PR in Fiction vs The Professional Project: Who tells the most convincing story?
(2013) BARCELONA MEETING COM#3: INTERNATIONAL PR 2013 CONFERENCE: REPRESENTING PR: IMAGES, IDENTITIES, AND INNOVATIONS p.1-13- Abstract
- In most genres of fiction representations of a profession, discipline or calling must broadly resonate with the conceptions of that role held by audiences.
But very few represenations of PR practice to be found in novels written by UK-based writers draw a picture of PR activity that sits comfortably with the ”idealised” models offered by organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, or by many standard PR textbooks.
Although by its very nature, storytelling tends towards a distorted and sensationalised discourse for dramatic or humorous effect, but it will often take care not stray too far from perceived reality.
Some novelists will draw on personal... (More) - In most genres of fiction representations of a profession, discipline or calling must broadly resonate with the conceptions of that role held by audiences.
But very few represenations of PR practice to be found in novels written by UK-based writers draw a picture of PR activity that sits comfortably with the ”idealised” models offered by organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, or by many standard PR textbooks.
Although by its very nature, storytelling tends towards a distorted and sensationalised discourse for dramatic or humorous effect, but it will often take care not stray too far from perceived reality.
Some novelists will draw on personal experience, perhaps from their experience of working within PR (Graeme Lancaster, David Michie etc), others may have derive inspiration from their experiences as being the product in whose service PR is utilised. Some will spend time meticulously investigating their subject, others may feel that, say, the exposition of a minor character does not merit detailed research. The former may speak to practitioners directly, and both will drawn on a range of wider cultural references, from magazine or newspaper profiles to biographies of PR exponents. They may well tap into stories – perhaps mere gossip, anecdote and rumour - for dramatic inspiration. However the process works, they will engage with a broad discourse surrounding the reputation and perception of PR practice.
This paper argues that the key characteristics displayed in UK novels, ranging from serious literary fiction to so-called chick lit and science fiction, present a more more accurate representation of both what PR practitioners actually do, their characteristics and their behaviours, than the normative models held up as ”excellent” by the professional bodies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4353999
- author
- Young, Philip LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2013
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- unpublished
- subject
- keywords
- public relations, ethics, professional practice
- pages
- 13 pages
- conference name
- BARCELONA MEETING COM#3: INTERNATIONAL PR 2013 CONFERENCE: REPRESENTING PR: IMAGES, IDENTITIES, AND INNOVATIONS
- conference dates
- 2013-07-02
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- c4bd138c-564d-4110-92fd-e78aa78ccbc0 (old id 4353999)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 14:08:38
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 21:18:32
@misc{c4bd138c-564d-4110-92fd-e78aa78ccbc0,
abstract = {{In most genres of fiction representations of a profession, discipline or calling must broadly resonate with the conceptions of that role held by audiences. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
But very few represenations of PR practice to be found in novels written by UK-based writers draw a picture of PR activity that sits comfortably with the ”idealised” models offered by organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, or by many standard PR textbooks. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Although by its very nature, storytelling tends towards a distorted and sensationalised discourse for dramatic or humorous effect, but it will often take care not stray too far from perceived reality. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Some novelists will draw on personal experience, perhaps from their experience of working within PR (Graeme Lancaster, David Michie etc), others may have derive inspiration from their experiences as being the product in whose service PR is utilised. Some will spend time meticulously investigating their subject, others may feel that, say, the exposition of a minor character does not merit detailed research. The former may speak to practitioners directly, and both will drawn on a range of wider cultural references, from magazine or newspaper profiles to biographies of PR exponents. They may well tap into stories – perhaps mere gossip, anecdote and rumour - for dramatic inspiration. However the process works, they will engage with a broad discourse surrounding the reputation and perception of PR practice.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
This paper argues that the key characteristics displayed in UK novels, ranging from serious literary fiction to so-called chick lit and science fiction, present a more more accurate representation of both what PR practitioners actually do, their characteristics and their behaviours, than the normative models held up as ”excellent” by the professional bodies.}},
author = {{Young, Philip}},
keywords = {{public relations; ethics; professional practice}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{1--13}},
title = {{PR in Fiction vs The Professional Project: Who tells the most convincing story?}},
year = {{2013}},
}