scholarly journals Public relations in liquid modernity: How big data and automation cause moral blindness

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-331
Author(s):  
Philipp Bachmann

Despite coming from a world-famous, widely published sociologist and ethicist, Zygmunt Bauman’s thought has not significantly influenced scholarship on public relations. Although Bauman’s works indeed challenge classical theories of public relations, they also offer concepts that can reshape current understandings of how organisations interact with publics. Referring to Bauman’s social and ethical theory, in this article, I argue that amid the transition from solid to liquid modernity, the boundaries between public relations and other communications disciplines also become liquid and ultimately dissolve. As a consequence, experts from traditional disciplines within communications (e.g. public relations, marketing and corporate communications) increasingly compete with data engineers to influence publics, and in the process, their attempts at persuasive communication neglect moral considerations. In light of that dynamic, I contend that the recent data scandal involving Cambridge Analytica does not represent a false start but the dark future of digital communications management.

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen Killingsworth ◽  
Terence Flynn

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the leadership skills and competencies defined in the Pathways to the Profession and understand the value senior corporate communications managers place on those skills and competencies and how senior-level corporate communicators demonstration of those skills and competencies. Design/methodology/approach – Institutional review board approval was obtained for a qualitative research design based on focus groups conducted in four Canadian cities with 25 senior corporate communicators, human resources professionals, and general business managers. Findings – This research has validated the competencies and credentials for senior-level corporate communications and public relations executives as highlighted in the Pathways to the Profession framework. It has also provided the profession with an understanding of the value senior public relations and organizational managers place on professional association membership and professional and academic credentials. This research is an important contribution to the growing body of knowledge on competency frameworks as professional associations, such as the Canadian Public Relations Society, take leadership positions in providing educational institutions with sets of standards for public relations and corporate communications education in Canada. Practical implications – This research will help the public relations and corporate communications profession provide guidance to educational institutions programming for senior-level public relations and communications management education based on quantifiable data on the value executives place on a particular set of skills and competencies. Originality/value – This is the first study of its kind that examines the perceived competencies and skills of Canadian senior public relations/communications management leadership. Further this research sought to assess the value of academic and professional credentials necessary for participation in executive leadership roles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendik Setiawan Arif Zunaidi ◽  
Arif Zunaidi ◽  
Arif Zunaidi

The Mojokerto City Infaq Development Institute (LPI) is a non-profit organization that manages zakat, infaq, and sadaqah funds. During competition between similar institutions, they compete to be more active and creative in designing donor-attraction strategies. Because it focuses on marketing activities, delivering products to donors, fostering trust, and maintaining good relations of donors, the marketing corporate communications strategy is important choice for donors' best interest. This is a qualitative design with a qualitative approach. According to the discussion on the subject, the application of marketing public relations strategy at LPI Mojokerto City also include promotion, advertising, creating an innovation, event, and sponsorship; public relations marketing strategy plays an important role in maintaining and maintaining donor loyalty, as evidenced by data on the increase in the number of regular donors every year.Keywords : Infaq Development Institute, Strategy, Marketing, Marketing Public Relations, Donor Loyalty


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Argenti

This article explores the ways in which C-suite executives are using corporate communications to execute strategy. Over the past two decades, we have seen a profound shift in how leaders view communications within organizations. This shift has moved from a tactical and superficial focus (speech writing, media placements) to a more strategic and elevated level (developing and implementing strategy through communication, sophisticated measurement using big data to understand constituencies and influence reputation). Thus, the central research question in this article is focused on the following theme: “How do leaders use communications to execute strategy in the 21st century?” Through a review of current literature on the topic and synthesis of both published and newly conducted interviews, the article provides a snapshot of leadership communication in organizations today as it relates to the execution of strategy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-133
Author(s):  
Fathiya Nur Rahmi ◽  
Hanny Hafiar ◽  
Iriana Bakti

AbstractThe awareness of job providers to employ people with disabilities is directly proportional to the participation of persons with disabilities in the formal work sector which is relatively low. Another problem faced by persons with disabilities is a negative stigma attached to them. This research was conducted to find out persuasive communication conducted on the Advocacy of LSM Saujana’s Public Relations, related to elements of communicators, messages, and audiences involved in persuasive communication. The research method used in this research is a case study with qualitative analysis techniques. Data collection techniques used in this study are interviews, observation, and documentation. Researchers conducted data analysis based on Flow Analysis Models. Based on the results, there were stages of persuasive communication undertaken including the preparation of communicators, delivery of messages, the use of online and offline media in delivering messages, the behavioral changes and evaluation. The LSM Saujana used the central route in persuasive communication that was appropriate to support advocacy. The findings suggest the institution focus on messages delivered to the target audience, starting with raising awareness and focusing on behavioral change.


Author(s):  
Damion Waymer ◽  
Nneka Logan

Culture, business, and communication are overlapping human phenomena. However, corporate communication methods have yet to embrace the complexity of organizational culture. Since the study of culture is anthropological in nature, we propose foregrounding autoethnography/autobiographical approaches and method to analyze corporate organizational culture. We argue that studying corporate communication, public relations, and society via the lenses of organizational culture and subsidiary organizational memory can provide unique insights into practice of corporate communication and the theorizing of organizational memory research. In this case example, we answer this question: In what ways can autobiographical/autoethnographic narratives of organizational members inform the theory, research, and practice in corporate communication?


Tripodos ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 73-87
Author(s):  
Antonio Castillo-Esparcia ◽  
Alejandro Álvarez-Nobell ◽  
María Belén Barroso

El LCM 2016-2017 (Moreno et al., 2017) mostró el déficit en Latinoaméri­ca en el uso de big data para la toma de decisiones basada en issues; una de las grandes transformaciones actuales en relaciones públicas. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar el impacto de la implementación de estrategias de is­sues management y big data para el nuevo sistema de residuos de Córdoba (Argentina) —“Recuperando Valor”— durante diciembre 2018. Se analizaron más de 10.000 publicaciones en redes sociales mediante un sistema de aler­tas programadas (QSocial) por temas, actores, impactos y frecuencia a través de distintos modelos analíticos: Imagen de Gestión; Sentimientos; Preocupacio­nes Ciudadanas, Género, Humor Social y Valoraciones. Las organizaciones no solo comunican estratégicamente: son comunicación estratégica (Grandien y Johansson, 2016). Ello implica una función de dirección y asesoramiento (Zerfass y Franke, 2013) —o función política (Simões, 2001 inspirado en Matrat, 1971)—, atendiendo la opi­nión pública mediante la gestión de issues (Nothhaft, 2010). En la prácti­ca implica construir, administrar y mo­nitorear en tiempo real el desarrollo e impacto de un conjunto de temas que cobran relevancia en las distintas agen­das y por consecuencia en la producción de contenidos y la gestión de relaciones con los distintos públicos en función de sus intereses. Issues and Big Data in Public Relations Management. The Case of the Implementation of the New Garbage System Called “Recuperando Valor” in Córdoba, ArgentinaThe LCM 2016-2017 (Moreno et al., 2017) showed the deficit in the use of big data for making decisions based on issues in Latin America; this is one of the great transformations that we currently envision in public relations. The objec­tive of this research was to analyze the impact of the implementation of Issues Management and big data strategies for the new garbage system in Córdoba (Ar­gentina) —“Recuperando Valor”— du­ring December 2018. More than 10,000 publications on social networks were analyzed through a system of program­med alerts (QSocial) taking into accou­nt topics, actors, impact and frequency through different analytical models: measurement of Management Ima­ge; Feelings; Citizen Concerns, Gender, Social Humor and Evaluations. Orga­nizations not only communicate strate­gically: they are indeed strategic com­munication (Grandien and Johansson, 2016). This requires a management and advisory function (Zerfass and Franke, 2013) —or political function (Simões, 2001 as inspired by Matrat, 1971)—, considering public opinion through is­sues management (Nothhaft, 2010). In practice it involves building, managing and monitoring in real time the develo­pment and impact of a set of issues that become relevant in the different agendas and, consequently, in the production of contents and the management of rela­tions with the different stakeholders ba­sed on their interests.Palabras clave: issues, big data, rela­ciones públicas, ambiente, residuos en Argentina.Key words: issues; big data, public rela­tions, environment, garbage in Argen­tina.


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