JT 650 Public Relations Management

Guide to Research About Public Relations

Bibliographies | Journals | Books | Other Resources

1. Public Relations Bibliographies: Annual, Books, Body of Knowledge Project, Online, Theses and Dissertations
2. Journals: Academic, Professional
3. Books: Public Relations, Related Fields, Directories
4. Other Resources: General Communication, Online Sources, Professional Organizations

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   1. Bibliographies

   Annual

   Two short bibliographies are published annually on public relations topics:

   • Public Relations Bibliography
     This 30-page, typed monograph includes major professional books, periodicals and directories and is intended primarily for the working professional. Produced by Professional Practice Center, Public Relations Society of America, 33 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003. http://www.prsa.org. The 1994 edition is also reproduced in a leading textbook, Wilcox, Ault & Agee, Public Relations Strategies and Tactics, 4th ed.

   • Public Relations Review Annual Bibliography Issue
     This leading scholarly journal has produced a bibliography annually since 1976. The latest issue contains citations and brief abstracts in 34 categories culled from 138 publications.

   Books

   Two bibliographies printed in book form preceded the annual editions produced by Public Relations Review. Consult these volumes for earlier citations, which are often difficult to locate otherwise:

   • Bishop, Robert L., comp. (1974). Public relations. A comprehensive bibliography. 1964-72. Ann Arbor, MI: A.G. Leigh Jones. Z 7164 P957 B57
     An update of Cutlip's (1965) work covering the next nine years.

   • Cutlip, Scott M., comp. (1965). A Public Relations Bibliography, 2nd ed. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. Z 7164 P957C8 1965.
     The first comprehensive bibliography of the field was prepared by Cutlip in 1957 and was updated eight years later. It remains the best single source of early citations in the field.
   Other bibliographies in book form are:
   • Ferre, John and Shirley C. Willihnganz, comp. (1991). Public relations and ethics. a bibliography. Boston, G.K. Hall & Co.

     Includes 285 numbered citations dating from 1922 related to ethics.

   • Keith A. Larson (1978). Public relations, the Edward L. Bernayses, and the American Scene: A Bibliography. Westwood, MA: F.W. Faxon.
     Comprehensive bibliography about Edward L. Bernays

   • Miller, Debra A. (1993, April). Multicultural communications. A bibliography. PRSA Foundation, 33 Irving Place, New York, NY 1003.
     About 500 citations covering the years 1987 through 1992 on topic such as diversity, ethnicity, cross-cultural and inter-cultural communications, ethnocentrism, myths and stereotypes, predjuce and discrimination.

   • Norton, Alice (1970). Public relations. Information Sources. Detroit, MI: Gale Research.
     Another useful compilation produced as part of Gale's Management Information Guide series.

   Body of Knowledge Project.

   In 1988, the Public Relations Society of America completed its Body of Knowledge project, which aimed to codify the seminal works to date in the field. The result was:

   • Public Relations Body of Knowledge Task Force Report (1988). Public Relations Review, XIV(1), pp. 3-40.
     A listing of citations only recommended for inclusion in the project.

   • Public Relations Body of Knowledge Abstracts (1989). Public Relations Society of America, 33 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003.
     Brief abstracts of each of the citations produced in a three- ring notebook and on disk.

   Online Bibliographies

   The following are online bibliographies that might contain useful sources on selected topics. Also see Public Relations Academic Links for additional bibliographic sources.

   • PR Bibliography: Books for Graduate Research -- A suggested reading list covering the more recent academic works and some popular books about public relations.

   • PR Bibliography: Selected Research Articles and Book Chapters, 1989- -- A comprehensive listing of most refereed research articles and book chapters that have appeared in the past decade, organized in 19 categories, which largely follow the order of topics in JT650.

   • PR Bibliography (Campaigns) -- A listing of sources (primarily books) on various aspects of conducting a PR campaign.

   • PR Bibliography (Community Relations) -- An extensive listing of books and journals relating to community relations in general, diversity and multiculturalism, theories related to communities, crisis management (including case studies), and issues management. Includes section on news media relations, and role of media in issues.

   Theses and Dissertations

   Students pursuing thesis and other research are encouraged to examine the master's theses done at CSU as well as theses and dissertations done at other institutions.

   • CSU Master's Theses -- Completed master's theses in Technical Communication are deposited at the Morgan Library and can be accessed through the Sage System. You can search using the AUTHOR or TITLE keys. To find theses related to your general topic area, conduct a WORD search using the keywords THESIS (AND YOUR TOPIC), e.g. THESIS PUBLIC RELATIONS. Copies of many theses are also stored in the Journalism and Technical Communciation workroom, off Room 223 (mailroom). Theses may be checked out by graduate students.

   • Journalism Abstracts -- Theses and dissertations completed at major journalism schools in the U.S. are abstracted in this annual publication produced by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Morgan Library keeps hard copies on the shelves at PN4725.J67. (Note: The very earliest volumes are on microfilm; several recent years are missing.)

   • Dissertation Abstracts --Doctoral dissertations produced in the U.S. are abstracted in this CD-ROM data base available in the Morgan Library Reference Section.

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   2. Journals

   Academic

   The two principal journals devoted to public relations are:

   • Journal of Public Relations Research
     Begun in 1991 as an a quarterly journal, the Journal is an official publication of the Public Relations Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The first three volumes were produced annually under the title of Public Relations Research Annual.

   • Public Relations Review
     Begun in 1971, the journal was begun under the auspices of the former Foundation for Public Relations Education and Research, and was taken over in the early 1990s by JAI Press, a private academic publisher (when it also underwent a change in format).

   The following publications (and others) frequently report research relevant to public relations. Students are encouraged to become familiar with these:

   • Other Scholarly Journals Applicable to Public Relations
     Applied Communication Research *PN4701.C4X
     Communication Monographs
     Communication Research *PN91.C56
     Communication Studies PN4701.C4X
     Communication Quarterly PN4701.T6X
     Critical Studies in Mass Communication
     Media Center Journal (formerly Gannett Center Journal)
     Human Communication Research P91.3.H85
     International Journal of Public Opinion
     Journal of Advertising HF5801.J59
     Journal of Advertising Research HF5801.J6
     Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media PN1991.J6
     Journal of Communication *PN 1991.J6
     Journal of Consumer Research HC100.C6/J68X
     Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising HF5801.C84 (formerly Current Issues....)
     Journal of Marketing HF5415.A/J6
     Journal of Marketing Research HF 5415..2/J66
     Journal of Media Ethics
     Journalism History PN4700.J65
     Journalism Monographs
     Journalism Quarterly *PN4700.J7
     Mass Comm Review
     Newspaper Research Journal
     Public Opinion Quarterly *HM261.A1.P8
     Speech Monographs PN4701.S6
     Southern Speech Communication Journal PN4701.S65
     Western Journal of Speech Communication PN4701.W45
   Professional

   The following are non-refereed periodicals that frequently include substantive information that that might be valuable for graduate research purposes.

   • Communication World -- Official journal of the International Association of Business Communicators.

   • Public Relations Journal -- Published for 50 years by the Public Relations Society of America. (Succeeded in 1994 by two other publication listed below as professional publications.

   • Public Relations Quarterly -- Opinion articles and case studies, produced by independent publishing company.

   Two brand new publications produced by Ragan Communications, Inc., Chicago are:

   • Ragan's Public Relations Journal

   • Journal of Employee Communication Management

   About 15 other magazines and newsletters are published in the public relations field and are possible sources of information or case study materials.

   The following four publications are available from the instructor and contain current articles of potential interest to researchers:

   • O'Dwyer's PR Services Report -- A monthly magazine. Issues are often devoted to a particular specialty, with profiles of practitioners and agencies.

   • pr reporter -- A weekly newsletter devoted to the application of behavioral concepts to public relations practice.

   • Public Relations Strategist -- Quarterly slick magazine primarily direct to senior public relations executives and chief executive officers.

   • Tactics -- Monthly tabloid focusing on current practices and industry news.

   Other publications in the field are:

   • Magazines

     Adweek
     Advertising Age
     CASE Currents -- Council for Advancement and Support of Education
     Inside PR/Reputation Management
     Investor Relations Update

   • Newsletters

     Communication Briefing -- Biweekly newsletter on effective communication
     Community Relations Report -- Advice on all aspects of outreach activities
     Jack O'Dwyer's Newsletter -- Leading weekly newsletter about the public relations business, personnel.
     Ragan Report -- Advice on internal communications
     Special Events Report -- Covers the special events segment of the field.
     Webmaster's Report -- Devoted to interactive public relations.

   Electronic Data Bases

   Public relations journals and relevant articles are abstracted in more than 20 electronic data bases. Begin your search with those data bases that are most closely focused on your topic.

   • Periodical Abstracts

     ABI Inform
     Academic Index
     Articles lst
     Arts & Humanities Citation Index
     Biography Index
     Business Index
     Business Periodicals Index
     CARL UniCover
     Contents lst
     Current Contents: Social & Behavioral Sciences
     Communication Abstracts
     Current Index to Journals in Education
     Infobank
     Management Contents
     (Newspaper &) Periodical Abstracts
     PAIS Bulletin
     PTS Marketing & Advertising Reference Service
     PsychLit
     References Resources
     Social Science Citation Index
     Sociological Abstracts
     Trade & Industry Index

   Journals in Morgan Library.

   Current issues of all journals can be found in the Journals Room on the second floor. Bound volumes of back issues can be found in the regular stacks ranges.

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   3. Books

   Book titles available at Morgan Library and other regional libraries can be accessed via the SAGE system. Another good way to become familiar with the field is to browse the stacks.

   Public Relations Titles

   Begin your browsing by examining the two ranges where the principal PR materials (including journals) are found. These classifications are found in the central section of the second floor.

   • HM 263 Public Relations
     Contains books on general PR within a social a social science context; public relations immediately follows sections on social psychology, intercultural communication, and public opinion.

   • HD 59 Management Communications
     Focuses on the uses of public relations, publicity, investor and employee communications by organizations; adjacent categories include corporate social responsibility and ethics, risk, and total quality management.

   Other Places to Find PR Books

   • Public libraries that use the Dewey Decimal System catalogue books in classification 659.
   • Current and upcoming titles are listed in Books in Print, Forthcoming Books in Print and other references available in the Library Reference section and at many book stores.
   • Online book vendors have become handy sources for researching (and ordering) books. These include Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Literacape.
   • Large book stores such as Barnes & Noble, Border's and Tattered Cover, usually stock public relations texts within the Business section, often intermixed with Advertising or Sales and Marketing Titles. Also check separate sections devoted to Mass Media.
   • The two leading academic publishers in the field are Lawrence Erlbaum Associates and Sage Publications.

   Books in Related Fields

   The following are the Library of Congress classifications for other categories that might of particular interest.

   • Elsewhere

     BF311 Psychology: Memory and Cognition
     BF323 Psychology: Attitude and Persuasion
     BF637 Psychology: Persuasion, Social Influence

     HF5415 Marketing/Consumer Behavior
     HF5549 Employee Communications (with Human Resources)
     HF5718 Business Writing/Correspondence
     HF5801 Advertising-General

     HM24 Social Research Methods
     HM258 Mass Communications-General
     HM261 Public Opinion
     HN57-59 American Society/Social Problems/Social Movements/ Information Campaigns

     JF2112 Political Campaigns/Elections/Role of Media
     P90/9l Mass Communications, including International and Research Methods
     PN96 News/News Research; Writing for Media
     PN4700- Reporting/Newspapering/Magazines/Broadcast News 5200

     PN4100-4500 Speech/Public Speaking
     T11 Technical Communication
     T385 Computer Graphics
     TR140 Photography
     Z1-125 Printing and Books

   Directories

   More than 50 specialized directories are used by public relations practitioners. Of these, about 35 are devoted to providing lists and information about media outlets.

   For research purposes, many of the other directories are useful sources of contacts and provide a sampling universe for surveys. Among key categories are:

   • PR Professionals and Organizations

     Charitable Organizations of the United States
     Association of Women in Communication (formerly WICI) Membership Directory
     Encyclopedia of Associations
     IABC Membership Directory
     National Directory of Corporate Public Affairs
     National Trade/Professional Associations
     O'Dwyer's Directory of Corporate Communications
     O'Dwyer's Directory of Public Relations Firms
     O'Dwyer's Directory of Public Relations Executives
     PRSA Register--Blue Book Issue of Public Relations Tactics (Membership directory)
     PRSA Red Book of Public Relations Firms
     PRSA Green Book of Public Relations Services
     Professional's Guide to Public Relations Services
     Reed's Worldwide Directory of Public Relations Organizations
     Washington Lobbyist Directory
     Worldwide Government Directory
     Who's Who in America (Marquis)
     Who's Who in Public Relations (pr reporter)

   • Other Potentially Useful Directories

     Awards, Honors, Prizes
     Celebrity Directory
     Celebrity Service International Contact Book
     Chase's Annual Events
     Directory of American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries
     The Foundation Directory
     Holidays and Anniversaries of the World
     International Encyclopedia of Communications
     Literary Market Place
     Standard Rate and Data Service
     Trade Shows Worldwide

   Current publication information for most of these can be found in PRSA's annual Public Relations Bibliography.

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   4.Other Resources

   General Communication Resources

   An excellent overview of general communication research procedures and resources is provided in:

   • Rubin, Rebecca B., Alan M. Rubin & Linda J. Piele (1996). Communication research: strategies and sources, (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
   Two publications that provide more in-depth profiles of academic publications in communication are:
   • Dyer, Carolyn Stewart and James Hamilton, compilers (1995). The Iowa Guide. Scholarly journals in mass communication and related fields. Iowa City, IA: Iowa Center for Communication Study, University of Iowa School of Journalism & Mass Communication.

   • A guide to publishing in scholarly communciation journals. International Communication Association. P.O. Box 7589, Austin, TX 78766.
   Online Searches

   The Internet's World Wide Web is the source of an ever-increasing amount of information on a wide range of subjects, including public relations. Supplement your searches of electronic data bases with:

   • Online Search Engines. Be sure to check out online resources available through the various Internet/WWW search engines. Most can be accessed through Yahoo! at http://www.yahoo.com.

   • CSU J-Links' Public Relations Links contains about 100 links to key public relations sites, including directories of organizational web sites, and a number of useful research data bases under Academic Links.

   Professional Organizations

   These professional organizations produce materials and offer assistance that might be useful in research. For updated information, check their web sites.

   • International Association of Business Communicators
   • Public Relations Society of America

   For additional professional organizations in more specialized areas, see professional organizations under CSU J-Links' section on public relations.

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   Updated January 1998