Martha M. Lauzen

Liberating the Intellectual Domain From the Practice: Public Relations, Activism, and the Role of the Scholar

Unlike practitioners, public relations scholars must consider unintended consequences of public relations practices at the societal and individual levels. By extending the domain in this way, logical paradoxes involving activism and nomothetic models of public relations may be resolved through the introduction of critical theory. Use of critical theory illuminates the role of invisible clients in setting the public relations research agenda and in truncating our intellectual vision. Critical theory suggests ways to study activism from a new perspective that would enhance practices and further the evolution of the intellectual domain.

Constructing Gender Stereotypes Through Social Roles in Prime-Time Television

Using a sample of 124 prime-time television programs airing on the 6 broadcast networks during the 2005–06 season, this study examined the social roles enacted by female and male characters. The findings confirm that female characters continue to inhabit interpersonal roles involved with romance, family, and friends. In contrast, male characters are more likely to enact work-related roles. Moreover, programs employing one or more women writers or creators are more likely to feature both female and male characters in interpersonal roles whereas programs employing all-male writers and creators are more likely to feature both female and male characters in work roles.

Imperialism and encroachment in public relations

Abstract Using a systematic sample of 168 public relations practitioners in the United States, the author examined the effects of aggressive movement of the marketing, legal, personnel, and human resources development departments into public relations activities. Findings suggest that only marketing departments translated imperialistic behavior into encroachment. As a result, marketing imperialism threatens the independence of the public relations function.

Making a difference in prime time: Women on screen and behind the scenes in the 1995–96 television season

Considering the top 65 prime‐time series in the first 14 weeks of the 1995–96 television season, this study examined the relationship between women working behind the scenes and use of powerful language by female characters. Powerful language attributes included how often female characters spoke, had the first and/or last substantive word, interrupted, and advised others. The study found somewhat inconsistent relationships between women working behind the scenes and the use of powerful televisual language patterns by female characters. Female executive producers and producers appear to be more influential in the use of powerful language than female writers or directors.

Recognition and Respect Revisited: Portrayals of Age and Gender in Prime-Time Television

Analyzing prime-time programs from the 2002–2003 season, this study examined the recognition and respect afforded characters in varying demographic groups. Although Americans 60 and older constitute 18% of the population, findings indicate that such individuals comprised only 4% of major characters in prime-time television. Overall, up to age 60, leadership and occupational power increased with age. However, middle-aged males were more likely to play leadership roles and wield occupational power than their female counterparts.

When marketing involvement matters at the manager level

Abstract This study examined how interdependencies created by domain similarity and resource dependence are related to interdepartmental power. Specifically, the study focused on the relationship between public relations and marketing departments from the perspective of 262 public relations practitioners in the United States. Findings indicate that domain similarity and resource dependence between the two departments is positively associated with the eventual take over of the less powerful department (public relations) by the more powerful department (marketing).

Evening the Score in Prime Time: The Relationship Between Behind-the-Scenes Women and On-Screen Portrayals in the 2002-2003 Season

Using situation comedies and dramas airing on the 6 broadcast networks in the 2002-2003 prime-time season, this study analyzed employment of women behind the scenes and more equitable portrayals of female and male characters. In 78 separate tests, the employment of one or more women writers, creators, or executive producers was associated with reduced on-screen gender differences in leadership, occupational power, and goal-seeking behavior, when compared to programs with all-male writers, creators, and executive producers. In 5 of 9 tests, no statistically significant gender differences regarding leadership, occupational power, and goal-seeking behavior were found when women were present behind the scenes.

Public relations manager involvement in strategic issue diagnosis

Abstract This pilot study seeks to build theoretical understanding of how public relations practitioner involvement in one type of strategic organizational decision making—strategic issue diagnosis—is related to shared values with top management, diagnosis accuracy, strategy pursued, and power of the public relations function. Strategic issue diagnosis (SID) is the process decision makers use to understand environmental issues and events. Findings of this exploratory study suggest that the number of perceived shared values is positively and directly related to active sense-making strategies (SID), and negatively related to encroachment, the assignment of top positions in public relations departments to individuals without training or experience in public relations. Active SID, in turn, is positively related to accurate issue diagnosis and strategic change. Strategic change is negatively related to encroachment.

Public Relations Practitioner Role Enactment in Issues Management

Public relations practitioners usually assume a primary role as either managers or technicians. This study examines how these roles are related to issues management and concludes that managers are responsible for all steps in the issues management process.

Effects of Gender on Professional Encroachment in Public Relations

Using a systematic sample of 166 public relations practitioners in the United States, this study tests a model that explains the effects of gender on professional encroachment, which is the assignment of non-public relations professionals as top public relations managers. Organizations in which the top public relations practitioner is a woman are likely to have higher levels of encroachment than organizations where the top practitioner is male. Women are less likely to have worked long enough to obtain the skills and perspectives of management.