A marketing model for camps includes a mix of services, presentation, and communication elements that promote the virtues of camp, convince potential campers and their families of the benefits of camp, and successfully distinguish the camp from others. Includes resources related to marketing strategies, theme merchandise, and market trends…

Uses the example of public relations to describe important distinctions between monologic and dialogic campaigns. Explains why the dominant monological approach to public relations has long been recognized as "ethically paralyzed." Suggests an ethically more viable dialogic approach. Discusses reasons the business community has been slow to adopt…

Explores theoretical and professional perspectives on the organizational whistle-blower, and examines the public relations function of framing and disseminating critical information. Urges organizations to tell the truth, but be cautious of journalists whose motives center on ratings and sensationalism. (RS)

Surveys 1,000 practitioners' knowledge of legal issues connected with professional public relations activities. Finds that most practitioners consider themselves only somewhat familiar with the law in the areas of commercial speech, contracts, financial public relations, copyright, privacy, libel, access to information, Securities and Exchange…

Surveys 598 public relations professionals to assess the extent to which a professional standard exists for each of 24 elements of professional performance. Finds respondents believed ethical guidelines, accreditation, and writing/editing skills enjoy established standards, but that licensing, location of public relations on the organizational…

Offers concrete suggestions for publicizing the "good work" of two-year colleges. (RS)

Reports that a study revealed a serious methodological flaw in interviewer bias in telephone surveys. States that most surveys, using standard detection measures, would not find the defect, but outcomes were so misleading that a campaign using the results would be doomed. Warns about practitioner telephone surveys; suggests special precautions if…

Surveys 179 Public Relations Society of America members to determine if respondents valued news releases as a public relations tactic and if attitudes differed between manager and technician roles. Tests response differences by six independent variables. Finds that although several items differed by levels, the only conclusive difference indicated…

Tests viewers' responses to video news releases (VNRs). Shows that viewers assign significantly more credibility to VNR-based messages than to similar advertisements; level of credibility given to newscasts was found to be a significant predictor of VNR recall. Discusses implications for future research into VNR use. (PA)

Posits that most risk communication studies ignore the professional role and communication processes of technical experts. Focuses on one group of technical experts, industrial hygienists, with specific attention to the impact of cognitive involvement, uncertainty, and control on their communication. Indicates that hygienists who are employed in…

Discusses media coverage of public relations topics. Describes a census of television news stories about public relations. Finds increased coverage from 1980 through 1995, and that politicians and foreign governments are the most commonly reported on users. States that stories generally have a neutral tone and assume the "press agentry"…

Assesses implications of the strategic management aspect of public relations for firms in Singapore. Focuses on how firms with differing organizational structure/background respond to the challenges of executing core public relations activities. Finds that manufacturing firms pay less attention to customer relations than service organizations, and…

Surveys 43 female practitioners (mostly youthful) in 4 Chinese cities. Reports substantial career advancement for females but some stereotyping by male colleagues. Notes that guest relations took much of respondents' time. Concludes that practitioners appeared to behave as technicians but think somewhat as managers when handling guest relations.…

Describes new National School Public Relations Association standards for school public relations and communications professionals and programs. (PKP)

Reactions by 10 individuals associated with the "Journal of School Public Relations" to new National School Public Relations Association standards for school public relations and communications professionals and programs. Includes general reactions, impact of the standards, possible ambiguity, adding or eliminating standards, and…