From the blog of 90-year-old Father of Public Relations
By Sharon Weltz
Harold Burson, commonly referred to as the Father of Modern Day Public Relations, turned 90 years old earlier this year and blogged about it while seated at his computer in his Burson-Marsteller office. He reflects on the evolution of public relations, his family life, on friendship and on his faithful canine companions.
Burson blogs on a variety of themes, exhibiting a keen intelligence and a continuing passion for ethical communication. On April 20, 2011, he wrote:
“Public relations is a process that impacts public opinion. Its objective is to motivate individuals or groups to take a specific action. Like buying a certain brand of toothpaste or automobile; voting for a specific candidate; supporting one side or the other of a political issue; signing up with one cable provider over another. As such, public relations is an applied social science that draws on several social sciences, among them psychology, cultural anthropology, sociology, political science, economics, geography.”
He then goes on to share his own, well thought out, definition of Public Relations:
“public relations (pub'lic re-la'shuns) n. sing. – An applied social science that influences behavior and policy, when communicated effectively, motivates an individual or group to a specific course of action by creating, changing or reinforcing opinions and attitudes. Its ultimate objective is persuasion that results in a certain action which, to succeed, must serve the public interest."
His words make me smile when I realize that, at the ripe old age of 90, he continues to influence the future of Public Relations. How delightful to see that the Father of Modern Day Public Relations is alive and well and continues to impart his personal wisdom on life and on the practice of Public Relations.
Visit Harold Burson's Blog: http://www.burson-marsteller.com
Harold Burson, commonly referred to as the Father of Modern Day Public Relations, turned 90 years old earlier this year and blogged about it while seated at his computer in his Burson-Marsteller office. He reflects on the evolution of public relations, his family life, on friendship and on his faithful canine companions.
Burson blogs on a variety of themes, exhibiting a keen intelligence and a continuing passion for ethical communication. On April 20, 2011, he wrote:
“Public relations is a process that impacts public opinion. Its objective is to motivate individuals or groups to take a specific action. Like buying a certain brand of toothpaste or automobile; voting for a specific candidate; supporting one side or the other of a political issue; signing up with one cable provider over another. As such, public relations is an applied social science that draws on several social sciences, among them psychology, cultural anthropology, sociology, political science, economics, geography.”
He then goes on to share his own, well thought out, definition of Public Relations:
“public relations (pub'lic re-la'shuns) n. sing. – An applied social science that influences behavior and policy, when communicated effectively, motivates an individual or group to a specific course of action by creating, changing or reinforcing opinions and attitudes. Its ultimate objective is persuasion that results in a certain action which, to succeed, must serve the public interest."
His words make me smile when I realize that, at the ripe old age of 90, he continues to influence the future of Public Relations. How delightful to see that the Father of Modern Day Public Relations is alive and well and continues to impart his personal wisdom on life and on the practice of Public Relations.
Visit Harold Burson's Blog: http://www.burson-marsteller.com