Some may view public relations as the manipulation of public opinion, while others see it as the conduit for successful communication between organizations and their clients. Regardless of one's opinion, the Encyclopedia of Public Relations0 provides the facts, opinions, and data for a thoughtful analysis of the profession. According to the editor, "this work intends to provide an honest but positively biased treatment of public relations." And so it does. Nearly 500 articles cover topics in the fields of communication, advertising, marketing, and politics. Articles are arranged alphabetically, each is signed, and many come with a bibliography and see also0 references. The primary focus is on public relations in the U.S.; however, some entries highlight the practice of public relations abroad. Terminology ( Logo, Market share, Press kit0 ) and theories and models ( Game theory, Health belief model0 ) get substantial attention. Also treated are individuals (Roger Ailes, P. T. Barnum); organizations ( Federal Communications Commission0 , PR Newswire0 ); and historical aspects ( Exxon and the Valdez 0 crisis, Railroad industry in the 19th century0 ). Illustrations consist of a few black-and-white photographs and tables. Several appendixes offer additional content, among them "The Public Relations Society of America Code of Ethics," "Milestones in the History of Public Relations," and "Public Relations Online Resources." The "Reader's Guide" that precedes the entries groups entry headings under recurring public relations themes such as Ethics, Jargon0 , and Management.0 The Encyclopedia of Public Relations0 will complement titles such as The Encyclopedia of Communication and Information 0 (Macmillan, 2001). Recommended for academic and large public libraries. --Sue Polanka Copyright 2005 Booklist
Sage's set covers theories, practitioner profiles, practices in foreign countries, market research and polling techniques, jargon, history, and numerous other concepts. It is intended primarily for academic readers and secondarily for public relations professionals. Approximately 80 percent of the contributors are from academic institutions; the remainder are PR professionals. Many entries deal with theories and models in communications, marketing, advertising, and journalism. Others focus on tactics and strategies in public relations, and still others center on historical events and practitioner profiles (e.g., Roger Ailes, P. T. Barnum). Many entries provide brief lists of further readings. The appendix includes useful material such as two sets of association codes of ethics, milestones in the history of public relations, a dictionary of measurement terms, and lists of Public Relations Society of America local chapters, online resources, and 245 college and university undergraduate programs. At present the only encyclopedia on public relations, it provides excellent coverage of both theory and practice of an often misunderstood profession. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Academic libraries. L. Kong California State University, San Bernardino
With nearly 450 entries, it covers all aspects of PR (e.g., history, jargon, and ethics), not only in the United States but across the globe. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
