Encyclopedia of Public Relations
Encyclopedia of Public Relations
Robert L. Heath, Editor
Published by SAGE, 2005.
This is a two-volume work measuring 8.5" by 11" and running to 1067 pages including the index and nine appendices, plus a preferatory section of 31 pages. The books are printed in larger type, two columns per page.
The preface makes clear from the outset that this work is not so much a reference source for public relations practitioners and those preparing for a public relations career as it is a reference for those interested in critical questions surrounding public relations and its role in society. In fact, the first eleven paragraphs of the preface are concerned with questions about public relations' role and its value, with much attention paid to critics who feel that we would be better off without public relations altogether. The editor takes pains to place himself at the balanced center of the debate, but this "objective" stance is intriguing given that it is in terms of a "debate" that doesn't actually happen; that is, critics of public relations are rarely allowed into discussions with those who practice it or take it for granted. So, essentially, this is a reference work intended for a social science academic context where critics of public relations stand to benefit from factual and detailed information, in one way or another.
For an idea of what is covered, here are the first fifteen article titles in the "S" sequence:
This is a surprisingly interesting, deep, and critical book about public relations, most useful to social critics and social science researchers, but also of potential interest to public relations practitioners and those entering the field.
Robert L. Heath, Editor
Published by SAGE, 2005.
This is a two-volume work measuring 8.5" by 11" and running to 1067 pages including the index and nine appendices, plus a preferatory section of 31 pages. The books are printed in larger type, two columns per page.
The preface makes clear from the outset that this work is not so much a reference source for public relations practitioners and those preparing for a public relations career as it is a reference for those interested in critical questions surrounding public relations and its role in society. In fact, the first eleven paragraphs of the preface are concerned with questions about public relations' role and its value, with much attention paid to critics who feel that we would be better off without public relations altogether. The editor takes pains to place himself at the balanced center of the debate, but this "objective" stance is intriguing given that it is in terms of a "debate" that doesn't actually happen; that is, critics of public relations are rarely allowed into discussions with those who practice it or take it for granted. So, essentially, this is a reference work intended for a social science academic context where critics of public relations stand to benefit from factual and detailed information, in one way or another.
For an idea of what is covered, here are the first fifteen article titles in the "S" sequence:
- Sampling
- Sandbagging
- Scales
- Schoonover, Jean
- Search engine
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- Segmentation
- Semiotics theory
- Situation analysis
- Situation ethics
- Situational theory of publics
- Smith, Rea
- Social construction of reality theory
- Social exchange theory
- Social movement theory
This is a surprisingly interesting, deep, and critical book about public relations, most useful to social critics and social science researchers, but also of potential interest to public relations practitioners and those entering the field.