1. Public Relations Defined — Candidate Definitions
Vote
1. Which is the best definition of public relations?
Response Response
Percent Count
Public relations is the management
function of researching,
communicating and collaborating 23.6% 341
with publics to build mutually
beneficial relationships.
Public relations is a strategic
communication process that
builds mutually beneficial 46.4% 671
relationships between
organizations and their publics.
Public relations is the strategic
process of engagement between
organizations and publics to 30.1% 435
achieve mutual understanding and
realize goals.
answered question 1,447
skipped question 0
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2. 2. In analyzing the definitions and feedback received, some participants felt that the
modern definition of public relations should explicitly reference ethics. Others argued that
ethics guides the profession rather than defines it. Do you think the word “ethics” should
be explicitly included in this definition, as follows: “Public relations is the management
function of ethically researching, communicating and collaborating with publics to build
mutually beneficial relationships.”
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 47.4% 157
No 52.6% 174
answered question 331
skipped question 1,116
3. In analyzing the definitions and feedback received, some participants felt that the
modern definition of public relations should explicitly reference ethics. Others argued that
ethics guides the profession rather than defines it. Do you think the word “ethics” should
be explicitly included in this definition, as follows: "Public relations is a strategic, ethical
communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between
organizations and their publics.”
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 39.7% 261
No 60.3% 397
answered question 658
skipped question 789
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3. 4. In analyzing the definitions and feedback received, some participants felt that the
modern definition of public relations should explicitly reference ethics. Others argued that
ethics guides the profession rather than defines it. Do you think the word “ethics” should
be explicitly included in this definition, as follows: "Public relations is the strategic, ethical
process of engagement between organizations and publics to achieve mutual
understanding and realize goals.”
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 41.1% 174
No 58.9% 249
answered question 423
skipped question 1,024
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4. 5. Are you member of any of these organizations that partnered with PRSA on the "Public
Relations Defined Initiative? (select all that apply)
Response Response
Percent Count
N/A 45.0% 605
Arthur W. Page Society 0.7% 10
Canadian Public Relations Society 3.3% 44
Chartered Institute of Public
1.2% 16
Relations
Global Alliance for Public Relations
0.6% 8
and Communication Management
Hispanic Public Relations
0.4% 5
Association
Institute for Public Relations 1.1% 15
International Association of
5.1% 69
Business Communicators
International Association for the
Measurement and Evaluation of 0.1% 1
Communication (AMEC)
National Association of
0.6% 8
Government Communicators
National Black Public Relations
0.5% 7
Society
Public Relations Society of
35.4% 476
America
Public Relations Student Society of
13.5% 182
America
Word of Mouth Marketing
0.7% 10
Association
Other (please specify)
78
answered question 1,344
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5. skipped question 103
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