This edited book presents a comprehensive, research-led coverage of the progressive ways public relations (PR) and social media is utilised today. It offers innovative research approaches to explore PR and social media initiatives, and in so doing, provides guidance on how to direct PR communication across the complex canvas of social media where some of the communication can be highly emotional varying from overt expressions of loyalty to brandjacking. Progressive organisations are carefully engaging with their audiences in multiple social media channels with organisational goals including commercial success, sustainability or employee morale. The analytics offered by social media channels help organisations to learn about their audiences as well as design highly personalised content. This book extends our understanding of the ways PR and social media can be utilised for communication that resonates with target audiences in varying context. Through the academic research presented, readers can also learn innovative ways to investigate and improve their own PR and social media practice. The book’s main themes include the power of engagement, progressive management use of social media channels, business influence, social-influencing for non-profit causes and political impacts of targeted social media communications. Social Media for Progressive Public Relations is for scholars, researchers and students of PR and communications. Chapters 12, 13 and 14 of this book are freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license.

This important book chronicles, responds to, and advances the leading theories in the public relations discipline. Taking up the work begun by the books Public Relations Theory and Public Relations Theory II, this volume offers completely original material reflecting public relations as practiced today. It features contributions by leading public relations researchers from around the world who write about new developments in the field. Important subjects include: a turn to more humanistic, social, dialogic, and cocreational perspectives on public relations; changes in the capacity and use of new information technologies; a greater emphasis on non-Western international and intercultural public relations that considers an increasingly politically polarized culture; and issues of ethics that look beyond how clients and the traditional mass media are treated and into much broader questions of voice, agency, race, identity, and the economic and political status of publics. This book is a touchstone for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in public relations theory and a key reference for researchers.

Contemporary global culture, rooted in neoliberalism and free market forces, increasingly emphasises appearance over substance. People and organisations are judged by image and reputation while social media encourages and enables us to develop our own public persona. This book explores the rise of promotional communication with a particular focus on public relations (PR) and its role. Organisations, from local charities to multinational corporations, employ professional PR staff to manage promotional communication, and even public institutions must position themselves in the marketplace to secure funding and approval. To what extent has PR contributed to this culture of display, this masquerade of emptiness? This book argues that the climate crisis demands not more performance but a new approach, one of ‘depth public relations’. This concerpt builds on ideas not only from public relations, but also psychology, sociology and philosophy, as well as introducing the voices of climate activists and others seeking a deeper relationship with the human and non- human worlds. The proposed principles of depth public relations offer suggestions for theory and practice, with profound implications for PR and related fields, and will interest all scholars of the changing communication environment.

Animal Suffering and Public Relations conducts an ethical assessment of public relations, mainly persuasive communication and lobbying, as deployed by some of the main businesses involved in the animal-industrial complex—the industries participating in the systematic and institutionalised exploitation of animals. Society has been experiencing a growing ethical concern regarding humans’ (ab)use of other animals. This is a trend first promoted by the development of animal ethics—which claims any sentient being, because of sentience, deserves moral consideration—and more recently by other approaches from the social sciences, including critical animal studies. In this volume, we aim to start an entirely unaddressed discussion within the field of public relations: The need to problematise the ethics of persuasion when nonhuman animal suffering is involved, particularly the impact of persuasion and lobbying on compassion towards other animals in the cases of food, experimentation, entertainment, and environmental management. This book provides an interdisciplinary, theoretical discussion illustrated with international case studies from experts in strategic communication, public relations, lobbying and advocacy, animal ethics, philosophy of law, political philosophy, and social psychology. This unique book merges the fields of critical public relations, animal ethics, and critical animal studies and will be of direct appeal to a wide range of researchers, academics, and doctoral students across related fields.

To be a successful public relations professional, it’s no longer enough to be great at writing press releases and establishing media contacts. You must also expertly navigate the digital world and be prepared to dovetail your skills with those of other professionals. The Public Relations Handbook is a comprehensive and invaluable guide for public relations practitioners in the 2020s and beyond, covering the multitude of skills needed in the current environment, including: Supporting a company’s marketing and sales Leveraging social media Managing government relations Working with the media effectively Communicating with the investment community Supporting top management in the event of a crisis or scandal Positively positioning the company’s commitment to environmental, social, and governance issues The Public Relations Handbook has been an indispensable guide for public relations professionals since the first edition was published in 1967. This new fifth edition explains how to navigate a far more complex and constantly changing digital world while facing new challenges in financial, economic, political, public health, and societal issues. Editor Robert L. Dilenschneider is a communications executive who has called on leading practitioners in the field to address the specific skill sets, strategies, and execution that public relations practitioners need today. The scope of public relations is always expanding. Today’s professionals must be prepared to deal with a wide variety of people, issues, and topics. The Public Relations Handbook will help all practitioners in the field advance their personal growth, success and careers.

The Complete Guide to Public Relations for Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises Are you are the owner of a small to medium-sized business or a budding entrepreneur eager to carve out a niche in your business or industry sector? Are you looking for strategies to effectively communicate your brand's story and engage with your audience? If so, this book is written for you. Discover the power of public relations with this comprehensive guide to effective public relations, tailored to help you to grow your business and build your brand and profile. "The Complete Guide to Public Relations for SMEs" demystifies the concept of public relations and highlights its critical importance in the digital age. From understanding the evolving public relations landscape to establishing a strong brand identity, this book covers everything in depth. With insights into the unique challenges faced by SMEs, practical strategies, and real-life case studies, this guide will empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to elevate your business. Imagine your brand gaining the recognition it deserves, fostering trust, and improving your bottom line. With chapters dedicated to developing targeted public relations strategies, leveraging the power of social media, and creating compelling content, success is within your grasp. Learn to develop and implement realistic public relations goals, measure success, and adjust strategies based on detailed feedback, ensuring your efforts deliver tangible results. Discover the synergy between public relations, marketing, and advertising, and how these elements should be used in unison to amplify your message. Gain insights into building relationships with journalists, writing impactful media releases, and utilising visual and multimedia content to captivate your audience. Don't let your small to medium-sized enterprise remain in the shadows. Embrace the proven practices, actionable insights, and cutting-edge technology detailed in this comprehensive guide. "The Complete Guide to Public Relations for SMEs" is your roadmap to building a prominent and trustworthy brand. Your journey to mastering the art of public relations begins here!

Discover the art of thriving in India's ever-shifting PR landscape with insights from 75+ seasoned experts who will help you chart a path towards modern-day brand management in uncertain times. This is a new era for public relations. Never before has reputation been so important, and never before so fraught. At a time when thoughtfulness, transparency and authenticity are seen as key tenets, navigating India’s unique cultural, social and economic diversities poses a challenge both for fresh professionals and seasoned leaders. Added to this are emergent technologies across fields. PR professionals have but one choice: adapt to these far-reaching transformations and survive. The Pursuit of Reputation is a one-stop survival guide to this new world. At the heart of this book lies a profound recognition that the way we communicate is undergoing an enormous shift thanks to the growing influence of social media, the rise of influencers, data-driven decision-making and the blurring of lines between earned, owned and paid media. But with shifts come new opportunities—PR professionals are uniquely placed in this matrix to enhance brand reputation, engage stakeholders and drive impactful campaigns that strongly resonate with consumers. With expert insights from seventy-five acclaimed PR professionals working across industry sectors and geographies, the book offers PR strategies for navigating an uncertain environment. It also envisions a future that PR professionals can build: one based on emotional sensitivity, thoughtful responsibility and a healthy respect for environmental, social and governance issues. An essential read for anyone seeking to understand the art of crafting reputations.

Public Relations, Branding and Authenticity: Brand Communications in the Digital Age explores the role of PR and branding in society by considering the notion of authentic communications within the context of an emerging digital media environment. This qualitative analysis explores the challenge of developing authentic brand narratives in the digital age, whilst questioning the problematic nature of authenticity itself. Case studies of public relations activity of successful brands, and those in crisis, are supplemented by interviews with senior public relations and branding practitioners. The book lays out three specific arguments. Firstly, a repositioning of the relationship between public relations and brand practice is explored. It is argued that public relations practitioners are well placed to facilitate brands in the digital age, because of the inherent acceptance of the value of relationship building, adaptation and boundary spanning embedded in PR practice and best practice theory. Secondly, the book introduces a new concept of riparian brands. Such brands are based on solid core values, but have an ability to atune, adjust and naturalise to the prevailing social, cultural and economic environment. Thirdly, the book presents an ontology of the riparian brand in the form of an authentic brand wheel and 15 real-time interaction success factors. Aimed at both academics and practitioners interested in the theoretical development of PR and its emerging relationship with branding, it will also be of interest to scholars of corporate communications, corporate reputation and branding.

Influencer Politics focuses on current discussions about the role and impact of social media influencers in the political sphere, and how the personal, political and promotional often converges in digital media. A key question is how core ideas of influencer culture - authenticity, intimacy, commercialism, and self-branding - shape the ways in which politics are expressed and understood in this context, as well as opens up space for new ways of connecting and interacting with the public. It also highlights the way that influencer culture itself is infused with politics, where issues of, for example, empowerment and exploitation are articulated and discussed in different ways. The book is the result of a common interest among researchers engaged in work on political aspects of influencer marketing and influencer culture from critical, cultural, and strategic perspectives, and offers a range of case studies devoted to both the promises and limitations of influencer politics.