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PDF Exploring Public Relations 4Th Edition Ralph Tench Ebook Full Chapter
PDF Exploring Public Relations 4Th Edition Ralph Tench Ebook Full Chapter
PDF Exploring Public Relations 4Th Edition Ralph Tench Ebook Full Chapter
Ralph Tench
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Exploring Public Relations Exploring
Public Relations
Global Strategic Communication Fourth Edition
‘It’s an excellent introductory level textbook with a European perspective on public relations. The combination
of a written chapter with an extensive list of follow up reading is particularly useful. It covers a very wide range
of relevant subjects.’
Derek Hodge, Teaching Fellow, University of Stirling
Professor Ralph Tench is Professor of Communication Education, Leeds Beckett University. Ralph was the subject leader
for public relations and communications at Leeds Metropolitan University for 10 years where he oversaw the expansion of
the undergraduate, postgraduate and professional course portfolio. He is widely published in books and academic journals, Fourth
ranging from management to education journals, and has presented his research around the world.
Edition
Liz Yeomans is Principal Lecturer, Public Relations and Communication, Leeds Beckett University. Since joining the
university in 1994, Liz has helped establish a centre of excellence in public relations education and training. As well as
contributing to the BA (Hons) Public Relations programme, she has developed and taught new courses for working Ralph Tench
professionals – including the nationally recognised qualification, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Diploma.
●
Liz Yeomans
www.pearson-books.com
Fourth edition
Ralph Tench
Professor of Communication Education, Leeds Beckett University
Liz Yeomans
Principal Lecturer, Public Relations and Communication, Leeds Beckett
University
Harlow, England • London • New York • Boston • San Francisco • Toronto • Sydney • Dubai • Singapore • Hong Kong
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The rights of Ralph Tench and Liz Yeomans to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by them in
accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The print publication is protected by copyright. Prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system,
distribution or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, permission
should be obtained from the publisher or, where applicable, a licence permitting restricted copying in the United
Kingdom should be obtained from the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Barnard’s Inn, 86 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1EN.
The ePublication is protected by copyright and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased,
licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as
allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased, or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright
law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors’ and the publisher’s
rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Pearson Education is not responsible for the content of third-party internet sites.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
19 18 17 16 15
NOTE THAT ANY PAGE CROSS REFERENCES REFER TO THE PRINT EDITION
Glossary 561
Index 567
24 Sponsorship 445
Ryan Bowd, Ioannis Kostopoulos and Ralph Tench
Introduction 446
Sponsorship: an overview (facts and figures) 449
Definitions of sponsorship 450
Benefits from a successful sponsorship 454
Activation strategies: in-depth case studies 456
Drivers of success 459
Developing a sponsorship strategy 461
Communicating a sponsorship 464
Evaluating sponsorship 466
Summary: the future of sponsorship 467
Bibliography 468
Websites 469
Summary 488
Bibliography 489
Websites 491
Glossary 561
Index 567
Professor Ralph Tench is a full professor of commu- Professor Tench is a past external examiner for
nication education and a past director of research for many UK and European universities, as well as a
the Faculty of Business and Law at Leeds Beckett visiting professor. His doctoral students are engaged
University, with responsibility for the research strat- in research on issues of strategic communication
egy for over 150 academics representing law, related to trust, responsibility, reputation and brand-
accounting and finance, strategy and economics, ing, health communication and relationship manage-
marketing and communications and human resource ment. He also supervises students on issues of
management. professionalisation and the development of the pub-
Dr Tench is the former subject head for public rela- lic relations discipline. He has chaired over 30 PhD
tions and communication at Leeds Beckett University, examinations and sat on panels for candidates in the
where for ten years he oversaw the expansion of the UK, South Africa, Hungary, Ireland, Australia and
undergraduate, postgraduate and professional course Denmark.
portfolio. As professor he teaches on undergraduate Professor Tench is president-elect of the European
and postgraduate programmes, as well as supervising Public Relations Research and Education Association
MA and PhD research students. His current focus is (EUPRERA) and is a past board member of the asso-
on developing and delivering major research projects ciation since 2013. He is also past head of the Scientific
in public relations and strategic communication in the Committee for the Annual Congress (2009–2015).
UK and worldwide. He was the principal investigator He is a member of the International Communication
for the first and largest EU public relations funded Association (ICA) and sits on the editorial board for
programme, the ECOPSI (European Communications the Journal of Communication Management, the
Practitioners Skills and Innovation) programme. This Journal of Further and Higher Education, Corporate
project explored the education, skills and competency Communications: An International Journal, Public
needs of European communication practitioners Relations Review and the International Journal of
(www.ecopsi.org.uk). The three-year project contrib- Strategic Communication.
uted to competency frameworks for communications Ralph is a regular guest and keynote speaker at
and the production of self-diagnostic tools (www academic and practitioner conferences and his
.p4ace.org). This research builds on another interna- research has been published and disseminated in
tional longitudinal research project (that celebrated over 200 books and journals worldwide. Previous
its 10th year in 2016) funded by European bodies editions of Exploring Public Relations have been
and private sector business, the European translated into several European languages. Dr
Communication Monitor (ECM) survey. The ECM Tench has edited two volumes on his research
(www.communicationmonitor.eu) is a qualitative and interests in corporate social responsibility with
quantitative trend survey of European communica- Emerald – Corporate Social Irresponsibility: A
tions directors using a sample of over 3000 practitio- challenging concept (2013) and Communicating
ners from 46 countries each year. Reflecting the Corporate Social Responsibility (2014). In 2017
breadth of his research experience and application, he published Communication Excellence: How to
Professor Tench has recently directed another develop, manage and lead an exceptional commu-
European-funded project exploring deliberative nication department.
engagement and working in the SME sector (sme-
engagement.eu) as well as supporting research proj- Dr Liz Yeomans is principal lecturer and former sub-
ects such as the Public Health England Whole Systems ject group head for public relations and communi-
Obesity multi-disciplinary project. cation at Leeds Business School (Leeds Beckett University),
rating agencies, investment banks, life insurers and books include Public Relations Strategy and
Ponzi schemes. Her work has been published in Application: Managing Influence, Managing Corporate
Culture and Organisation, Public Relations Inquiry, Social Responsibility: A Communication Approach
Journal of Public Relations Research and New Media and the award-winning It’s Not Just PR (all co-
and Society, as well as several edited collections. Her authored with Sherry Holladay). He is currently the
forthcoming monograph, Trust, Power and Public editor of Corporate Communication: An International
Relations in Financial Markets, will be published by Journal and is a member of the Arthur Page Society.
Routledge.
Dr Scott Davidson researches and teaches public rela-
Ryan Bowd is an award-winning strategic marketing tions, lobbying and campaign strategies at the
and PR practitioner, who mixes a professional life of University of Leicester, UK. Recently he has been
communications practice and academic teaching and researching PR and democracy, particularly in his role
learning. Currently he acts as a consultant and advisor as director of the EURPREA network on lobbying, as
to several key organisations and individuals in the well as agonistic theories that tell us why PR should
Qatar region and globally, including Josoor Institute, be doing more to stir up public passions on important
in the areas of sport, event business and education. In issues. He maintains a longstanding interest in com-
his previous role as director of education for Josoor munications and ageing. Before becoming an aca-
Institute, he helped to launch Josoor Institute and demic he worked in media relations and campaigns
deliver programmes in sport and events to over 1500 management for organisations such as AGE UK. In his
delegates from over 90 countries. Prior to this he was teaching he strives to inspire students to become inde-
head of practice for sport development, education and pendent, strategically reflective, ethically grounded
mass participation for IMG; where clients included the practitioners.
Abu Dhabi Tourist and Cultural Authority, Adidas
Eyewear, Asics, Etihad, Gatorade, GE, GE Capital, Dr Johanna Fawkes is principal research fellow at
inov-8, International Hotels Group (IHG), Tata Huddersfield University, UK, where she is principal
Consultancy Services and the Supreme Committee for investigator leading a major global research project
Delivery & Legacy. He also worked at Weber into public relations, professionalism and capability.
Shandwick Public Relations and owned 1090 commu- Since 1990, she has developed and delivered public
nications, the latter of which he sold to Connectpoint relations degrees, professional courses and doctoral
PR (now Amaze PR). Bowd has also lectured at Leeds programmes at three UK and one Australian univer-
Beckett University, Manchester Metropolitan sity. Before becoming an academic, Johanna worked
University and Leeds University at undergraduate and in senior press and PR roles in the public sector. In
postgraduate levels in a range of positions. recent years she has delivered keynote speeches, writ-
ten numerous conference and journal articles, chap-
Professor W. Timothy Coombs, PhD, is a full professor ters for leading textbooks and a well-received book,
in the Department of Communication at Texas A&M Public Relations Ethics and Professionalism: the
University and an honorary professor at Aarhus Shadow of Excellence (Routledge 2015).
University in Denmark. His research areas include
crisis communication, activist use of the Internet to Dr Kate Fitch is a senior lecturer and academic chair
pressure organisational change, and issues manage- at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, where she
ment. He is past recipient of the Jackson, Jackson and has taught since 2001. She has published extensively
Wagner Behavioural Research prize from the Public on diverse public relations topics, including gender,
Relations Society of America. His articles have popular culture, pedagogy, and history. Her book,
appeared in a variety of international journals and his Professionalizing Public Relations: History, Gender
book chapters have appeared in major works in the and Education, was published in 2016. Recent publi-
field of public relations, including the Handbook of cations focus on gender in public relations and on
Public Relations and Encyclopedia of Public Relations. promotional culture. Her current research investigates
His crisis books include the award-winning Ongoing historical representations of female practitioners and
Crisis Communication and Code Red in the celebrity public relations. Kate is on the editorial
Boardroom, and he co-edited The Handbook of Crisis boards of Public Relations Review, Public Relations
Communication with Sherry Holladay. His other Inquiry and PRism.
Liam FitzPatrick is a consultant specialising in change Professor Anne Gregory is chair of corporate com-
communications and works around the world with a munication at the University of Huddersfield and
wide range of organisations. Before concentrating on immediate past chair of the Global Alliance. Anne
employee communications he worked in corporate heads specialist research and consultancy pro-
PR. In addition to his work as a practitioner he grammes for public and private sector clients such as
teaches and writes extensively; he authored a book on the UK Cabinet Office, large Government
internal communications and has contributed chap- Departments and Tesco Corporate. She has led two
ters to a number of textbooks and handbooks. He is global initiatives, being a co-convenor of the
particularly interested in the tools and techniques used Stockholm Accords and the Melbourne Mandate
in practice and how good communication brings tan- projects, and she is currently leading the Global
gible benefits to organisations, their work forces and Capabilities project. She is an advisor to UK
stakeholders. Government, having completed three attachments,
and is a Departmental Reviewer for the Prime
Professor Finn Frandsen is professor of corporate Minister’s and Cabinet Office. Anne was president
communication and director of the Centre for of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)
Corporate Communication at the School of Business in 2004, leading it to Chartered status. She was
and Social Sciences, Aarhus University (Denmark). awarded the CIPR Sir Stephen Tallents Medal in
His primary research interests are crisis communi- 2010 for her outstanding contribution to the profes-
cation and crisis management, environmental com- sion and is the only UK academic to be given the
munication, corporate communication, public Pathfinder Award for her outstanding contribution
relations, marketing communication and organisa- to research by the US-based Institute for Public
tion and management theories. Finn has been a Relations. Dr Gregory has written and edited 20
visiting professor at Copenhagen Business School, books, including the globally available CIPR series,
BI Norwegian Business School, Lund University, authored 30 book chapters and 50 refereed journal
Aalto University, ICN Business School, IULM articles and conference papers. She was editor-in-
University, USI Università della Svizzera Italiana, chief of the Journal of Communication Management
and Dakar Business School. He has edited and writ- until 2016.
ten numerous books, book chapters and journal
articles. He is regional editor (Europe) of Corporate Dr Winni Johansen is professor of corporate commu-
Communication: An International Journal. In 2006, nication and director of the Executive Master’s
he was elected Teacher of the Year at the Aarhus Programme in Corporate Communication at the
School of Business. School of Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus
University (Denmark). Dr Johansen’s research inter-
Helen Gill (nee Standing) is founding director of ests include crisis communication and crisis manage-
award-winning content-marketing agency Engage ment, environmental communication, corporate
Comms Ltd, working with clients in a range of sectors communication, public relations, marketing commu-
from professional services to property. She has an MA nication, visual communication and organisational
in public relations and over 10 years’ experience culture. Winni has been a visiting professor at
working in a variety of communications roles in con- Università della Svizzera Italiana (Lugano), ICN
sultancy and in-house in both the public and private Business School, BI Norwegian Business School,
sectors. She has been named Outstanding Young Copenhagen Business School, IULM University, Lund
Communicator by the CIPR, one of PR Week’s ‘Top University, Aalto University and Dakar Business
29 under 29’ and a finalist for Some Comms’ brightest School. Her research has been published in numerous
social media communicator under 30. Her business, books, book chapters and journal articles. In 2004,
Engage Comms, has won CIPR awards for Best Use of she was elected Teacher of the Year at the Aarhus
Digital and Business and Corporate Communications School of Business.
for its work with clients such as a medium-sized con-
struction firm. She is an experienced public speaker, Neil Kelley is a chartered marketer and a senior lec-
delivering training on topics including ‘personal turer responsible for undergraduate marketing course
branding for partners of professional services firms’ leadership at Leeds Beckett University. He is a lead
and she is co-author of Amazon e-book ‘Power Your examiner at the CIM, for both the CIM Digital
Personal Brand for 2013’ aimed at business-to- Marketing and CAM Mobile Marketing in Practice
business professionals. modules, and an examiner at the University of
Cambridge. Neil specialises in marketing communica- of 15 books including The 21st Century Media (R)
tions, with a strong focus on digital, and has contrib- evolution: Emergent Communication Practices (Peter
uted chapters to a number of print and audio books Lang, New York, 2014) and Organizational Listening:
for the CIM and FT Prentice Hall, as well as co- The Missing Essential in Public Communication
authoring Customer-Centric Marketing for Kogan (Peter Lang, New York, 2016).
Page. As a former marketer, Neil has provided train-
ing and services for companies such as Electronic Arts, Dr Danny Moss is professor of corporate and public
Toyota, Trading Standards Institute and a number of affairs at the University of Chester. Prior to moving to
professional bodies. Chester, he was co-director of the Centre for Corporate
and Public Affairs at the Manchester Metropolitan
Dr Ioannis Kostopoulos is a principal lecturer at Leeds University Business School, and programme leader for
Business School, Leeds Beckett University. Previously the University’s master’s degree in international public
he taught marketing and PR at several universities in relations. He also established and led the first dedi-
the UK, Greece and Italy. He has directed or/and par- cated master’s degree in public relations at the
ticipated in consulting and market research projects in University of Stirling in the late 1980s. He is a former
many countries, working with companies and organ- external examiner for postgraduate programmes at
isations such as Vodafone, Yamaha-Motor, E.E.T.T. Leeds Metropolitan University. He is also the co-
(the Greek national provider of telecommunications founder of BledCom, the annual global public rela-
and post offices) and many others. He has more than tions research symposium that is held at Lake Bled,
40 publications in peer-reviewed journals such as the Slovenia. Danny is co-editor of the Journal of Public
Journal of Strategic Marketing, International Journal Affairs, has published articles in a wide range of inter-
of Innovation Management and Managing Service national journals and has authored and co-authored a
Quality. He is a member of the European Marketing number of books, including Public Relations Research:
Academy, the Academy of Marketing Science (USA), An International Perspective (1997), Perspectives on
the Higher Education Academy (UK) and the Public Relations Research (2000), Public Relations
Economic Chamber of Greece. His areas of expertise Cases: International Perspectives (2010) and Public
include services marketing, innovation, sponsorship Relations: A Managerial Perspective (2011).
and sports PR.
Paul Noble is a PR trainer, educator, consultant, and
Dr Lucy Laville is a senior lecturer in public relations mentor. His background includes setting up and manag-
at Leeds Beckett University. She has 15 years’ experi- ing PR consultancies, senior in-house corporate commu-
ence in PR and marketing practice, having worked for nications experience, and a spell as an academic, running
global brands and a national charity, as well as a PR the PR degree at Bournemouth University. Paul is the
agency. She was head of communication at Leeds co-author of Evaluating Public Relations (Kogan Page).
Metropolitan University (now Leeds Beckett As a trainer, he delivers short courses on a range of PR
University), before joining the PR and communication topics for the CIPR, UK Government and others, at
academic subject group in 2006. Lucy has experience home and abroad. As an educator, he is chief examiner
in a range of areas, including media relations, crisis for the CIPR’s Advanced Certificate and two units of the
management, internal communications, community CIPR Diploma. Paul is also heavily involved in the online
relations, public affairs and marketing. She has spo- AMEC College. He is a lead assessor for the CIPR’s
ken at academic and PR professional conferences and Chartered Practitioner status. Finally, as well as mentor-
has a research interest in networking and mentoring in ing individuals, he provides management support to
the PR industry. growing PR consultancies.
Professor Jim Macnamara, PhD, is professor of public Dr Martina Topić holds a PhD in sociology (University
communication at the University of Technology of Zagreb, 2013), postgraduate diploma in media and
Sydney, a role he took up in 2007 after a distinguished journalism (City University, London, 2007), and MA
30-year career in professional communication prac- degrees in political science and journalism (University
tice spanning journalism, public relations, and media of Zagreb, both in 2003). She has worked as a jour-
and communication research. He is internationally nalist for print media in Croatia, Slovenia and Italy
recognised for his research in relation to measurement (2003–9), as a research fellow at the University of
and evaluation of public communication, social Zagreb (2007–13), and as a researcher on two large
media, and engagement and listening. He is the author international projects, ‘UNESCO Media development
Indicators’ (2007–8) and ‘FP7 Identities and Dr Paul Willis is a researcher and teacher of public
Modernities in Europe’ (2009–12). She worked as a relations at Leeds Business School. He works with
graduate teaching assistant (2014–16), and since May professional communicators in government, NGOs
2016 as a lecturer in public relations at Leeds Business and the private sector. Paul was the joint recipient of
School, Leeds Beckett University. She is a co-founder the National Communication Association PRIDE
of the Centre for Research in Social Sciences and Award for outstanding contribution to public rela-
Humanities and fellow of the Higher Education tions education. In 2016, he was appointed a member
Academy. Her research interests include wider fields of the Government’s Future Communication Council
of media and journalism, Public Relations, womens by the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office. He
studies, Jewish studies and cultural management. was a board director in a PR consultancy before join-
ing academia and worked as a communication advisor
Dr Neil Washbourne is senior lecturer in media stud- for organisations including BMW, BT, Ernst & Young,
ies at Leeds Beckett University. He teaches and pub- RWE, Proctor & Gamble, Walmart, the NHS, UK
lishes on media, politics, democracy and celebrity. He Sport and The Football Association. His research can
published Mediating Politics: Newspaper, radio, tele- be found in leading academic journals and text books
vision and Internet (McGraw Hill /Open University in the PR field. Paul is the co-author of Strategic
Press) in 2010. He serves on the editorial boards of Public Relations Leadership which explores the key
Media Education Research Journal and Celebrity facets of leadership for communication professionals.
Studies. He is currently working on a book on United He is a visiting fellow at The University of Waikato in
Kingdom inter-war radio celebrity. New Zealand.
Professor Tom Watson is emeritus professor of public Emma Wood is senior lecturer in public relations at
relations in the Faculty of Media and Communication Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and a coordi-
at Bournemouth University. He ran a successful PR nator of QMU’s Centre for Dialogue. Her research and
consultancy for 18 years and was chairman of the communications practice focuses on the use of dia-
UK’s Public Relations Consultants Association from logue in communications, particularly in relation to
2000 to 2002. Awarded his PhD in 1995 from helping young people safely navigate situations involv-
Nottingham Trent University, Tom has written books, ing alcohol (http://www.qmu.ac.uk/mcpa/cdial/
book chapters and a wide range of peer-reviewed aca- AlcoLols.htm). She publishes on corporate identity
demic papers in international academic journals. He and corporate communication and is a reviewer for,
established the annual International History of Public and former editor of, the Journal of Communication
Relations Conference in 2010 and has edited the Management. She has a background in communica-
seven-volume National Perspectives on the tion in both the financial and business sectors. Emma
Development of Public Relations: Other Voices series is course leader of the CIPR’s postgraduate diploma in
for Palgrave Macmillan. Scotland and a fellow of the CIPR; she is also a former
external examiner at Leeds Beckett University.
With this 4th edition the editors and authors suc- It is an excellent book for undergraduates who
ceeded once more in presenting meaningful updates of want to know more about the field. But at the same
their contributions following the latest national and time it is also enlightening and very practical for pro-
international developments and insights in the fast- fessionals who want to open their windows and learn
changing world of public relations. more about the field they are working in. It not only
Like most people in the public relations scholarly shows a variety of different approaches and models
community, I have studied numerous books on public within the discipline of PR but also interdisciplinary
relations, and on corporate communication or com- connections with communication studies and the
munication management, as the field is often called in wider context of social sciences. This makes the book
other countries. Most books are very technical ‘how also relevant and important for master’s programmes
to’ books, promising that you will be able to do the in public relations and communication studies. Public
job as long as you follow the tips of the author. Some relations is an evolving discipline and its growth
books are very theoretical, analysing merely one single requires continual questioning to challenge its bound-
theoretical focus, with the promise that you will aries and establish its terrain. The authors have bril-
become a good practitioner as long as you follow this liantly succeeded in doing that.
approach. Exploring Public Relations is none of these, The first edition of Exploring Public Relations was
or to put it differently: it is all of these books in one. a milestone. It was both very British and very interna-
It is theoretical and practical at the same time, it pro- tional. Exploring Public Relations not only provided
vides an insight in almost all theoretical approaches helpful guidelines to practical action, but raised unset-
and different ideas on how to look at and do public tling questions about impact and implications as well.
relations, and it raises unsettled questions about the It was diverse, different, and consistently thoughtful
definition, the tasks of the professional, the debate in departing from the US norm. Instead of simple
about professional ethics, and the issue of its impact. platitudes about equal exchanges, Exploring Public
This is the most open-minded book I know. Relations looked at how to actually perform public
Look at the prudent way in which the editors have relations in an ethical manner across very diverse cul-
challenged almost everything that is commonly left tures. It was also theoretically inclusive, with a light
un-discussed in the educational and practical fields of touch that challenged students to make up their own
public relations. That public relations has to do with minds at the same time as they learned how to become
persuasion and also with propaganda, that the public competent practitioners. It was not uncritical of a field
relations field has a problem with its legitimacy, that where technical mastery can override moral behav-
there is no consensus whatsoever about what public iour, as my colleague Professor David McKie from
relations is and what its value is for organisations of Waikato Management School, University of Waikato,
all kinds. The authors try to avoid taking a stand, New Zealand wrote in his foreword for the first
leading us through all the discussions, rumours and edition.
evidence about these issues. What a book! It is fresh Subsequent editions were updated in an enviable
and good, it covers all current topics and simultane- way, including all kinds of new issues, for example
ously opens up a lot of perspectives. And all this in a about the media context of contemporary public rela-
very user-friendly manner. The book is built on the tions and journalism, about the intercultural and
premise that a textbook should put the student at the multicultural context of public relations, about corpo-
centre of the learning experience. And that is exactly rate image, reputation and identity, and last but not
what it does. least about research and evaluation. This fourth
e dition has a further update, for example on commu- erations are explored, on health communication, on
nication theories (chapter 8). The book includes refer- corporate communication, on positioning celebrities
ence to almost everything that has been written in the and countries, and on the future of public relations.
last couple of years. It is updated with the newest This is a book every public relations author wished
insights from European as well as American and Asian (s)he had written. It will help to provide students with
perspectives. What an effort! an introduction into the field, and will also help teach-
The first part of the book provides you with the ers to discuss important topics with their students.
background knowledge you will require to under- You will not be disappointed.
stand the role and purpose of public relations set
against the broader business and societal contexts in Betteke van Ruler
which it plays an active role. Part two demonstrates Professor Emerita Corporate Communication and
that public relations is multifaceted and can be inter- Communication Management
preted through a number of theoretical perspectives. Department of Communication Science
In part three the focus is laid on the practice of public University of Amsterdam
relations and, finally, in part four all kinds of consid- The Netherlands
Welcome to the fourth edition achieved by only working with senior and experienced
academics and practitioners who share a mission to
understand and explain the discipline. We are there-
We first conceived of this book in the early 2000s and
fore pleased to be able to include contributors from
it started with the idea that a textbook should put the
around the world who are closely associated with us
student at the centre of the learning experience. While
individually and collectively at Leeds and have the
it is true that textbooks in general are becoming more
same aspirations to improve the subject knowledge
student-centred for subjects as varied as biology, law,
and application of public relations in society. Again
media and psychology, this was not and has not been
we feel this was and continues to be a unique feature
the case in public relations. Exploring Public Relations
and strength of the book as it has evolved.
very much led the way in this approach for our disci-
So who to write such a comprehensive text? For this
pline and the feedback and compliments the book
we looked to our colleagues at Leeds Beckett University
regularly receives are testimony to this. With this
who teach on our well-established undergraduate,
approach we wanted students to have an improved
postgraduate and research programmes. We also
learning experience by involving them in a personal
looked to our wider network – senior academics and
journey that brought the subject to life on the page
practitioners who have contributed to our subject area
and spurred them on to find out more. And this is
and programmes, former colleagues who have moved
what we have tasked ourselves to do with this exciting
on to careers elsewhere and past external examiners.
fourth edition. Our earlier editions brought challenges
and so has this version of the book. But we have ben-
efited from the ability to listen to students and aca-
demic colleagues in how they read, study with and Target audience
educate using the first three editions of the book and
its supplements. And through this listening we have Feedback suggests there is a diverse range of readers
attempted to answer any questions or gaps in the ear- for Exploring Public Relations from senior practitio-
lier versions to ensure it is fit for purpose in a chal- ners to undergraduate students. It is the preferred
lenging, changing world of communication. textbook for universities around the world as well as
The key areas we have addressed are the most obvi- for professional bodies and professional courses
ous ones in contemporary life of how the techniques which adopt it as their core text. Its content is com-
used in public relations and communication have been prehensive, which perhaps explains this broad appeal.
influenced by rapid technological change and its inte- That said, the book is written in a way that it can be
gration, particularly in the past five years. To reflect used and read by someone who is totally new to the
this we have introduced a new chapter on digital and discipline as well as a student or practitioner with
social media, and have ensured that all chapters con- significantly more depth of understanding. The con-
sider the implications of technology and change on the tents pages of the book demonstrate how it can be
theory and practice of the discipline. Clearly some used to support more practical and theoretical aspects
chapters have integrated these influences more than of the discipline and at different levels. Therefore it is
others. One of the key features of the book is that it is a perfect accompaniment for undergraduates and
an edited textbook and all chapters are written and postgraduates who are studying public relations as a
reviewed within a consistent framework. This means single subject (i.e. a bachelor’s or master’s in public
that the book has a particular style and consistency relations), jointly with another subject, or as a single
that we have been keen to preserve. This is partly module or unit within a wider programme.
Book style and structure more deeply about the issues and ideas that are being
presented and discussed. We have attempted to define
terms or phrases that may not be universally under-
The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 provides
stood or which form part of the specialist language
important background knowledge to help students
related to that topic or area of study which are
understand the broad business and societal context in
included in a glossary at the back of the book. Finally
which public relations plays a role. Included here, for
we have included many cases studies (Case studies and
example, are chapters on democracy and on the inter-
Mini case studies) which aim to exemplify and apply
cultural and multicultural context of public relations.
the principles under discussion.
New to this fourth edition, as mentioned earlier, is a
much-needed appraisal, in chapter 3, of digital and
social media. In Part 2 there is a chapter on the
related, but often ignored, topic of persuasion and
propaganda to help you arrive at your own defini- Over to you
tions, as well as a chapter on professional ethics – a
topic of increasing importance; while Part 3 includes We have been delighted and occasionally surprised at
emerging specialisms such as issues management, the warm response to our first three editions. These
community involvement, financial PR and public have been read and used for teaching literally all over
affairs. Part 4 comprises chapters that are not conven- the world and with gratifying endorsements of our
tionally included within a public relations textbook, original pedagogic strategy of making clear links
for example, the chapter on pressure groups and between theory and practice. However there are many
NGOS, health communication and celebrity public questions about public relations and its practice which
relations. The final chapter looks to the future and remain under explored. These we aim to highlight in
provides some themes and questions that we hope this book, inspiring readers to investigate further, pos-
student readers will take up as topics for investigation sibly through detailed research for undergraduate and
and research. Public relations is an evolving discipline postgraduate projects, dissertations and theses. We
and its growth requires continual questioning to chal- hope this revised fourth edition continues to bridge
lenge its boundaries and establish its terrain. As stu- the divide between theory and practice and, above all,
dents, teachers, researchers and practitioners we are is a thought provoking and enjoyable read for stu-
all responsible for achieving this aim. dents, practitioners and tutors alike.
Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will
be renamed.
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