The History of PR: The Century of the Self
The term "public relations" was coined by the father of PR, Edward Bernays, to distinguish his work from Nazi propaganda. Bernays' PR strategies are based on Freudian psychoanalysis. These videos are from a British documentary series titled "The Century of the Self." It explores the origins of public relations, Freudian psychoanalysis, and psychology.
- Part 1: Happiness Machines This episode explores the link between Freudian psychoanalysis and Edward Bernays
- Part 2: The Engineering of Consent This episode explores the unconscious, irrational desires, fear, and persuasion
- Part 3: A Policeman Inside our Heads This episode explores how American corporations use psychology to read the inner desires of consumers.
- Part 4: Eight People Sipping Wine In Kettering This episode explores how politicians use the techniques developed by business
The challenge of defining public relations
Defining public relations is challenging.
Understanding some basic goals and objectives will help you understand what public relations is all about. This article is a nice summary.
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Public Relations is NOT AdvertisingPublic relations is NOT the same as advertising for several reasons.
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To better understand the difference, imagine you have to write a press release for an organization without mentioning the organization's product or services. Instead the message must focus on how the organization is trustworthy and a good citizen. Or imagine you're involved in public education and you want to persuade the state legislature to increase state spending on education. Neither of these situations advertises a product or service, but both require public relations skills.