Understanding Public Relations
Theory, Culture and Society
1st Edition
Published on 1. May 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-4739-1310-3 (ISBN)
Description
This book argues that public relations is not merely an organizational tool, but a powerful influence on social and political life. From carefully considered communication by multinational corporations, to government campaigns that manage public opinion, to the self-promotion of celebrities via social media, public relations is central to our individual and collective lives.
Understanding Public Relations introduces a socio-cultural approach to public relations as a way of analysing the growing importance of public relations in its social, cultural and political contexts. Encouraging a deeper and more critical understanding of its influence on society, Lee Edwards:
Explores public relations in relation to contemporary debates around promotional culture, discourse, globalisation, democracy and power
Considers how public relations frames vital discussions of race, gender, class and ethics
Brings theory to life with a range of case studies, including YouTube vlogging, the global fair trade movement and the 2016 EU referendum in the UK
Both accessible and provocative, this is an invaluable resource for students and researchers exploring public relations theory, critical public relations, strategic communication and promotional culture.
Understanding Public Relations introduces a socio-cultural approach to public relations as a way of analysing the growing importance of public relations in its social, cultural and political contexts. Encouraging a deeper and more critical understanding of its influence on society, Lee Edwards:
Explores public relations in relation to contemporary debates around promotional culture, discourse, globalisation, democracy and power
Considers how public relations frames vital discussions of race, gender, class and ethics
Brings theory to life with a range of case studies, including YouTube vlogging, the global fair trade movement and the 2016 EU referendum in the UK
Both accessible and provocative, this is an invaluable resource for students and researchers exploring public relations theory, critical public relations, strategic communication and promotional culture.
Reviews / Votes
Understanding Public Relations pushes the genre of the public relations text into new territory. Lee Edwards looks beyond organisational boundaries to vividly illustrate and explore the public relations occupation as a social and cultural practice. -- ?yvind Ihlen A must-read for any serious PR student or scholar, Edwards' socio-cultural approach presents an important and timely challenge to the dominance of functionalism in the field of public relations. -- Dennis Mumby Edwards thinks deeply about the world we live in, delivering thoughtful, accessible prose on PR's role in society. Ideal for PR students, scholars and practitioners. -- Clea Bourne Lee Edwards' important book offers a crucial and unique perspective on public relations by emphasizing society and culture as a sense-making context for PR. With chapters exploring the dynamics of public relations within cultural contexts of race, class, feminism, political economy and ethics, Edwards rightly insists we think about the power relations that authorize contemporary forms of promotion. -- Sarah Banet-Weiser One of the most comprehensive and coherent explorations of the role of public relations in society to date. A must-read for anyone who is serious about understanding its power and its possibilities. -- Anne GregoryMore details
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
502 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4739-1310-3 (9781473913103)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
05/2018
1st Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
€148.90
Shipment within 15-20 days
E-Book
04/2018
1st Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
€76.49
Available for download
E-Book
04/2018
1st Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
€76.49
Available for download
Person
Lee Edwards is Professor of Strategic Communications and Public Engagement in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is particularly interested in the relationship between strategic communications and inequalities, social justice, democracy, and media literacy. She has published a wide range of articles, books, chapters and reports on topics including deliberative engagement in media policymaking, media literacy, public relations as a cultural intermediary, diversity in public relations, and public relations and democracy.
Content
Chapter 1: Starting points: Defining socio-cultural research in public relations
Chapter 2: Public relations as promotion: The production and circulation of meaning
Chapter 3: Public relations, discourse and power
Chapter 4: A political economy of public relations
Chapter 5: Deliberative democracy and public relations
Chapter 6: Public relations and the public sphere
Chapter 7: Public Relations and globalisation
Chapter 8: Public relations as an occupational field: The professional project
Chapter 9: Race and Class in / and PR
Chapter 10: Feminist public relations: Performativity, Black feminism, postfeminism
Chapter 11: Ethics, Public Relations and Society
Chapter 12: Conclusion: Public relations beyond the organisation
Chapter 2: Public relations as promotion: The production and circulation of meaning
Chapter 3: Public relations, discourse and power
Chapter 4: A political economy of public relations
Chapter 5: Deliberative democracy and public relations
Chapter 6: Public relations and the public sphere
Chapter 7: Public Relations and globalisation
Chapter 8: Public relations as an occupational field: The professional project
Chapter 9: Race and Class in / and PR
Chapter 10: Feminist public relations: Performativity, Black feminism, postfeminism
Chapter 11: Ethics, Public Relations and Society
Chapter 12: Conclusion: Public relations beyond the organisation