Chris Galloway

Deliver us from definitions: A fresh way of looking at public relations

Public relations (PR) is caught up in a seemingly endless quest to define its identity through locating the essence of its practice. This article not only questions the value of the quest but also offers an alternative ‘apophatic’ path – one based on what may not be said about the profession. This way of building understanding through negation is found in various religious traditions and also in the works of some modern philosophers and poets. Rather than adding to the multiple efforts to define PR’s essence – most recently by the Public Relations Society of America – an apophatic approach could help clear the profession’s field of vision by removing some accumulated definitional debris. In this way, it could serve as an alternative strategy to assist those both inside and outside the profession to better describe what PR does.

The role of “organic public relations” in communicating wicked public health issues

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the applicability of the organic theory of public relations to address “wicked” problems in public health systems. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper, based on critical assessment and application of relevant theory. Findings – The organic approach to public relations practice is more likely to succeed than largely organization-centric models as advocated in the work of J.E. Grunig and others. The rationale is that addressing wicked problems involves recruiting a wide range of insights and facilitating collaborative action. The broad, inclusive orientation of the organic theory is expected to be more effective than familiar, but more narrowly organization-focussed strategies. Research limitations/implications – The organic theory advocated here has potential heuristic value for future research in communication related to the delivery of social services. Practical implications – Public health system managers and policy makers who adopt ...