It's Not Just PR: Public Relations in Society (Wiley Desktop Editions) [Paperback]

W. Timothy Coombs (Author), Sherry J. Holladay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 25, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1405144068 | ISBN-13: 978-1405144063 | Edition: 1

Public relations shapes and spins our news, influencing society’s values, knowledge, and perceptions. Despite this, it often goes unnoticed. It's Not Just "PR" takes a balanced approach in assessing its impact, drawing on a diverse range of contemporary examples from global corporations through to the power of PR in the non-profit sector.

• Investigates a broad range of examples, from Coca-Cola and corporate pharmaceutical companies, to the non-profit sector and reform labour practices in Latin America
• Charts new territory by focusing on the effects and influence of public relations, both intended and unintended, in a discipline that has all too often concentrated on skills with little or no reflection on societal impact
• Helps reveal why public relations is useful to society and how it has developed a negative public reputation
• Includes practical debate about power issues in public relations theory and practice
• Winner of the 2007 PRIDE award given by the PR Division of the National Communication Association

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Coombs and Holladay have provided a powerful and refreshing perspective on the 'good' and 'bad' in public relations practice. By showing us an alternative to a corporate-centric approach, they shine a light on the possibilities for ethical and effective public relations."
--Debra Worley, Department of Communication, Indiana State University

"Shining a light of a different hue on PR practice, It’s Not Just PR will help you explain PR’s value to your boss or any critic of the PR industry."
--Doug Newsom, Schieffer School of Journalism, Texas Christian University

"This well-argued defense of the field and practice of public relations is in itself as good public relations job, in the best sense of that often-maligned term...the authors make a compelling case that public relations plays a valuable role in society." (Choice)

Book Description

Public relations is a multibillion dollar industry, yet unlike its sister field of advertising, public relations is nearly undetectable to people outside of the industry. The public does not see the way public relations shapes and spins their news; influencing societal values, knowledge, and perceptions. It's Not Just "PR": Public Relations in Society provides a balanced view of public relations as neither flawless nor sinister. In addition to investigating corporate issues in PR, such as pharmaceutical companies' use of PR to influence the medicines we use, this book further examines public relations as a tool for marginalized groups, focusing on its use in the non-profit sector, and citing relevant examples like the use of PR to pressure Coca-Cola to reform labor practices in Latin America. This book also includes practical debate about power issues in public relations theory and practice.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (December 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405144068
• ISBN-13: 978-1405144063
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #824,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)