Are you interested in finding out the story about the creation of public relations? If you work in this sphere, you should know how it all started and how the PR industry grew till the modern times. Such a deep understanding of the history of public relations will help feel more confident and sure of your professional choice. The 21st century has modified the PR world. People use the media/communication for professional needs. To see the potential of public relations, we’d better learn about its history.
Where Does the Story of PR Start from?
The idea of influencing public opinion is not new. For centuries, people have been using different means of communication to boost their reputation. Public relations is quite a modern profession. It does not have as long a history as physicians or lawyers.
However, the origins of PR are very old. You can find the first traces in Ancient Greece. Do you know that Aristotle and Plato were not only the first philosophers, but the creators of public relations. They mastered the art of speaking and writing in order to influence the people’s minds. PR has British roots as well, starting from the 17th century. At that times, books, lectures, and other resources of information were focusing on abolishing trade of slaves. The 20th century influenced mass communication, which influenced the PR industry enormously.
The First PR Figures: Ivy Lee
Ivy Lee is the top figure in public relations. Lee started his career as a journalist. He wrote reports for several newspapers in New York City, such as the New York Times. The biggest achievement of Ivy Lee is when he started consulting Rockefeller family on how to make his company “Standard Oil” successful on the American market. Many people consider this point as the birth of contemporary PR.
In the beginning, Rockefeller company had to deal with negative feedback from workers. They had to deal with a lot of strikes in coal mines, where people were not happy with their working conditions. Lee advised Rockefeller to make a personal visit to mines and start communicating with the workers. This kind act saved his reputation and public perception of the Standard Oil company.
The first press release was created by Ivy Lee too. He did it after the rail crash in Atlantic City (1906). The Pennsylvania Railroad employed Lee and asked him to manage the situation after the terrible accident. He published the first press release in The New York Times and the reputation started to improve.
Edward Bernays Is the Second Name in PR
There are many opinions regarding the founder of PR. Many experts insist that Edward Bernays is the original creator of public relations. Edward has Austrian origin, he moved to the United States of America when he was a little child. Do you know that Bernays is the nephew of Sigmund Freud, a well-known psychoanalyst? He was influenced by his uncle’s theories. You can see his direct influence in Edward’s PR strategies. He could see how politicians used propaganda during the 2nd World War, and decided to use the same technique to influence public opinion, but in a peaceful form. You should read his book “Crystalizing Public Opinion” to understand the author and his theories better.
Final Thoughts
These two personalities, Edward Bernays and Ivy Lee, deserve our admiration for their work. They devoted their lives and energy into developing and shaping public relations as we see it today. Their way of thinking is unique and deserves a detailed study.
