This groundbreaking study offers new insights into public relations history with a focus on the changing relationship between women and public relations, the institutionalization of public relations education, and the significance of globalization in Australia in the second half of the twentieth century. Drawing on archival and interview research, it reveals how the industry’s professionalization led to the development of an occupational identity along national and gendered lines. It also challenges common misconceptions around the origins of public relations and women’s early contributions and careers. Adopting a critical approach, Professionalizing public relations avoids corporatist perspectives on the historical development of public relations by focusing on the processes of professionalization and their significance for gender and education, and by situating this study in a broader global context. The findings reveal dynamic and contested conceptualizations of public relations knowledge and expertise, and the significance of historical processes for contemporary understandings of the industry.
The Professionalization of Public Participation is an edited collection of essays by leading and emerging scholars examining the emerging profession of public participation professionals. Public participation professionals are persons working in the public, private, or third sectors that are paid to design, implement, and/or facilitate participatory forums. The rapid growth and proliferation of participatory arrangements call for expertise in the organizing of public participation. The contributors analyze the professionalization of this practice in different countries (United States, France, Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom) to see how their actions challenge the development of participatory arrangements. Designing such processes is a delicate activity, since it may affect not only the quality of the processes and their legitimacy, but also their capacity to influence decision-making.
Over the centuries, scholars have studied how individuals, institutions and groups have used various rhetorical stances to persuade others to pay attention to, believe in, and adopt a course of action. The emergence of public relations as an identifiable and discrete occupation in the early 20th century led scholars to describe this new iteration of persuasion as a unique, more systematized, and technical form of wielding influence, resulting in an overemphasis on practice, frequently couched within an American historical context. This volume responds to such approaches by expanding the framework for understanding public relations history, investigating broad, conceptual questions concerning the ways in which public relations rose as a practice and a field within different cultures and countries at different times in history. With its unique cultural and contextual emphasis, Pathways to Public Relations shifts the paradigm of public relations history away from traditional methodologies and assumptions, and provides a new and unique entry point into this complicated arena.
Do professions really place duty to society above clients' or their own interests? If not, how can they be trusted? While some public relations (PR) scholars claim that PR serves society and enhances the democratic process, others suggest that it is little more than propaganda, serving the interests of global corporations. This is not an argument about definitions, but about ethics - yet this topic is barely explored in texts and theories that seek to explain PR and its function in society. This book places PR ethics in the wider context of professional ethics and the sociology of professions. By bringing together literature from fields beyond public relations - sociology, professional and philosophical ethics, and Jungian psychology - it integrates a new body of ideas into the debate. The unprecedented introduction of Jungian psychology to public relations scholarship shifts the debate beyond a traditional Western 'Good/Bad' ethical dichotomy towards a new holistic approach, with dynamic implications for theory and practice. This thought-provoking book will be essential reading for students, academics and professionals with an interest in public relations, ethics and professionalism.
On a daily basis, public relations practitioners are tasked with making ethical decisions, such as advising a client to fully disclose a corporate relationship or advocating for honesty when working with the media. A Practical Guide to Ethics in Public Relations is designed for courses in contemporary studies of public relations and communications. This text highlights the delicate balance required to navigate the values and demands implicit to the field of public relations and those that underlie society as a whole. Students are encouraged to examine their own values and compare them to those commonly encountered in a professional setting. Brimming with case studies, practitioner advice, practical ethical dilemmas, and popular culture references, A Practical Guide to Ethics in Public Relations is the ideal text for students grappling with the inevitable ethical dilemmas that arise in professional public relations.
Good management practice is essential if a PR department is to be highly valued and cost effective. This updated edition aims to show business practitioners exactly how this can be achieved. The result is a hands-on guide offering accessible and practical advice for PR activity.
This title, by social marketing pioneer Deirdre Breakenridge, teaches and demonstrates the eight new skills and mindsets PR/marketing pros need to build brands and engage customers in a social world.
Public Relations in Asia Pacific reflects the growing professionalism in the practice of public relations in the world’s fastest expanding economy. It is a carefully drawn road map, both strategically and tactically, for all manner of entities, for profit and not-for-profit on how to establish and maintain effective relationships with their numerous stakeholders. Particularly insightful are the many examples of public relations in action within the Asia Pacific region. It’s a “must” read for those interested in public relations careers and those new to the profession; and it’s a first-rate refresher for the established professional. —Harold Burson, Founding Chairman, Burson-Marsteller Worldwide Mary Devereux and Anne Peirson-Smith have combined their considerable talents and experience to produce a bible of how public relations is—and should be—practiced in the Asia Pacific. One of its many virtues is that it debunks the myth that PR is just one long lunch hosted by caricature Svengalis and Spin Doctors. Rather, it sets the profession in a cultural context that will be valuable to those starting at PR 101, professionals and corporate executives who want to know how truth can be well told (with all due credit to McCann Erickson). —Kerry McGlynn, Special Adviser, Corporate Communication Department, Cathay Pacific Airways As greater social pluralism, stakeholder influence and internet driven consumer sophistication and empowerment grow relentlessly across nearly all Asian societies, Public Relations in Asia Pacific is a timely guide to the critical role of good public relations. Clear, helpful and with a wealth of good examples of how best practice PR in action can make real and tangible contributions to governments, businesses, NGOs as well as to ordinary people, this is essential reading for anyone concerned with how to communicate well in the world’s fastest growing economic region. —Tim Sutton, Chairman Asia Pacific, Weber Shandwick In an increasingly globalized world, public relations practices and strategies become critical for organizations to communicate effectively to their diverse audiences worldwide. This book is therefore an extremely timely and relevant contribution to PR students and practitioners in the Asia-Pacific region as it provides not only a comprehensive overview of the essential concepts and skills of public relations but also specific case studies which illustrate tactical uses of public relations across a wide range of issues and countries. In my opinion, this book fills a major gap in the understanding of public relations concepts and practices and will constitute a fundamental resource for all those who aspire to excel within the field. —Dr. Indrajit Banerjee, Secretary-General, Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)
Public Relations Writing: Principles in Practice is a comprehensive core text that guides students from the most basic foundations of public relations writing-research, planning, ethics, organizational culture, law, and design-through the production of actual, effective public relations materials. The Second Edition focuses on identifying and writing public relations messages and examines how public relations messages differ from other messages.
