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The Evolution of Public Relations

You probably know a thing or two about public relations, but do you know the history of this profession? This practice has shaped the world for thousands of years from 50 B.C. with Julius Caesar to 1776 when Thomas Paine published a pamphlet that helped fuel the American Revolution even in present times with the creation of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in 1947.

This info graphic from Max Borges Agency highlights some of the important turning points in public relations.

The “father of public relations” continues to remain a topic of debate. According to some, Ivy Lee (1877-1934) was believed to be the first PR specialist, while others think it was Edward Bernays (1891-1995).

Ivy Lee is known for initiating the press release while Bernays is known for contributing to the growth of the theory of PR as well as refining Lee’s press release.

In order for the PR industry to keep up with the day-to-day changes in digital media, its purpose is to build strong relationships between organizations and the public.

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