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INTRODUCTION Attitude toward and credibility of clients and their projects appear to have moved somewhat off center stage recently in the scholarly literature of public relations. However, these concepts remain [...]

In a seminal 1994 book chapter, James E. Grunig and Todd Hunt proposed a four-stage model of public relations' evolution. They contended that these stages have developed - at least, [...]

This study surveyed 43 female practitioners in 4 varied Chinese cities. Respondents, mostly youthful, reported substantial career advancement. However, stereotyping by male colleagues apparently had hampered their progress. Guest relations took lots of respondents' time. Practitioners appeared to behave as technicians but think somewhat as managers when handling guest relations.

This study focused on student-organization presidents' personal identification with various facets of their university as predictors of intent to join alumni chapters after graduation. Such intentions were especially common and strong where respondents identified with university facets similar to alumni relations, reported or had thought of involving university-related accomplishments and activities, and saw alumni relations as instrumental in achieving personal goals. The study extends previous research on linkage-belief theory by predicting behavioral intent rather than attitude. Dr. Culbertson is a professor in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. He acknowledges valuable help in data analysis and interpretation by Ni Chen, now assistant professor of communication at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Western public relations was introduced in the People's Republic of China in the early 1980s. Since then, this basically western concept and practice have spread across the country from South [...]

Contemporary public relations often focuses on stratcgic counseling as opposed to message production. Counseling requires careful study of clients' social, political and economic contexts. This article provides a systematic framework for contextual analysis. Core concepts for study of the social context include cultural and subcultural beliefs, the quality and frequency of social contacts within and among publics, and frames of reference. With the political context, the focus is on activities and strategies of political actors as well as their role and power relationships. Economic analysis deals with resource availability and opportunity costs., Contemporary public relations often focuses on strategic counseling as opposed to message production. Counseling requires careful study of clients' social, political and economic contexts. This article provides a systematic framework for contextual analysis. Core concepts for study of the social context include cultural and subcultural beliefs, the quality and frequency of social contacts within and among publics, and frames of reference. With the political context, the focus is on activities and strategies of political actors as well as their role and power relationships. Economic analyses deals with resource availability and opportunity costs. Dr. Culbertson is a professor in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. Dr. Jeffers is a professor of Journalism at Central Michigan University. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Nine basic concepts that denote the social, economic, and political contexts that can be used to guide front-end public relations research are discussed. Five of these concepts fall within the realm of social context. Two each can be classified as economic and political contexts. These concepts include cultural beliefs, frames of reference, role and power relationships, and costs interpretation. The use of these concepts in the design of three specific research projects is also discussed., Scan the literature of public relations these days and you often encounter the terms strategic planning,(1) issues management,(2) environmental scanning,(3) management by objectives(4) and proactive public relations. All of these [...]

Former presidential Press Secretary Scott McClellan's recent book, What Happened (2008), became a widely discussed best seller largely because it criticized the author's former boss, George W. Bush. The book [...]

Blessed are the Peace Makers, S. Jonathan Bass, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8071-2655-1. 322 pages, $39.95. Contemporary writings suggest the idealistic public relations professional plays [...]

On the morning of April 1, 2001, a U.S. EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft collided with a Chinese F-8 fighter plane off the coast of China's Hainan Island. This triggered a series [...]

Law enforcement has become something of a public relations jungle in recent years. Many people fear and distrust cops. And, if police-community relations are to improve, key publics must understand [...]

Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame the Debate, George Lakoff, Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, VT., 2004, ISBN 1-931498-71-7, 124 pages, $10.00 Whose Freedom: The [...]

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit that Changed the World Dan Koeppel, New York: Hudson Street Press, 2008, ISBN 978-1-59463-038-5. 281 pages. $23.95. In recent decades, the United States military [...]

Hebron Journal: Stories of Nonviolent Peacemaking, Arthur G. Gish; Herald Press, Scottsdale, PA, 2001, ISBN 0-8361-9168-4, 301 pages, $17.99. Iraq: A Journey of Peace and Hope, Peggy Faw Gish, Herald [...]

Two Ohio University professors undertook a study to determine if linkage applies to the image of an osteopathic clinic. They operated on the theory that linked beliefs combine to create the attitudes responsible for 'image.' The study found some areas where the clinic was linked to negative attitude, and many cases where communications seem to have worked well, linking the clinic to positive attitudes. Such studies can help focus the requirements for a communications campaign.

Should public relations break out of journalism schools into its own departments? A study of sequences within journalism departments found that sequences do attract different types of students, but not so different that they suffer by close contact with each other. The study indicates that breaking up journalism programs or splitting public relations from advertising would have little beneficial effect.

Prior to the revolution of 1986 in the Philippines, the use of public relations by Ferdinand Marcos was disastrous in every respect. Marcos' mistakes included: trying to project a personal image of royalty; constructing a huge palace for the Pope's visit in 1970, which was welcomed with scorn by the Philippine populace; constructing a wall before a Reagan visit to block Reagan's view of Malacanang's slums; and creating absurd pseudo-events, such as his posing in a rice paddy as a country farmer. However, the murder of Benigno Aquino, which was thought to have been engineered by Marcos, proved to be Marcos' biggest mistake. Cover-ups followed, as did a press black-out. The incident boosted opportunities for alternative media. President Corazon Aquino has since helped promote public relations in the Philippines by emphasizing openness in her administration.