COMM 4510U – Public Relations

This course examines the theory, strategies and ethics of public relations in society with reference to historical and current examples. This course explores ways of conceptualizing the public such as, for instance: the public sphere, media publics and counter-publics, public relations, public opinion and publicity. It also attends to: the historical development of the PR industry; critical debates concerning PR and democracy; the relationship between PR firms and the news media; organizational PR (crisis communications and reputation/brand management); the PR strategies employed by states, businesses and front groups (i.e. think-tanks and lobbies); old and new PR media (print, radio, TV, the Internet).
Credit hours: 3
Lecture hours: 3
Prerequisite(s): Third-year standing