Public Relations Through the Ages

10 Questions

What are the main purposes of public relations?

The main purposes of public relations are to help organizations communicate with their stakeholders and to portray the brand in the best possible manner.

What are the differences between public relations and advertising?

Public relations is earned media, whereas advertising is paid media. A good PR story is more effective than a full-page ad.

How do public relations professionals contribute to a company's management?

PR professionals are part of the management of a company, shaping its image and strategy, unlike marketing which is more sales-focused.

What skills are crucial in public relations campaigns?

Public relations often involves storytelling, writing, and multimedia skills, as it is crucial to telling a good story in PR campaigns.

What is the ultimate goal of both advertising and public relations?

The ultimate goal of both advertising and public relations is to increase business and brand credibility.

What are the key concepts of public relations?

Key concepts of public relations include targeting different audiences ('publics') and ensuring their satisfaction, as well as working to communicate messages to the public, stakeholders, and the media.

What are the various models of public relations mentioned in the text?

The various models of public relations mentioned in the text include traditional, public information, persuasive communication, and two-way symmetric models.

What historical examples of public relations are mentioned in the text?

The historical examples of public relations mentioned in the text include ancient leaders using communication strategies to avoid conflict, the Boston Tea Party as a famous PR stunt, the 'Battle of the Currents' between Westinghouse and General Electric, P.T. Barnum's earned media strategy, and the unethical practices of railroads engaging in media bribery.

What is the 'Battle of the Currents' and its relevance to public relations?

The 'Battle of the Currents' refers to the competition between Westinghouse and General Electric, where public relations was utilized to gain an edge over each other.

How did P.T. Barnum use public relations to generate positive stories about his circus?

P.T. Barnum leveraged earned media by inviting reporters to his circus for free, generating positive stories without paid advertising.

Study Notes

Public Relations: Key Concepts and Historical Examples

Public relations involves targeting different audiences, known as "publics," and ensuring their satisfaction.
Public relations professionals work to communicate messages to the public, including stakeholders and the media.
Various models of public relations include traditional, public information, persuasive communication, and two-way symmetric models.
The history of public relations dates back to ancient Rome and China, where leaders used communication strategies to avoid conflict.
The Boston Tea Party is cited as an example of a famous PR stunt, a staged event to attract media and public attention.
Westinghouse and General Electric engaged in the "Battle of the Currents," utilizing public relations to gain an edge over each other.
P.T. Barnum leveraged earned media by inviting reporters to his circus for free, generating positive stories without paid advertising.
Railroads engaged in unethical practices by paying reporters to write favorable reports, known as "deadheading," which is considered media bribery today.
Public relations professionals are sometimes viewed negatively by journalists due to their role in shaping and controlling information.
The text mentions the four models of public relations: traditional, public information, persuasive communication, and two-way symmetric models.
The history of public relations includes examples of ancient leaders using communication strategies to avoid conflict.
The Boston Tea Party is cited as an example of a famous PR stunt, a staged event to attract media and public attention.