Relations In The World: The Definition Of Public Relations

Depending on whom you ask, you will get a different definition of what public relations means. So many definitions go into the term public relations and a series of definitions could be combined to further explain what it really means. The most accurate and put together definition of public relations I ever heard was from Dr. Kevin Trowbridge a public relations professor at Belmont University. He defines public relations as “a management function and a strategic communication process which establishes, maintains or builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and the publics on who their success or failure depends.” I find this definition covering exactly everything that has to do with public relations. Considering this is

In Shannon A. Bowen’s article, All glamour, no substance? How public relations majors and potential majors in an exemplar program view the industry and function, she says “Public relations has failed to show its potential as a valuable contributor in society that helps resolve problems through communication.” She believes that there is many things to be valued in the field of public relations but the world does not see it. She goes back in saying that the professors who teach public relations have not practiced public relations so that’s why the value gets lost in the process. Public relations has to go far beyond the classroom and has to be taken seriously in other fields such as government, journalism, and many other industries so the world could see its worth. Bowen believes that “It would help public relations achieve professional status, help it to attract motivated students with appropriate abilities and goals, and assist in its interaction and functional ability within organizations.” If the value of public relations is taught first within the classroom then in other organizations it will have a higher success rate and people would see the