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...

Nurturing Knowledge – a job for PR

‘Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge’ – Wikipedia’s blackout protest statement is a reminder of the value and reliance placed on repositories of online information.  How many of us turn to Google, Wikipedia, digital dictionaries, social media or online news sources routinely when we want to know something?  The English-speaking student population is apparently distraught that its primary place for ‘cut and paste’ assignments is offline for a day.  The Digital Natives haven’t been so...

Are We Losing Our Cathedrals of Knowledge to Web-based Information?

Many thanks to Judy Gombita for recently sharing the blogpost “Librophiliac Love Letter: A  Compendium of Beautiful Libraries“.   As I was perusing the photos, it struck me that these libraries make a profound statement about how we value books, knowledge and learning. These rooms are temples and cathedrals. As information has multiplied in recent decades and access to it opened up, we are losing that sacred aspect to knowledge, and the architecture is disappearing with it. I...