• How it works

researchprospect post subheader

Useful Links

How much will your dissertation cost?

Have an expert academic write your dissertation paper!

Dissertation Services

Dissertation Services

Get unlimited topic ideas and a dissertation plan for just £45.00

Order topics and plan

Order topics and plan

Get 1 free topic in your area of study with aim and justification

Yes I want the free topic

Yes I want the free topic

Public Relations Dissertation Topics

Published by Grace Graffin at January 4th, 2023 , Revised On May 3, 2024

Public relations is a communication process that builds a positive relationship between an organisation and its audience. In other words, a public relations professional is responsible for using strategic communication to build a positive image of an organisation or individual through unpaid and earned means. The earned channels leveraged to build a positive image include news and press, media outreach, and social media engagements.

Public relations is a lot different from advertising and is much more difficult, too. Using unpaid means and earned channels for image building is more difficult than employing paid methodologies for creating brand awareness and image.

Given its high importance for a company, a public relations professional has to be the master of his job. Choosing public relations as a career is deemed as a very excellent choice, as its demand and importance are gaining importance day by day.

You might have approached or just entered your final year of the public relations degree and may be required to start working on the dissertation. If that is the case, you may be quite nervous and slightly clueless as to where to begin your work. the entire process starts with choosing a topic that is worthy of being discussed. If you are struggling to select the right topic for your public relations dissertation , here are a few topics along with their research aims for your guidance.

Want to know what essay structure and style will work best for your assignment?

Problem fixed! We can write any type of essay in any referencing style. We ensure every essay written is beyond your expectations.

essay structure

Topic 1: Investigating the role of target marketing through public relations while confronting the increasing competition in digital marketing.

Research Aim: The research examines the significance of target marketing with the help of public relations while dealing with the rising competition in digital marketing.

Objectives:

  • To identify the use of public relations strategies for target marketing practices.
  • To analyse the way companies use PR strategies for target marketing to gain competitive advantages in digital marketing activities.
  • To suggest ideas about how PR strategies can be used in a better way for target marketing thereby confronting competition in digital marketing.

Topic 2: Examining the role of different PR tools in improving relations between brands and customers – a study on the usefulness of newsletters.

Research Aim: The research aims to identify and assess the usefulness of different PR tools to improve the relationship between brands and customers. For analysing PR tools, this study will specifically focus on the use of newsletters.

  • To identify different PR tools and analyse their importance in marketing, especially newsletters.
  • To investigate the role of newsletters as a PR tool in improving relations between brands and customers.
  • To recommend strategies about how newsletters can be used more strategically to improve relations between brands and customers.

Topic 3: A study on the impact of the rising demand and trend of digital marketing on the radical changes in public relations strategies.

Research Aim: The research aim is to carry out a detailed discussion on the impacts of the growing demands and ongoing trend of digital marketing on the radical changes in public relations strategies in the modern age.

  • To describe how demand for digital marketing is increasing and the way it is becoming an important trend.
  • To examine how changes in PR strategies are driven by the trend of digital marketing and rising demands for advanced marketing practices.
  • To provide recommendations for advancing the PR strategies to respond to the increasing demands of digital marketing.

Topic 4: The impact of paid PR on the brand penetration of UK based tech startups through their social media platforms

Research Aim: The research aim evaluates the impact of paid PR on the brand penetration of UK-based tech startups through their social media platforms

  • To shed light on the concept of brand penetration and paid PR
  • To examine the significance of brand penetration and paid PR in UK-based tech startups
  • To analyse how brand penetration of UK-based tech startups has been impacted by paid PR through their social media platforms

Topic 5: An investigation into the different ways paid PR is impacting the workforce and productivity of the UK-based SMEs

Research Aim: The research aim concentrates on the different ways paid PR is impacting the workforce and productivity of UK-based SMEs.

  • To examine the concept of paid PR and its importance in SMEs
  • To identify different ways through which the workforce and productivity of the UK-based SMEs can be improved
  • To evaluate how paid PR in different ways is impacting the workforce and productivity of UK-based SMEs

Topic 6: Impact of social media on public relations strategies

Research Aim: Even since social media was invented, it has changed the patterns of communication in regular and corporate settings. Social media has inevitably changed how organisations interact with their audience since they are ensuring their presence on relevant platforms.

The main aim of the research will be to identify how social media has affected traditional public relations strategies.

Topic 7: The relationship between public relations and inbound marketing

Research Aim:  Inbound marketing uses multiple marketing tools and techniques such as content marketing, blogs, and social media to create brand awareness and attract new business. Inbound marketing aims to build a relationship of goodwill with the customers, consumers, and prospects which somehow relates to public relations.

The aim of the research is to identify how(if ) public relations and inbound marketing are related to each other by tracing their overlapping characteristics.

Topic 8: Can Public relations and advertising go hand in hand

Research Aim:  Most people confuse public relations for advertising, although they are two separate strategies employed to achieve similar goals for a business. In that regard, it is important to identify if public relations and advertising can go hand in hand and what outcomes they may cause.

Topic 9: Public relations and artificial intelligence

Research Aim:  The future belongs to artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence refers to technology   that can imitate human cognitive abilities and thus perform tasks that are ascribed to humans. Since artificial intelligence is going to take over, it already has, and it will change the operation of public relations. The responses and communication generated by public relations professionals will be generated by bots geared toward artificial intelligence.

The target of the research will be identifying how and in what capacity artificial intelligence will modify the practice of public relations.

Topic 10: Differences between traditional vs modern public relation practices

Research Aim: The aim of the research will be to compare and contrast the conventional and modern practices of public relations. The researcher will evaluate the key practices employed and the channels selected today versus a couple of decades ago and highlight the key differences. The researcher can identify as many variables as possible to perform a clear and broad comparison between both strategies.

Topic 11: The evolution of the PR agency model

Research Aim: The PR agency model today is not the same as what it used to be a couple of years ago. The researcher will study and evaluate the evolution process of the PR agency model and key changes that have occurred over the period.

Topic 12: Significance of public relations for social media influencers

Research Aim:  Social media influencers are gaining more importance as their influencer marketing is reaching new heights. While they play a significant role in helping brands achieve their marketing goals, they need to build public relations to keep themselves relevant, credible, and valuable to a particular niche. The aim of the research will be to identify how it is important for social media influencers to strengthen their PR strategies.

Topic 13: positive public relations- case study

Research Aim: Public relations is perceived with a negative connotation in general, although it is not like that. The aim of the research is to study and highlight positive public relations through different case studies. The researcher can choose very immediate examples or global examples.

Topic 14: public relations strategy employed by brands in the pandemic

Research Aim: While the pandemic was a shocking situation for all of us, the brands were having multiple problems in terms of managing health as well as the economic crisis at the time. During the pandemic, different responses from different brands were noted, which was a part of the public relations policy. The aim of the research is to identify how brands were able to execute their public relations strategy.

Topic 15: Public relations as an instrument to increase ROI

Research Aim: The main goal of public relations is to increase brand awareness, promote goodwill, and increase demand. The aim of the research is to identify if a public relations campaign can be oriented to increase the ROI and, if it does, How.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service !

Also Read: Civil Engineering Dissertation Topics

Topic 16: Effectiveness of public relations in the health sector- case study

Research Aim: Public relations is only associated with businesses, politics, and media, but it can be used for just every sector. The research will identify how necessary public relations are and how effective they can be for the health sector by conducting a case study.

Topic 17: Uses and abuses of public relations

Research Aim:  Although public relations strategies are useful and important, they have flaws of their own kind. The flaws lie in how the strategy is prepared and executed and the goals it aims to target.

The aim of the research will be to identify and analyse the uses and abuses of public relations. The researcher can evaluate in what ways public relations can be useful and in what ways they cannot.

Topic 18: Importance of public relations for political parties in the age of technology

Research Aim: The political parties rely on public relations to establish a relationship of goodwill and create a good image in front of the public. With the advent of social media, political parties have to be extra conscious as one act can ruin their established credibility. The study will aim to find out how it has become more important than ever for political parties to focus on public relations for their own benefit.

Also Read: Politics Dissertation Topics

Topic 19: Public relations and journalism

Research Aim:  The aim of the research is to identify how public relations is important in journalism and vice versa. The research will also identify the key similarities between public relations and journalism. The researcher can also point out to what extent public relations is misused by political leaders to influence journalism.

Also Read: Media Dissertation Topics

Topic 20: How PR programs have affected the government plans and decisions around the world

Research Aim: The research will analyse and evaluate how public relations programs run by state heads or governments have affected their decisions and plans. The researcher can take the example of successful and unsuccessful PR campaigns and their impact, respectively.

Topic 21: How technology has changed the strategies of public relations

Research Aim: The research will evaluate and figure out the changes that occurred to public relations strategies due to the technology. The researcher can evaluate the impact of different technologies to understand the impact.

Topic 22: Whistleblowers and public relations

Research Aim:  Whistleblowers are individuals responsible for reporting any wrongdoings that may cause a threat to society to those in authority to rectify them. The whistleblowers thus play an important role in helping public leaders in improving public relations. The aim of the research would be to find out the wide-ranging benefits of whistleblowers for making effective public relations plans.

Topic 23: Trends in advertising and public relations to look forward to

Research Aim: The aim of the research is to find out the trends in advertising and public relations today and in the future. The research will also find the potential of each trend to evaluate how long it is expected to remain relevant in their respective fields.

Topic 24: Importance of strategic communication in PR

Research Aim: Communication is the key tool of PR. The research will find the definition of strategic communication. It will also identify and explore the importance of strategic communication in PR and the ways to improve it.

Topic 25: Tourism and public relations

Research Aim:  The aim of the research is to identify the importance of public relations for tourism sectors for enhancing tourism. Tourism is not something about the tourists and destination, but it is a major government sector that can help economic growth if focused on it . It will analyse and evaluate the key elements essential for fostering tourism that is possible with public relations.

List of New & Trending Dissertation Topics on Public Relations

  • A Case Study Analysis on the Role of Public Relations in Crisis Management
  • The Influence of Social Media on Public Relations Strategies.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility and Its Impact on Public Relations Practices.
  • The Use of Influencers in Contemporary Public Relations Campaigns.
  • Challenges and Solutions of Public Relations Ethics in the Digital Age
  • The Effectiveness of Storytelling in Public Relations Campaigns.
  • Campaign Strategies in Public Relations and Political Communication.
  • Stakeholder Engagement Strategies in Public Relations
  • The Role of Emotional Appeal in Public Relations Messaging.
  • The Impact of Culture on International Public Relations Campaigns.
  • The Role of Public Relations in Influencing Public Policy.
  • Social Justice and Advocacy Campaigns in Public Relations.
  • Employee Engagement in Internal Public Relations Communications.
  • The Influence of Visual Communication in Public Relations.
  • Globalisation and Localisation in Public Relations Campaigns.
  • The Role of Public Relations in Building Trust in Financial Institutions.
  • The Role of Emotion in Public Relations Crisis Communication.
  • Public Relations Strategies for Startups and Small Businesses.
  • The Influence of Generation Z on Public Relations Practices.

Free Dissertation Topic

Phone Number

Academic Level Select Academic Level Undergraduate Graduate PHD

Academic Subject

Area of Research

Frequently Asked Questions

How to find public relations dissertation topics.

To discover public relations dissertation topics:

  • Examine recent PR challenges.
  • Investigate industry trends.
  • Analyse PR strategies’ effectiveness.
  • Explore ethics and social media’s role.
  • Consider cross-cultural PR issues.
  • Select a topic aligning with your passion and career objectives.

You May Also Like

Business psychology improves job satisfaction and motivates employees to perform better. In simple terms, it is the study of how people and groups interact to maximize their productivity.  

Need interesting and manageable Engineering Management dissertation topics or thesis? Here are the trending Operations Marketing dissertation titles so you can choose the most suitable one.

Are you looking for a dissertation topic on dementia? We have a list of the top 55 dementia dissertation topics by experts for you to ace your dissertation.

USEFUL LINKS

LEARNING RESOURCES

researchprospect-reviews-trust-site

COMPANY DETAILS

Research-Prospect-Writing-Service

  • How It Works

DissertationTop Phone Number

Home » Blog » Dissertation » Topics » Public Relations » Public Relations Dissertation Topics (26 Examples) For Research

thesis topics in public relations

Public Relations Dissertation Topics (26 Examples) For Research

Mark Aug 15, 2021 Aug 16, 2021 Public Relations No Comments

Public relation is a practice of deliberately managing the spread of information between the organization and the public. The ability of a company to relate to the public has an impact on its reputation and position. We have listed down some of the most impressive public relations dissertation topics that you can practice on. The […]

thesis topics in public relations

Public relation is a practice of deliberately managing the spread of information between the organization and the public. The ability of a company to relate to the public has an impact on its reputation and position. We have listed down some of the most impressive public relations dissertation topics that you can practice on.

A list Of Public Relations Dissertation Topics

Topic with mini-proposal (paid service).

Along with a topic, you will also get;

  • An explanation why we choose this topic.
  • 2-3 research questions.
  • Key literature resources identification.
  • Suitable methodology with identification of raw sample size, and data collection method
  • View a sample of topic consultation service

Get expert dissertation writing help to achieve good grades

  • Writer consultation before payment to ensure your work is in safe hands.
  • Free topic if you don't have one
  • Draft submissions to check the quality of the work as per supervisor's feedback
  • Free revisions
  • Complete privacy
  • Plagiarism Free work
  • Guaranteed 2:1 (With help of your supervisor's feedback)
  • 2 Instalments plan
  • Special discounts

Other Posts

Message Us On WhatsApp

144 Public Relations Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for inspiring public relations topics? This field is really worth exploring!

  • 🔝 Top 10 PR Topics
  • 🏆 Best PR Essay Examples
  • 🕵 Current PR Topics to Research

👍 Interesting PR Topics to Write About

  • 🔥 Hot PR Assignment Topics
  • 🎓 Controversial PR Research Topics

❓ Public Relations Discussion Questions

In your public relations essay, you might want to focus on mass communication or media relations. Corporate PR is another current public relations assignment topic. In this article, we’ve gathered hot PR topics that will be suitable for essays, research papers, presentations, theses, and other projects. A collection of public relations essay examples is a nice bonus!

🔝 Top 10 Public Relations Topics

  • Public relations in business
  • History of public relations
  • Crisis management in political public relations
  • Public relations in non-governmental field
  • Ethical issues of public relations
  • Public relations and advertising: compare and contrast
  • Social media marketing as one of the key PR tactics
  • Audience targeting as a PR technique
  • Public relations campaign: the main stages
  • Classification of the publics in PR

🏆 Best Public Relations Essay Examples

  • The Coca Cola Public Relations: PR Strategy and Examples — Case Study Example The Coca Cola Company is an international firm based in the United States and is one of the leading manufacturers of soft drinks and other related products.
  • Four Models of Public Relations So, the use of the press agentry model can be considered the most harmful when applied with the purpose of gaining money whereas the application of a two-way symmetric model is considered to be the […]
  • Discussion on Grunig and Hunt’s Public Relations Model In regard to this model, Grunig and Hunt propose that communication is two-way between the organization and the public. In these models, the writers present communication to the public and the organization and therefore the […]
  • Fire and emergency public relations management The video publications are significant in the provision of information to the public and employees as well as educating the fire service employees on issues concerning fire and emergency management.
  • Public Relations and Cultural Intermediation The significance of PR studies as such is both theoretical and practical; as for the narrow topic of the study, the primary importance of recognising PR as a cultural mediator, in the view of Edwards, […]
  • Public Relations in Healthcare and Their Features Practically, healthcare PR has many objectives, the most vital of which are the improvement of the quality of care, the establishment of a good reputation, and the reduction of cost of care.
  • Public Relations However, it is important to understand that balancing the company’s need and those of the customer is a crucial step, and any strategy used by the company in the marketing process must be guided by […]
  • Advertising, Publicity, and Public Relations Publicity is the act of drawing the attention of the media in order to improve the visibility of a brand, product or a company in the public. Second, publicity is cost-effective and provides a lot […]
  • Public Relations and its importance in Modern Society Public relations is the procedure of checking the flow of information between an institution and its community. This became a success and thus led to creation of awareness to the Americans of the influence that […]
  • Model of Excellence Theory in Public Relations Department For the public relations department, establishing good relationship with the clients and people associated with the company is most important and more important is the way to retain this relationship.
  • Toyota Company’s Public Relations and Marketing The recall crisis has led to the development of a negative perception and public image of Toyota Company. The internal society within the Toyota Company forms the first and most important stakeholders in this campaign.
  • Public Relations Campaign To understand the problem at hand, it is important to give a brief overview of the project and the need to launch the campaign.
  • Public Relations Law in Australia Defamation cases in Australia are said to be too expensive in terms of time, reputation and money. Defamation cases in Australia are said to be too expensive in terms of time, reputation and money.
  • McDonalds-Public Relations Practice in Global Contexts Like other retail organizations, McDonald’s believed that they have a social and moral responsibility for the people around the world to produce a positive impact to the stakeholders although the bottom line is the concern […]
  • Public Relations and Their Functions One of the common scenarios with organizations is the characteristic of any organization trying to influence the general public hence the public relations initiatives help the organization to develop a good understanding of the organization […]
  • Effective Writing Skills in Public Relations Writing Same as writing style, the length of a public relations writing is determined by the nature of the message in terms of content, and the need for an in-depth explanation.
  • The Coca-Cola Company’s Public Relations The Coca-Cola Company uses paid, earned, shared, and owned media to advertise its products to its customers to increase its sales.
  • Burke’s Pentad: Public Relations, Social Theory, and Rhetoric On the example of one of Jeff Wall’s photographs, it is illustrated how the motivation of an actor in this paradigm can be described in different ways in terms of the viewer’s focus.
  • Public Relations and Crisis Management Link The significance of developing a CMP lies in the fact that it aids in the process of collecting the necessary information to deal with the crisis.
  • Public Relations and Relationship Marketing The organizers of the 2011 Mobile Research conference should consider using public relations and relationship marketing in order to ensure that the event promotion is successful.
  • Rex Harlow as a Historical Figure in Public Relations Rex Harlow is considered one of the most influential pioneers in the history of public relations. Harlow’s involvement in the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and experience in publication provoked a public relations interest.

🕵 Current Public Relations Topics to Research

  • Public relations and sales promotion It will analyze them based on the regularity of the chosen strategy, the target audience which covers the customers, the potential customers and the community and also PR and its impact.
  • Effects of Public Relations in the United Arab Emirates Arguments made in the essay will support the premise that public relations are equally important in the strategic positioning of countries on both the global and regional levels.
  • Strategic Communication in Public Relations Slogans, staged events, and being the first to reach the public and using a sustained approach to saturate the public with campaign messages are old tricks that have passed on from the informal forms of […]
  • Public Relations Plan – New Startup Company The revitalization of the image of the company will be helpful in attracting customers and improving the performance of the company. The chief objective of the company is to restore the image of the company […]
  • The Airbnb Firm’s New Public Relations Campaign As a result of this, the company is available in a majority of the countries in the world, which gives it an advantage over local entities.
  • Public Relations Issues in the Music Industry TikTok is at the top of the funnel, and the issue with content-based marketing is that it diverts attention from the artists and interaction with their profiles.
  • Henry Booth House’s Marketing and Public Relations The identified elements of a well-developed marketing and public relations plan are consistent with the current trends in business and marketing.
  • Public Relations Campaign for Hewlett-Packard’s Recycling Program in Britain Part of the activities of this program is the sensitization of consumers on e-waste and the recycling of computers and their components.
  • “Public Relations – Strategies and Tactics” by Wilcox A public relations practitioner of a company is supposed to identify the strategy with whom the company should have relationships. The department of public relations should assure the clients that Evergreen flooring system is committed […]
  • Public Relations Plan and Implementation Strategies The goal of the training will be to ensure the team develops the confidence to sell the brand to the consumers.
  • Zappos Corporation Public Relations Zappos is one of the corporations that have handled the issue of public relations well in the past. Being a company that was in the limelight, it needed a way to give back to the […]
  • Framing: Social Media and Public Relations Notably, the media echoed the impact of the government’s behavior on increasing students’ tuition fees, citing that it would limit the students’ ability to pay the debts amidst the prevailing economic problems.
  • Walmart: New Perspectives on International Public Relations Walmart is one of the largest multinational corporations, which uses its public relations in order to establish its brand and influence public opinion regarding the company.
  • Careers in Marketing, Branding & Public Relations Among the competencies of marketing, a specialist is the way of presentation of the product, the methods of informing the target audience about it, and collecting and analyzing the data for evaluating the success of […]
  • Public Relations Plan: Toyota In particular, the most significant among the dilemmas that have currently emerged around Toyota is in serious allegations on the level of quality of automobiles, produced by the company.
  • Chemco Crisis Resolution and Public Relations In the real estate case mentioned in the case study, it is fundamental to note that the real estate company is in a crisis hence the need to resolve the conflict.
  • Public Relations Representative Possible Strategies If Erickson decides to come to the governor, he will have to announce a request to stop the fertilizer production in order to clarify the circumstances and to address problem-solving methods.
  • Public Relations Agencies in Business Development As for the opinions of the heavyweight people and organizations on the agency, they seem to be undivided, and this is a result of the hard work of public relations specialists from Iris PR.
  • Ethics in Public Relations in Three Big Companies Lastly, Facebook claims it enlisted the help of the PR company to verify people’s negative attitudes towards the inclusion of their Facebook data in Google’s Social Circles.
  • Public Relations: The Four Models This is because the three models involve use of a reciprocal communication method that enables corporations to understand the public’s worries while enabling the public to appreciate the firm as a well meaning entity.
  • Public Relations Campaign Harbour Town Rural Council Green Gift group; why are the locals against or in support of the plan; what are the issues in conflict between the locals and the council, the green Gift and the council, the locals and […]
  • Public Relations. Press Release of J.Sanisbury It is precisely for gaining a larger market share and serving more customers, that JS has launched its money-saving and discount voucher schemes, off the counter to add value to client purchases and offer a […]
  • Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications in Organization Under the globalization regime, with the availability of a wide variety of tools for marketing communication to cater to a diverse target segment located in geographically diverse regions across the globe, an integrated approach is […]
  • What the Public Thinks About Public Relations? Public relations is one of the marketing communications disciplines, best thought of as an arsenal of weapons employed to induce adoption of an advocacy position, trial or purchase of a product or service, and assent […]
  • Public Relations Efforts Evaluation Taking into account the objectives of the rideshare week, it is necessary to emphasize, that the increase of participants may be defined either using the registration data of Ohio Rideshare, or arranging surveys and questionnaires […]
  • Public Relations: a Method to Organize and Boost Sales In any business situation, the public relations role is to harmonize the internal and external workings of an organization. To enhance the corporate image of the organization and boost the sales of the products and […]
  • Aramco Company’s Public Relations Department Considering this, the establishment of a public relations department in Aramco is important, and the present report aims to demonstrate why the launch of such a unit can provide the company with advantages in dealing […]
  • Public Relations and Sponsorships: Emirates Airlines and the NFL in 2020 Super Bowl Super Bowl is often held in the first week of February and it involves the winners of the National and American Football Conferences.
  • Obesity: Public Relations Campaign It will aid in educating youths about the dangers of childhood obesity and the factors that expose them to the condition.
  • Public Relations Strategy and Campaigns The main aim of the strategy is to build a viable relationship between a company and its target audience. The main goal of the strategy was to increase the sales of soda globally.
  • Australian Volunteers International: Public Relations The intention of this proposal is to endorse a conservation volunteer campaign that is aimed at reducing the pollution levels in China, which is among the countries that have high levels of environmental degradation in […]
  • Public Relations Plan Implementation The interview is to be properly developed, the questions are to be directed at understanding why people still refuse to use the services of the company and to buy their products rather than search for […]
  • Sunrise Ltd.’s Public Relations Management In the aspect of the power of buyers, it is clear that Sunrise Ltd.is under threat, considering the value of the houses that are traded to the real estate clients.
  • Canadian Public Relations and Management Functions The functions within this specific field of study can make or break a particular person or corporation since it has been noted that the perception of the general public towards a particular entity can result […]
  • Augmented Reality in Public Relations Domain The rationale behind this suggestion has to do with the fact that the integration of AR into the very philosophy of PR is fully consistent with the most fundamental principles of the human brain’s functioning.
  • Public Relations Practice Improvement by Public Opinion In order to understand how this happens, it is necessary to define a public opinion, examine its connections to public relations, describe what improvements in public relations mean, and explain the ways in which understanding […]
  • Public Relations: Ethics, Technology, Communication The study addresses the problem of ethics in public relations by proving that it is a global issue and is implemented worldwide.
  • Press Secretary Profession in Public Relations This study aims to research the history of the public relations industry and to examine the effects of government regulations, the internet, and the international community on the industry.
  • The Online Public Relations Concept Organizational transparency can be measured by identifying the degree to which it shares the information and to which it allows contact with people who can provide this information.
  • E-Newsletters: Online Public Relations Further, the emergence of the internet has provided a wide variety of approaches that organizations can use to reach their customers and potential users of their products in the market.
  • Job Advert for a Public Relations Manager This paper, therefore, addresses the implications of the operational gap and provides a memo to a hiring manager to solve the issue.
  • Excellent Public Relations: Organizational Factors The chapter supports the view that PR is not only to be appreciated and valued by the C-suite but the representatives of PR departments should also be present in the dominant coalition.

🔥 Hot Public Relations Assignment Topics

  • Public Relations: Media Tools and Communication Technology The central goal of transparency is it to ensure that all the critical information about the company is available to consumers, and it helps to increase the level of trust.
  • Etisalat’s Entrepreneurial Decisions and Public Relations The full title of the company is Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, its headquarters are situated in the UAE, and, at the moment, it appears to provide more than a half of all the telecommunication, mobile, and […]
  • Wind Future Company’s Public Relations Plan In support of Windy City Council marketing objectives and community relations, the following objectives of its PR plans are: To increase the council’s recognition and credibility.
  • Photography Company’s Public Relations Campaign The accomplishment of each aim will be performed following the specificity of the targeted audience that is supposed to be composed of the middle-class population of the Seattle Area. In the meantime, they expect that […]
  • Public Relations in Not-For-Profit Organisations In the context of non-profit organisations, PR departments can be viewed as semi-autonomous systems that can make their independent decisions with regard to the type of information that should be shared with the public. It […]
  • Public Relations in the United Arab Emirates The Middle East Public Relations Association is a not-for-profit establishment with the sole prerogative of securing the welfares of the public relations industry in the region.
  • Public Relations: Omnicom Group Website Analysis It is also involved in the control of the flow of information from the client to the media or the public.
  • Breast Cancer Public Relations Campaign Audiences It is clear that the breast cancer campaign will target at women in their 30-40s as this is one of the most vulnerable categories of women as they often pay little attention to the […]
  • Apple and Samsung Companies Virtual Public Relations According to Gregory, a website is like an ambassador of the firm to the world, and the impression it gives will be assumed to be the real image of the firm it represents.
  • How Does Internal Public Relations Impact the Employee Productivity and Loyalty in Saudi Arabia? This study therefore intends to synthesize the issue of internal public relations and how it impacts the productivity and loyalty of employees in Saudi Arabia.
  • Public Relations and the Big Brother Legislation The current developments in technology that have warranted the development of the internet has reduced the amount of money invested in communication as well as increased the number of people that are communicated to and […]
  • Solving Ethical Dilemmas in Public Relations In the case study, the main problem arises from the client’s deceit concerning the independent nature of the scientist testing the products in a bid to ensure a favorable public image of the products to […]
  • Public Relations and Customer Loyalty When a firm has a strong brand image in the market, the perception of the public would always be influenced positively towards the firm, and this will increase loyalty of the customers towards the firm.
  • Importance of Public Relations and Relationship Marketing The study also intends to incorporate relationship marketing theory to further the understanding of how the organization can manage to achieve the desired goal in a manner that would be convincing to all the stakeholders […]
  • Public Relations Theory And Campaign These tools assist in conveying a message to the public, and in return, the public begin to act according to the influence of the communication.
  • A Public Relations Campaign Plan In the USA, for example, there have been complaints regarding increased healthcare costs, a lack of stringent rules to guide people, especially the young, on proper usage of prescribed drugs, inability to take care of […]
  • Effectiveness of Public Relations & Relationship Marketing to the Successful Promotion of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games To conclude, it is evident from the assessment that public relations and relationship marketing are effective to the successful promotion of international events.
  • The Effectiveness of Public Relations and Relationship Marketing to the Successful Promotion of Winbeldon Championships This is referred to as the relationship marketing and is aimed at achieving the objective of creating customer loyalty for products offered by the company, interaction between the company and the market it serves, and […]
  • Public Relations and Relationship Marketing in Business Organisations One of the factors behind this dynamism is the change in the means of communication, the rate of dissemination of information and the advancement of technology.
  • Essential Foundations of the Public Relations According to Curtin and Gaither, there exists four main criticisms of the paradigm of the public relations: “the definition of public relations as a management function; the reliance on functional, transmission models of communication; the […]
  • Public Relations Campaign Strategy: Newlandia Education Foundation The aim of communication campaign among people in these regions will be to enhance public awareness of NEF activities, increase public participation in activities of NEF, outline the various ways donations and support for NEF […]

🎓 Controversial Public Relations Research Topics

  • Propaganda, Persuasion and Public Relations For example in the case of the Australia’s cancellation of the Fuel Watch program Senator Xenaphon utilized propaganda stating that Fuel Watch was not an effective means of helping consumers stating the need to tackle […]
  • Strategic Planning for Public Relations BP oil’s public relations team had to work round the clock to disseminate information, answer questions and win the hearts and minds of the people closest to the site of the accident.
  • 2011 NBA Lockout: Public Relations Failure The NBA strike began on the 1st of July, 2011 and is still in effect until the time when the NBA owners and the National Basketball Players Association will make a deal.
  • The Effectiveness of Public Relations and Relationship Marketing to the Successful Promotion of an International Event Due to the size and the caliber of the fair, the event attracts world renowned media houses such as BBC, The Telegraph, The Times, among others.
  • Regent College Public Relations This includes the definition of the problem, the definition of the audience, identification of the communication avenues and finally employing the best tactics and strategies to ensure that the project is successful.
  • Public Relations and Ethical Decisions Basing the discussion on the fact that public relations and ethics include “the client good that is served by professionals public relations, and the principle ordering the theoretical ground of public relations the public pledge […]
  • The Effectiveness of Public Relations and Relationship Marketing Unlike the firms in the industries that deal with tangible goods, the firms in the service industry highly depend on their relationships with the customers in order to survive in the market.
  • Impact of Social Media on Public Relations Practice Many organizations in the modern world have employed PR personnel to improve the company image and products to the public in a bid to improve the reputation and performance of the firm.
  • Social Media and Public Relations In addition, Wikipedia has streamlined the process of information delivery on the internet because it allows individuals to add or delete unwanted information. The media has been accused of bias in almost every instance it […]
  • Career Path Paper in Public Relations For an individual to successfully acquire a job opportunity in the field of public relation, the specifications depend on the level of the job.
  • Public Relations Strategies and Tactics The process of communication involves the sender encoding the message and sending it through a medium to the receiver, who is required to decode the message. The practitioners in this case are the senders of […]
  • The History of Public Relations The intention of these drives was to cultivate a favourable image in the eyes of the public and especially to the consumers and to the society in general.
  • Public Relations Plan for Regent’s College In Regent’s College case, the primary objective is to increase the visibility of the school to the public, as well as raise the profile of the institute.
  • Integrating Public Relations in Market Communication The objective of the public relations campaign was to communicate the value of Dawn to the customers as being a strong dishwasher.
  • What Kinds of Objectives Can Be Accomplished Through Public Relations Research?
  • What Are the Practical, Ethical, and Legal Implications of Astroturfing for Public Relations Practitioners Under Current Australian Law?
  • What Are the Standard Tools of Public Relations?
  • What Is Secondary Research in Public Relations?
  • How Can the Dairy Farmers Use Public Relations Coursework?
  • How Has the Public Relations Changed Over the Past Decade?
  • Is Public Relations More Important than Marketing?
  • What Are the Weakness of Public Relations?
  • What Are the Types of Public Relations?
  • What Is the Main Aim of Public Relations?
  • What Are Public Relations Doing in a ‘Place’ Like Place Marketing?
  • Why Should Public Relations Professionals Use Facebook?
  • What Are Public Relations Research and Evaluation?
  • Public Relations: What Does This Job Entail?
  • How Do Luxury Fashion Brands Centralize Public Relations?
  • How Companies Use Public Relations to Launch New Products and Lessen the Effects of a Crisis?
  • What Is the Difference between Marketing and PR?
  • What Does a Career in Public Relations Look Like?
  • What Comes First Marketing or PR?
  • What Is the Difference between Journalism and Public Relations?
  • How Psychoanalysis Changed Society With Consumerism and Public Relations?
  • Did the Board Cover Any Guidelines Be a Public Relations Policy?
  • How Do Public Relations Programs Work?
  • What Are the Functions of Public Relations?
  • What Are the Three Dominant Approaches in Public Relations Research?
  • What Is Research in Public Relations and Advertising?
  • Why Honesty and Ethics Are Crucial for Public Relations?
  • How Can Teachers Motivate Students to Study Theoretical Modules in Public Relations?
  • How Can Public Relations Communications Theory Help Us Understand the Role of New Media?
  • How Gender Issues Affect Income in Public Relations?
  • Broadcasting Paper Topics
  • Communication Research Ideas
  • Corporate Communication Questions
  • Bureaucracy Paper Topics
  • Crisis Communication Essay Ideas
  • Dispute Resolution Questions
  • Public Speaking Research Ideas
  • Telecommunications Questions
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 1). 144 Public Relations Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/public-relations-essay-topics/

"144 Public Relations Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 1 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/public-relations-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '144 Public Relations Essay Topics & Examples'. 1 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "144 Public Relations Essay Topics & Examples." March 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/public-relations-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "144 Public Relations Essay Topics & Examples." March 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/public-relations-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "144 Public Relations Essay Topics & Examples." March 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/public-relations-essay-topics/.

  • Nokia Research Topics Topics: 75
  • IKEA Topics Topics: 72
  • Exxon Topics Topics: 51
  • Alibaba Topics Topics: 60
  • Dell Topics Topics: 76
  • BMW Paper Topics Topics: 51
  • Unilever Research Topics Topics: 70
  • Product Marketing Research Topics Topics: 128
  • Sony Essay Topics Topics: 73
  • Digital Marketing Research Topics Topics: 118
  • Business Strategy Topics Topics: 156
  • Coca Cola Topics Topics: 156
  • Toyota Research Topics Topics: 77
  • Marketing Management Paper Topics Topics: 121
  • Business Planning Research Topics Topics: 170

119 Public Relations Topics

If you are writing a paper on public relations, you will need to explore the dynamic world of communication, reputation management, and strategic messaging. On this page, we’ve gathered an outstanding compilation of public relations topics that you can use for an essay, research paper, or project. With the help of our PR topics, you could reveal how public relations shape the perception of organizations in the public eye.

🏆 Best Public Relations Essay Topics

  • 📰 Interesting Public Relation Topics

🎓 Catchy PR Topics

💡 simple public relations research topics, ❓ questions for a public relations research.

  • Public Relations, Marketing, and Advertising
  • Public Relations Theories and Models
  • Public Relations in the Hair and Beauty Sector
  • Effective Public Relations in the Fashion Industry
  • Alibaba Group’s Public Relations and Responsibility
  • Role of Public Relations Staff in a Sports Organization
  • Coca-Cola Light: Public Relations and Marketing

📰 10 Interesting Public Relation Topics

  • Role of Women in Public Relations Public relations attract a significant number of women since it is necessary for specialists to work well in teams and empathize with and listen to their clients.
  • Lululemon Athletica Company’s Public Relations This essay examines the public relations efforts of the yoga wear company, Lululemon Athletica. This follows the public comments made by the company’s leadership.
  • Public Relations and Photography Public relations are usually related to broadcasting, publicizing, photography, and promoting. The experts require time and talent to advance relations with mass media.
  • Public Relations in Organizations: Article Response Communication affects all aspects of an organization including management, public relations, marketing and political communication, technical communication.
  • Optus Company: Organizational Public Relations Problem This report presents an analysis of the organizational PR problem of the company “Optus” based on media articles that followed particular “crisis” situations providing recommendations on managing those issues.
  • ABC Company’s Public Relations: Strategic Plan The strategic public relations plan seeks to help ABC Company to develop a close relationship with various strategic stakeholders.
  • Public Relations Campaign A public relations campaign’s objectives, target audience, organization’s goals, and required communication medium must all be defined in a complete Media Plan.
  • The Art of Persuasion and Public Relations The art of persuasion appears almost in the fields related to human interactions, such as advertising, TV, the Internet, and mass media.
  • What Is the Role of Rhetoric in Public Relations Practice? In public relations, rhetoric helps PR managers and administrators to appeal to the emotions of the target audience and their internal feelings.
  • Commercial Law: Sprod v Public Relations Oriented Security In Sprod v Public Relations Oriented Security, the plaintiff was found lying in a pool of blood at the northern side of the Great Western Highway at St Marys.
  • The 2008 Beijing Olympics: Public Relations Issues Advertisement China did during and at the close of the Olympics was a life-changing that was able to convince the entire world that things were not as earlier thought.
  • Hospital’s Image Recovery and Public Relations In the long-term perspective, it will be significant to concentrate on the employees’ performance and the conditions to recreate the image of the hospital.
  • Public Relations from Religious Perspective The field of public relations is an excellent illustration of how utilizing your faith to direct your professional actions may produce more moral and useful outcomes.
  • Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Public Relations The campaign conducted by Alcohol and Drug Foundation is a vivid example of how the theories and practices of PR can help alter people’s behavior.
  • Public Relations: Preparing for a Job Preparing for a job in public relations requires developing and mastering skills related to public relations. In particular, soft skills present one of the top requirements.
  • Measuring Public Relations and Advertising Efforts Advertising programs should be measured primarily by the organization’s internal experts. It is because “advertising is one of the main ways companies generate business”.
  • Cyber and Public Relations in an Organization The paper states that public relations professionals are essential to an organization. Modern technology has introduced digital corporate PR.
  • Emerging Technologies in Public Relations The work reveals that PR experts are presently utilizing emerging technologies to complete their research works successfully and maximize productivity.
  • Sea Shepherd: Public Relations Proposal The proposal suggests the alternatives the Sea Shepherd organization can adopt in responding to future accusations or when effectively wants to communicate to its publics.
  • Larry Summers’s Public Relations Advisor: Case Study This paper will analyze and discuss the final decision on whether to fire or hire Summers, which rests with the Harvard Board.
  • Race and Gender in Public Relations The project evaluates the role of gender and race diversity in the field of public relations by exploring the experience of women and black people in building their careers.
  • Race and Gender in Public Relations Field This capstone paper examines the impact of race and gender diversity on building careers in the sphere of public relations.
  • Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations This paper discusses the marketing strategy of health care, including dealing with the negative reviews and managing long-term mutually beneficial relations.
  • What Is Public Relations? As a PR professional, I expect to play an active role in monitoring public opinion over specific issues that affect the organization or client that I represent.
  • Corporate Communications and Public Relations Corporate communications involve both internal and external information that the company’s management addresses to its employees, target audiences, and partners.
  • Chess Girls DC Organization’s Public Relations The key challenge encountered by Chess Girls DC is the lack of constant funding that creates a shortage of coaches and equipment for appropriate training.
  • The Public Relations Practices of Tesla Motors
  • Public Relations and Other Corporate Functions
  • The Public Relations Industry
  • Science, Technology, and Public Relations
  • Public Relations Ethics Code Ethical
  • Southeast Asia Tourism and Public Relations Problems
  • New Media and Public Relations Practice
  • Health Care Public Relations
  • Public Relations Professionals Are Strategic Communicators
  • Difference Between Marketing and Public Relations
  • Hypothetical Public Relations Campaign
  • Education and Public Relations Within the United States
  • Big Business Affects Public Relations Ethics
  • Global Public Relations and Multicultural World
  • The Public Relations Firm of the Lake Anna Nuclear Power Plant
  • Grunig and Hunt’s Four Models of Public Relations
  • DIX and Eaton Public Relations Firm
  • Toyota Solara Public Relations Plan
  • Relationship Between Politics and Public Relations
  • The Burson-marsteller Public Relations Scandal
  • Public Relations and Relationship Marketing
  • The Subjectivity and Objectivity of Public Relations
  • Crisis Management and Public Relations Strategies
  • Public Relations and University Entrepreneurship
  • The Role and Importance of Public Relations at Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Global Public Relations Trends
  • The Many Different Functions in the Field of Public Relations
  • Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations
  • Advertising and Public Relations in America
  • Effective Internal Public Relations
  • The Role and Importance of Public Relations in the University Environment
  • Journalism, Advertising, and Public Relations
  • The Relationship Between Public Relations Professionals and Journalism
  • The Differences Between Public Relations and Marketing
  • Understanding the Activities, Methods, and Importance of Public Relations
  • The Role and Importance of Public Relations in a Company
  • Successful and Unsuccessful Spin Doctoring Case in Public Relations
  • Toyota’s Accelerator and Public Relations Crisis
  • Propaganda and the Public Relations Industry
  • Internal Public Relations Action Plan
  • Public Relations Between Healthcare Organization Crisis
  • Advertising and Public Relations in the United States
  • Public Relations and the European Constitution for Greece
  • Historical and Contemporary Figures in Public Relations
  • Public Relations and Professionalism
  • Internal Public Relations Action Plan at Burt’s Bees Inc.
  • Effective Public Relations for Your Business World
  • Social Media and Public Relations
  • Science and Public Relations
  • Public Relations Contemporary Approaches
  • Connection Between Public Relations and Public Option
  • International and Intercultural Public Relations
  • The Demand for Public Relations Specialists
  • Public Relations Campaign for New York Animal Rescue Shelter
  • The Societal and Organizational Functions of Public Relations
  • Public Relations and Organizational Listening
  • Skills Needed for the Public Relations Profession
  • Transmedia Marketing and Re-invention of Public Relations
  • The Public Relations Practitioner as Cultural Intermediary
  • Media and Public Relations Campaigns
  • Why Public Relations Professionals Should Use Facebook?
  • What Are the Common Tools of Public Relations?
  • What Models of Public Relations and Communication Are There?
  • What Are Postmodern Values in Public Relations?
  • What Guidelines for Measuring Relationships in Public Relations Are There?
  • What Are the Definition, Dimensions, and Domain of Public Relations?
  • What Is the Relationship Between Culture and Public Relations?
  • How Do Diversity Issues Influence Public Relations?
  • Is Using Social Media “Good” for the Public Relations Profession?
  • How Did the Evolution of the Manager Role in Public Relations Practice Go?
  • What Does Excellence Theory in Public Relations Mean?
  • What Is the Organization of the Public Relations Function?
  • What Are Perceptions of Public Relations Education?
  • What Are Critical Perspectives on Public Relations?
  • How Feminist Values Are Changing Public Relations?
  • What Are the Differences Between Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility?
  • What Is the Effect of Worldviews on Public Relations Theory and Practice?
  • What Is the Paradigm Struggle in Public Relations?
  • What Is the Role of Theory in Public Relations?
  • How Public Relations Practitioners Actually Are Using Social Media?
  • What Are the Ethical Obligations of Public Relations?
  • What Is the Key to Successful Public Relations and Corporate Communication?
  • What Cultural Values Influence American Public Relations Practitioners?
  • Why Civil Society Is Considered as a Rhetorical Public Relations Process?
  • What the Public Thinks About Public Relations?

Cite this post

  • Chicago (N-B)
  • Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2022, March 1). 119 Public Relations Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/public-relations-essay-topics/

"119 Public Relations Topics." StudyCorgi , 1 Mar. 2022, studycorgi.com/ideas/public-relations-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . (2022) '119 Public Relations Topics'. 1 March.

1. StudyCorgi . "119 Public Relations Topics." March 1, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/public-relations-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "119 Public Relations Topics." March 1, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/public-relations-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "119 Public Relations Topics." March 1, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/public-relations-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Public Relations were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 24, 2024 .

  • Search Close Search

escort pendik antalya escort perabet giriş

Research Library

This research library is a database of all the public relations research conducted by the Institute for Public Relations segmented by topic area. IPR research focuses on a number of key topics that matter to the profession. IPR’s work is distinguished through its five  IPR Commission/Centers of Excellence.

Sign up for the weekly IPR Research Letter to stay up-to-date with the latest in public relations and communication research.

All our research is available for free. If you would like to support IPR, visit on our page to make a contribution.

IPR CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

thesis topics in public relations

Research Topics

  • Advertising
  • Agency Search
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Deconstructing Blog Series
  • Digital/Social Media
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Disinformation/Misinformation
  • Internal Communications
  • International/Country Specific
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Investor Relations
  • Measurement
  • Media Relations
  • Public Affairs
  • Relationships

Latest Research

thesis topics in public relations

How Can Motivational Language Help Newcomers in the Workplace?

This summary is provided by the IPR Organizational Communication Research Center. Dr. Cen April Yue, Dr. Sifan Xu, Dr. Weiting Tao, and Dr. Lei Vincent

thesis topics in public relations

Understanding the Supreme Court’s 2024 Decisions: Impacts on Public Relations Practice

With all the coverage of presidential politics, it is easy to overlook the recent major U.S. Supreme Court cases. These cases rule on issues ranging

thesis topics in public relations

How Do Americans Feel About AI in the Workplace?

This summary is provided by the IPR Organizational Communication Research Center and IPR Digital Marketing Research Center. Dr. Shan Xu and colleagues examined potential threats

Public Relations Research Paper Topics

Academic Writing Service

  • Consensus-Oriented Public Relations
  • Co-Orientation Model of Public Relations
  • Cultural Topoi in Public Relations
  • Determination Theory in Public Relations
  • Excellence Theory in Public Relations
  • Intercultural Public Relations
  • Intereffication Approach in Public Relations
  • Media Influence on Public Relations
  • Organization–Public Relationships
  • Professionalization of Public Relations
  • Public Affairs
  • Public Diplomacy
  • Public Relations Ethics
  • Public Relations Evaluation
  • Public Relations Field Dynamics
  • Public Relations Planning
  • Public Relations Roles
  • Rhetorical Theory of Public Relations
  • Situational Theory of Publics

Nature and Image of Public Relations

In the opinion of some, public relations can be defined as the art of stealthy manipulation of public opinion, of the opinions of consumers and of politicians. As viewed by some, it consists of spinning the truth to the selfish interest of some organization or interest, issue advocate, person, or viewpoint – usually to the disadvantage of others.

Academic Writing, Editing, Proofreading, And Problem Solving Services

Get 10% off with 24start discount code.

In contrast, public relations has equally been seen as a  professional practice and academic discipline  dedicated to spreading rational and trustworthy information from and about an organization in order to open up the organization and its practices for those who are interested. At the same time, public relations is also seen as a professional practice and academic discipline dedicated to fostering effective two-way communication between some organization or entity, such as an industry, and persons whose opinions can make or break the future success of the sponsor. Some discussants of the nature of public relations, for example in South Africa, New Zealand, and the USA, have advocated that instead of focusing on fostering sham relationships, senior practitioners are first of all the consciences of their employers. They know better than other disciplines the moral standards by which their employers are judged. They advocate that first the organization must be good before it can be effective in its communication efforts. The core goal of public relations is then not so much to open the organization or produce good relationships as to help the organization to produce quality and acceptable strategic decisions.

Practitioners recognize both that the  challenge of ethics  is broad and that the devil is in the detail. Each strategic decision as well as each word that is spread can pose ethical challenges and, consequently, needs to be discussed in terms of its consequences for the well-being of the organization, of its publics, and of society at large. The first step in public relations is to create sound management policy that deserves the fruits of good will, as John W. Hill, the co-founding principal of Hill & Knowlton, argued in the mid1900s. At the time of his retirement in the late 1960s, his firm was the largest in the world. “Public confidence in the corporation as an institution must be earned and deserved. ‘Smart publicity’ will never replace sound management policies and acts in building a solid foundation of good will,” he rightly claimed (Hill 1958, 163).

History of Public Relations

To many, modern public relations was born in the USA at the end of the nineteenth century. That may be so for the naming of this phenomenon but not for the practice itself. World history in general and European history in particular offer many instances of what can be termed evidence of public relations practice, if not by that name. In Europe, public relations as practice has a long history (see for an overview, van Ruler & Vercic 2004). The period of the Enlightenment, as developed in the eighteenth century in France and Germany, strongly influenced the evaluation and practice of public relations in many European countries. In the eighteenth century, science and knowledge were no longer seen as being relevant only for the elite, but had to be diffused. One of the countries that were the first to institutionalize this concept as a practice was the Netherlands. The means for the diffusion of knowledge became known as “voorlichting,” which is a literal Dutch translation of “enlightenment.”

In the Netherlands  the concept of “voorlichting” soon developed into institutionalized “giving full information to all people to enable them to mature and emancipate.” Already in the mid-nineteenth century, the administration as well as civil society organizations started to introduce “voorlichters,” specialists who traveled around to give information about health, good farming, housekeeping, sexuality, politics, etc. At the same time, the elite remained skeptical about this full enlightenment of ordinary people. That is why most of the time “voorlichting” was also used to show people how to conduct themselves as good citizens/subordinates and to control their behavior. When industrialization became a fact (late 1800s), industries started to provide information about themselves to the press as well as to the general public. The first official press departments originated in the early 1900s. The government soon followed. Dutch journalists, however, preferred to keep direct access to administrators and politicians. Thanks to the strong “pillarization” (denominational  segregation ) of the society, with each pillar using its own media and therefore its own political contacts, their lobby was successful for a long time and the governmental public relations departments were forced to aim their press releases at foreign journalists only.

Directly after World War II public relations became an established part of company life. The Dutch claim to have established the first national public relations association, in early 1946. There was an enormous growth in the area during the 1980s, when US management approaches became the vogue.

In  Germany  also, public relations has a long history, based on the concept of “Öffentlichkeitsarbeit,” which can be translated as “work for the public sphere.” According to Bentele (1997), the first press offices engaged in politics and economics as well as in communities, associations, and organizations originated in the early 1900s. Alfred Krupp, founder of the steel company Krupp, established the first press department in a private company in 1870. The duty of this department was to read all newspapers that were considered important to the firm and at the same time to write articles, brochures, and “correspondences” in order to advertise products and the firm as a whole. As in the Netherlands, a characteristic feature of this first period is that public relations was used both to inform and to manipulate.

During the Weimar Republic (1918–1933), new social conditions arose such as the parliamentary, democratic state and an economically independent and active press; the media, no longer directed or controlled by the state, gave a boost to the growth of public relations. After the National Socialists came to power, the conditions of public relations changed abruptly. In sharp contrast with the Weimar period, the media were now controlled and manipulated by the party. After the end of World War II in 1945, not only did public relations have to redefine itself under the new conditions of a parliamentary democracy, it also had to dissociate itself from (Nazi) propaganda. The US influence on West German society was widely felt in the development of postwar public relations: besides new German advertising and public relations agencies, branches of US agencies started to settle in Germany (and in many other European countries), and today research in public relations has been established in several German-speaking universities in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Similar distancing occurred among US practitioners, who rejected the connection between propaganda and public relations even though they had initially embraced the connection and cut their professional teeth on propaganda efforts in support of both world wars.

Another country with early maturation of public relations is the  United Kingdom . L’Etang (2004) placed the beginning of public relations in Britain in the 1920s. Emphasis focused especially on the role of local government, which contributed to public relations ideology and key concepts of professionalism. These articulated a strong public service ethos, laying the foundation of the (now Chartered) Institute of Public Relations, which was established in 1948. It all started with an emphasis on public service rather than on business activities being the roots of public relations in the UK (as well as in most of the Scandinavian countries and in Northern Ireland). Today, public relations seems more oriented toward propaganda and control, even within governmental departments.

Public relations is big business  all over Europe , in the western as well as the eastern European countries. In most countries US agencies as well as US scholars have dominated the development, except for the German-speaking countries, Scandinavia, and France. In most of the eastern Europe countries public relations could only begin to flourish after the fall of the Soviet Regime in 1989. In all these countries public relations is growing rapidly and many universities provide bachelor’s as well as master’s degrees in public relations (often, however, named communication management or corporate communication). There is yet hardly any theory building in these countries and the practice has to lean on German, French, and Anglo-American approaches. Despite the US influence, robust innovations and new directions are being explored that may add important refinements to the understanding and practice of public relations internationally.

United States of America

Modern public relations in the United States started in the mid-nineteenth century. Its rise paralleled the mass media’s growth, which allowed mass-produced publicity and promotion, as well as the sort of issues management that resulted from the efforts of the robber barons to craft the public policy that was needed to support a mass production society. The practice in the USA has been dominated by public relations agencies, such as Hill & Knowlton, Burson-Marsteller, and Porter Novelli, as well as the public relations departments of major corporations. It has also been a valued tool of activism and the management of government agencies. Scott Cutlip (1994) has written in depth on the history of public relations agencies in the United States. In Cutlip’s opinion, the beginnings of modern public relations are found in the  American Revolution , which brought the struggle for power between the patrician-led patriots and the commercial-propertied Tories – as well as indicting the British monarch for conditions that had become insufferable in the minds of leading colonial radicals. The twentieth-century developments in this field are directly tied to the power struggles evoked by the political reform movements led by master politicians from Theodore Roosevelt to Bill Clinton. These movements reflected strong tides of protest against entrenched power groups.

As a profession, the public relations vocation began with the establishment of the Publicity Bureau in Boston on the eve of the twentieth century and grew into large organizations. Starting with the rise of powerful monopolies, the concentration of wealth and power, and the rough-shod tactics of the robber barons in exploiting human labor and the nation’s resources, contemporary public relations emerged out of the melee of the opposing forces in this period of the nation’s rapid growth and emergence from isolationism into an imperial power, most of all for promotional and propagandistic reasons, Cutlip (1994) said. Efforts to refine the practice produced an interest in reshaping the profession as public affairs and issues management.

Although not the first pioneer in public relations, Ivy Lee remains today one of the most influential who helped define and build public relations. As a former journalist, he issued his  Declaration of principles  of public relations, which were, over time, to have a profound influence on the evolution of press agentry into publicity and of publicity into public relations. In an era of “the public be damned,” his declaration accentuated the positive right of the public to know:

—–This is not a secret press bureau. All our work is done in the open. We aim to supply news. This is not an advertising agency; if you think any of our matter ought properly to go to your business office, do not use it. Our matter is accurate. Further details on any subject treated will be supplied promptly, and any editor will be assisted most cheerfully in verifying directly any statement of fact . . . In brief, our plan is frankly, and openly, on behalf of business concerns and public institutions, to supply the press and public of the United States prompt and accurate information concerning subjects which it is of value and interest to the public to know about. (Cutlip 1994, 45)

Also famous worldwide is Edward Bernays, who defined public relations as propaganda and the engineering of consent in the early 1900s.

Other Parts of the World

In other parts of the world public relations has been a timeless craft and now is a growing field. As on other continents, the practice of public relations in Asia can be traced back for over a thousand years, ever since emperors realized the importance of public opinion and building harmonious relationships with people.

The use of modern public relations started in the 1970s. In China, for example, public relations became popular after President Deng Xiaoping’s decision to open China to the west. The popularity of the TV series  Miss Public Relations  in the late 1980s and early 1990s colored the perception of public relations among the Chinese, as the Chinese public relations scholars Flora Hung and Regina Chen detailed in Sriramesh (2004), where the development of public relations in Asia is described. The TV show, which showed young women hosting guests at expensive hotels, led most Chinese to think that public relations professionals were only involved in guest relations. In recent years, as multinational companies established a foothold in the country, Chinese practitioners and scholars wanted to incorporate western perspectives of public relations practice. The fundamental question was how to apply the western concept of public relations – brought in by young scholars who had studied in the United States – in a Chinese context. With the unique characteristic in Chinese culture of maintaining harmonious relationships with people, relationships are more critical and require more distinct obligations in China than in the west, Hung and Chen claim. That is why public relations in Asian countries can best be seen as a combination of western (USA-oriented) approaches and the so-called personal influence approach.

We cannot give here a full picture of the development of public relations in the world. We encourage our readers to familiarize themselves with overviews of public relations on the different continents, as well as  The global public relations handbook  (Sriramesh & Vercic 2003), the  Encyclopedia of public relations  (Heath 2005b), and articles in  Public Relations Review  on the development of public relations in specific countries, for example in Latin America and Africa.

Public Relations Research

The scholarly literature on public relations features one  generic principle  of public relations: It is the function that communicates for each organization and helps its management to favorably position the organization to earn the favor of targeted markets, audiences, publics, and society at large. This, however, is accomplished in different ways and guided by different theories. These theories define the different approaches to public relations, as can be found in the literature of the discipline. Some scholars seek one general theory of public relations. Perhaps it is to be seen as a proof of the effort to achieve the maturity of the discipline that so many perspectives exist and are challenged by so many researchers. Each perspective offers a unique and important contribution to theory building and valuable strategies to guide and foster ethical practice. For more details than can be provided here on theories and perspectives, see Bentele et al. (2005) (only in German), Botan and Hazleton (2006), Hansen-Horn and Neff (2007), Heath (2001b), and many other handbooks, as well as the  Encyclopedia of public relations  (Heath 2005b).

The Information Model

The information model of public relations focuses on the dissemination of information, which targets groups to inform (enlighten) them about the plans of the organization and the decisions made. In the former Soviet countries in Europe, one of the major topics is the education of the organization as well as the public to practice this information model, instead of the propagandistic persuasion model of the Soviet regime (Tampere 2003).

The information model is rooted in classical mass communication theories, such as the two-step flow of information (and the multi-step flow), the diffusion of innovations theory, the knowledge gap theory, the uses-and-gratifications approach, and information processing theories. Successful public relations in this approach engages in informing the right people at the right time about the plans and decisions of the organization, but most people are not easy to reach directly, and the most widely used channels to inform key, targeted members of the public and society at large are consequently the mass media. Thus, informational communication management is primarily broadcasting management.

The Persuasion Model

The persuasion model of public relations focuses on the persuasion of target groups to accept the organization’s view on relevant issues, and is also known as the corporate communication approach (van Riel & Fombrun 2007). The basis for this approach stems from Bernays’s theory of public relations as propaganda (for an overview of his ideas, see Cutlip 1994), and the expanded introduction of a psychological approach to mass communication instead of a sociological one in the study of public relations, which give this model wings. The key aspect of these theories is the seeking of control through the assumptions of asymmetrical propaganda.

John Hill (1963, 6) offered tried and true advice for practitioners to be cautious about how they seek to persuade: “It functions in the dissemination of information and facts when non-controversial matters are involved. But when controversy exists, public relations may become the advocate before the bar of public opinion, seeking to win support through interpretation of facts and the power of persuasion.” Whether such communication options on matters of controversy are propaganda or rhetoric can be examined by the extent to which the message is manipulated to obscure enlightened choice or framed to maximize it. Hill realized that propaganda could not be the rationale for public relations, but knew that organizations could not and should not avoid engaging in controversy, which starts with information and includes the interpretation of that information and the application of it to make informed and enlightened decisions.

Receiving and processing the message (which is key in the information model) is not enough here; the targeted public must also be convinced there is a predefined meaning for the situation rather than one that emerges through dialogue. Successful public relations, by this logic, means “ convinced publics,”  or ensuring a positive image is held by important target groups. Since it is difficult to convince people, research is thought to be important for discovering what the publics will accept. Persuasive public relations is therefore primarily  impression management . Defined by both means and ends, persuasion can corrupt public relations if it presumes only to advantage the source and to control the judgments and actions of a targeted public.

The Critical Model

Habermas (1962) claimed that the development of public relations and advertising changed open democratic discourse into a non-critical force of acclamation of the powerful elite. In light of this view, critical models of public relations have been developed, with a main tradition in the United Kingdom. Cottle (2003) edited a volume with different critical approaches (see also Davis 2002). Critical approaches to public relations are rooted in symbolic interactionism, the cultural approach of Stuart Hall, the sociology of news production, and social drama theory.

As in the persuasion model, public relations is seen as a persuasive power, tough not from the angle of the benefit of the organization, but from the angle of the benefit to (or deficit from) society as a whole. What may be successful public relations for the organization is not necessarily successful (or even detrimental) for society, these scholars argue. Critical perspectives will call public relations impression management or spinning.

The Two-Way-Symmetry Model

Grunig et al. (2002) offered a critical view, but not so much from a societal perspective as from a strategic management perspective based on the logics of systems theory. They call the scientific persuasion model an asymmetrical approach to public relations that presumes that to solve a relationship problem a key public has only to alter its view to conform to that preferred by the organization. Grunig et al. prefer a two-way-symmetrical model, in which relationships are built and maintained through interaction. The essence of the interaction is to understand the concerns of a public through research, make those concerns known to management, and seek appropriate changes in management policy. The aim of the relationship is the creation of consensus on important issues to avoid conflict and assure cooperation, for the sake of the publics as well as of the organization itself.

To accomplish this outcome, it is important to focus on communication processes not toward publics or target groups, but between interdependent parties. The premise is that communication between parties will lead to a  balance of interests . Another premise is that parties are willing to act as involved and rational citizens instead of selfish consumers and producers. Theoretically this approach is rooted in balance theories of communication, e.g., co-orientation models. In this approach, successful communication management is seen as negotiating with the publics for an acceptable meaning of issues, which is a matter of balancing the give and take. By this logic, two-way-symmetrical public relations is primarily negotiation management.

The Interpersonal Model

Most public relations theories are closely associated with mass communication. As early as 1984, Ferguson promoted the use of interorganizational and interpersonal relationship as the focus in public relations theory. Yet, in most public relations literature, relationships are conceptualized for the most part as interactions between groups (“publics”) rather than individuals, Toth (2007) claimed.

Sallot was one of the first scholars to explore the rich interconnectedness of public relations practice and theory and interpersonal communication (IPC) theory in several presentations (see for an overview Sallot, 2005). Only recently (see, e.g., Botan & Hazleton 2006) have researchers started to apply IPC theory in a comprehensive manner to public relations and practice. The central logic of public relations theory derived from IPC theory is that relationship quality counts and that the quality of what is done by relational partners can increase or decrease the harmony between the partners.  Harmonious relationships  lead from and to an incentive to cooperate and support, to distribute resources that are available in the relationship. Disharmony results from qualitatively inferior relationships that give participants a motive to sanction relational partners.

Another typical interpersonal approach to public relations is the  interpersonal influence model , developed in Asia (Sriramesh 2004) in order to feature the importance of interorganizational and interpersonal relationships in Asian countries. It is critical in this approach to make efforts to cultivate interorganizational and interpersonal relationships by exchanging gifts, favors, and hospitality and do this in an ethical manner. In this approach, successful public relations is most of all people management.

The Reflective Model

The reflective model of public relations (called communication management) is trying to integrate many of the leading perspectives on public relations. Dialogue is an important strategy to develop trust, but it is rather naïve to believe that it is an answer to all mistrust (van Ruler & Vercic 2005). First of all, it is impossible to engage all publics, let alone public opinion, in this dialogue; second, in most cases interests are fuzzy or conflicting. That is why managers use all kinds of strategies, including manipulation of frames (persuasion), in order to earn the favor of publics and get things done. The constraint on this manipulation is public legitimacy, which, because of increased public counteraction, has become increasingly necessary for business to survive.

The reflective model differentiates between the societal/institutional and the economic/ administrative roles each organization plays in its public relations. The  economic role  is concerned with the meso- (group) and micro- (interpersonal) level of communication among members of the organization, and between the organization and its publics in order to become legitimate in the eyes of specific publics. The  societal role  is concerned with the macro-level of societal legitimization. Public relations is concerned with the reproduction of the underlying principles that enable organizations to emerge, develop, and prosper. Living in an organizational society, these organizational challenges are communicatively enacted.

This model also differentiates between the organization as organization and as institution. The reflective model looks at the organization as an empirical realization of an institution in society, and the organizational dimension is subordinate to the institutional dimension when it comes to survival. That is why public relations is empirically working in and through the social construction of public identity. In this approach, public relations is primarily concerned with public legitimatization, and in order to get public license to operate, it focuses on public opinion (the public sphere) as a quantity as well as a quality. The institutional dimension of an organization triggers the reflective model of public relations, while the organizational dimension triggers the existing models, now seen as strategies of the reflective model (van Ruler & Vercic 2005).

The primary concerns of public relations from a reflective approach are an organization’s inclusiveness and preservation of the “license to operate.” As marketing is viewing organization from a market view, reflective communication management is viewing organization from a societal or public view. The basic question in this approach to communication management lies in the empirical definition of what is seen as legitimate.

The Rhetorical Model

The rhetorical model builds on what has been called the rhetorical heritage reaching back to treatises central to the humanities, crafted by Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Quintilian, and many others, including more recently the work of Kenneth Burke and Chaim Perelman. This body of literature continues to be a robust part of the standard curriculum of welleducated persons and vital to the democratic spirit of countries around the world (Heath 2001a, 2007).

The essence of the rhetorical model at its best is to know the strategies and forces that lead to co-created meaning, collaborative decision-making, and identification. It can also be applied to evil ends using offensive means. Enriched by reflective management and guided by the commitment to demonstrate cases through fact, weigh the values central to each case, and seek to recommend the wisest policy, public relations can apply the rhetorical heritage to increase the likelihood that interested markets, audiences, and publics can make enlightened choices as stakeholders and stakeseekers.

The essence of rhetoric is  statement and counter-statement . It is advisory, invitational, and propositional, with as its basic paradigm a thoughtful contest between choices. At its best, it can lead to enlightenment and wise choice. At its worse, it obscures, obfuscates, and centers on ad hominem dispute that ultimately may be damaging (Ihlen 2002).

Thus, the theory and practice of public relations as relying on the rhetorical heritage arm it better to engage in discourse as the rationale for individual and collective decisionmaking in society. This approach allows insights into how meaning is crafted, how ideas are enlivened and framed, and the rich connections between the meanings of the actions of companies and those of other organizations, which are also part of the meaning they create, as well as yield to, in the fostering of harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships. In these endeavors, character counts, a theme that continues to be central to the rhetorical heritage. Not only does the character of the organization speaking add to or detract from the impact its opinions and information have, but the kinds of statements made, the care for the interests of others, and the efforts to achieve enlightenment and reveal good character add to the reputation of the organization.

In more current terms, the rhetorical model presumes that society is created for the collective management of risks. Each individual and organization is conjoined in this arrangement. Dialogue is the rationale for bringing information to bear on risks, but the evaluation of such information is not centered in one body, but institutionalized for the collective good of all members of the society.

The Future of Public Relations

The major work of Sriramesh and Vercic (2003),  The global public relations handbook , shows that the democratization of the world, especially in the latter half of the twentieth century, goes hand in hand with an enormous growth of public relations all over the world, as well as the necessity of viewing public relations on a global scale. The rapid expansion of new communication technologies such as satellite television and the Internet has increased the dissemination of information about products, services, and lifestyles around much of the world, Sriramesh and Vercic  claim. Coupled with the freedom that accompanies democratization, the result has been a significant increase in the global demand for products and services, as well as of global suppliers who can meet this demand.

As a result, countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle-East, eastern Europe, and Latin America have already become, or will soon become, major centers of manufacturing as well as consumption, requiring the organizations of these countries to trade and communicate with a global audience. The  formation of multinational trading blocks  has also contributed to shrinking the global market, thereby increasing organizational activities among and between trading blocks. These factors, Sriramesh and Vercic claim, have contributed to a significant spurt in global communication, placing public relations practitioners at the forefront of managing the relationships among people of varied nations and cultures on behalf of organizations of all types. For professionals to engage in strategic public relations management in a global setting, it is essential that they have knowledge of globalization and competencies in multicultural communication.

The major works of Heath (2001b) and Botan and Hazleton (2006) show how robust the discourse on public relations theory and practice has become. From the 1970s, when much of the discourse on the topic existed in a few textbooks, professional trade publications, and the emerging  Public Relations Review , the discipline has grown steadily. The breadth and depth of analysis have increased. The discipline is slowly becoming less derivative and more original in its theory building. It continues to seek to make critical and practical advances that have pedagogical and real-world application.

Last but certainly not least, globalization and the necessity of corporate social responsibility will urge public relations to rethink its ethical devices and its position in the organization as well as in society. The question is how public relations, with such a tarnished image, can grow steadily into a professional and academic discipline by realizing its potential for making society more fully functional.

References:

  • Bentele, G. (1997). PR-Historiographie und funktional-integrative Schichtung: Ein neuer Ansatz zur PR-Geschichtsschreibung [PR historiography and functional-integral stratification: A new approach to PR historiography]. In P. Szyska (ed.),  Auf der Suche nach Identität: PR-Geschichte als Theoriebaustein [The quest for identity: PR history as theoretical constituent]. Berlin: Vistas, pp. 137–169.
  • Bentele, G., Fröhlich, R., & Szyska, P. (eds.) (2005).  Handbuch der Public Relations: Wissenschaftliche Grundlagen und berufliches Handeln [Handbook of public relations: Scientific perspectives and professional action]. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
  • Botan, C. H., & Hazleton, V. (eds.) (2006).  Public relations theory II . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  • Cottle, S. (ed.) (2003).  News, public relations and power . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Cutlip, S. C. (1994).  The unseen power: Public relations – a history . Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  • Cutlip, S. C., Center, A. H., & Broom, G. M. (2000).  Effective public relations . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
  • Davis, A. (2002).  Public relations democracy: Public relations, politics, and the mass media in Britain . Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press.
  • Ferguson, M. A. (1984). Building theory in public relations: Interorganizational relationships as a public relations paradigm. Paper presented to the Public Relations Division at the annual meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, Gainesville, FL.
  • Grunig, L. A., Grunig, J. E., & Dozier, D. M. (2002).  Excellent public relations and effective organizations: A study of communication management in three countries . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  • Habermas, J. (1962).  Strukturwandel der Öffentlichkeit: Untersuchungen zu einer Kategorie der bürgerlichen Gesellschaft [Change of the structure of the public sphere: Investigation into a category of citizen’s society]. Darmstadt: Luchterhand.
  • Hansen-Horn, T. L., & Neff, B. D. (eds.) (2007).  Public relations: From theory to practice . Boston: Pearson.
  • Heath, R. L. (2001a). A rhetorical enactment rationale for public relations: The good organization communicating well. In R. L. Heath (ed.),  Handbook of public relations . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, pp. 31–50.
  • Heath, R. L. (ed.) (2001b).  Handbook of public relations . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Heath, R. (2005a). Antecedents of modern public relations. In R. L. Heath (ed.),  Encyclopedia of public relations . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, pp. 32–37.
  • Heath, R.L. (ed.) (2005b).  Encyclopedia of public relations . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Heath, R. L. (2007). Rhetorical theory, public relations, and meaning: Giving voice to ideas. In T. L. Hansen-Horn & B. D. Neff (eds.),  Public relations: From theory to practice . Boston: Pearson, pp. 208–226.
  • Hill, J. W. (1958).  Corporate public relations: Arm of modern management . New York: Harper.
  • Hill, J. W. (1963).  The making of a public relations man . New York: David McKay.
  • Ihlen, Ø. (2002). Rhetoric and resources: Notes for a new approach to public relations and issues management.  Journal of Public Affairs , 2(4), 259–269.
  • L’Etang, J. (2004).  Public relations in Britain: A history of professional practice in the 20th century . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  • Riel, C. B. M. van, & Fombrun, C. J. (2007).  Essentials of corporate communication . London and New York: Routledge.
  • Ruler, B. van, & Vercic, D. (eds.) (2004).  Public relations and communication management in Europe . Berlin and New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
  • Ruler, B. van, & Vercic, D. (2005). Reflective communication management: Future ways for public relations research. In P. J. Kalbfleisch (ed.),  Communication yearbook 29 . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, pp. 239–274.
  • Sallot, L. M. (2005). Interpersonal communication theory. In R. L. Heath (ed.),  Encyclopedia of public relations . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, pp. 442–444.
  • Sriramesh, K. (ed.) (2004).  Public relations in Asia: An anthology . Singapore: Thompson Learning.
  • Sriramesh, K., & Vercic, D. (eds.) (2003).  The global public relations handbook: Theory, research, and practice . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  • Tampere, K. (2003).  Public relations in a transition society 1989–2002: Using a stakeholder approach in organizational communications and relations analyses . Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä.
  • Toth, E. L. (2007). Creating public relations through interpersonal communication: A review essay. Paper presented to the Public Relations Division at the annual convention of the International Communication Association, San Francisco, May.

Back to Communication Research Paper Topics .

ORDER HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM PAPER

thesis topics in public relations

Editing Arsenal -

  • Dissertation
  • How to Order

Enter your keyword

  • Dissertation Topics

Public Relations Dissertation Topics

Public Relations Dissertation Topics

Public relations has shifted its emphasis away from traditional media outlets such as print and radio and toward online platforms, most notably social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as everyone’s new favourite, Instagram. The exponential growth of social media usage is largely responsible for this shift. As a result, the public relations landscape is evolving, and public relations professionals must adapt in order to remain relevant on social media platforms.

Editingarsenal  has compiled a list of some of the most popular and common dissertation topics from a variety of academic disciplines, so you can pick and choose what to write about. If you need  dissertation editing assistance  , don’t hesitate to contact one of our qualified and experienced editors and proofreaders.

Public Relations in Practice Topics

  • A case study to ascertain whether public relations remains a male-dominated field and to determine what can be done to advance gender equality.
  • A study was conducted to determine the extent to which a public relations professional contributes to the development of a marketing and branding strategy.
  • Investigate whether large corporations’ PR shift away from traditional media has resulted in a reduction in inequality and an increase in people’s sense of inclusion.
  • Examine how public relations campaigns affect how customers perceive the service quality of a hospitality company.
  • Traditional media, primarily television, is an effective public relations tool in the twenty-first century.
  • Study of brands that failed to transition their public relations efforts to digital and social media and consequently harmed their brand’s reputation and identity.
  • To determine the UK government’s ineffectiveness and the reasons for its failure to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic

Social Media and Public Relations

  • Study the differences between traditional and social media public relations campaigns.
  • To evaluate the success of online Public Relations campaigns using Instagram and Facebook’s key performance indicators.
  • To determine whether or not influencers are an effective public relations tool on social media.
  • In this case study, we’ll look at how influencers used social media to build their own brands as a PR tool.
  • To determine the return on investment (ROI) for public relations campaigns conducted through social media.
  • To identify the marketing and PR skills new professionals will need to run a successful social media PR campaign.
  • To identify the most important determinants of crisis and reputation management on social networks.
  • To investigate how major brand PR activities are impacted by mobile-based social media consumption.
  • UAE/Saudi Arabia/Qatar experience with social media-based PR is being studied (any Middle Eastern country).
  • Paid Public Relations: How can small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) use paid public relations to penetrate social media?

Future of Public Relations Topics

  • In terms of public relations tools, are over-the-top (OTT) platforms new? An example of how Netflix can be used as a public relations tool.
  • The story of how a local OTT platform, Hotstar, changed India’s PR landscape.
  • Fake news is created by online platform users, and it damages brands’ reputations.
  • In the 2016 and 2020 US elections, digital PR played an important role in influencing political decision-making and elections.
  • The use of social media by US and UK political parties as a political tool will be examined.
  • A case study of Twitter’s efforts to combat fake news that can harm reputations, incite violence, or create a false narrative.
  • Research into the role that large amounts of data can have on the design of future public relations campaigns is needed.
  • An investigation to find out if public relations using digital media has lost its moral and ethical values.
  • To investigate how well public relations campaigns engage their target audiences when conducted online.
  • An assessment of digital PR’s “grey areas” to see how they affect consumer perception of brands.
  • To learn how the most successful brands use a combination of PR tactics to engage their target audiences, read on. Nike as a test case.
  • What will become of public relations in the wake of the pandemic and the spread of false information? A look into the possibilities.
  • Using digital media platforms as public relations tools, investigate the role they can play in fostering social change.

Civil Engineering Dissertation Topics

Civil Engineering Dissertation Topics

  • 26 Dec, 2021

Brexit Dissertation Topics

Brexit Dissertation Topics

  • 10 Nov, 2021

Bitcoin Dissertation Topics

Bitcoin Dissertation Topics

  • 28 Oct, 2021

Physics Dissertation Topics

Physics Dissertation Topics

  • 19 Oct, 2021

Sexual Harassment of Women Dissertation Topics

Sexual Harassment of Women Dissertation Topics

Economics Dissertation Topics

Economics Dissertation Topics

  • 17 Oct, 2021

Premier-Dissertations-Logo

Get an experienced writer start working

Review our examples before placing an order, learn how to draft academic papers, public relations dissertation topics | 15 interesting ideas for research.

thesis topics in public relations

Renewable Energy Dissertation Topics | List of Interesting Research Ideas

thesis topics in public relations

Leadership Dissertation Topics | Top 15 Ideas with Research Aims

thesis topics in public relations

  • Dissertation Topics

thesis topics in public relations

Public relations (PR) refers to the art of maintaining a strategic communication process and relationships between an enterprise and its clients or a state and its public. Public relations is crucial for business development and smooth functioning. In academics, it's now a significant part of the literature. Therefore, students must find quality public relations dissertation topics to stand unique in their research modules.

 Find Out Quality Business Management Dissertation Examples

Premier Dissertations has prepared a list of dissertation topics in public relations for 2024 that capture essential concepts of public relations research.

If you would like to choose any topic from the given list, simply drop us a WhatsApp or an Email .

You may also like to review ;

Digital Marketing Dissertation Topics | Political Science Dissertation Topics

3-Step  Dissertation Process!

thesis topics in public relations

Get 3+ Topics

thesis topics in public relations

Dissertation Proposal

thesis topics in public relations

Get Final Dissertation

List of new public relations research topics 2024, how does it work .

thesis topics in public relations

Fill the Form

thesis topics in public relations

Writer Starts Working

thesis topics in public relations

3+ Topics Emailed!

Most researched public relations thesis topics, top research topics in public relations, the vital role of public relations in shaping a positive business image.

Public Relations (PR) is indispensable for businesses, playing a pivotal role in shaping a positive public image. Through strategic communication, PR builds credibility, fosters trust, and enhances brand reputation. By effectively managing relationships with stakeholders, addressing crises, and supporting marketing efforts, PR contributes significantly to overall business success and sustainability.

Review the Full List of Dissertation Topics

For more thesis topics in public relations, please keep visiting our website as we continue adding new topics to our existing list of titles. 

Testimonials

Very satisfied students

This is our reason for working. We want to make all students happy, every day. Review us on Sitejabber

Get 3+ Free Public Relations Dissertation Topics within 24 hours?

Your Number

Academic Level Select Academic Level Undergraduate Masters PhD

Area of Research

Get an Immediate Response

Discuss your requirements with our writers

WhatsApp Us Email Us Chat with Us

Discover More:

admin farhan

admin farhan

Related posts.

GIS Project Ideas

110 Best GIS Project Ideas for Developers in 2024

DNA Model Project Ideas

140 Creative DNA Model Project Ideas for Students

SAE Project Ideas

150 SAE Project Ideas for Students

Comments are closed.

Public Relations Dissertation Topics | 15 Interesting Ideas For Research

  • Bibliography
  • More Referencing guides Blog Automated transliteration Relevant bibliographies by topics
  • Automated transliteration
  • Relevant bibliographies by topics
  • Referencing guides

168 Current International Relations Research Topics For Any Level

international relations research topics

Are you a student looking for intriguing international relations research topics? Look no further! In this blog post, we have created a list of 168 unique and thought-provoking research topics in the field of international relations that should help students get an A+ on their next paper.

Whether you’re studying political science, international affairs or related disciplines, this comprehensive list covers a wide range of fascinating subjects. From global governance to security issues, diplomacy, human rights, and more, these topics are designed to inspire your research and help you delve deeper into the complexities of international relations. So, grab your notepad and get ready to explore these captivating research ideas!

A Word On International Relations Theses

International relations is the study of interactions between nations and global actors. It examines politics, economics, security, and culture, exploring how countries cooperate, conflict and shape global dynamics. If you’re about to start working on a thesis in international relations and you are wondering what to include in your paper, here is a short explanation of each of the mandatory chapters:

Introduction: The opening section that presents the research problem, objectives, and significance of the study. Literature Review: A comprehensive review of existing scholarly works related to the research topic, providing a context for the study. Methodology: Describes the research design, data collection methods, and analytical techniques used to address the research questions or hypotheses. Findings: Presents the empirical results or outcomes of the research, often supported by data, analysis, and interpretation. Discussion: Analyzes and interprets the findings in relation to the research objectives, drawing connections to existing literature and providing insights. Conclusion: Summarizes the main findings, highlights the contributions to the field, and suggests avenues for future research. References: Lists all the sources cited in the thesis following a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

Now, it’s time to deliver on our promise and give you the list of international relations research paper topics. Choose the one you like the most:

Easy International Relations Research Topics

Explore our list of easy international relations research topics that will help you understand global politics and analyze the dynamics of international relations with ease

  • The impact of globalization on state sovereignty and international relations
  • Analyzing the role of non-state actors in global governance structures
  • The influence of soft power in shaping international relations and diplomacy
  • Exploring the relationship between human rights and international relations
  • Examining the dynamics of economic interdependence in international relations
  • The role of international organizations in promoting peace and security
  • Assessing the impact of climate change on international relations and cooperation
  • Analyzing the role of regional integration in shaping global politics
  • The implications of cyber warfare for international relations and national security
  • Examining the challenges and opportunities of humanitarian intervention in international relations
  • Analyzing the role of ideology in shaping state behavior in international relations
  • Exploring the impact of migration and refugee crises on international relations
  • Assessing the role of international law in resolving conflicts and promoting peace
  • Investigating the role of intelligence agencies in shaping international relations

International Relations Thesis Topics

Our wide range of international relations thesis topics will guide you towards developing a strong research question, conducting in-depth analysis, and contributing to the field with your original research:

  • Power dynamics and the balance of power in international relations
  • Exploring the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution and peacebuilding
  • The impact of nuclear proliferation on international security and non-proliferation regimes
  • Analyzing the role of international institutions in managing global crises
  • The influence of nationalism on interstate relations and regional cooperation
  • Examining the role of international norms and human rights in shaping foreign policy
  • Assessing the impact of economic globalization on state sovereignty in international relations
  • The role of social media in shaping public opinion and international relations
  • Exploring the concept of hegemony and its implications for international relations
  • The role of gender in international relations and its impact on policy-making
  • Analyzing the role of intelligence agencies in shaping international relations
  • The implications of emerging technologies on international security and arms control
  • Examining the role of media and propaganda in international conflicts and public opinion
  • The impact of regional integration on state behavior and international cooperation

Advanced International Relations Topics For Research

Dive into complex issues, explore cutting-edge theories, and unravel the intricate dynamics of global affairs with our advanced international relations topics for research:

  • China’s global rise and its power dynamics
  • Non-traditional security threats in international relations
  • AI and warfare: Implications for international security
  • Climate change, conflict, and forced migration in international relations
  • Religion and politics in international relations
  • Populism’s impact on global governance and international relations
  • Social movements and civil society in shaping international relations
  • Pandemics and international cooperation: Implications for global governance
  • Cultural diplomacy and soft power in international relations
  • Information warfare and disinformation in international relations
  • Regional powers shaping global security dynamics
  • Responsibility to protect and humanitarian interventions in international relations
  • Resource scarcity and environmental degradation in international relations
  • Migration and refugee crises’ impact on global stability

International Relations Research Questions

Our carefully curated list of international relations research questions will inspire critical thinking and promote meaningful discussions:

  • How does power transition theory explain shifts in global power dynamics?
  • What are the implications of the rise of non-state actors on traditional state-centric international relations theories?
  • How do identity politics and nationalism shape interstate conflicts?
  • What are the factors influencing state compliance with international human rights norms?
  • How does globalization impact state sovereignty?
  • What are the challenges of multilateralism in addressing global issues?
  • How does public opinion influence state behavior in international relations?
  • What are the causes and consequences of failed states in international relations?
  • How does the distribution of power in international institutions affect their legitimacy?
  • What are the implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on international security?
  • How do regional conflicts and security dilemmas impact regional integration efforts?
  • What are the root causes of terrorism?
  • How does economic interdependence shape interstate relations and global governance structures?
  • What are the challenges of global environmental governance in addressing climate change?

International Relations Paper Topics

Choose one of our international relations paper topics that resonate with your interests and embark on an enriching research journey:

  • The role of ideology in shaping state behavior in international relations
  • Analyzing the impact of economic sanctions on diplomatic relations between countries
  • The role of media and propaganda in influencing public opinion in international conflicts
  • Exploring the relationship between globalization and cultural identity in international relations
  • The implications of cybersecurity threats on national security and international relations
  • Assessing the role of intelligence agencies in gathering and analyzing international intelligence
  • Analyzing the impact of regional organizations on regional conflicts and cooperation in international relations
  • The influence of international trade agreements on global economic and political relations
  • Exploring the dynamics of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in international relations
  • The role of international law in resolving territorial disputes and promoting peace
  • Non-state actors in international relations: Influence and challenges
  • Conflict resolution mechanisms: Negotiation, mediation, and peacebuilding approaches
  • Diplomatic immunity: Balancing immunity with accountability in international relations
  • The impact of global pandemics on international cooperation and security

Engaging Topic Ideas About International Relations

Are you seeking engaging and captivating topic ideas for your international relations research? Choose one of these engaging topic ideas about international relations:

  • Global governance and international organizations in addressing global challenges.
  • Nationalism’s impact on international relations and global cooperation.
  • Soft power in shaping international perceptions and relations.
  • Regional conflicts’ implications for global stability and security.
  • Cyber warfare: Assessing evolving cyber threats in international relations.
  • Media’s role in international relations: Influence, propaganda, and disinformation.
  • Economic interdependence: Opportunities and risks in global relations.
  • Diplomacy in the digital age: Challenges of virtual diplomacy.
  • Global migration and refugee crises: Humanitarian and political dimensions.
  • Human rights in international relations: Promoting universal rights.
  • Terrorism’s impact on global security and counterterrorism efforts.
  • Environmental diplomacy: Addressing global environmental challenges.
  • Religion’s role in international relations.
  • Regional power dynamics: Influence of major powers in different regions

international relations research topics

Interesting International Relations Research Paper Topics

Uncover fascinating research paper topics in international relations that will captivate your readers and showcase your analytical skills. Use one of these interesting international relations research paper topics:

  • Populism’s rise and its impact on international relations and global governance
  • Climate change’s geopolitical implications: Conflicts, migrations, and resource competition
  • Hybrid warfare: Analyzing blurred lines between conventional and unconventional threats
  • Technology’s impact on diplomacy and the future of diplomatic practices
  • Nuclear energy diplomacy: Balancing peaceful uses and proliferation concerns
  • Soft power and cultural industries’ influence in international relations
  • Politics of humanitarian aid: Challenges and ethical considerations
  • Media framing’s impact on public opinion in international conflicts
  • International cooperation in space exploration and its geopolitical implications
  • Diaspora communities’ role in shaping international relations and global politics
  • Migration policies and human rights: Balancing border control and human dignity
  • Global health governance: Cooperation, challenges, and pandemic responses
  • Environmental peacebuilding: Addressing conflicts over natural resources and degradation
  • Economic sanctions: Effectiveness and ethical implications in international relations

Political Science Dissertation Topics

Our list of political science dissertation topics will provide you with a solid foundation for developing a unique research proposal and making a significant contribution to the field:

  • The role of political ideologies in foreign policy and international relations.
  • National security strategies and state behavior in international relations.
  • Global governance and collective decision-making challenges in international institutions.
  • Public opinion’s influence on foreign policy and international relations.
  • Identity politics and intergroup relations in international contexts.
  • Humanitarian interventions and the responsibility to protect.
  • Geopolitics and resource conflicts: Strategic importance of natural resources.
  • International law’s role in shaping state behavior and resolving conflicts.
  • Comparative political systems in international relations.
  • Political leadership’s impact on diplomatic relations and cooperation.
  • International development assistance: Aid effectiveness and challenges.
  • Non-state actors in global politics: Influence, networks, power dynamics.
  • Intelligence agencies in international intelligence gathering and analysis.
  • Political parties and foreign policy shaping

Current International Relations Topics For Research Paper

Stay up to date with the latest developments in global politics by exploring our selection of current international relations topics for research paper writing :

  • Emerging technologies’ impact on global security and power dynamics.
  • Transnational threats: Terrorism, crime, and cyber challenges in focus.
  • Regional integration in globalization: Achievements, limitations, and prospects.
  • Trade wars: Implications for global economy and cooperation.
  • Disinformation and fake news: Influence on international politics and public opinion.
  • Climate change negotiations: Progress and challenges in combating global warming
  • Cybersecurity and emerging threats in international relations.
  • Regional power dynamics in the Middle East: Implications for global security
  • Global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: Cooperation and challenges
  • Climate change mitigation and adaptation in international policy
  • Rising nationalism and its impact on international cooperation
  • Humanitarian crisis in Yemen: International responses and challenges
  • Technology and the future of warfare: Implications for global security
  • The Belt and Road Initiative: Assessing its impact on international relations

Awesome Research Topics For International Relations

Our awesome research topics for international relations allow you to explore diverse areas of global politics and contribute to the field with your exceptional research:

  • NGOs’ role in shaping international policies and agendas
  • Humanitarian interventions and the responsibility to protect: Effectiveness and ethics
  • Cybersecurity challenges in international relations: Risks and responses
  • Global migration governance: Policies and implications
  • Globalization vs national sovereignty: Impacts on state behavior
  • China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Geopolitical influence and challenges
  • Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation: Effectiveness of treaties
  • Gender in international relations: Impact of norms and policies
  • Post-colonial perspectives in international relations: Power dynamics and legacies
  • Climate justice and international cooperation: Addressing climate change
  • Regional organizations in global governance and international relations
  • Politics of humanitarian intervention: Strategies and outcomes
  • Political economy of international trade: Impact of policies and agreements
  • Populism’s impact on democracy and international relations

Controversial International Relations Topics

Delve into the realm of controversy and discourse with our thought-provoking controversial international relations topics:

  • Drones in targeted killings: Legal and ethical implications
  • Nuclear energy and non-proliferation: Benefits and risks
  • Intervention in state sovereignty: Legitimacy and consequences
  • Ethics of economic sanctions: Effectiveness and impact on civilians
  • Cyber warfare and international norms: Regulating cyber conflicts
  • Climate change’s impact on national security and conflicts
  • Intelligence agencies in covert operations and international relations
  • Politics of humanitarian aid: Motivations and challenges
  • Ethics of military intervention: Justifications and consequences
  • Politics of regime change: Motivations and implications
  • Media bias’s impact on international perceptions and diplomacy
  • Private military companies: Challenges and accountability
  • Politics of disarmament and arms control: Progress and challenges
  • Corporate interests’ influence on foreign policy and relations

Best International Relations Topics For 2023

Stay ahead of the curve with our selection of the best international relations topics for 2023. These carefully curated topics reflect the current trends, emerging challenges and pressing issues:

  • COVID-19 pandemic’s implications on global politics and international relations
  • Rise of populism and its impact on democracy and international cooperation
  • Cybersecurity challenges in a hyper-connected world: Risks and responses
  • Future of international cooperation in addressing global challenges and conflicts
  • Climate change and security: Implications for international relations and stability
  • Evolving role of regional powers in shaping global politics and relations
  • Technological advancements’ impact on state power and international relations
  • Global governance reform: Restructuring international institutions
  • Social media’s role in shaping international perceptions and political movements
  • Challenges and prospects of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
  • Intersection of artificial intelligence and international relations
  • Impact of trade wars on global economic relations and cooperation
  • Geopolitical tensions in the Arctic: Resource competition and influence
  • Future of multilateralism: Relevance and effectiveness in a changing world

Get Affordable Help Today

Are you struggling with your international relations research paper or stuck writing a coursework ? Need some help during your next test? Don’t worry, our academic writing company is here to help. We offer professional thesis writing help with a team of highly educated and experienced writers. Our dedicated professionals ensure our high quality work is delivered in a rapid and efficient manner. We understand the importance of affordability, which is why we provide our services at affordable rates.

With our safe and reliable service, you can trust that your paper is in good hands. Whether you’re a college student or in any class, our custom online assistance will ensure that you receive top marks on your international relations research paper. Don’t stress, let our professional service assist you and help you get an A+ on your next international relations research paper!

We have also prepared a list of best topics on the following disciplines:

  • 122 Best Ecology Topics To Sparkle Your Writing
  • 150 Original Accounting Research Paper Topics
  • 233 Marketing Research Topics To Come Up With An Impressive Paper
  • Leadership Topics For Academic Research Papers
  • 222 Best Anatomy Research Paper Topics To Discuss
  • 101 Best Computer Science Topics
  • 50+ Excellent Economics Paper Topics You Should Not Miss
  • 100 Gender Research Topics For Academic Papers
  • 60+ History Research Paper Topics From Our Top Writers
  • 110 Impressive Nursing Research Topics To Use

How do I choose a research topic in international relations?

Consider your interests, current events, and gaps in existing literature to identify an area of focus. Brainstorm potential topics and ensure they align with your research objectives.

What makes a strong international relations research paper?

A strong research paper includes a well-defined research question, solid theoretical framework, rigorous analysis, credible sources, and logical structure. It should also contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

How can I narrow down my international relations research topic?

Consider specific regions, actors, theories, or policy areas within international relations. Narrowing down your topic will allow for a more focused and manageable research paper.

Can I use case studies in my international relations research paper?

Yes, case studies can be valuable in providing empirical evidence and in-depth analysis. They help illustrate theoretical concepts and offer real-world examples to support your arguments.

Criminal Justice Thesis Topics

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment * Error message

Name * Error message

Email * Error message

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

As Putin continues killing civilians, bombing kindergartens, and threatening WWIII, Ukraine fights for the world's peaceful future.

Ukraine Live Updates

Wadds Inc. | Professional advisor to agencies & comms teams

Public relations dissertation topics

It's dissertation season for media and public relations university students. Here are more than 40 potential areas of study.

Bachelor students are refining their topics and proposals and Masters students are working on proposals.

For the last three years I’ve been a Visiting Professor at Newcastle University, supporting the university and students through teaching and mentoring.

I'm frequently asked by public relations students at Newcastle and elsewhere for advice on choosing a dissertation topic.

Professor Benno Signitzer at the University of Salzburg wrote a chapter on this topic in Public Relations Research: An International Perspective . It’s worth seeking out. Thanks to Professor Dejan Ver?i? from the University of Ljubljana for the reference.

My answer is always to follow a passion and ideally use it as an opportunity to set yourself up for your career. The ideal is a topic aligned to a developing area of practice.

“I'd say to make it as specific to your dream career as possible. Even if career visions change in the future, you'll enjoy researching and writing it at the time and therefore won't get bored and find more motivation,” said Livi Wilkes, Digital Public Relations Executive, Aira. “My dissertation was on using public relations strategy and tactics to help raise your profile to find a job. I used my blog as a case study. It worked,” said Anne-Marie Lacey, Public Relations and Communications Director, Filament PR.

Avoid populist topics and go deep. The best dissertations are original and niche. They make a genuine contribution to the professional body of knowledge.

“Explore a very small, easily defined area and use rigorous academic research methods to establish new knowledge or explore a topic from a new perspective,” said Liz Bridgen, Principal Lecturer, Department of Media Arts and Communication, Sheffield Hallam University.

I recently asked my network on Facebook for suggestions for areas of study. I got called out by several people for short cutting an important area of the research process.

This wasn’t my intention. Instead I wanted to share issues that are challenging practitioners. Each suggestion is a jumping off point for further investigation.

I’ve consistently said that we need to encourage better engagement between research, teaching and practice. If that’s not your view, please look away now.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the discussion.

The only way is ethics

How does post truth or fake news change the way public relations operates and how does it sit alongside codes of practice? Jane Crofts

Should social media should be held to the same journalistic standards as other media outlets? Lauren Oldy

How important is the truth versus storytelling. Ged Caroll

We've always believed good public relations should be open, transparent etc. But what if we're wrong? What if good public relations is actually as dishonest, ugly and brazen as you can make it? Jemima Gibbons

How should practitioners ensure that messages resonate in an era of fake news and post truth? Rob Bruce

The importance of trusted brands in a post-truth world. In other words - why the claims about your cornflakes are held to a higher standard than the claims of political candidates. Nick Jones

What does transparency in public relations look like? Aly Sandhaus Saxe

Does anyone have the right to be forgotten? Claire Thompson

Data and the science of measurement

How can public relations be measured more effectively; focusing on whether public relations campaigns should be treated the same as marketing ones; using the same tools such as Salesforce and Marketo. Paul Wooding

Measuring the effectiveness of video as a means of communication in the social sphere. Dan Slee

Test measurement frameworks for Paid, Earned, Shared and Owned communications and content. Michelle Goodall

How can data be used to improve the impact of campaigns? Is this a route to improving the perception of public relations in society? Rob Bruce

Data visualisation looking not just at economist infographics and similar but a historical review of people such as Florence Nightingale who understood the importance of conveying a story succinctly in an as easy to understand form as possible. Rob Ashwell

Does reputation have a monetary value? Ella Minty

The business of influence

Study the behavioral economics aspects of the science of influence – influencing perceptions in order to influence market behavior – how individual minds work, as well as the collective. Steve Schuster

What does influence look like for the next generation? Becky McMichael

Reputation wars

What makes a brand invincible? How and why do some brands die due to reputational harm, while others seem to shrug it off and carry on regardless? Joe Hanley

Evidence based research showing how trust in the conventional has been eroded over the past decade and the impact this has on society and business. Andy West

Characterising the public relations profession

Explore the lack of diversity in the public relations profession; LGBT, women at the top, disability, ethnicity and social mobility. Sarah Stimson

How do CEOs perceive public relations and what needs to be done to improve understanding of the strategic value it can add? Sarah Hall

What skills and understanding does the communications advisor to the board need to be credible? Should reputation sit above sales and marketing in the corporate hierarchy? Patrick Blewer

Why are ethnic minorities under-represented in public relations? Liz Bridgen

Why do so many women leave public relations? Liz Bridgen

Is social media helping to reduce inequalities – or is everything staying the same? Liz Bridgen

Is public relations dead? We tend to work in wider communications roles now and need knowledge and skills to survive. Michelle Atkinson

How do you build mental resilience in journalism and public relations, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through exposure to traumatic events and materials, as well as the wider issues around the job and its impact on mental health? Bridget Aherne

Media and platforms

Is the news cycle dead? Matt Muir

I did 'is the 'lad mag' dead' back in 2003. It was. James Brown's 'Jack' died in the water around the same time. Maybe worth asking now is print journalism dead? Jon Tait

Does the connected economy increase the need for niche specialism? Adrian Bridgwater

The rise of online and social echo chambers and the impact they have on decision-making. Julio Romo

How low can production values be? We're in the social media age, with Facebook Live, YouTube live streaming as video-based platforms, and Facebook and LinkedIn and lots more as type-based platforms. So how garbled can the sound be, how fuzzy can the video be, how distorted can the speakers be, and so on? Brian Kilgore

How can global, US-run social networks effectively deal with personal attacks, death threats or even define trolling, when they have a US President that is normalising [trolling]? Jemima Gibbons

Explore emerging strategies as companies increasingly need to market to an algorithm [rather than a human being]. Rob Flaherty

Future of public relations practice

What is the role of paid media in public relations programmes? Ged Caroll

The impact of artificial intelligence on content creation and distribution. Explore ethics, impact on jobs, and the relationship between the quality and quantity of content and the role it plays in manipulating the human brain. Helen Keegan

Explore digital as a means of genuine business transformation, compared with when it is used as a bolt on or stick plaster. Dan Purvis

Public relations education

Are we teaching students the necessary skills to succeed in the industry locally, nationally, and globally? Ai Addyson-Zhang

How do leading public relations companies and agencies perceive the validity of public relations education? Ai Addyson-Zhang

Public relations in practice

Explore the fundamental changes of internal communication due to internal social media. Holger Sievert

Explore the use of social media by parties in a political campaign. Paula Clare Keaveney

Explore the application of social media in hospitals as part of the patient journey. Alexander Verstappen

What role should public relations play in a hostile takeover? How can it be justified, and used as a positive promotion of the business? Ella Minty

Should public relations practitioners own or participate in the company narrative or content strategy as part of an integrated public relations approach? Ruth Jones

thesis topics in public relations

Four practical ways to support public relations students

Public relations: the profession that refuses to learn.

thesis topics in public relations

Research Topics & Ideas: Politics

100+ Politics-Related Research Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Political science research topics and ideas

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation or thesis. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a politics-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of politically-related research ideas across a range of disciplines, including political theory and philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, public administration and policy.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. Also, be sure to sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic from scratch.

Overview: Politics-Related Topics

  • Political theory and philosophy
  • Comparative politics
  • International relations
  • Public administration
  • Public policy
  • Examples of politics-related dissertations

Topics & Ideas: Political Theory

  • An analysis of the impact of feminism on political theory and the concept of citizenship in Saudi Arabia in the context of Vision 2030
  • A comparative study of the political philosophies of Marxism and liberalism and their influence on modern politics
  • An examination of how the Covid-19 pandemic affected the relationship between individual freedom and collective responsibility in political philosophy
  • A study of the impact of race and ethnicity on French political philosophy and the concept of justice
  • An exploration of the role of religion in political theory and its impact on secular democracy in the Middle East
  • A Review of Social contract theory, comparative analysis of the political philosophies of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau
  • A study of the concept of the common good in political philosophy and its relevance to the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe
  • An examination of the relationship between political power and the rule of law in developing African countries
  • A study of the impact of postmodernism on political theory and the concept of truth, a case study of the US
  • An exploration of the role of virtue in political philosophy and its impact on the assessment of moral character in political leaders

Research topic idea mega list

Topics & Ideas: Comparative Politics

  • A comparative study of different models of federalism and their impact on democratic governance: A case Study of South American federalist states
  • The impact of ethnic and religious diversity on political stability and democracy in developing countries, a review of literature from Africa
  • An analysis of the role of civil society in promoting democratic change in autocratic regimes: A case study in Sweden
  • A comparative examination of the impact of globalization on political institutions and processes in South America and Africa.
  • A study of the factors that contribute to successful democratization in authoritarian regimes, a review of the role of Elite-driven democratization
  • A comparison of the political and economic systems of China and India and their impact on social development
  • The impact of corruption on political institutions and democracy in South East Asia, a critical review
  • A comparative examination of the impact of majoritarian representation (winner-take-all) vs proportional representation on political representation and governance
  • An exploration of Multi-party systems in democratic countries and their impact on minority representation and policy-making.
  • A study of the factors that contribute to successful decentralization and regional autonomy, a case study of Spain

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

Topics & Ideas: International Relations

  • A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of diplomacy and military force in resolving international conflicts in Central Africa.
  • The impact of globalization on the sovereignty of nation-states and the changing nature of international politics, a review of the role of Multinational Corporations
  • An examination of the role of international aid organizations in promoting peace, security, and development in the Middle East.
  • A study of the impact of economic interdependence on the likelihood of conflict in international relations: A critical review of weaponized interdependence
  • A comparative analysis of the foreign policies of the EU and the US and their impact on international stability in Africa
  • An exploration of the relationship between international human rights and national sovereignty during the Covid 19 pandemic
  • A study of the role of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO)s in international politics and their impact on state behaviour
  • A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of international regimes in addressing global challenges such as climate change, arms control, and terrorism in Brazil
  • An examination of the impact of the rise of BRICS on the international system and global governance
  • A study of the role of ideology in shaping the foreign policies of states and the dynamics of international relations in the US

Free Webinar: How To Find A Dissertation Research Topic

Tops & Ideas: Public Administration

  • An analysis of the impact of digital technology on public administration and the delivery of public services in Estonia
  • A review of models of public-private partnerships and their impact on the delivery of public services in Ghana
  • An examination of the role of civil society organizations in monitoring and accountability of public administration in Papua New Guinea
  • A study of the impact of environmentalism as a political ideology on public administration and policy implementation in Germany
  • An exploration of the relationship between public administration and citizen engagement in the policy-making process, an exploration of gender identity concerns in schools
  • A comparative analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration, decentralisation and pay and employment reform in developing countries
  • A study of the role of collaborative leadership in public administration and its impact on organizational performance
  • A systematic review of the challenges and opportunities related to diversity and inclusion in police services
  • A study of the impact of corrupt public administration on economic development and regional growth in Eastern Europe
  • An exploration of the relationship between public administration and civil rights and liberties, including issues related to privacy and surveillance, a case study in South Korea

Research topic evaluator

Topics & Ideas: Public Policy

  • An analysis of the impacts of public policy on income inequality and poverty reduction in South Sudan
  • A comparative study of the effectiveness of legal and regulatory, economic and financial, and social and cultural instruments for addressing climate change in South Korea
  • An examination of the role of interest groups in shaping public policy and the policy-making process regarding land-use claims
  • A study of the impact of globalization on the development of public policies and programs for mitigating climate change in Singapore
  • An exploration of the relationship between public policy and social justice in tertiary education in the UAE
  • A comparative analysis of the impact of health policies for the management of diabetes on access to healthcare and health outcomes in developing countries
  • Exploring the role of evidence-based policymaking in the design and implementation of public policies for the management of invasive invertebrates in Australia
  • An examination of the challenges and opportunities of implementing educational dietary public policies in developing multicultural countries
  • A study of the impact of public policies on urbanization and urban development in rural Indonesia
  • An exploration of the role of media and public opinion in shaping public policy and the policy-making process in the transport industry of Malaysia

Examples: Politics Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a politics-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various politics-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

  • We, the Righteous Few: Immoral Actions of Fellow Partisans are Judged as Less Possible (Varnam, 2020)
  • Civilizing the State: Civil Society and the Politics of Primary Public Health Care Provision in Urban Brazil (Gibson, 2012)
  • Political regimes and minority language policies: evidence from Taiwan and southeast Asia (Wu, 2021)
  • The Feminist Third Wave: Social Reproduction, Feminism as Class Struggle, and Contemporary Women’s Movements (Angulo, 2019)
  • The Politics of Immigration under Authoritarianism (Joo, 2019)
  • The politics of digital platforms: Sour Dictionary, activist subjectivities, and contemporary cultures of resistance (Okten, 2019)
  • Vote choice and support for diverse candidates on the Boston City Council At-Large (Dolcimascolo, 2022)
  • The city agenda: local governance and national influence in the policy agenda, 1900-2020 (Shannon, 2022)
  • Turf wars: who supported measures to criminalize homelessness in Austin, Texas? (Bompiedi, 2021)
  • Do BITs Cause Opposition Between Investor Rights and Environmental Protection? (Xiong, 2022)
  • Revealed corruption and electoral accountability in Brazil: How politicians anticipate voting behavior (Diaz, 2021)
  • Intersectional Solidarity: The Political Consequences of a Consciousness of Race, Gender and Sexuality (Crowder, 2020)
  • The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Coalitional Representation of Latinxs in the U.S. House of Representatives (Munoz, 2019)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. In other words, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Get 1:1 Help

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your dissertation or research project, check out our Topic Kickstarter service below.

Aisha Abdullahi Maikano

Interesting thesis.

Manu Adamu

I really appreciate your work which will greatly help me rethink on my topic

Ibrahim Abdullahi

Please how can I get the full thesis?

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

  • Print Friendly

IMAGES

  1. Public Relations Dissertation Topics

    thesis topics in public relations

  2. 10 Public Relations Dissertation Topics

    thesis topics in public relations

  3. Public relations theory Essay Example

    thesis topics in public relations

  4. How to Write a Public Relations Research Paper: Tips from Experts

    thesis topics in public relations

  5. 99 Public Relations Dissertation Topics

    thesis topics in public relations

  6. 20+ best dissertation topics on different subjects

    thesis topics in public relations

COMMENTS

  1. Public Relations Dissertation Topics

    Topic 5: An investigation into the different ways paid PR is impacting the workforce and productivity of the UK-based SMEs. Topic 6: Impact of social media on public relations strategies. Topic 7: The relationship between public relations and inbound marketing. Topic 8: Can Public relations and advertising go hand in hand.

  2. Public Relations Dissertation Topics (26 Examples) For Research

    Undergraduate: £30 (250 Words) Master: £45 (400 Words) Doctoral: £70 (600 Words) Along with a topic, you will also get; An explanation why we choose this topic. 2-3 research questions. Key literature resources identification. Suitable methodology with identification of raw sample size, and data collection method.

  3. 144 Public Relations Essay Topics & Examples

    Looking for inspiring public relations topics? 🤝 We've gathered hot 144 PR topics on mass communication, media relations, & more. 🅰️ + public relations essay examples are a nice bonus! ... Thesis Statement Generator. Problem Statement Generator. Introduction to Research Generator. Informative Essay Thesis Generator. Grade and GPA ...

  4. 119 Public Relations Topics & Interesting PR Project Ideas

    119 Public Relations Topics. If you are writing a paper on public relations, you will need to explore the dynamic world of communication, reputation management, and strategic messaging. On this page, we've gathered an outstanding compilation of public relations topics that you can use for an essay, research paper, or project.

  5. Public Relations Dissertation Topics for FREE

    An explorative study. To explore the role of digital media platforms in bringing social change by using them as public relations tools. Public Relations Dissertation Topics - over 40 free, excellent Master & Bachelor dissertation topics will help you get started with your proposal or dissertation.

  6. Research Library

    Research Library. This research library is a database of all the public relations research conducted by the Institute for Public Relations segmented by topic area. IPR research focuses on a number of key topics that matter to the profession. IPR's work is distinguished through its five IPR Commission/Centers of Excellence.

  7. Public Relations Research Paper Topics

    As early as 1984, Ferguson promoted the use of interorganizational and interpersonal relationship as the focus in public relations theory. Yet, in most public relations literature, relationships are conceptualized for the most part as interactions between groups ("publics") rather than individuals, Toth (2007) claimed.

  8. Updated: Public relations dissertation topics

    I'm frequently asked by public relations students at Newcastle and elsewhere for advice on choosing a dissertation topic. Professor Benno Signitzer at the University of Salzburg wrote a chapter on this topic in Public Relations Research: An International Perspective. It's worth seeking out.

  9. How to choose a public relations dissertation topic

    The modernisation of public relations is a work in progress - digital continues to be a growth area for public relations practice. Influencer relations is messy - earned relationships of paid media? The resurgence of internal communications - communications as an organisational performance tool. Social media activism - organisations don't ...

  10. Public Relations Dissertation Topics

    Public Relations Dissertation Topics. usama. 70. Public relations has shifted its emphasis away from traditional media outlets such as print and radio and toward online platforms, most notably social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as everyone's new favourite, Instagram. The exponential growth of social media usage is ...

  11. List of 15 Interesting Public Relations Dissertation Topics in 2024

    List of New Public Relations Research Topics 2024. Topic 1: Analysing the Impact of Social Media on Crisis Communication in Public Relations. Topic 2: Building Corporate Reputation through Employee Advocacy Programs: A Public Relations Perspective. Topic 3: Exploring Influencer Marketing in Public Relations: An Analysis of Consumer Trust and ...

  12. Dissertations / Theses: 'Marketing and public relations'

    This thesis sought to test the null hypothesis that stated: There is no difference in the perceptions of public opinion research firm specialists toward their client relationships with public relations practitioners as compared to practitioners in marketing and advertising.A mail survey was sent to 129 opinion firm member organizations of the ...

  13. PDF Gatekeeping Applied to Public Relations: How a Newsroom Behavior

    journalistic rationale of gatekeeping to three topics commonly discussed in public relations studies, topics referred by the following terms: boundary spanning, environmental scanning, and issues management. Among other ideas in the field, these three constructs share some likenesses

  14. Thesis Topics For Public Relations

    The document discusses selecting a thesis topic for a public relations degree. It notes that choosing a topic can be an overwhelming process that requires extensive research, analysis, and creative thinking. The passage provides examples of potential topics related to social media, crisis communication, and their impact on public relations practices. It emphasizes that narrowing options and ...

  15. Public relations in public institutions: A research on the

    The research conducted on 251 people revealed that perceived communicative skills of local public institutions had positive effects on public relations perceptions (trust, commitment, satisfaction).

  16. 168 Free International Relations Research Topics For Top Grade

    International Relations Thesis Topics. Our wide range of international relations thesis topics will guide you towards developing a strong research question, conducting in-depth analysis, and contributing to the field with your original research: ... Public opinion's influence on foreign policy and international relations.

  17. Public relations dissertation topics

    Public relations dissertation topics. It's dissertation season for media and public relations university students. Here are more than 40 potential areas of study. Bachelor students are refining their topics and proposals and Masters students are working on proposals. For the last three years I've been a Visiting Professor at Newcastle ...

  18. 100+ Research Topics In Politics (+ Free Webinar)

    Here, we'll explore a variety of politically-related research ideas across a range of disciplines, including political theory and philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, public administration and policy. NB - This is just the start…. The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps.

  19. Master Thesis Topics Public Relations

    Master Thesis Topics Public Relations - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. The document discusses the challenges of writing a master's thesis in public relations, including choosing a suitable topic, conducting extensive research, and synthesizing information from diverse sources. It notes that students often feel overwhelmed by the complex research and ...

  20. PDF THE USE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN HEALTH

    An Abstract of the Thesis of. Winter Calkins for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the Department of Journalism and Communication to be taken June 2020. Title: The Use of Public Relations in Health Promotions Campaigns at the University of Oregon. Approved: _____. sis AdvisorThis thesis exam.

  21. PDF THE ROLE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN BUILDING ...

    Public relations are needed management function, which assesses attitudes of publics, recognizes the public‟s and methods of an individual association of activity to learn open comprehension and acknowledgment (Asemah, 2011). Bruning and Lambe (2008). In the studies of public relations in Greece (Lyra, 1991) and India (Sriramesh, 1991), for

  22. Public Policy Dissertations by Topic

    Schar School of Policy and Government Public Policy Dissertations by Topic. ... Dissertation Title: APPLE, Kristen: Stough: ... European Energy Security Policy and Relations with Russia (December 2013) LITTON, Eric : Marvel: How Do Framed Messages Affect Budget Recommendations? An Experiment in Federal Government Budgeting (May 2017)

  23. Thesis Topics Public Relations

    Thesis Topics Public Relations - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. The document discusses the challenges students face when crafting a thesis on public relations topics. Navigating the complex field of public relations requires strong research, analytical, and writing skills. Additionally, public relations is a dynamic industry that demands up-to-date ...