evolution OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Principles of Public Relations (PRAD 255) Ragas

Brief history… Public relations may be as old as human communication itself: Julius Caesar and the Romans – published books, a “newspaper”, and held elaborate parades for the public The Roman Catholic Church – crusades and foreign missions to propagate the faith (i.e., “propaganda”) Land companies recruiting colonists Sam Adams and The Boston Tea party Great example of a pseudo-event!

American development of PR The press agents and showmen of the 1800s P.T. Barnum and “pseudo-events” (PR stunts) Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show 1905: The first public relations counsel Ivy Lee – worked with Rockefeller (public information model) 1923: Publication of Crystallizing Public Opinion Edward Bernays – the “father of modern public relations”; the nephew of Sigmund Freud first focused on advocacy and persuasion; later in life adopted a relationship-building approach 3

Annie Oakley: A European shooting star (1880s) 4

Introducing Edward Bernays and modern public relations (1920s) 5