ABSTRACT

Public relations is operating in an increasingly challenging and complex environment. Pressures from outside the organisation include new accountabilities, empowered stakeholders, increased public cynicism and a new communication landscape. Internally, there are increasing demands to demonstrate a return on investment, alongside a requirement to coach and counsel senior managers exposed to these environmental pressures.

This context requires public relations professionals to be able to clearly articulate and demonstrate their own contribution to organisational effectiveness. This textbook provides public relations leaders with a framework to do this, as well as a checklist of essential capabilities which they must acquire and exhibit if they are to operate at the highest levels of any organisation.

This short textbook is suitable for aspiring practitioners, MBA and other masters qualifications in public relations - especially for those students who wish to pursue a successful career as a professional PR specialist able to operate strategically at the top of successful organisations.

chapter 1|4 pages

Introduction

part I|42 pages

The strategic contribution of public relations

chapter 3|7 pages

Leadership and public relations

chapter 4|8 pages

Supporting the chief executive

chapter 5|15 pages

A new model of strategic public relations

part II|54 pages

The preoccupations of public relations leaders

chapter 6|8 pages

Contextual intelligence

chapter 7|15 pages

Valuing values

chapter 8|11 pages

The business of ethics

chapter 9|18 pages

Enacting the role

part III|59 pages

The responsibilities of public relations leaders

chapter 10|12 pages

The planner

chapter 11|10 pages

The catalyst

chapter 12|10 pages

The expert technician

chapter 13|10 pages

The internal educator

chapter 14|12 pages

The consultant

chapter 15|3 pages

Public relations at the edge