In general terms, public relations (PR) is the management of communication and other activities that organizations use to create, develop, and maintain legitimacy and beneficial relations with key stakeholder groups. This entry provides an overview of public relations (PR), including its main characteristics and its main activities: publicity and other forms of media activities, advertising, issues management, public affairs and lobbying, and investor relations.

Characteristics

There are at least four separate but not mutually exclusive characteristics that define PR.

PR is used by all types of organizations. In many contexts, PR is associated with corporations as a support function for marketing focusing on publicity. PR is then seen as essential for corporations promoting their products and services. However, PR is used by all types of organizations trying ...

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