During the Cold War, the Soviets were quick to publicize any incident of racial hostility in the United States. Since violence by white Americans against minorities was the perfect foil to America’s claim to be defenders of freedom, news of these occurrences was exploited to full advantage by the Russians. But how did the Soviets gain primary knowledge of race riots in small American towns? Certainly, the Soviets had reporters stationed stateside, in big cities like New York, but research reveals that the majority of their information came directly from U.S. media sources. Throughout this period, the American press provided the foreign media with information about racially charged events in the United States. Such news coverage sometimes put Washington at a disadvantage, making it difficult for government officials to assuage foreign reactions to the injustices occurring on U.S. soil. Yet in other instances, the domestic press helped to promote favorable opinions abroad by articulating themes of racial progress. While still acknowledging racial abuses, these press spokesmen asserted that the situation in America was improving. Such paradoxical messages, both aiding and thwarting the efforts of the U.S. government, are the subject of The Opinions of Mankind: Racial Issues, Press, and Propaganda in the Cold War. The study, by scholars Richard Lentz and Karla K. Gower, describes and analyzes the news discourse regarding U.S. racial issues from 1946 to 1965. The Opinions of Mankindnot only delves into the dissemination of race-related news to foreign outlets but also explores the impact foreign perceptions of domestic racism had on the U.S. government and its handling of foreign relations during the period. What emerges is an original, insightful contribution to Cold War studies. While other books examine race and foreign affairs during this period of American history, The Opinions of Mankind is the first to approach the subject from the standpoint of press coverage and its impact on world public opinion. This exhaustively researched and compellingly written volume will appeal to media scholars, political historians, and general readers alike. By taking a unique approach to the study of this period, The Opinions of Mankind presents the workings behind the battles for public opinion that took place between 1946 and 1965.

The Opinions of Mankind: Racial Issues, Press, and Propaganda in the Cold War (Volume 1)

History

Gower, Karla K.

Lentz, Richard

World

University of Missouri

<p>Review\n“Betsy Plank looms as large over the profession of public relations as her 20th century male counterparts, but she has not received nearly as much credit. Women in public relations have been largely ignored in the historiography of the field, and Karla Gower’s latest book takes a giant step toward correcting that oversight. This history is one of the most significant public relations books to be released in decades.”—Pam Parry, editor of Journalism History and author of Eisenhower: The Public Relations President\n“In her page turning biography, Karla Gower presents a beautifully written and well researched portrait befitting the First Lady of public relations, Betsy Ann Plank. Gower's book gives readers an appreciation of a barrier breaking historical figure whose impact on public relations was immeasurable.”—Cayce Myers, Virginia Tech, author of Public Relations History: Theory, Practice, and Profession\n“Adds to the literature in numerous ways, including being the first book-length treatment of a woman in public relations history and introducing a different approach to PR history by incorporating leadership.”—Karen Miller Russell, University of Georgia, author of Promoting Monopoly: AT&T and the Politics of Public Relations, 1876–1941\nIn 1973, Betsy Ann Plank became the first woman to chair the Public Relations Society of America in its twenty-five-year history. It was a tumultuous time to assume the national association’s leadership. Civil society seemed to be fraying at the edges, and trust in political institutions and corporations had plummeted in the aftermath of Watergate. Nevertheless, Plank, in her fearless style, took up the challenge head-on. From the start and throughout the span of her sixty-three-year career in public relations, she managed to overcome the very real barriers she faced due to gender-based discrimination in what was a male-dominated industry. As a PR practitioner, Plank served as executive vice president of Daniel J. Edelman, Inc., director of PR planning at AT&T, and assistant vice president of external affairs at Illinois Bell. Beyond her service in the professional realm, Plank grew her legacy by taking the time to mentor countless PR professionals, educators, and students. She saw this dissemination of knowledge as her greatest gift to the field of public relations. In this highly readable biography, Karla Gower explores Plank’s personal life and career, tracing her evolution from a low-level job in advertising through her contributions to the rise of the rapidly changing PR industry in the 1960s and the evolution of her personal devotion to the enhancement of public relations education.</p>

Betsy Ann Plank: The Making of a Public Relations Icon

Biographies & Memoirs

Community & Culture

<p>Law and ethics can be formidable topics for many practitioners and students of public relations and related fields. At the same time, they need to be aware of how the law affects how they do their job and be cognizant that their actions may have ethical and legal ramifications for themselves, their employers, and their clients. Ethical and Legal Restraints on Public Relations complements traditional texts used in the study of public relations and mass communication law. The ethics portion of the book addresses classical approaches to ethics, business ethics, theories of public relations ethics, and ethics codes. It also provides practical guidelines for working through ethical dilemmas. The remainder of the module is devoted to law: First Amendment theory and its relevance for public relations speech; corporate and commercial speech; specific areas of the law, such as government regulations, torts, and intellectual property. Gower, a former practicing attorney and PR professional, includes meaningful cases and examples to illustrate specific legal concepts and the reasoning behind each one. She prepares readers for the real world by giving them knowledge that will be integral throughout every phase of their career. Chapters include summaries and discussion questions.</p>

Legal and Ethical Restraints on Public Relations

Business & Money

Marketing & Sales

Waveland Pr Inc.

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