Noting that little theory has been developed to explain how and why organizations choose to manage public relations, this paper argues that theorists cannot improve the practice of public relations until they can explain what public relations is and what it contributes to the functions of an organization. The paper addresses that issue by…

Observing that the explosion of the space shuttle "Challenger" had a profound impact upon the American public, this paper argues that its most direct impact was upon the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Specifically, the paper argues that the explosion was a crisis that resulted in loss of legitimacy for the space…

A study examined the evaluation methods used in 58 top public relation projects, specifically the Silver Anvil winners of 1984 and 1985, to discover how well public relations practitioners are measuring and reporting success. Results indicated that measures of communication effect were most likely to be employed by Silver Anvil winners, measures…

A study analyzed the use of third-party credibility as a deliberate and systematic public relations strategy to regain credibility for an organization faced with public hostility. Four types of third-party usage are: citizen participation, outside investigation, adversarial advocacy, and employee dissemination. Third-party credibility as a public…

Two surveys were conducted to determine the attitudes of public relations practitioners and educators regarding whether public relations practitioners should be licensed. Questionnaires were mailed to public relations practitioners to obtain data for the first survey, and a second survey was mailed several months later to public relations…

To develop a method of categorizing public relations practitioners according to a hierarchy of professionalism which would also identify what training is needed to raise those in lower levels to higher levels, a study surveyed 93 Iowa practitioners listed in the 1986-87 Public Relations Society of America Register Issue. Response rate was 66% and…

After pointing out the problems women face as they try to enter the ranks of corporate management (popular issues for discussion in the business press), this paper argues for better career planning for women in public relations. The paper considers the model of the structured retail career path which has contributed to the rise of women to…

To understand better the ethical inclinations of public relations students, a study examined students' self-reported ethical beliefs and behaviors regarding their college work. In two mid-Atlantic state universities, a questionnaire was administered to communication classes for college juniors and seniors during the winter term 1988, yielding 258…

Increasingly, schools compete in an environment of limited resources. Sound public relations practices could serve as a vehicle to explain how the public's tax dollars are managed. This annotated bibliography focuses on public relations in schools with a special emphasis on the school business function. Over the last 5 years, seven journals were…

This bibliography provides a listing of 174 books and articles to assist libraries in fund raising activities. Sources were suggested by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, the Foundation Center, and the Special Activities Committee, Fund Raising and Development Section of the Library Administration and Management Association of the…

The first married woman to be issued a United States passport (1925) in her maiden name Doris E. Fleischman and her husband, Edward L. Bernays, maintained a partnership in one of the country's premier public relations firms until Fleischman's death in 1980. Yet although Bernays received tremendous popular, trade, and scholarly media attention,…

To investigate the cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses to a public information campaign concerning a city-wide smoking ordinance, a study conducted a telephone survey of 4500 randomly selected Dallas, Texas residents (netting 374 usable surveys) during a two-week period in November, 1986. The smoking ordinance required Dallas…

Ivy Lee and Edward Bernays are generally regarded as the founding fathers of modern public relations. While Lee has been the subject of a full biography that included contemporary reaction to his ideas, there has been no similar work on how Bernays' ideas were received, though his ideas were in some ways more radical. He believed that propaganda…

To examine the agenda-building process in local television news, a study collected data in the newsroom of a network-affiliate television station in Indianapolis, Indiana, during a four-week period. Assignment editors and producers were observed as they selected from among the information subsidies they received in the mail (including news…

Compiled after interviews with vocational educators at urban and rural joint vocational schools, comprehensive high schools, and career centers considered to be successful at marketing vocational education locally in Ohio, this handbook contains information on successful marketing activities that other local educators can undertake. Section I…