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Chapter 3- What Does the History of PR Teach You? September 9, 2008

• While public relations is considered by many to be a relatively new profession, its roots lie throughout history and it has been shaped by its undeniable role in major historic events, such as the rhetoric of ancient Greece, the American revolution, and both WWI and WWII.
• Social developments in America during the Progressive era such as the growth of institutions, expansion of democracy, technological improvements in communications, growth of advocacy, and search for consensus fostered the expansion of public relations.
• The early 20^th century saw the establishment of the first public relations agencies due to the gradual increase in demand for public communication specialists. However, many of these initial attempts were in vain due to their lack of credibility, which resulted in great suspicion of anything labeled as “publicity” by the public
• Figures such as Roosevelt, Ledbetter, and Bernays laid the foundation of what public relations is today. Its utilization in WWII proved successful, causing the profession to boom in its wake, helping to fuel the great social change that occurred in the following decades.
• Although public relations has made great advances, the profession’s struggles of the past must be remembered in order for it to continue successfully adapting in the future