PR

JOSEPH V. BAKER APR

Joseph Varney Baker formed his public relations firm in 1934. It was the first known Black public relations firm in the United States and the first Black agency to serve national accounts. Baker was elected president of PRSA’s Philadelphia Chapter in 1958, the first African American to hold that position. In addition, he was the first African American to earn APR accreditation from PRSA. Baker was also active in politics for many years. He served as an assistant on Richard Nixon’s campaign staff when Nixon ran for president against John F. Kennedy.

In the early 1900s, before the advent of radio and television, Americans counted on newspapers and the growth of the penny press as their primary news sources. And public relations practitioners counted on newspaper story placements to advance their causes. (Shawshots / Alamy Stock Photo) for some historians public relations has deep roots in world history. As a profession, however, public relations is much more recent. Public relations in the United States developed in tandem with multiple sectors including politics, education, business, entertainment and religion.

Politics and America

Political communication in America is one of the first iterations of what would later be recognized as public relations. Colonial history has numerous examples of how effective advocacy created a pro-independence culture among colonists. Pamphlets were a major form of published communication during the era. Figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson used anti-British writings to influence public debate and opinion during the 1770s. During the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, which totaled 85 essays and editorials, examined parts of the proposed Constitution and advocated for ratification. It is thought by some that these papers were the turning point for shaping public opinion in favor of ratifying the Constitution.

However, looking at American politics, the role of public relations as a practice and concept began to gain traction in the early 1800s. This coincided with many changes going on in American society, including increasing literacy, an expanding electorate and the rise of the penny press. These factors led to a more engaged society that had the time and ability to read and reflect on the political issues of the day. President Andrew Jackson is credited with appointing a staff member assigned to political public relations (Amos Kendall).

In the mid-19th century, political culture also underwent a change. Constituent relations became an aspect of political life that had increasing importance. In fact, the term “public relations” was sometimes used to

Pr Notables Of American

SCOTT M. CUTLIP APR, Fellow PRSA

1915–2000

Scott Munson Cutlip was a pioneer in public relations education. In 1952, he co-wrote the first edition of “Effective Public Relations” with Allen H. Center, APR, Fellow PRSA. This continues to be one of the most important textbooks in the study of public relations and communications. The book presents the first detailed history of public relations from 1900 through the 1960s. Cutlip received PRSA’s Gold Anvil Award in 1995.