The Public Relations Division provides an environment for public relations scholars and practitioners to explore how communication influences the organization–stakeholder relationship. This division welcomes research from diverse communication-based disciplinary areas and embraces a range of research methodologies, theoretical foundations, and topic areas. The Public Relations Division promotes research, teaching, service, and ethical practice of public relations as public relations seeks to build and maintain beneficial relationships among organizations and stakeholders. These organizations may include corporations, nonprofit organizations, nongovernmental organizations, transnational entities, governmental agencies on several levels, nation states, industry associations, and public relations firms and agencies. The range of stakeholders includes both internal and external publics, such as organizational members (employees, managers, etc.), community members, activists, customers, investors, donors, the media, governmental agencies, and others. Public relations best practices that are grounded in theory are essential in a 21st century in which communication technology has created a globalized world that is bringing people and organizations closer to one another while paradoxically creating tensions resulting from this increasing proximity.
2024 Interest Group Leadership
- Chair: Laura Lemon, University of Alabama
- Vice-Chair: Jae-Hwa Shin, University of Southern Mississippi
- Vice-Chair Elect: Adam Saffer, University of Minnesota
- Immediate Past Chair: Chelsea Woods, Virginia Tech University
- Research Chair: Katerina Tsetsura, University of Oklahoma
- Secretary: Lisa Chewning, Penn State University – Abington
- Website Editor: Anna Klyueva, University of Houston-Clear Lake
2024 NCA Positions
- Legislative Assembly
- Laura Lemon, University of Alabama
- Chelsea Woods, Virginia Tech University
PRD Membership (2013-2024)
*Official count taken each January.
Award Calls
Business Meeting Minutes
Interest Group Election