Critique of the Theory and Practice of Public Relations

PsycCRITIQUES ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 52 (33) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Manier
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Theory And Practice

Media coverage of the unfolding crisis of domestic terrorism in the United States, 1990–2020

2021 ◽  
pp. 2046147X2199601
Author(s):  
Diana Zulli ◽  
Kevin Coe ◽  
Zachary Isaacs ◽  
Ian Summers
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Relations ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Television News ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Domestic Terrorism ◽  
Definitional Uncertainty

Public relations research has paid considerable attention to foreign terrorist crises but relatively little attention to domestic ones—despite the growing salience of domestic terrorism in the United States. This study content analyzes 30 years of network television news coverage of domestic terrorism to gain insight into four theoretical issues of enduring interest within the literature on news framing and crisis management: sourcing, contextualization, ideological labeling, and definitional uncertainty. Results indicate that the sources called upon to contextualize domestic terrorism have shifted over time, that ideological labels are more often applied on the right than the left, and that definitional uncertainty has increased markedly in recent years. Implications for the theory and practice of public relations and crisis management are discussed.

Concluding Thoughts and Challenges

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 569-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Palenchar
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Strategic Communication ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Issues Management ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Organizational Rhetoric ◽  
Management Communication ◽  
Stakeholder Interests ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Socially Relevant

This special issue of Management Communication Quarterly mines the rhetorical heritage to explore the challenges facing those who engage in and critique external organizational rhetoric, setting its sights on helping organizations make society a better place to live. Toward this end, rhetoric focuses on strategic communication influences that at their best result from or foster collaborative decisions and cocreated meaning that align stakeholder interests. This special issue demonstrates the eclectic and complex theories, applied contexts, and ongoing arguments needed to weave the fabric of external organizational communication. Over the years, Robert Heath and others have been advocates for drawing judiciously on the rhetorical heritage as guiding foundation for issues management and public relations activities. Rather than merely acknowledge the pragmatic or utilitarian role of discourse, this analysis also aspires to understand and champion its application to socially relevant ends. In that quest, several themes stand out: (a) In theory and practice external organizational rhetoric weighs self-interest against others’ enlightened interests and choices; (b) organizations as modern rhetors engage in discourse that is context relevant and judged by the quality of engagement and the ends achieved thereby; and (c) in theory and practice external organizational rhetoric weighs relationship between language that is never neutral and the power advanced for narrow or shared interests.

Current “Mass Line” Tactics in Communist China

1951 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 422-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Arthur Steiner
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Social Reforms ◽  
Mass Line ◽  
Communist China ◽  
Line Theory ◽  
Current Mass ◽  
Public Workers

The Problem. Chinese communist leaders generally attribute their conquest of power to the faithful pursuit of effective “mass line” tactics. They now regard a “correct” mass line as the essential prerequisite for the full consolidation of power, for the successful implementation of the ambitious and farreaching policies to which they are committed, and for the ultimate transition from the “people's democratic dictatorship” to the complete socialist order. Recognizing that large numbers of cadres adequately trained in mass line tactics are critically needed for these purposes, the Chinese Communist Party intensified its cadre training program in 1950–1951 to insure that all party (and other public) workers would be carefully indoctrinated in basic Marxist-Leninist mass line theory and practice. Training in mass line tactics ranges in scope from propaganda to public administration, but finds its principal focus in the delicate area of the Party's public relations with the great masses of Chinese people who have yet to be sold on the communist program. The problem is so serious, and the need for a solution so urgent, that the party leadership has temporarily deferred several important social reforms pending the completion of the current cadre training program.

scholarly journals The evolution of public relations research –an overview

1970 ◽  
pp. 159-169
Author(s):  
Johanna Fawkes
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Insight Into

The field of public relations is often misunderstood, due to its hybridity, complexity and competing perspectives within the field of scholarship. This essay, which is based on extensive engagement with literature conducted over decades of teaching and researching the subject, outlines the main schools of thought within the field. These are summarised as a) Excellence; b) Advocacy; c) Dialogue; and d) Critical and Cultural approaches. Each perspective reflects variations in understanding of the role of public relations in theory and practice, ranging from an idealised conceptualisation of the practitioner to a demonised view of the practice. It refers throughout to different attitudes to ethics found within these schools, as approaches to ethics provide insight into understandings of the role of public relations within society. The piece concludes with reflections on the growing engagement with promotional culture and emerging research directions.

scholarly journals REVIEW: Valiant on digital media, lacking on indigeneity

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
James Hollings
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Media Studies ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Media Communication ◽  
Journalism Studies ◽  
Oxford University ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
Oxford University Press

Media and Journalism: New Approaches to Theory and Practice [3rd ed.], edited by Jason Bainbridge, Nicola Goc and Liz Tynan. Melbourne: Oxford University Press., 2015. 504 pp. ISBN 9-780-1955-8801-9.THIS IS an updated version of a well-established media text by three prominent Australian media academics. Like the first edition, it is aimed at beginner media studies students, providing them with a basic introduction to media, communication, journalism studies and public relations concepts, all in a friendly, informal tone.

scholarly journals Breaking the measurement and evaluation deadlock: a new approach and model

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Macnamara
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Corporate Communication ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Measurement And Evaluation

Purpose – Noting findings by Michaelson and Stacks in the USA and Zerfass and colleagues in Europe that research-based measurement and evaluation (M & E) of public relations and corporate communication are still not widely applied despite more than a century of discussion and intense focus since the 1970s, the purpose of this paper is to explore the causes of this deadlock and presents an alternative approach and model to overcome identified obstacles and provide new insights to advance this important area of theory and practice. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is informed by critical analysis of the large body of literature on M & E, analysis of M & E reports, and ethnographic research among senior management. Findings – This analysis reveals that, along with long-cited barriers such as lack of budget, lack of knowledge and lack of standards, three other obstacles prevent demonstration of the value of PR and corporate communication. Based on critical analysis of literature and M & E reports and ethnography, this paper presents a new approach and model for M & E to help practitioners overcome these obstacles. Research limitations/implications – This analysis and the approach and model presented address an area of concern identified in research globally, such as a 2008 Delphi study by Watson and the European Communication Monitor in 2011 and 2012. The findings provide theoretical and practical contributions to address the deadlock between normative theories of M & E and practical implementation. Originality/value – The approach and M & E model presented make a significant original contribution to theory and practice.

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