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Public relations is a relatively new profession, most of its practitioners would say.
True enough. But the tenets of the public relations business have been known, studied and practiced for many centuries.
The proof is in quotations passed down from ancient and recent history--comments which embrace the essence of the public relations art and craft we practice today.
When looking for historic evidence of public relations principles, the most cynical among us might begin with a quote P. T. Barnum. I prefer a higher road, starting with an observation by an American president on the importance of public opinion.
Public opinion is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed.
--Abraham Lincoln
Public sentiment tends to side with those who act in moral ways.
What is moral is what you feel good after. --Ernest Hemingway
"Good PR" is doing good, and getting credit for it. But in that order.
Well one is better than well said. --Benjamin Franklin
Basic to the practice of public relations is effective communications, which begins with an understanding of the audience. In the PR profession, we are fond of beginning communications programs with opinion research.
In mass communications, it is not important how things are, the important factor is how things seem to be.
--Osmos Wiio
We know that too often emotions, rather than...
