JAMM 445 Public Relations: Early history

Quote of the Day “The engineering of consent is the very essence of the democratic process, the freedom to persuade and suggest.” --Edward Bernays, 1947

PR Origins: Rise of PR... Rise of PR... …runs parallel to muckraking …runs parallel to muckraking Businesses sought way to repair their image after negative reports Businesses sought way to repair their image after negative reports

PR Pioneer: Ivy Lee 1 st agency, 1906, New York 1 st agency, 1906, New York Represented railroads, coal companies, Rockefeller family Represented railroads, coal companies, Rockefeller family

PR Pioneer: Ivy Lee “Our plan is, frankly and openly, on behalf of the business concerns and public institutions, to supply to the press and public... prompt and accurate information concerning subjects which it is of value and interest for the public to know about.” “Our plan is, frankly and openly, on behalf of the business concerns and public institutions, to supply to the press and public... prompt and accurate information concerning subjects which it is of value and interest for the public to know about.”

PR Pioneer: Ivy Lee Famous clients Famous clients New York Central RR New York Central RR Colorado Fuel & Iron Colorado Fuel & Iron –(Ludlow Massacre, 1913)

Edward L. Bernays Sigmund Freud’s nephew Sigmund Freud’s nephew Famous clients: AT&T, CBS, Procter & Gamble, American Tobacco, himself Famous clients: AT&T, CBS, Procter & Gamble, American Tobacco, himself

Edward L. Bernays Applied social science concepts (sociology, psychology) to PR Applied social science concepts (sociology, psychology) to PR Book: Crystallizing Public Opinion (1923) Book: Crystallizing Public Opinion (1923) Torches of Liberty Torches of Liberty Light’s Golden Jubilee Light’s Golden Jubilee

Edward Bernays Interviewed by Bill Moyers, 1985 Interviewed by Bill Moyers, 1985 The Image Makers The Image Makers

1930s: Corporate Growth Arthur Page American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) Research Research Lobbying Lobbying Internal communication with employees Internal communication with employees

1930s: Corporate Growth “All business begins with the public permission and exists by public approval.” --Arthur W. Page, 1939

1930s: Anti-union campaign Context: Depression, New Deal, labor unrest Context: Depression, New Deal, labor unrest National Association of Manufacturers fought back with major PR campaign National Association of Manufacturers fought back with major PR campaign Methods: Radio, motion pictures, billboards, direct mail, school displays, speakers bureau Methods: Radio, motion pictures, billboards, direct mail, school displays, speakers bureau Themes Themes –“Prosperity dwells where harmony reigns.” –Businessmen = model citizens

1930s: Anti-union campaign “Selfish groups, including labor, the socialistic-minded and the radical, have constantly and continuously misrepresented industry to the people, with the result that there is a general misinformation of our industrial economy, which is highly destructive...” “Selfish groups, including labor, the socialistic-minded and the radical, have constantly and continuously misrepresented industry to the people, with the result that there is a general misinformation of our industrial economy, which is highly destructive...”

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