Public Relations: Concepts, Practice and Critique

Front Cover
SAGE, Nov 21, 2007 - Business & Economics - 304 pages

"An excellent text for encouraging students to think critically about key public relations issues. Not only does it help students to develop a deeper appreciation of public relations, it also helps them to develop valuable learning skills."
- Amanda Coady, The Hague University

"A typically excellent piece of work from Jacquie L′Etang. Critical of every basic concept and provocative to all students. Ideal for second and final year undergraduates, plus MA students."
- Chris Rushton, Sunderland University

"Extending beyond the usual bounds of insularity, this text is designed to encourage critical thought in students and improve practice in workplaces. A refreshing read that is consistently inventive enough to attain both aims."
- David McKie, Waikato Management School

"At long last fills a void in the landscape of text books on public relations theory and practice... it develops critical thinking skills while exposing interdisciplinary approaches and providing a very solid foundation for lively debate and further study
- Julia Jahansoozi, University of Central Lancashire

This book introduces students to the key concepts in Public Relations, with 12 chapters providing clear and careful explanations of concepts such as:
  • Reputation
  • Risk
  • Impression management
  • Celebrity
  • Ethics
  • Persuasion and propaganda
  • Emotional and spiritual dimensions of management
  • Promotional culture and globalization

Drawing on a wide range of interdisciplinary sources, Jacquie L′Etang also encourages students to think critically about public relations as an occupation. Student exercises, ′critical reflections′, vignettes and ′discipline boxes′ help students to widen their intellectual perspective on the subject, and to really engage the thinking that has shaped both the discipline and practice of public relations.

 

Contents

Chapter One Introduction Critical Thinking and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
1
Chapter Two Public Relations Defining the Discipline and the Practice
16
Chapter Three Reputation Image and Impression Management
46
Chapter Four Risk Issues and Ethics
69
Chapter Five Public Affairs and the Public Sphere
96
Chapter Six Media Perspectives Critique Effects and Evaluation
118
Chapter Seven Health Communication and Social Marketing
135
Chapter Eight Public Relations and Management
158
Chapter Nine Organizational Communication Understanding and Researching Organizations
186
Chapter Ten Public Relations in Promotional Culture and in Everyday Life
211
Chapter Eleven Public Relations in a Globalized World
229
Chapter Twelve Key Thinkers and Thought in Public Relations
244
Bibliography
263
Index
283
Copyright

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About the author (2007)

Jacquie L′Etang′s books and articles have largely focused on historical, historiographical and critical themes in public relations. Recently retired, her career was spent at the University of Stirling and Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh. She currently supervises some doctoral students at QMU.

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