ABSTRACT
Representing a dominant paradigm in public relations theory and research, J. E. Grunig argues from an organization-centric perspective that public relations should serve the public interest, developing mutual understanding between organizations and their publics, while contributing to informed debate about societal issues. Identification and deliberation of contemporary issues demand, not only public intellectuals among an informed citizenry, but-we argue-requires also "organizational intellectuals" and "professional community intellectuals," who are equipped to ponder these emergent issues and problems that affect everyone and to make-and, as able, to execute-their recommendations accordingly. The chapter provides a conversation to theorize the interrelationships among neoliberal ideology, economic instability, new technology, democratic capitalism, and public relations practice. It argues that the public relations professional community has immense, perhaps unique, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as a moral responsibility, shows that conditions and changes in the global environment are not deleterious, either to practitioners' organizations, nor-equally important, we argue-to society-at-large.
