Robert L. Heath

Winner of the 2021 National Communication Association PRIDE award in the 'Outstanding Textbook' category! Explore a wide range of theoretical frameworks and themes for public relations in this comprehensive and authoritative work Public Relations Theory: Capabilities and Competencies is a comprehensive overview of the major theoretical perspectives in public relations, considering the evolution, diversification and merger of approaches that have been spurred by rapid changes in society, cultural boundaries, technology, and media environments. Authors Jae-Hwa Shin and Robert Heath explain both organizational and social theories of public relations, including cases and challenges to help students bring theory and research to bear on solving the daily challenges of public relations practice. Rather than advocate in favor of a particular theoretical view or position, Public Relations Theory: Capabilities and Competencies covers a broad range of theoretical perspectives and themes in public relations, including: An examination of excellence theory, contingency theory, rhetorical theory, and critical theory as these perspectives apply to public relationsIssues management, crisis management, risk management and conflict management with respect to public relationsCombining theory and practice for conceptualization and strategic execution of robust public relations programs and campaignsThe importance of public relations ethics to serve the public goodHow to define "the public" or "relationships" in the field of public relations The book closes with discussion of emerging topics and the recent transformation of public relations theory to take diversity, technology, and global identity into account and offers insight into future direction. This book is perfect for upper level undergraduate and graduate students of public relations in journalism and communication. It will also be useful for public relations practitioners who hope to improve their understanding of the theoretical background and principles of their work and serve as an excellent reference for doctoral students and researchers in the area.

Social media is having a profound, but not yet fully understood impact on public relations. In the 24/7 world of perpetually connected publics, will public relations function as a dark art that spins (or tweets) self-interested variations of the truth for credulous audiences? Or does the full glare of the internet and the increasing expectations of powerful publics motivate it to more honestly engage to serve the public interest?The purpose of this book is to examine the role of PR by exploring the myriad ways that social media is reshaping its conceptualization, strategies, and tactics. In particular, it explores the dichotomies of fake and authentic, powerless and powerful, meaningless and meaningful. It exposes transgressions committed by practitioners—the paucity of digital literacy, the lack of understanding of the norms of social media, naivety about corporate identity risks, and the overarching emphasis on spin over authentic engagement. But it also shows the power that closely networked social media users have to insert information and opinion into discussions and force "false PR friends" to be less so.This timely, challenging, and fascinating book will be of interest to all students, researchers, and practitioners in Public Relations, Media, and Communication Studies.Winner of the 2016 NCA PRIDE Award for best book

Social media is having a profound, but not yet fully understood impact on public relations. In the 24/7 world of perpetually connected publics, will public relations function as a dark art that spins (or tweets) self-interested variations of the truth for credulous audiences? Or does the full glare of the internet and the increasing expectations of powerful publics motivate it to more honestly engage to serve the public interest?The purpose of this book is to examine the role of PR by exploring the myriad ways that social media is reshaping its conceptualization, strategies, and tactics. In particular, it explores the dichotomies of fake and authentic, powerless and powerful, meaningless and meaningful. It exposes transgressions committed by practitioners—the paucity of digital literacy, the lack of understanding of the norms of social media, naivety about corporate identity risks, and the overarching emphasis on spin over authentic engagement. But it also shows the power that closely networked social media users have to insert information and opinion into discussions and force "false PR friends" to be less so.This timely, challenging, and fascinating book will be of interest to all students, researchers, and practitioners in Public Relations, Media, and Communication Studies.Winner of the 2016 NCA PRIDE Award for best book

Strategic Issues Management explores the strategic planning options that organizations can employ to address crucial public policy issues, engage in collaborative decision making, get the organization's "house" in order, engage in tough defense and smart offense, and monitor opinion changes that affect public policy. In this fully updated Second Edition, authors Robert L. Heath and Michael J. Palenchar offer practical, actionable guidance that readers can apply to organizations from large Fortune 500 companies to nongovernmental organizations and start-up high tech companies. FeaturesIncludes a NEW chapter on brand equity, updated examples, theories and cases throughout, new information on activists and activism, and increased attention to the role that technology plays in issues managementExplores ways public relations, risk communication, and crisis communication can be used to address crucial public policy options Advises managers on ways to lessen the chance of a crisis becoming an issue through an examination of crisis preparation and responsesAddresses the topic of reputation management by exploring the connection between issues management and brand equity using examples from McDonald's and Wal-Mart Challenges managers to engage in collaborative decision making with community leaders and residents to reduce the chance that undue fear will translate into unnecessary regulation or legislationOpens each chapter with case study vignettes and closes with summary questions and issues management challenges Strategic Issues Management is appropriate for courses in Corporate/Strategic Communications, Public Relations Management, Crisis/Risk Communication, Strategic Management, Public Relations Management, Organizational Communication, and Public Policy and Administration.

Strategic Issues Management explores the strategic planning options that organizations can employ to address crucial public policy issues, engage in collaborative decision making, get the organization's "house" in order, engage in tough defense and smart offense, and monitor opinion changes that affect public policy. In this fully updated Second Edition, authors Robert L. Heath and Michael J. Palenchar offer practical, actionable guidance that readers can apply to organizations from large Fortune 500 companies to nongovernmental organizations and start-up high tech companies. FeaturesIncludes a NEW chapter on brand equity, updated examples, theories and cases throughout, new information on activists and activism, and increased attention to the role that technology plays in issues managementExplores ways public relations, risk communication, and crisis communication can be used to address crucial public policy options Advises managers on ways to lessen the chance of a crisis becoming an issue through an examination of crisis preparation and responsesAddresses the topic of reputation management by exploring the connection between issues management and brand equity using examples from McDonald's and Wal-Mart Challenges managers to engage in collaborative decision making with community leaders and residents to reduce the chance that undue fear will translate into unnecessary regulation or legislationOpens each chapter with case study vignettes and closes with summary questions and issues management challenges Strategic Issues Management is appropriate for courses in Corporate/Strategic Communications, Public Relations Management, Crisis/Risk Communication, Strategic Management, Public Relations Management, Organizational Communication, and Public Policy and Administration.

Today's Public Relations: An Introduction works to redefine the teaching of public relations by discussing its connection to mass communication, and linking it to its rhetorical heritage. The text features coverage of ethics, research, strategy, planning, evaluation, media selection, promotion/publicity, crisis communication, risk communication, and collaborative decision making as ways to create, maintain, and repair relationships between organizations and the persons who can affect their success. The book also examines the challenges of creating a solid foundation in the field of public relations while working to become a professional in a global society. Key Features:Chapter-opening vignettes illustrate key points to be covered in the chapter. Web Watcher boxes highlight the importance of the Internet in PR today and encourage students to use the Web's resources. Ethical Quandary boxes lead readers to think through difficult situations in order to better prepare them for the challenges of public relations. Professional Reflections, written by practitioners, give a real-world perspective on the topics covered. End-of-chapter questions and summary questions, exercises, and recommended reading lists help readers to better comprehend the chapter material and delve more deeply into the topic at hand.Intended Audience: Undergraduate and graduate courses in public relations in journalism and business departments

Human Communication Theory and Research introduces students to the growing body of theory and research in communication, demonstrating the integration between the communication efforts of interpersonal, organizational, and mediated settings. This second edition builds from the foundation of the original volume to demonstrate the rich array of theories, theoretical connections, and research findings that drive the communication discipline. Robert L. Heath and Jennings Bryant have added a chapter on new communication technologies and have increased depth throughout the volume, particularly in the areas of social meaning, critical theory and cultural studies, and organizational communication. The chapters herein are arranged to provide insight into the breadth of studies unique to communication, acknowledging along the way the contributions of researchers from psychology, political science, and sociology. Heath and Bryant chart developments and linkages within and between ways of looking at communication. The volume establishes an orientation for the social scientific study of communication, discussing principles of research, and outlining the requirements for the development and evaluation of theories. Appropriate for use in communication theory courses at the advanced undergraduate and graduate level, this text offers students insights to understanding the issues and possible answers to the question of what communication is in all forms and contexts.

Human Communication Theory and Research introduces students to the growing body of theory and research in communication, demonstrating the integration between the communication efforts of interpersonal, organizational, and mediated settings. This second edition builds from the foundation of the original volume to demonstrate the rich array of theories, theoretical connections, and research findings that drive the communication discipline. Robert L. Heath and Jennings Bryant have added a chapter on new communication technologies and have increased depth throughout the volume, particularly in the areas of social meaning, critical theory and cultural studies, and organizational communication. The chapters herein are arranged to provide insight into the breadth of studies unique to communication, acknowledging along the way the contributions of researchers from psychology, political science, and sociology. Heath and Bryant chart developments and linkages within and between ways of looking at communication. The volume establishes an orientation for the social scientific study of communication, discussing principles of research, and outlining the requirements for the development and evaluation of theories. Appropriate for use in communication theory courses at the advanced undergraduate and graduate level, this text offers students insights to understanding the issues and possible answers to the question of what communication is in all forms and contexts.

Whereas many organizational communication texts address internal communication processes, few consider the efforts that companies expend to communicate with external stakeholders. Likewise, many texts that concentrate on public relations or advertising consider external communication, but fail to give attention to internal communication. Combining both points of view, this text explains how an entire organization operates through enactments of personnel and external stakeholders. Central to this book is a concern for meaning and its influence on the performance of jobs in response to expectations of co-workers and external publics. The concept of narrative is used to explain how individual and organization performance is the expression of personae that are best when enacted jointly -- in varying degrees of coordination -- to satisfy mutual performance expectations. Narrative explains the power of organizational meaning, interpersonal contacts, group performance, stakeholder negotiation, and internal and external organizational zones of meaning -- assumptions that are shared by people who enact an organization through coordinated efforts.