In this book the author asks a big question: how did public relations develop in Britain and why? The question is answered through a broad ranging narrative which links the evolution of British public relations in the early twentieth century to key political, economic, social, and technological developments. Drawing on oral history interviews and extensive archival research the book highlights some of the sociological issues relevant to a study of public relations and foregrounds the professionalisation of the occupation in the second part of the twentieth century.
Preface. British Public Relations: Definitions and Debates. Propaganda, Information, and Intelligence (1914-45). Establishing the Profession (1945-60). The Shape of Things to Come: The Emergence of Consultancy (1948-69). Professional Dilemmas: Public Relations, Media, and Politics (1948-70). Crime and Punishment: Codes and Regulation (1948-98). Educational Developments (1948-98). Implications and Conclusions. Appendices: Researching the History of British Public Relations: An Account of Methods Employed. List of Interviewees. Interview Guide.
