The History of Public Relations

The History of Public Relations

The act of public relations dates back to 52 B.C.E. in ancient Rome and continues on

today all around the world. Public relations is defined as the controlling factor that searches to

form and maintain relationships between organizations, profit or non-profit and the public that

are beneficial for both parties (Bates). The age of public relations as a profession evolved in the

20th Century, mainly in the United States, but its foundation can be followed throughout the age

of man. The practice of public relations is dedicated to complete honesty and openness in its

communications and operations. Over time, the force of professional public relations has

triumphed over several setbacks.

Arthur W. Page, creator of the five principles of corporate public relations in 1927 stated,

"All business in a democratic country begins with public permission and exists by public

approval. If that be true, it follows that business should be cheerfully willing to tell the public

what its policies are, what it is doing, and what it hopes to do. This seems practically a duty."

Page's principles still carry on today with many businesses and corporations.

Page and other renown public relations professionals such as Edward Bernays, founder of

modern public relations, believe that pr and civilization is a collaboration that exists throughout

time. As far back as the time of Julius Caesar, many historians believe the he wrote his

Commentaries as governor of Gaul to promote himself to the public. Caesar, being aware of

persuasion and how news can inform the public, published a daily paper called Acta Diurna,

meaning "daily acts" or "daily records", that carried on for 400years. Since the invention of

writing, public relations was formed. Leaders of ancient civilizations used writings to promote

their superiority in war and politics. Public interest became a huge priority for everyone.

The Renaissance and Reformation founded the modern world and the first stages of

public relations that is attributed to public and private organizations today and several articles of

history. The Magna Carta, which influenced the U.S. Constitution, for example, empowered the

right to public opinion. In 1789, the leaders of the French Revolution wrote Declaration of the

Rights of Man and Citizens, to promote citizens to express and communicate their opinion freely.

With this, the French gained support for the French Revolution from the public.

Many proficient public relations writers arose from England's American colonies. Such

legendary experts include Samuel Adams, John Jay, Paul Revere, and Benjamin Franklin. These

men used preaching, meetings, newspapers, pamphlets, committees, and written communication

to persuade the public to support their cause. The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander

Hamilton, James Madison, and Jay in 1787 to 1788, won public approval of the Constitution by

publishing to the press. Other great works that paved the way for the public relations field are,

the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Public relations, though used throughout history, has just made an imprint on U.S.

society in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century as a profession. With the

building of a corporate world in the late 19th century, public relations blossomed. It was not long

that many employers discovered that their employees have a voice and how the public views

their business may be detrimental to their sales. The war between employer and employee

would soon be over with the establishment of press bureaus. These press bureaus would manage

the dispersal of news in their favor and unfavorable to their competitors. It was not until the late

1800s that the term public relations would be vastly used. The Association of American

Railroads was the first to coin the term in its 1897 Year Book of Railway Literature (Bates).

Public relations derived from the press bureaus, with single publicists, to a vas variety of

PR experts employed by publicity firms. In the early 18th century, George V.S. Michaelis,

Thomas O. Marvin, and Herbert Small, founded the first U.S. publicity firm called, The

Publicity