Understanding Public Relations: Theory, Culture and Society

Edwards, Lee

doi:10.4135/9781473983571

Cited by 76 publications

(78 citation statements)

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“…Hence, although little explored, the study of influencer relations and practice is emerging as an important strategic communication field. From a sociocultural perspective, Edwards (2018) offered a critical view of influencer relations as one of the discursive and persuasive ways that communicators and organisations have to influence ‘the way we live our lives’ (p. 3) and strategically generate ‘third party advocacy’ (p. 30). Influencers ‘tap into popular culture, socio-cultural and political trends’ (Edwards, 2018: 30) to fit in and connect with their audiences.…”

Section: Influencer Practice and Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From a sociocultural perspective, Edwards (2018) offered a critical view of influencer relations as one of the discursive and persuasive ways that communicators and organisations have to influence ‘the way we live our lives’ (p. 3) and strategically generate ‘third party advocacy’ (p. 30). Influencers ‘tap into popular culture, socio-cultural and political trends’ (Edwards, 2018: 30) to fit in and connect with their audiences. Thus, Edwards (2018) expressively incorporated the importance of influencers in contemporary strategic communication practice, and the power wielded by these practitioners to tell us how to live our lives, the brands we should purchase, or the politics or ideas we should follow.…”

Section: Influencer Practice and Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Discordant storytelling, ‘honest fakery’, identity peddling: How uncanny CGI characters are jamming public relations and influencer practices

Block

Lovegrove²

2021

Public Relations Inquiry

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This article critically explores whether and how computer-generated imagery (CGI) characters are jamming public relations and influencer practices. We use Miquela, a virtual character with 3 million Instagram followers as a case study. We examine Miquela’s (and her creators’) communication strategies to identify what makes her so appealing to postmillennial audiences, luxury and indie brands, and civil rights activists alike. Valued at USD125 million, Miquela is algorithmically moulded as a fashionista, singer and civil rights warrior to maximise visibility, influence and emotional release. ‘Her’ discordant, uncanny human/nonhuman ethos simultaneously attracts, intrigues and defies. To study Miquela’s case we built a four-tiered theoretical framework (parasocial relations, identity influence, culture jamming, and algorithmic branding) using the Freudian concept of ‘the uncanny’ as connecting thread; and a mixed method that includes digital ethnography, textual and sentiment analysis. We aim to make a contribution to studies on the use of digital media in PR.

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Section: Influencer Practice and Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Influencer Practice and Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discordant storytelling, ‘honest fakery’, identity peddling: How uncanny CGI characters are jamming public relations and influencer practices

Block

Lovegrove²

2021

Public Relations Inquiry

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“…As Edwards (2018) wrote, "Paying attention to the promotional culture in which public relations thrives prompts ethical questions about the kind of world that we want to live in and public relations' role in constructing (or obstructing) it" (pp. 211-212).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spinning at the Border: Employee Activism in ‘Big PR’

Reyes

2021

MaC

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This article extends Coombs and Holladay’s (2018) social issues management model to provide new perspectives on activism and public relations. It also fills a gap in the literature on internal activism by analyzing the case of The Ogilvy Group and their employees, many of whom pushed for the agency to resign its work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Through a textual analysis of a leaked transcript documenting a meeting between Ogilvy management and internal activist employees, the communicative tasks of definition, legitimation, and awareness (Coombs & Holladay, 2018) are explored in a way that complicates identity and power. As public relations practitioners are increasingly called upon to either advocate for or against social issues, this study provides an interesting contrast, showing one interpretation of what happens when there is dissension in the ranks.

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“…That is why the theoretical concept of interpretative understanding matches the concept of agility. Agility breaks with the classical functionalistic, positivistic idea of communication management and promotes a more socio-cultural approach in which Verstehen is a basic principle and interpretivism is the meta-theoretical basis (see also Edwards, 2018). Putnam and Pacanowski (1983) were one of the first who showed how qualitative methods and narratives are rich forms of interpretative inquiry.…”

Section: Agile Forms Of Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agile communication evaluation and measurement

Ruler

2019

JCOM

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze what the concept of agility means for communication evaluation and measurement and to challenge assumptions of goal-oriented and organization-centric approaches to evaluation and measurement. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a development debate based on a literature review, regarding agility, evaluation theory, communication evaluation approaches and what agility means for communication measurement. Findings Agility teaches that what works is more important than what was agreed upon in advance, so it is with more emphasis on needs rather than objectives. Regarding evaluation, the findings show that in today’s communication evaluation theory, evaluation is equated with summative evaluation of smart designed and fixed objectives. In agility, evaluation is always formative, to foster development and improvement within an ongoing activity. Consequently smart objectives are no longer valid as fixed benchmarks and ex ante and ex post evaluations do not exist; instead evaluation is an on-going and forward looking activity during action. Regarding measurement, the basic focus in agility on user needs implies that qualitative methods are more obvious than quantitative. The classic Weberian idea of “Verstehen” is helpful to understand how to focus on needs rather than objectives. This paper finally explores the merits of action research and sense-making methodology as applicable measurements in which “Verstehen” is the basis. Research limitations/implications Agility is a very radical concept. The practical and theoretical implications of agile evaluation and measurement mean a total change for practice as well as for communication measurement and evaluation theory building. Originality/value The value of this paper is that it is the first to include agility into communication evaluation and measurement and that it, consequently, moves beyond organization-centric concepts of evaluation and measurement by bringing the often overlooked user needs into the game.

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Understanding Public Relations: Theory, Culture and Society

Cited by 76 publications

References 0 publications

Discordant storytelling, ‘honest fakery’, identity peddling: How uncanny CGI characters are jamming public relations and influencer practices

Discordant storytelling, ‘honest fakery’, identity peddling: How uncanny CGI characters are jamming public relations and influencer practices

Spinning at the Border: Employee Activism in ‘Big PR’

Agile communication evaluation and measurement

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