This study examines newspapers' preparedness for public health emergencies and seeks to expla... more This study examines newspapers' preparedness for public health emergencies and seeks to explain why some newspapers are better prepared than others. Findings from a regional survey of newspaper managers showed that few newspapers have crisis plans, and few have sufficiently trained or specialized staff for public health coverage. A model predicting level of preparedness received mixed support. As expected, organizational preparedness and professional orientation had significant effects on level of staff preparedness, but environmental factors such as level of toxins in the community and the degree of pluralism in the community's power structure failed to predict.
Background Public health officials and journalists play a crucial role in disseminating informati... more Background Public health officials and journalists play a crucial role in disseminating information regarding natural disasters, terrorism and other human-initiated disasters. However, research suggests that journalists are unprepared to cover terrorism and many types of natural disasters, in part because of lack sufficient expertise in science and medicine and training. The objective of this research was to identify solutions to problems facing journalists and public health public information officer (PIOs) of communicating with the public during natural and human-initiated disasters. Methods To assist in identifying the most pressing problems regarding media response to health-related risks such as terrorism and large-scale natural disasters, 26 expert advisors were convened, including leaders representing journalists and public information officers, state health officials, experts in terrorism and emergency preparedness, and experts in health, risk, and science communication. The...
... PR! A social history of spin. New York: Basic. Fitzpatrick, KR, & Bronstein, C. (in p... more ... PR! A social history of spin. New York: Basic. Fitzpatrick, KR, & Bronstein, C. (in press). ... Journalism Monographs, 46. Grunig, JE (1978). Defining publics in public relations: The case of a suburbanhospital. Journalism Quarterly, 55, 109118. Grunig, JE (1983). ...
North American Perspectives on the Development of Public Relations
This chapter explores the historiography of public relations with a focus on what is missing. It ... more This chapter explores the historiography of public relations with a focus on what is missing. It begins with a look at the dominant trends in American public relations historiography and argues that the focus on a progressive interpretation and corporate public relations has stunted our understanding of the field’s history. Missing from the historiography are the contributions of men who are not considered “great” because they do not fit within the traditional public relations story; public relations practices in activist organizations, nonprofits, government, and the military; and most importantly, American and Canadian women. Taking a broad approach to the history of public relations will allow for the voices of these others to be heard and contribute to our understanding of the field.
We are living in what one author describes as "highly promotional times." Governments a... more We are living in what one author describes as "highly promotional times." Governments and corporations, nonprofits and special interest groups, all have spin doctors trying to turn the news to their advantage. This increasingly incestuous connection between the practitioners of public relations and journalism has resulted in a troubling shift in power. "Public Relations and the Press" examines how this shift came to be and explores the questions it raises about the role of media in a democratic society and the future of journalism. A democracy works when individuals have access to reliable information upon which to base decisions - information that in our day comes from the mass media. But what if journalists do not have the wherewithal to question their sources and evaluate the information they provide? This, Karla K. Gower explains, is precisely what happens when economic and competitive pressures shift power from the journalist to the source - and the source, ...
In this examination of Margaret Sanger's the Birth Control Review, we discuss the themes of t... more In this examination of Margaret Sanger's the Birth Control Review, we discuss the themes of the eugenics and neo-Malthusian (overpopulation) movements that helped Sanger reach two important audiences (legislators and the medical community) during the effort to push birth control into the national spotlight. We show how Sanger and her editors used these themes and a mix of information sources to raise awareness, change attitudes, and build support for legal and behavioral change.
The period following World War II was one of significant growth in the consumer economy. As the d... more The period following World War II was one of significant growth in the consumer economy. As the demand for consumer goods grew, so did the demand for freight transportation, leading to a battle between the railroads and the trucking industry. To fight the competition, the railroads lobbied government for trucking regulations. In Pennsylvania, the truckers answered the railroads with an anti-trust lawsuit, which essentially put public relations tactics on trial. This article examines the case, Noerr Motor Freight v. Eastern Railroad Presidents Conference, from its 1956 trial through the U. S. Supreme Court's 1961 decision. This provides an opportunity to look at the ethical practice of public relations at a time when the industry was attempting to define itself and set standards for its practitioners’ conduct and illustrates the level of misunderstanding of the profession that existed on the part of at least a portion of society.
Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y*... more Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y* ... Speaking Our Minds Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ... LEA's Communication Series Jennings Bryant I Dolf Zillmann, General Editors ...
Taking the logic of online connective action from an information-processing viewpoint, an online ... more Taking the logic of online connective action from an information-processing viewpoint, an online experiment ( N = 208) was done to examine whether individuals’ cognitive elaboration on messages received from different sources (personal: friends, family, vs. impersonal: organization) mediates their willingness to engage in connective-type collective activities on social media (e.g., commenting, “Liking”); and whether this indirect influence is biased by perceived source credibility. Results revealed significant influence from personal sources. Cognitive elaboration positively mediates this influence and was conditionally affected by high source credibility. Direct influence from personal issue involvement and perceived self and technological efficacy was also observed. Theoretical contributions (i.e., cognitive demands at individual level) and practical implications (i.e., enhancing organizational credibility, popularity of easy-to-do acts) are discussed.
... Nowadays the idea of freedom of the press seems to be self-evident, a matter of factas it wa... more ... Nowadays the idea of freedom of the press seems to be self-evident, a matter of factas it was centuries ago "self-evident" that freedom of the press was a remedy for a guarded use only, which ought to be entirely in the hands of the State or the King. ...
In this examination of Margaret Sanger's the Birth Control Review, we discuss the themes of t... more In this examination of Margaret Sanger's the Birth Control Review, we discuss the themes of the eugenics and neo-Malthusian (overpopulation) movements that helped Sanger reach two important audiences (legislators and the medical community) during the effort to push birth control into the national spotlight. We show how Sanger and her editors used these themes and a mix of information sources to raise awareness, change attitudes, and build support for legal and behavioral change.
This study examines newspapers' preparedness for public health emergencies and seeks to expla... more This study examines newspapers' preparedness for public health emergencies and seeks to explain why some newspapers are better prepared than others. Findings from a regional survey of newspaper managers showed that few newspapers have crisis plans, and few have sufficiently trained or specialized staff for public health coverage. A model predicting level of preparedness received mixed support. As expected, organizational preparedness and professional orientation had significant effects on level of staff preparedness, but environmental factors such as level of toxins in the community and the degree of pluralism in the community's power structure failed to predict.
Background Public health officials and journalists play a crucial role in disseminating informati... more Background Public health officials and journalists play a crucial role in disseminating information regarding natural disasters, terrorism and other human-initiated disasters. However, research suggests that journalists are unprepared to cover terrorism and many types of natural disasters, in part because of lack sufficient expertise in science and medicine and training. The objective of this research was to identify solutions to problems facing journalists and public health public information officer (PIOs) of communicating with the public during natural and human-initiated disasters. Methods To assist in identifying the most pressing problems regarding media response to health-related risks such as terrorism and large-scale natural disasters, 26 expert advisors were convened, including leaders representing journalists and public information officers, state health officials, experts in terrorism and emergency preparedness, and experts in health, risk, and science communication. The...
... PR! A social history of spin. New York: Basic. Fitzpatrick, KR, & Bronstein, C. (in p... more ... PR! A social history of spin. New York: Basic. Fitzpatrick, KR, & Bronstein, C. (in press). ... Journalism Monographs, 46. Grunig, JE (1978). Defining publics in public relations: The case of a suburbanhospital. Journalism Quarterly, 55, 109118. Grunig, JE (1983). ...
North American Perspectives on the Development of Public Relations
This chapter explores the historiography of public relations with a focus on what is missing. It ... more This chapter explores the historiography of public relations with a focus on what is missing. It begins with a look at the dominant trends in American public relations historiography and argues that the focus on a progressive interpretation and corporate public relations has stunted our understanding of the field’s history. Missing from the historiography are the contributions of men who are not considered “great” because they do not fit within the traditional public relations story; public relations practices in activist organizations, nonprofits, government, and the military; and most importantly, American and Canadian women. Taking a broad approach to the history of public relations will allow for the voices of these others to be heard and contribute to our understanding of the field.
We are living in what one author describes as "highly promotional times." Governments a... more We are living in what one author describes as "highly promotional times." Governments and corporations, nonprofits and special interest groups, all have spin doctors trying to turn the news to their advantage. This increasingly incestuous connection between the practitioners of public relations and journalism has resulted in a troubling shift in power. "Public Relations and the Press" examines how this shift came to be and explores the questions it raises about the role of media in a democratic society and the future of journalism. A democracy works when individuals have access to reliable information upon which to base decisions - information that in our day comes from the mass media. But what if journalists do not have the wherewithal to question their sources and evaluate the information they provide? This, Karla K. Gower explains, is precisely what happens when economic and competitive pressures shift power from the journalist to the source - and the source, ...
In this examination of Margaret Sanger's the Birth Control Review, we discuss the themes of t... more In this examination of Margaret Sanger's the Birth Control Review, we discuss the themes of the eugenics and neo-Malthusian (overpopulation) movements that helped Sanger reach two important audiences (legislators and the medical community) during the effort to push birth control into the national spotlight. We show how Sanger and her editors used these themes and a mix of information sources to raise awareness, change attitudes, and build support for legal and behavioral change.
The period following World War II was one of significant growth in the consumer economy. As the d... more The period following World War II was one of significant growth in the consumer economy. As the demand for consumer goods grew, so did the demand for freight transportation, leading to a battle between the railroads and the trucking industry. To fight the competition, the railroads lobbied government for trucking regulations. In Pennsylvania, the truckers answered the railroads with an anti-trust lawsuit, which essentially put public relations tactics on trial. This article examines the case, Noerr Motor Freight v. Eastern Railroad Presidents Conference, from its 1956 trial through the U. S. Supreme Court's 1961 decision. This provides an opportunity to look at the ethical practice of public relations at a time when the industry was attempting to define itself and set standards for its practitioners’ conduct and illustrates the level of misunderstanding of the profession that existed on the part of at least a portion of society.
Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y*... more Joseph Russomanno Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ; V* v 1 Y* ... Speaking Our Minds Conversations With the People Behind Landmark First Amendment Cases ... LEA's Communication Series Jennings Bryant I Dolf Zillmann, General Editors ...
Taking the logic of online connective action from an information-processing viewpoint, an online ... more Taking the logic of online connective action from an information-processing viewpoint, an online experiment ( N = 208) was done to examine whether individuals’ cognitive elaboration on messages received from different sources (personal: friends, family, vs. impersonal: organization) mediates their willingness to engage in connective-type collective activities on social media (e.g., commenting, “Liking”); and whether this indirect influence is biased by perceived source credibility. Results revealed significant influence from personal sources. Cognitive elaboration positively mediates this influence and was conditionally affected by high source credibility. Direct influence from personal issue involvement and perceived self and technological efficacy was also observed. Theoretical contributions (i.e., cognitive demands at individual level) and practical implications (i.e., enhancing organizational credibility, popularity of easy-to-do acts) are discussed.
... Nowadays the idea of freedom of the press seems to be self-evident, a matter of factas it wa... more ... Nowadays the idea of freedom of the press seems to be self-evident, a matter of factas it was centuries ago "self-evident" that freedom of the press was a remedy for a guarded use only, which ought to be entirely in the hands of the State or the King. ...
In this examination of Margaret Sanger's the Birth Control Review, we discuss the themes of t... more In this examination of Margaret Sanger's the Birth Control Review, we discuss the themes of the eugenics and neo-Malthusian (overpopulation) movements that helped Sanger reach two important audiences (legislators and the medical community) during the effort to push birth control into the national spotlight. We show how Sanger and her editors used these themes and a mix of information sources to raise awareness, change attitudes, and build support for legal and behavioral change.
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