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Analyzes two sources of information supplied to members of the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ): public relations materials mailed to SEJ members, and story tip sheets assembled by SEJ staffers. Finds the preponderance of materials promoting an environmental backlash agenda stem from just a few public relations sources; and the public relations materials possessed more overall news utility for journalists. (SR)

Conducts a content analysis of web pages to examine 26 United States Masters degree programs in public relations for their degree requirements, core courses, public relations courses, and optional courses. Finds a lack of adherence to the recommendations of the Foundation for Public Relations Research and Education. (NH)

Develops a taxonomy of the connotative meanings of the term "public relations" using 100 articles chosen from the popular press that yielded 254 uses of the term. Lists eight categories; finds that less than 5% were judged to use the term correctly; 37% were negative; and only 17% were positive. (PA)

Surveyed instructors of public relations courses and found they emphasized a decision-making style for the public relations practitioner, one that combines elements of managerial roles with those of a communication technician. (PD)

Analyzed six recent public relations textbooks for content on honesty. Concluded from this analysis that public relations students do not obtain an in-depth view of issues relating to honesty in communication. Available from Communication Research Associates, Inc., 7100 Baltimore Blvd., Suite 500, College Park, MD 20740; sc $7.85. (PD)

Uses content analysis of three newspapers to determine favorable and unfavorable mentions of public relations activities. Findings indicate that public relations is equated solely with publicity, and that publicity is generally considered beneficial. (MS)

The COVID-19 pandemic received considerable attention from public relations scholars and research publications after the pandemic exploded. This study provides an overview of the status of COVID-19 public relations research in terms of topics, regional focuses, organization-public relationships, public relations approaches and themes, stages of the pandemic, and theoretical and methodological frameworks. This study also investigated how public relations research has described the characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic. We reviewed 126 articles published in peer-reviewed journals using quantitative and qualitative content analyses. We expect that this review provides new insights based on the current literature to advance public relations research in today's fast-changing society. • We analyzed 126 COVID-19 public relations research papers that have been published in peer-reviewed journals from the height of the pandemic in 2020 to February 2023. • Public Relations Review was the largest publication venue in COVID-19 public relations research (n = 17, 13.5%). • The most common topics in COVID-19 public relations research were relationship management (n = 43, 34.1%), crisis/risk management (n = 37, 29.4%), and issue management (n = 24, 19.0%). • Public Relations research papers described the COVID-19 pandemic situation commonly with six characteristics: transboundary impacts, uncertainty, global-scale event, health crisis, calling for sophisticated communication strategies, and an external crisis event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arab public relations research (APRR) has reached many milestones since its inception; however, no study has investigated extant literature to map the trends and patterns within the subject area. As a result, this study aims to aggregate the landscape of APRR from 1979 to date. To achieve this, this current study adopts a multi-method approach of content analysis and text mining of 106 peer-reviewed APRR articles. Findings show an inconsistent trend of APRR. Findings also illustrate the status of APRR methods, analytical methods, media genres, media platforms, organizations, industries, most used words and dominant perspectives within the subject area. This study concludes that despite the irregularities in the progression, APRR is an emergent sub-area with the potential to gain prominence concerning interest and output. • social media was the dominant genre followed by traditional media and digital media. • Public Relations Review distinguishes itself as the top publication destination for Middle Eastern scholars and researchers. • public relations research areas are typically characterized by theoretical contributions from other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative content analysis of 74 novels featuring public relations characters distributed in the United States demonstrates that, rather than attempting to replicate reality, the mystery genre reflects debates about such issues as honesty, confidentiality, and the relative value of negative publicity. PR practitioners fit into all of the conventional mystery character roles, but particularly the role of sleuth, where access to information and powerful people allows them to solve the mystery but also sometimes forces them to choose between the client/employer and the public interest. The study confirms Fitch's (2015) contention that popular culture representations of public relations are best understood in their narrative and generic context. • Proximity to power makes public relations characters relevant to the mystery genre. • PR characters must balance client confidentiality with the public interest. • Fictional representations reveal that public relations is a contested field. • Mystery novels reveal a deep distrust of powerful institutions and people. • Fictional representations do not attempt to reflect the field accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Publics prefer creating memes that focus on corporate ability. • Memes offer creative commentary about organizations to which publics are already loyal. • Most memes about brands use established meme templates or create new meme families. • Memes had more value-free comments about brands rather than compliments/criticisms. Abstract This study explores how online publics are engaging with organizations by creating and sharing brand-related content online, outside corporate-controlled communication environments. This research employs a quantitative content analysis of memes shared on the social networking site Imgur to reveal how user-generated content conveys meaning about organizations. The analysis reveals brand-centric memes are generally classified as orphan memes , or memes that have distinct textual and visual characteristics separating them from established or emerging meme families. Memes about organizations are neither an overwhelming reflection of biting criticism or support, but rather a reflection of online public engagement with organizations that primarily use humor and textual brand features (or quiddities) to convey their commitment and satisfaction with the organization and unite meme families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • This paper analyses a crisis case of a social enterprise through content analysis. • The roles of locus of crisis cause, controllability, and adherence to social mission on public attitude are analysed. • Framing effect (episodic and thematic) of online articles is determined. • The importance of public relations for social enterprise is discussed. Abstract This study examines how the perceived locus of crisis cause, controllability, and adherence to social mission are associated with public attitude in the context of a social enterprise crisis and evaluates the differences between these variables under episodic and thematic frames of online articles. Using the crisis case of THINX in 2017 as a case study, a quantitative content analysis was performed on a sample of 503 comments under online articles. Hierarchical regression revealed that the locus of crisis cause and adherence to social mission were associated with public attitude, whereas controllability was not associated with public attitude when adherence to social mission was accounted for. Significant differences were found in the locus of crisis cause, controllability, adherence to social mission, and public attitude between episodic and thematic frames. This study provided a basis for the theoretical development of crisis communication in a social enterprise and the corresponding role for public relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organization-Public Relationship (OPR), as a key concept addressed in the field of public relations has attracted wide attention in the past three decades. This study presents a comprehensive review of 156 relevant studies from 1998 to 2016 and categorizes them into five main clusters, which include the outcomes, antecedents, mediation, process, and structure of OPR. Findings also identify five gaps in current OPR research such as idealized propositions based on mutual benefits, a lack of research on multi-party relationships, problematic “trust” as the measurement, unilateral self-reported research data, and dominated cross-sectional methods By drawing contingency theory of accommodation and the relationship management theory, this study proposes the concept of contingent organization-public relationship (COPR) for future studies that seek to explore variations of OPR longitudinally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present meta-analysis study systematically reviews articles on media relations published from 1945 to 2021. It aims to explore media relations research in terms of progression, journals, theories, methods and data analytical tools, media genres and platforms, geospatial distribution of discussed issues and first author affiliations, organization types, most frequently used words, and major themes covered through a quantitative content analysis and a qualitative text mining approach. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 276 articles from 2006 to 2017 were collected as the final sample. Public Relations Review has published the most articles, while the most commonly used theories were agenda setting /building theory, rhetorical theory, and framing theory. Media relations articles utilize qualitative methodologies more than quantitative ones, while the commonly used data analytical tools were content analysis, interview, survey, and case study. Our analysis of the discussed regions and geospatial distribution of first-author show that the North American, European, and Asian continents and the US, the UK, China, and Australia have relatively more publications. The majority of media relations articles discussed governmental organizations. Five themes dominated media relations articles: public relations strategy, media relations practice, mass media and journalism, state–media relations, and organizational media relations. • The present meta-analysis study systematically reviews articles on media relations published from 1945 to 2021. • PPR has published the most articles of MR, while the most commonly used theories were agenda sitting/building theory, rhetorical theory, and framing theory. • MR articles utilize qualitative methodologies more than quantitative ones, while the commonly used data analytical tools were content analysis, interview, survey, and case study. • North American, European, and Asian continents and the US, the UK, China, and Australia have relatively more publications. • Five themes dominated MR articles: public relations strategy, media relations practice, mass media and journalism, state–media relations, and organizational media relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This quantitative content analysis of 133 articles published in eleven academic journals sheds light on the research topics, theories, methods, and authorship in corporate social responsibility (CSR) research in public relations scholarship. The findings indicate that CSR research in public relations has increased dramatically since 2006. Although theoretically grounded studies still do not represent the majority of the research in this area, the stakeholder theory is the one that is most often invoked, followed by legitimacy and attribution theories. Regarding the methodological approach, a balance between qualitative and quantitative research is evident, with a recent increase in mixed-method approaches. Content analysis was the most often used, followed by experiment, survey, comprehensive literature review, and case study. Research topics that involve CSR effects as well as descriptions of CSR practices and communication have consistently received significant attention. However, research topics that involve the role of public relations and perceptions of stakeholders have decreased in recent years. The work from the most productive researchers and institutions suggests that a broad spectrum of public relations scholarship in CSR research exists outside the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An internationally recognised body of knowledge is both possible and necessary for the future success and professionalisation of public relations. Through extensive content analysis of 31 credential schemes, education frameworks, and scholarly articles produced across six continents, the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications Management has developed a foundational list of knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviours (KSABs), which entry and mid/senior-level practitioners across the world should possess. This study and list of KSABs is laying the foundation for development of an internationally accepted framework which professional associations and academic institutions across the world will be able to use to benchmark professional credentials and curriculum outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of public relations within local, national, and international government organizations, government public relations (GPR) is still an understudied field in public relations research when compared to its corporate and nonprofit counterparts and has been critiqued for lacking theoretical development (Liu & Horsley, 2007). To present the accumulated knowledge about GPR, this study used content analysis and bibliometric network analysis to systematically review 155 articles published in key public relations journals from 1976 to 2021. Our findings illustrate the status of GPR scholarship in terms of publication trends, authorship, research contexts, research topics, theoretical knowledge structure, methodological approaches, and ethical considerations. Findings suggest that GPR is a fast-growing field attracting international and multidisciplinary scholarly interests; yet has not been clearly defined and theorized. With strong theoretical roots in relationship management, GPR has the potential to develop context-relevant theories capturing the distinctive relational dynamics in various government communication situations. This study proposes a work-in-progress definition of GPR, identifies critical research gaps, and suggests future research directions to assist GPR in developing into a distinct and promising subfield of public relations research. • This study systematically reviewed government public relations (GPR) articles published from 1976 to 2021 in the field of PR. • Findings reveal the key research themes, contexts, theoretical frameworks and concepts, methods, and ethical considerations discussed in GPR research. • We proposed a working definition of GPR and suggested that GPR has great potential to be developed into a distinct subfield of PR research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public memory is the conceptual process through which understandings about a historic event are defined, informed, and reshaped. This concept is important for public relations practitioners as public memory provides substance for the communicative process providing the space to establish shared meanings for members of a given public. One example of the role of public relations practitioners in crafting public memory was the 100th anniversary celebration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (TUS), termed #TUS100 in November 2021. In order to understand what and how memory was communicated through the #TUS100 event, we completed an interpretive thematic analysis of the materials created and distributed by the Arlington National Cemetery Office of Public Affairs related to the 100th year Tomb Commemoration and video clips from three popular national news outlets (ABC, CBS, NBC). In doing so we found that public memory is an evolving narrative that has the potential to create/reaffirm relationships—both of which have implications for public relations scholarship and practice. • Public memory is the conceptual process for understanding events. • Public memory provides the substance for the communicative process. • Public relations can (re/co)create public memory. • Public memory can be used to build relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By analyzing 162 articles published in seven peer-reviewed communication journals, this study sheds light on the research topics, theories, methods, and authorship of articles in the health public relations literature. An examination of current research in health public relations is essential to identify literature gaps and guide future research directions. The findings demonstrate that research interest in health public relations has fluctuated over the past two decades. Theoretically grounded studies represent most of the studies in this field, with the situational theory and relationship management applied most often. Regarding methodology, quantitative research is prevalent, with survey method used most often, followed by content analysis and in-depth interviews. Research topics that involve health content consistently receive significant attention, while relationship management has begun to dominate the research discourse in recent years. • This study analyzed 162 articles on health public relations published in seven peer-reviewed communication journals. • The findings demonstrate that research interest in health public relations has fluctuated over the past two decades. • Theoretically grounded studies represent the majority of the studies in the area, with the situational theory and relationship management theory applied most often. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientology's public relations function is based on research and writing by L. Ron Hubbard, who studied public relations and drafted documents directing Church communication strategies. Hubbard annotated the textbook Effective Public Relations , which was reprinted for Church practitioners. Textual analysis shows Hubbard was particularly interested in redefining key concepts, emphasizing interpersonal communication strategies, and selectively adopting media relations strategies. The findings suggest that he used the annotations to appropriate the text and position himself as a communications expert. Evidence suggests Church communication practitioners continue to follow Hubbard's recommendations. • L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology, built the religion as PR became a more formalized discipline. • Hubbard appropriated PR texts to establish himself as an expert in the field and invalidate non-Scientology resources. • Textual analysis of Effective Public Relations suggests Hubbard used PR organically and based on his personal preferences. • Hubbard's biases and personal preferences can be tied to documented experiences he had while building the religion. • The Church views Hubbard's writings as scripture so his ideas about PR best practices are still used by Church practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on explaining agenda building power of corporate press releases. The purpose of the study is to investigate to what extent news factor theory can be applied to predict whether a press release generates media attention or not. A content analysis of 823 press releases from 30 of the largest Dutch corporations reveals that the news factors surprise, controversy, impact-negative consequences and elite organization have increase a press release's chance for succession. Furthermore, press releases on the topics financial performance, employees & management and organizational issues have a similar effect. The study shows that news factor theory can be applied successfully in the field of public relations and media relations and suggests that the variety of effective news factors depends on the news genre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media provide numerous possibilities for consumers and other stakeholders to voice their complaints about organizations in public. While this can damage the reputation of an organization, effectively handling complaints also bears considerable opportunities to win back complainants and to win over observers of the interaction. This study analyzes how large companies handle complaints on their Facebook and Twitter pages. Results reveal that the companies are not fully embracing the opportunities of social media to demonstrate their willingness to interact with and assist their stakeholders. Organizational responsiveness is only moderate, and companies often try to divert complainants away from the social network site. The most frequently applied response strategy is asking complainants for further information which does not appease complainants. Response strategies that foster complaint satisfaction are used less often. They comprise offering a corrective action, connecting the complainant with someone who can provide a problem solution and thanking the complainant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text is part of a broader project that seeks to examine the field of Public Relations from the systematic study of scientific production published in the main academic journal of the specialty: Public Relations Review (ISSN 0363–8111). From an analysis of the content of all the papers (n = 1037) published in this journal during 15 years, between 2000 and 2014, the authors, topics, universities, professional networks, countries, objectives, questions, hypotheses, methodologies, techniques, theories and type of applied research have been examined. The main authors, universities and countries with the highest productivity are identified, as well as the dominant topics in the field and their evolution over time, among others important issues, in order to contribute to an overview of the past, present and future of public relations research from what was addressed in the journal during the first fifteen years of the XXI century. It concludes with suggestions for future research. • 17 of the 22 most productive universities -more than 13 published articles- are American -most from USA-. • Most research came from individuals or local research networks. International research is marginal. • Business issues were the main interest topics, over those of social interest, a expected trend in future research. • There was a positive evolution of methodological design, with a growing presence of mixed and experimental methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquity of social media platforms that increasingly foreground visuals over text has led to a rise in organization-generated visual content. This study addresses an underexamined question about this phenomenon: which characteristics of organization-generated visual content are associated with higher levels of public engagement in social media? Engagement is conceptualized as indicators of first level engagement such as likes and comments that represent affiliation with and support for the organization. Employing a visual social semiotic framework, a randomly selected sample of visuals posted on Instagram and Facebook by four leading airport brands in 2019 (N = 400) was coded for representational, interactive, and compositional meanings. Findings revealed that across platforms narrativity of images, and interactive features of distance and point of view enhanced engagement, while the compositional feature of framing increased engagement on Instagram. Implications of the findings for effective organization-generated visual content on social media are discussed. • Visual semiotic approach-based content analysis of social media engagement. • Narrativity of images enhanced engagement on Facebook and Instagram. • Interactive features of distance and point of view enhanced engagement. • Compositional feature of framing increased engagement on Instagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effectiveness of mission statements of the 2014 top 100 and bottom 100 Fortune 500 list based on their inclusion of 10 key components and if they represented the four themes of transparency. Analysis revealed product/service and customers were the most prevalent mission statement components, while excellence topped the transparency variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Comparative public relations variables are applied to the study of public diplomacy. [•] Methodology is content analysis of Ministries of Foreign Affairs websites. [•] Message strategy was correlated with democracy, economic development, and reputation. [•] Significant correlation between level of democracy and advocacy messages. [•] Findings indicate countries could benefit from advocacy and promotional strategies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Traditional public diplomacy is transforming. [•] We examine the U.S. Embassy's public diplomatic communication via social media. [•] We use the methods of content analysis and interview. [•] Experience-sharing and relationship-building is the core of new public diplomacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study employs a systematic review to explore a decade (2010-2020) of social media research in public relations. • The research sheds light on the authorship, topics, theoretical frameworks, and methodologies in SM-related PR research. • A total of 575 articles were selected from nine PR peer-reviewed journals. • The high number of articles found reflects the proliferation of SM research in PR. • Future research agendas include new SM platforms, big data, ethical challenges, and SM usage in PR during COVID-19. Social media (SM) has become a key operating channel in public relations (PR) and triggered PR scholars to learn more about the value of SM. Using a systematic review, this study was designed to investigate the authorship, topics, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks featured in SM-related PR research in the period of 2010–2020. A total of 575 articles from nine PR-focused peer-reviewed journals were selected and content-analyzed. The findings provide a better understanding of SM research in the field of PR and suggest future directions for SM research, including diverse SM platforms, big data, ethical challenges, and SM usage during COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hosting global events like the World Expo is a new form of public relations for cities, but few studies have been conducted to explore the extent to which they can change the content of media reports and media attitudes toward city image. We conducted a content analysis of all Shanghai-related news reports from November 2009 to April 2011 on 30 English newspapers in 10 countries. We found a few interesting discoveries. First, the Shanghai Expo 2010 did affect newspapers’ agenda-building, with the Expo being the topic of most reports and the most important news before and during the Expo. Second, the Expo brought changes to the news frames of newspapers, but the changes were still constrained by media practices. Third, the Expo improved newspapers’ attitudes toward Shanghai''s city image, particularly toward the city''s potential. Finally and most importantly, global events such as the Expo do have a significant impact on the content and attitudes of newspaper reports, but a single event cannot produce long-lasting effects. Therefore improving city image requires “better actions than just better words.” [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the decline of public trust in corporate America, organizations must consider ways to improve their relationships with key publics. One of the best strategies to build trust is through engaging in transparent communication (). The increase in the popularity of social media has brought both challenges and opportunities for organizational transparency. This study used multiple methods to explore whether public relations professionals believe they are using social media to communicate transparently, to investigate how social media can be used to improve transparency along with its benefits and challenges, and to identify how transparency is used in social media campaigns. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study of the origins of careers in public relations seeks to contribute towards historical knowledge of public relations through content analysis of biographies and other published narratives of those who worked in the field within the US and Britain in its formative years. Opportunities for public relations to offer a career rather than simply a transitory job or occupation were identified. The potential for enhanced benefits, including greater income and higher social status, were noted as a result. However, despite evidence of the possibility of professional and bureaucratic career paths, public relations pioneers tended to reflect entrepreneurial, opportunistic and primarily commenda (agency) forms of career. Most early practitioners entered the field by chance revealing a lack of deliberate focus on seeking employment in the occupation. Their varying entry points suggest the concept of equifinality (whereby different routes may lead to the same end); although career progression for those employed in public relations support functions, and the experiences of women are largely undocumented. Overall, the tapestry of early careers in public relations reflects a common thread of communications and openness to take advantage of the changing times. Otherwise, few patterns can be detected, with individual opportunities than a specific career path being the dominant theme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study aims to analyze what kinds of frames have been used in British Petroleum''s (BP''s) press releases, which dealt with the Gulf oil spill crisis that occurred in April 2010. A content analysis was conducted to explore the different frames used by BP in its press releases to deal with the crisis. The main and sub themes are also analyzed through a content analysis of press releases. This study attempts to examine BP''s crisis communication strategy through press release usage by closely analyzing the frames and themes that were used. This study found that BP attempted to update the public on what the company was doing to resolve the oil spill crisis, and that they made every effort to manage the crisis by using the company''s official update frame. In addition, by using the social responsibility frame, BP aimed to show the public that they had intentions of taking responsibility for the oil spill. Finally, BP used a minimal number of defensive frames as a way of showing the public that they did not want to flee from the responsibility of the oil spill crisis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using qualitative content analysis, this study employs agenda building and framing to examine e-mail messages from Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Komen Advocacy Alliance to determine strategies for communicating about breast cancer and inspiring involvement in nonprofit advocacy and fundraising efforts. Three types of messages, nine frames, and various tactics emerged among 50 messages sent during 1 year. Theoretical implications and practical applications for public relations and fundraising professionals are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]