Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
139304 | Public Relations Review | 2012 | 7 Pages |
This article elaborates on the argument that the history of U.S. public relations has been distorted by the emphasis on corporate functions of public relations. The dominant corporate-centric view of U.S. public relations history often claim that public relations developed as a response to activists who attempted to interfere with business operations. That myopic, corporate-centric view has perpetuated a negative view of public relations as merely a tool of “big business”. In the past as well as the present, corporations have been learning from and co-opting activists’ innovative public relations techniques. By alternatively grounding U.S. public relations history in the works of activists, we open possibilities for re-imagining the field and legitimizing activists’ works as a positive, central component in public relations theory and research. We end by providing resources educators can utilize to teach a more balanced view of public relations history in the U.S.
► We detail the evidence that U.S. public relations history is corporate-centric. ► We discuss the negative implications of this corporate-centric view. ► We illustrate how activist helped to shape U.S. public relations practices. ► We provide advice on teaching a balanced view of U.S. public relations history.