Tench, Director of Research

Professor Ralph Tench

Director of Research

Professor Tench is the Director of Research for Leeds Business School and the elected President and Head of the Board of Directors for the European Public Relations Research and Education Association (EUPRERA). EUPRERA is the leading academic association for public relations and strategic communication.

Professor Tench's research focuses on two communications strands, firstly for social impact and secondly in organisational strategy, behaviour and performance. His work involves national and international funded projects including working with large organisations and business, such as the annual European Communication Monitor, now in its twelfth year (www.communicationmonitor.eu), business leaders, professions or small to medium sized enterprises. For example he led a €600K EU project on climate change using deliberative engagement. He has been appointed twice in 2017 as a special advisor to the European Commission and is currently running a consultancy project for the Commission on branding for employment services. He has been the principle investigator for several large research projects including the first and largest to be funded in public relations when he ran the ECOPSI communication competency project. He also supported another European funded SME e-learning project (SME-ELEARN). Professor Tench has also led and been part of health and obesity communication projects with the NHS and Public Health England. Professor Tench has written over 30 academic peer reviewed journal articles; published 26 books (Pearson, Emerald, Palgrave Macmillan and Peter Lang publishers), not including translations and smaller research book publications; published over 15 full research reports/books related to major research projects; written and published 15 practitioner/professional publication thought pieces/articles; presented worldwide more than 60 peer reviewed papers.

Most recently he has published the critically acclaimed Communication Excellence: How to Develop, Manage and Lead Exceptional Communication (2017) with his colleagues from the European Communication Monitor. He also celebrated in 2017 the publication of the 4th Edition of Exploring Public Relations, the market-leading textbook for the public relations subject internationally.

Current Teaching

Professor Tench teaches across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He has extensive doctoral supervision with six of his PhD students successfully passing their vivas in 2017. His research supervision currently involves seven students studying corporate social responsibility, corporate image and identity, obesity communication and strategic communication in health. Professor Tench is a past Visiting Professor at the University of Salzburg and has taught, supervised and examined PhDs worldwide.

Research Interests

Professor Tench's research interests include corporate and strategic communication, corporate responsibility and public relations. He works on large scale research projects for both the public and private sector. As examples he currently manages with university colleagues across Europe large scale transnational research projects such as the largest and longest running longitudinal study for the public relations and strategic communication discipline, the European Communication Monitor (ECM) which is run annually (since 2007). Each year this involves an online quantitative survey of over 3000 practitioners across up to 50 European countries: www.communicationmonitor.eu.

He has also led the ECOPSI EU funded project, the largest European funded public relations research project, www.ecopsi.org.uk. This work investigated the skills and competencies of European commnications practitioners and has been supported by six European partner universities as well as the EACD (European Association of Communication Directors).

His research has produced two Research Excellence Framework (REF) impact case studies.

Professor Ralph Tench, Director of Research

Ask Me About

  1. Corporate social responsibility
  2. Communications
  3. Corporate Social Responsibility
  4. Health
  5. Public relations

Selected Outputs

  • European Public Relations Research and Education Association (EUPRERA) : President and Head of the Board of Directors
  • Higher Education Association : Fellow
  • Chartered Institute of Public Relations
  • Tench R; Meng J; Moreno A (2022) Implications for the future of strategic communications from the COVID-19 pandemic. In: Tench R; Meng J; Moreno A ed. Strategic Communication in a Global Crisis National and International Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic. London: Routledge, pp. 345-350.

  • Topic M; Tench R (2020) Women in Public Relations: A Thematic Analysis of ECM Data (2009-2019). In: Theofilou A ed. Women in PR History. Routledge,

    View Repository Record

  • Tench R; Topic M (2018) Strategic Competencies. In: Heath RL; Johansen W ed. Encyclopedia of Strategic Communication, 3 Volume Set. Wiley-Blackwell,

  • Tench R; Jones B; Sun W (2018) The Critical State of Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe: An Introduction. In: The Critical State of Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe. Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 3-13.

  • Amo-Mensah M; Tench R (2018) Transnational Corporate Social Responsibility: Fact, Fiction or Failure?. In: The Critical State of Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe. Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 139-159.

  • Arrigoni A (2018) CSR AND SOCIAL ONTOLOGY, A MISSING BUT NECESSARY LINK: TOWARDS A REALIST ACCOUNT OF THE FIRM. In: Tench R; Jones B; Sun W ed. The Critical State of Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe. Emerald Group Publishing,

  • Jones BT; Tench R; Sun W (2018) Introduction: The Critical State of Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe. In: The Critical State of Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe.

  • Willis P; Tench R; Devins DM (2018) Deliberative Engagement and Wicked Problems: From Good Intentions to Practical Action. In: Johnston K; Taylor M ed. Handbook of Communication Engagement. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell,

  • Yeomans L; FitzPatrick L (2017) Internal Communication. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. Pearson Education,

    View Repository Record

  • Topic M (2017) Public Relations Theories. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations, 4th edition. Longman: Pearson,

    View Repository Record

  • Tench R; Topić M (2017) Evaluating CSR, Sustainability and Sourcing within the UK Supermarket Industry: The Case of Waitrose/John Lewis Partnership. In: Eweje G; Bathurst R ed. CSR, Sustainability and Leadership. London: Routledge,

    View Repository Record

  • Tench R; Laville L (2017) The role of the practitioner. In: Tench; Yeomans ed. Exploring Public Relaitons. London: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R; Amo Mensah M (2017) The death of transmission models of CSR communication. In: Lindgreen A; Vanhamme J; Moan F; Watkins R ed. The use and effectiveness of CSR communications through digital platforms: A research Anthology.

  • Tench R (2017) Community and society – corporate social responsibility. In: Tench R; Yeomans ed. Exploring Public Relations. London: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R (2017) Managing community involvement programmes. In: Tench; YEOMANS ed. Exploring Public Relations. London: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R; Bowd R; Kostopoulos I (2017) Sponsorship. In: Tench R; Yeomans ed. Exploring Public Relations. London: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R; Yeomans (2017) ‘What next? Future issues for public relations. In: Tench; Yeomans ed. Exploring Public Relations. London: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R; Laville; Kiesenbauer J (2016) Exploring the magic of mentoring; Career planning for the public relations profession. In: Brønn P; Romenti S; Zerfass A ed. The Management Game of Communication. Bingley: Emerald, pp. 205-205.

  • Tench R; Sun W; Jones BT (2014) Introduction: CSR Communication as an Emerging Field of Study. . Emerald, pp. 3-21.

  • Tench R; Laville L (2014) The role of the practitioner. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. London`: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R; Bowd R; Sheldon I (2014) Sponsorship. In: Tench R; Yeomans ed. Exploring Public Relations. London: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R (2014) Managing community involvement programmes. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. London: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R (2014) Community and society – corporate social responsibility. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. London: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R; Yeomans (2014) What next? Future issues for public relations. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. London: Pearson Education,

  • Kelley N; Strachan J (2013) Integrated Marketing Communications. In: tench; yeomans ed. Exploring Public Relations. Pearson Higher Ed,

  • Tench R (2013) Barcelona Principles. In: Heath RL ed. Encyclopedia of Public Relations. SAGE Publications,

  • Tench R (2013) Engagement (Stakeholders). In: Heath RL ed. Encyclopedia of Public Relations. SAGE Publications,

  • Tench R (2013) European Monitor. In: Heath RL ed. Encyclopedia of Public Relations. SAGE Publications,

  • Tench R (2013) European Communication Monitor. In: Heath RL ed. Encyclopedia of Public Relations. SAGE Publications, Inc.,

  • Tench R; Sun W; Jones BT (2012) The Challenging Concept of Corporate Social Irresponsibility: An Introduction. In: Tench R; Sun W; Jones B ed. Corporate Social Irresponsibility. Emerald Group Publishing,

  • Tench R; Bruce S (2011) Online strategies and organisational communication. In: Excellence in online communications: A collection of strategies, campaigns and tools. Digital Communication Awards,

  • Tench R (2010) The role of corporate social responsibility in the financial crisis. In: Sun W; Stewart J; Pollard DJ ed. Reframing Corporate Social Responsibility. Emerald Group Pub Limited,

  • Tench R (2010) The role of corporate social responsibility in the financial crisis. In: Sun, William; Stewart, Jim; Pollard, David ed. Reframing Corporate Social Responsibility: Lessons from the Global Financial Crisis. Bingley: Emerald,

  • Tench R (2009) Managing Community Involvement Programmes. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. Prentice Hall, pp. 354-374.

  • Tench R (2009) Community and Society - Corporate Social Responsibility. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. Prentice Hall, pp. 94-110.

  • Tench R; D'Artrey M; Fawkes J (2009) The Role of The Practioner. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. Prentice Hall, pp. 36-60.

  • Tench R; Yeomans L (2009) What Next? Future Issues for Public Relations. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. Prentice Hall, pp. 618-629.

  • Yeomans L; Tench R (2009) What next? Future Issues for Public Relations. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. Prentice Hall, pp. 632-643.

  • Tench R; Edwards L; Fawkes J (2009) ‘Work-driven, ‘self-driven’ or ‘stress-bitten’ – typologies of freelance public relations. In: Invernizzi E; Muzi Falconi T; Romenti S ed. Institutionalising PR and corporate communication.. Milan: Pearson,

  • Tench R; D’Artrey M; Fawkes J (2009) The role of the practitioner. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. London: Pearson Education,

  • Tench R (2009) Managing community involvement programmes. In: Petre J ed. The Public Relations Digest - A collection of leading works for students of CIPR qualifications. Harlow: Pearson,

  • Tench R (2009) Community and society - corporate social responsibility. In: The Public Relations Digest - A collection of leading works for students of CIPR qualifications. Harlow: Pearson,

  • Tench R (2006) Supporting vocational student writing with a genre-based model. In: Mullin J; Ryan L ed. International Writing Centers: Issues and Answers.

  • Tench R; Yeomans L (2006) What next? Future issues for public relations. In: Tench R; Yeomans L ed. Exploring Public Relations. Harlow: Pearson Education, pp. 618-629.

  • Tench R (2000) A study to investigate the writing competency of undergraduate public relations students and the potential for a technology based pedagogy to support specialist writing development. In: Graal M; Clark R ed. Writing Development in Higher Education: Partnerships Across the Curriculum. Leicester: Teaching and Learning Unit, University of Leicester,

  • Tench R (1999) Community and Society Relationships. In: Glanville R ed. Managing Corporate Relationships. London, UK: Financial Times Management, Pearson,

  • Tench R; Yeomans L (1997) Corporate Advertising: the Generic Image. In: Kitchen PJ ed. Public Relations: Principles and Practice. Cengage Learning EMEA,

  • Bridge G; Flint S; Tench R (2019) A Social Network Analysis of the #SugarTax debate on Twitter. In: UK Congress on Obesity 2019, 12 September 2019 - 13 September 2019.

    https://doi.org/10.1530/obabs.01.oc2.5

  • Topic M; Tench R (2016) How Far Have We Got? A Longitudinal Analysis of Views of Public Relations Practitioners on the Position of Women in the PR Industry. In: IHPRC 2016, 6 July 2016 - 7 July 2016, Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom.

    View Repository Record

  • Gondim Mariutti F; Tench RT (2015) How does Brazil measure up? Comparing rankings through the lenses of nation brand models and indexes. In: 3rd Institute of Place Management Conference will be held at Poznań University of Economics (Faculty of Management), Poland.

  • Laville L; Tench R; Kiesenbauer J (2015) Exploring the magic of mentoring. In: EUPRERA, 1 October 2015 - 3 October 2015, Oslo.

  • Gondim Mariutti F; Tench R (2015) Does promotion have the magic touch? Matching the 4 P’s with the 4 R’s of place branding. In: AM2015 - The Magic in Marketing, 7 - 9 July 2015, Limerick.

    http://programme.exordo.com/am2015/delegates/presentation/33/

    View Repository Record

  • Tench R; Fawkes J (2012) Crossing Internal Barriers in Health Communication. In: 7th World Public Relations Forum, Research Colloquium, 18 November 2012 - 20 November 2012, Melbourne, Australia.

    http://www.globalalliancepr.org/website/event/world-public-relations-forum

  • Tench R; Moreno A; Vercic D (2012) Future skills and competencies of communications practitioners in Europe. In: Keynote panel at the EUPRERA Congress, Researching the Changing Profession of Public Relations, 20 September 2012 - 22 September 2012, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

    http://www.euprera.org/?p=99

  • Tench R; Verhoeven P; Moreno A; Vercic D; Zerfass A (2012) Strategic Communication in Europe: Insights from the European Communication Monitor. In: 19th International Public Relations Research Symposium Bledcom, 6 July 2012 - 7 July 2012, Slovenia.

  • Zerfass A; Tench R (2012) Future strategies and competencies for communication executives. In: European Communication Summit, 5 July 2012 - 6 July 2012, Brussels.

    http://www.communication-summit.eu/2012/04/05/future-strategies-and-competencies-for-communications-executives/

  • Willis P; Devenish A; Tench R (2012) Building a Community or Communicating to an Audience? A Study of CSR Social Media Practice in the Financial Times Global 500. In: 17th International Congress on Communication (CICOM), University of Navarro, Pamplona, Spain.

  • Tench R (2012) Future competencies for communication managers - a European perspective,. In: Leadership Forum 2012, Academic Society for Corporate Management and Communication, 29 March 2012 - 30 March 2012, Berlin, Germany.

  • Tench R; Jones B (2011) Social Media: the Wild West of Corporate Communications. In: CSR Communications Conference, 26 October 2011 - 28 October 2011, Amsterdam.

  • Jones BT (2011) Social Media: the Wild West of Corporate Communications. In: CSR Communication Conference.

  • Tench R (2010) Transnational Research Methods. In: Aarhus Business School research meeting, Aarhus Business School, Denmark.

  • Tench R (2010) Status Quo and Challenges for Communications Management in Europe. In: Marketing Week Conference, Athens, Greece.

  • Tench R (2010) Structures of public relations practice in Europe: A longitudinal analysis based on the European Communication Monitor 2007-2010. In: European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) Conference, 12 October 2010 - 15 October 2010, Hamburg, Germany.

    http://www.hans-bredow-institut.de/de/ecra/ecrea-2010-hamburg

  • Tench R (2010) European Communication Monitor 2010: comments and future research. In: EUPRERA Congress 2010, 23 September 2010 - 24 September 2010, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

  • Tench R (2009) Identifying Trends and Practices in Public Relations: International Research Insights and Methodological Challenges. In: International Communications Association 59th Annual Conference, 21 May 2009 - 25 May 2009, Chicago, IL, USA.

    http://www.icahdq.org/conf/2009confprogram.asp

  • Tench R; van Betsbrugge E; Neuville B; Cotton A-M; Solaz MJ (2009) EUPRERA Education Survey: Master and Bachelor Programmes in Europe: Initial Results and Considerations. In: Euprera Spring Symposium, 3 April 2009 - 4 April 2009.

    http://www.euprera.org/?p=59

  • Tench R (2009) Perceptions and Perspectives: Corporate social (i)responsibility and the media. In: British Academy of Management ESRC Seminar and Corporate Social Responsibility Special Interest Group Conference, 25 March 2009 - 26 March 2009, University of York.

  • Tench R (2009) A bad time to be good? Trust, reputation and responsibility in the current economic climate. In: Norwegian Communication Association Conference, 17 March 2009 - 18 March 2009, Oslo, Norway.

  • Tench R (2009) Changing Stakeholder Perceptions and Social Responsibility in the Current Economic Climate. In: Croatian Public Relations Annual Conference, Zagreb.

  • Tench R (2009) Exploring Public Relations. In: Croatian Public Relations Annual Conference, Zagreb.

  • Tench R (2009) Do I look good in this? Monitoring trends in communications. Findings from a longitudinal survey on communication management in Europe. In: CIPR Academic Conference, 9 September 2009 - 11 September 2009, Stirling.

  • Tench R (2009) Inventing CSR: Media perceptions of responsibility and irresponsibility in corporate reporting and behaviour. In: International Communications Association Conference, 21 May 2009 - 25 May 2009, Chicago, Illinois,.

  • Tench R; Edwards L; Fawkes J (2008) Work-driven, "self-driven" or "stress-bitten" - typologies of freelance public relations. European Public Relations Education and Research Conference, 16th – 18th October 2008. In: Euprera Congress, 16 October 2008 - 18 October 2008, IULM University, Milan, Italy.

    http://www.euprera.org/?p=19

  • Tench R (2008) The Truman Show: creativity, deception or ethical malpractice - a critique of marketing public relations and guerrilla campaigns. In: Bledcom 2008: Public Relations and Marketing: A Relationship for Re-examination? Public Relations Among the Functions of Management, 4 July 2008 - 5 July 2008, Slovenia.

    http://www.bledcom.com/_files/387/Tench_Willis.pdf

  • Tench R (2008) Corporate Reporting - The impact of responsibility messages on corporate image and reputation. In: Ethical Corporation Conference, 3 March 2008 - 4 March 2008, Berlin, Germany.

  • Tench R; Jones B; Bowd R (2007) Perceptions and Perspectives: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Media. In: The Alan Rawel CIPR Academic Conference, 9 July 2007 - 10 July 2007, London.

  • Tench R; Jones B; Bowd R (2007) From Corporate Irresponsibility to Corporate Social Responsibility: The Competing Realities. In: BledCom 2007: Global public relations: The impact of globalization on public relations, 5 July 2007 - 6 July 2007, Bled, Slovenia.

  • Tench R; Zerfass A (2007) Extended Session: Global Issues and Opportunities: International and Cross-Cultural Research in Public Relations. In: International Communication Association Conference, Communication and Community, 62nd Annual Conference, 24 May 2012 - 28 May 2007, Phoenix, AZ, USA.

    https://www.icahdq.org/conf/2012/program.asp

  • Tench R; Jones B; Bowd R (2006) Corporate Governance: the Realities of Corporate Social Irresponsibility. In: Governance and Communication Conference, 29 March 2006 - 31 March 2006, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.

  • Tench R (2005) Practitioner resistance to theory - an evaluation of employers’ attitudes towards public relations education’ International Communication Association. In: The 55th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association: COMMUNICATION: QUESTIONING THE DIALOGUE, 26 May 2005 - 30 May 2005, New York, USA.

  • Tench R; Fawkes J (2005) Mind the gap - exploring different attitudes to PR education between academics and employers. In: The Alan Rawel CIPR Education Conference, 21 March 2005 - 22 March 2005, University of Lincoln, UK.

  • Tench R; Fawkes J (2004) Does practitioner resistance to theory jeopardise the future of public relations? A consideration of research findings, comparing UK practitioner, academic and alumni attitudes to public relations education. In: 11th BledCom: New concepts and technologies for public relations, public affairs and corporate communication, 2 July 2004 - 4 July 2004, Bled, Slovenia.

    http://www.bledcom.com/_files/324/BledCom_proceedings_2004.pdf

  • Tench R (2003) Public relations writing - a genre based model. In: Current Debates and Issues in Public Relations Research and Practice Conference, 10 April 2003 - 12 April 2003, University of Bournemouth, UK.

  • Tench R; Fawkes J; Palihawadana D (2001) Freelancing in the public relations industry - issues and trends. In: A Marketing Odyssey: Academy of Marketing Conference, 2 July 2001 - 4 July 2001, University of Cardiff, Wales, UK.

  • Tench R (1999) Employers’ perceptions of writing competency in undergraduate public relations students. In: Writing Development in Higher Education Conference, 20 April 1999 - 21 April 1999, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.

  • Tench R (1999) A study to investigate the writing competency of undergraduate public relations students and the potential for a technology based pedagogy to support specialist writing development. In: 11th International Writing and Computers Conference, 1 April 1999, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.

  • Szombathelyi MK; Waldbuesser P; Tench R (2015) Digital age: Information and communication technologies, tools and trends for communication management.

  • Tench R; Mariutti F (2014) Are we talking the Same Language? Challenging Complexity in Country Brand Models.

    View Repository Record

  • Tench R; Edwards L; Fawkes J (2009) "Work-Driven", "Self-Driven" or "Stress-Bitten" – Typologies of Freelance Public Relations Practitioners in the 21st Century.

  • Tench R; Zerfass A (2015) Insights and experiences: Presenting 10 starting-points for discussion in this year’s European Communication Monitor.

  • Tench R; Juma H (2013) Do you measure up? A comprehensive new project compares the competences of professional communicators across Europe.

  • Tench R; Zerfass A (2012) Time to Rethink.

  • Tench R; Meng J; Moreno Á (2022) Strategic Communication in a Global Crisis National and International Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic. London: Routledge.

  • Tench R; Zerfass A; Moreno A; Vercic D; Buhmann A (2022) Zerfass, A., Moreno, A., Tench, R., Verčič, D., & Buhmann, A. (2022). European Communication Monitor 2022. Exploring diversity and empathic leadership, CommTech and consulting in communications. Results of a survey in 43 countries. Brussels: EUPRERA/EACD. Brussels: EUPRERA/EACD.

  • Tench R; Waddington S (2020) Exploring Public Relations and Management Communication 5th edition. 5th Harlow, UK: Pearson.

  • (2019) Big Ideas in Public Relations Research and Practice. Emerald Publishing Limited.

  • Tench R; Jones B; Sun W (2018) The Critical State of Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe. Emerald Group Publishing.

  • Tench R; Jones B; Sun W (2018) The Critical State of Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe. Emerald Group Publishing.

  • Tench R; Yeomans E (2017) Exploring Public Relations 4th Edition. 4th Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.

  • Tench R; Verčič D; Zerfass A; Moreno Á; Verhoeven P (2017) Communication Excellence: How to Develop, Manage and Lead Exceptional Communications. Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Zerfass A; Verhoeven P; Moreno Á; Tench R; Verčič D (2017) European Communication Monitor 2017 How Strategic Communication Deals with the Challenges of Visualisation, Social Bots and Hypermodernity : Results of a Survey in 50 Countries.

  • Zerfass A; Verhoeven P; Moreno Á; Tench R; Verčič D (2016) European Communication Monitor 2016 Exploring Trends in Big Data, Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Communication. Results of a Survey in 43 Countries.

  • Tench R; Zerfass A; Verhoeven P; Vercˇicˇ A; Moreno A; Okay A (2016) Communication Management Competencies for European Practitioners.

  • Tench R; Devins D; Willis; Mitchell C; Brusati L; Frandsen F; Fadele P; Lacuzzi S; Ianniello M; Johansen W (2016) Complexity Engagement: Stakeholders, Collaboration and Challenging Problems.

  • Catellani A; Zerfass A; Tench R (2015) Communication Ethics in a Connected World. Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften.

  • Ordeix E; Carayol V; Tench R (2015) Introduction: A new era of understanding for public relations theory and practice.

  • eds. Tench R; Ordeix E; Carayol V (2015)