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
ethics
• Brings theory to life with a range of case studies, including
You Tube 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.