PR 203 – Public Relations: Contemporary Approaches

PR 203 – Public Relations: Contemporary Approaches; Weekly hours: 2+1, ECTS: 6
The aim of this course is to provide students with advanced understanding of public relations, processes, practices, and effects. It explores a range of contemporary theories of, and approaches to, public relations in key areas including corporate social responsibility and employee relations. It provides a deepening of students’ understanding of public relations theory and professional practice developed and encourages a critical focus on ethical and rhetorical issues as these arise in the development and deployment of public relations strategies and tactics. The allure of PR: parties, power and postmodernism; PR’s strange social profile: Girls, gurus, gays, and diversity;  PR and the media: A love/hate relationship; The lying game PR – the truth and other ethical issues; Portrait of an industry Money, motives, and mergers; From PR to propaganda The persuasive industry’s problem with definitions; Professional, but never a profession; PR in the not-for-profit sector;  Internal communications; PR and academia; Lobbying, public affairs, politics, and government PR; The future of PR.