Public Relations Society of America

Immediately following World War II, pent-up public demand for products and services ignited the American economy. The marketplace explosion also generated new needs for marketing publicity, public relations, and people who knew their way around a typewriter.

Earlier in the 20th century, the value of public relations had been established by such pioneers as Ivy Lee, John Hill, Edward Bernays, Arthur W. Page, and Rex Harlow. But few in the postwar population entering the field had knowledge of or experience in the practice. Facing a new environment that required wedding client objectives to public interests, many neophytes—as well as veterans—recognized the need for a national, collegial association in which they could share experience and make connections, establish standards of practice, and hone professional skills.

On August 7, 1947, at Chicago's Lake Shore Athletic Club, that “gleam in the eye” became reality with the formation of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). It was not a case of spontaneous generation. In 1936, the New Yorkbased National Association of Public Relations Counsel (NAPRC) had held its first meeting. In 1969, the West Coast produced the American Council on Public Relations (ACPR). In 1944, Washington, DC, was the birthplace of the American Public Relations Association (APRA), and publicity clubs were up and running in a few major cities.

Convened at the Chicago table were six leaders from the ACPR and NAPRC. (APRA had declined the invitation and its merger with PRSA waited until 1961.) Six months later, the state of New York chartered the new national organization. It began with six chapters—Chicago, Detroit, Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco—and President W. Howard Chase, also chairman of the executive committee, and Earl Ferris, chairman of the board of directors.

The first committees addressed eligibility, education, and professional standards. The Public Relations Journal, established in 1945 by ACPR, became the official publication of the new Society.

During November of 1948, PRSA held its first national conference in Chicago. In an October 1970 Public Relations Journal article, Rea Smith, acting executive director of the PRSA, recalled that two of the impressive speakers were Margaret Mead and S. I. Hayakawa.

From those ambitious beginnings in the late 1940s, PRSA has continued to track and contribute to the development of the contemporary profession and its growth in specialized areas of practice. The first special-interest section formed was the Counselors Academy in 1961. Today, that section roster includes 16 others: Association, Corporate, Counselors to Higher Education, the Educators Academy, Employee Communications, Environmental, Financial Communications, Food and Beverage, International, Independent Practitioners [Page 697]Alliance, Military and National Security, Multicultural Communications, Public Affairs and Government, Strategic Social Responsibility, Technology, and Travel and Tourism.

Concern for ethical and professional standards has always been dominant on the Society's Agenda. In 1954, PRSA drafted a Code of Principles and a Code of Ethics. In 1960, it adopted a definitive Declaration of Principles, a Code of Standards, and enforcement procedures through Judicial Panels. From time to time, the Code has been revised, especially to keep pace with the requirements of the financial practice. PRSA's most critical—and embarrassing—ethical crisis occurred in 1956, when its president was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with insider trading. Rather than undergo the Society's judicial process, he chose to resign his membership. President-elect John Felton promptly stepped into the position, becoming the only person to serve more than one term as president.

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