The Practice of Public Relations

by Seitel, Fraser P.

• ISBN13: 9780131020252
• ISBN10: 0131020250
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

To succeed in public relations, professionals need an innate sense of the power, excitement, and value to society's primary institutions of its practice. This book uses a unique hands-on approach that prompts readers to think critically about the field.Prepares readers to deal with a full range of situations and to arrive at effective, ethical solutions. Offers two new mini-chapters on Investor Relations and International Public Relations. Features new contemporary cases including Rudy Giuliani and 9/11, Gary Condit, Trent Lott, Microsoft public relations, and more. Presents new hypothetical cases including cases on speechwriting, Internet monitoring, and sex discrimination. Features new contemporary interviews with such public figures as Gov. Jesse Ventura, Rudy Giuliani PR Director Sunny Mindell, National Black Public Relations Association President Pat Tobin, and White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. Presents a greater inclusion of minority and female practitioners. Provides Suggested Readings and Suggested Book lists.A handy reference for public relations professionals/public affairs officers, marketing professionals, advertising professionals, and general managers.

Table of Contents

Evolution

What is Public Relations?

The Growth of Public Relations

Preparation/Process

Communication

Public Opinion

Management

Ethics

The Law

Research

The Publics

Print Media Relations

Electronic Media Relations

Employee Relations

Multicultural Community Relations

Government Relations

Consumer Relations

International Relations

Implementation

Public Relations Writing

Public Relations and the Internet

Integrated Marketing Communications

Crisis Management

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

The initial years of the 21st century have shown graphically how critical the practice of public relations is to society. The tragic terror attacks on America and around the world; the consequent hostilities and ill will provoked by intolerance, jealousy and hatred; the shameful corporate scandals and unscrupulous business executives in the United States casting a pall over the entire free enterprise system--all have underscored the necessity and importance of two-way communications to knock down barriers and build bridges to understanding and mutual respect among people and institutions. That, in essence, is what the practice of public relations is all about--building relationships. Public relations remains at base a personal, relationship-oriented practice, demanding experienced judgment and finely honed interpersonal communications skills. And so, this ninth edition ofThe Practice of Public Relationshas been recast to place its emphasis on the principles, processes, and practices that lead to building positive relationships. The book's "relationship-building makeover" is manifest in refinements in theory, organization, and application. New Theoretical Focus This edition offers a sharpened focus on the theoretical underpinnings of effective communications. The process of communication to achieve specific goals--informing, motivating, persuading, building mutual understanding--is explored more broadly and emphasized more specifically. Accordingly, the book's introductory chapters place greater attention on how communications theory and public opinion understanding can be applied to strategic public relations planning and creation of believeable and persuasive messages. New Organizational Structure The bolstered theoretical framework serves as a natural departure point for a more logical chapter structure, from evolution and process through publics and applications toward building relationships. Specifically, this edition is divided into five discrete parts: Part 1, "Evolution,"looks at the field's antecedents and pioneers and what defines it. Part II, "Preparation/Process,"deals with the key conceptual framework areas that underpin the field--communication, management, public opinion, ethics, law, and research. Part III, "The Publics,"discusses the field's most important constituencies, from employees and the media to consumers and the government to investors, international publics, and communities of diversity. Part IV, "Execution,"reviews the primary technical skills that public relations professionals must possess--from writing for the eye and ear and working online to integrated marketing communications and crisis management. Part V, "The Future,"discusses the challenges and opportunities presented to public relations in its "golden age" in the 21st century. New Applications The strength of this book is in its application of theory to real-life practice. This aspect, too, has been fortified in this edition. First,the importance of building relationships across national borders has been captured in a new chapter devoted to "International Relations." Second,the disconcerting dismantling of trust with investors and stockholders is confronted in a new chapter devoted to "Investor Relations." Third,greater attention has been placed on the multicultural diversity of public relations work, particularly through interviews with leading minority practitioners. Finally,for the first time, a sampling of "hypothetical student cases"--on such issues as sex discrimination, Internet sabotage and surveillance, and organizational positioning--has been added to complement the book's traditional exploration of front-page public relations ca