ABSTRACT
Dirty work' refers to occupations which are likely to be perceived as dirty or degrading, of dubious virtue, or using deceptive, intrusive or confrontational methods. This chapter explores whether the practice or occupation of public relations could be analyzed through the prism of 'dirty work' via a critical discourse analysis of UK public relations trade magazine PR Week. It uses a critical discourse analysis which acknowledges the power and position of privilege that those who write for PR Week hold. The negativity towards public relations portrayed in the pages of PR Week can be seen as a potential explanation for public relations practitioners having a strong collective identity in the face of opposition. In 1995, Stauber and Rampton claim that public relations practice is synonymous with propaganda and its association with lies and manipulation. Thus, in concert with other dirty work occupations, the occupation of public relations, viewed through the pages of PR Week, can be seen as dirty work.
