ABSTRACT
The political transformations that took place in Turkey, combined with the introduction of neo-liberal economic policies, resulted in a shift from an agrarian society to an industrial society. Together with urbanization, advances in communication technologies, and significant developments taking place in Turkish politics, political public relations gained importance as a separate discipline from advertising. Economic liberalization, however, brought international companies to Turkey whose brand-centered tactics encouraged local companies to reconsider their communication approaches. One of the most salient characteristics in the evolution of the Turkish media companies was the change in ownership status. In fact, throughout the 1980s in Turkey, people were not thinking of public relations as a specialization; persuasive communication was often associated with advertising. The foundation of a true democracy, public opinion also serves as the underpinning of a robust, strategic public relations practice.
