Engaging (and grilling) the social side of James Grunig

NOTE: Originally published on October 15, 2008. Toni Muzi Falconi writes:  Regular readers of this blog are aware of my long-term, personal relationship with the Grunigs, yet I confess surprise when I read Jim Grunig’s first comment on this earlier blog post. As one might expect, the whole PR Conversations’ co-bloggers group—from Canada to New Zealand, South Africa to Portugal, Italy to England and Austria—agreed that it would be very interesting for all the readers...

Applying the deep roots of rhizomatic learning to relationship strategies in public relations

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and systems in recent years has led to consideration of the role of the human in public relations. It is asserted that machine learning will enable more and more routine tasks to be automated, whilst practitioners will concentrate on strategic matters, such as building relationships. Yet, this distinction between tactical and strategic, technician and management reflects a traditional 20th century, mechanistic way of thinking. The organisation is conceptualised...

Career ambitions beyond strategic communications

It is nearly fifty years since Broom and Smith first published their studies into professional role development in public relations. This established career ambitions of advancement through a hierarchy of aspiration from delivering technical services to attaining an expert manager position. This simple structure has been critiqued for reflecting a traditional favouring of a linear male mobility. Early research found that women in public relations tended to remain in technical positions, while men dominated management...

Addressing the talent challenge in PR – finding stability in volatile times

There is no shortage of opinion on the future of work. One thing that most people agree is that “the way individuals look for work and companies identify and recruit talent” is changing. This largely means matching services using digital platforms. Another trend is towards flexible working within a ‘gig economy’. In this PR Conversation post, I discuss how these developments affect the PR industry, with Nigel Sarbutts, founder of The PR Cavalry, a service...

Keeping silent – PR lessons for evaluating purpose and influence

There probably couldn’t be two more contrasting campaigns being talked about in one week than the 30th anniversary Nike’s Dream Crazy commercial fronted by Colin Kaepernick and the single Listerine sponsored post by Instagram ‘influencer’ Scarlett Dixon. What they have in common is controversy. This is not uncommon as a marketing strategy – for instance, it has been used deliberately by the likes of Ryanair and Protein World in recent years. Controversy as a marketing strategy...

The art of smart thinking in public relations

This PR Conversations post looks at the challenges in attracting smart people to build sustainable careers in public relations, by sharing a conversation that I’ve had with Ann Pilkington, founder of PR Academy, the largest provider of professional PR qualifications in the UK.  Dr. Heather Yaxley It seems to me that there’s a perennial debate in public relations about the merits of experience versus qualifications. Indeed, research I’ve undertaken looking at the evolution of professional PR qualifications...

Fit for the 21st and digital century: PR should abandon its managerial dreams and focus more on achieving its promises

Is it time for public relations practice to abandon its managerial dreams? Prompted by the previous PR Conversations post (Professional PR Development. Why bother?), Dr Ana Adi and Thomas Stoeckle consider the legacy of Grunig’s Model of Excellence and a need to adjust to a contemporary digital environment. Ana Adi With all the recent focus on the rapid technological changes, I have found myself confronted more often, both in my courses at Quadriga University of Applied Sciences...

Professional PR Development. Why bother?

Professional PR Development. Why bother?

Let’s talk about professional PR development. Why bother? That’s the question that started the following PR conversation between Kevin Ruck and Heather Yaxley. If you have views on this topic, then add a comment here or on social media. Dr Kevin Ruck Co-founder, PR Academy With PR bodies increasingly focused on the importance of raising standards in professionalism and ethics, why are some (or most?) practitioners not that bothered about career development? I have seen...

Getting serious about the social science of public relations

I often have email conversations with my PR Academy colleague, Kevin Ruck PhD. about public relations and communications. We have a shared interest in psychology (both being qualified at degree level in the discipline) and believe the social sciences have much to offer in our work. The following post sets out our latest debate – please add your thoughts in the comments below or join us in the Facebook group: Public Relations Community of Practice....

Not sorry to see you go – career churn and public relations

Ever since public relations became a career option around a century ago, people have found themselves working in it by accident. It is still common today for practitioners to reflect vastly different job histories prior to joining the field, and to pursue different career paths over their working lives. Some people move away from the occupation and this churn is not necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps practitioners secure opportunities for promotion taking them away from a...