ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the introduction and trajectory of the theories developed by James Grunig and Larissa Grunig in Latin America and describes the reception and incorporation of those innovative ideas by the researchers in the region. Today, it is an indisputable fact that these authors have left a deep and lasting footprint on the region's academic sphere and professional market. From the first days of their introduction to this part of the world, the models of practice of public relations and the Excellence Theory have become an essential component of the research and studies conducted in Latin American countries. The chapter details the phases of transposition of the theoretical legacy and the personal engagement of both authors in the process, and demonstrates that, notwithstanding the cultural differences, their teachings have succeeded in changing the public relations approach in this vibrant part of the world.
