Abstract

This review article offers an exhaustive epistemological work on the evolution of the concept of public relations during the last half century (1970-2020). For this purpose, the most referred definitions from the academy, manuals, books and scientific articles focused on public relations have been explored and summarized. The objective is to verify how the concept of public relations has evolved and how it has been modeled with the successive definitions set forth by experts, academics and researchers. Thus, as in the decade of the seventies of the 20th century, despite the clear dissent on the conception of public relations, which goes from organized effort to art or social science, there is already a common recognition of its nature persuasive and its foundation in the social sciences. In the 1980s, public relations, influenced by business management, are identified as a managerial and directive function of communication. And, starting in the 1990s, socially responsible public relations are moving towards goals of mutual understanding with the public. The latest definitions that reaffirm the managerial nature, coexist with others that conceive them as a strategic communication process. The study confirms its managerial nature, in its objectives of mutual benefit and mutual understanding between the organization and its public, along with its socially responsible nature. It is therefore finally a concept away from the commercial and economic objectives of marketing, with which it is sometimes mistakenly confused. Finally, in the conclusions, this article considers the defining elements of current public relations.

Abstract

This paper analyzes communication management in Spanish public universities by interviewing communication directors of these institutions. Results show that, in addition to the shortcomings identified in the management of communications in public universities, which undermines the achievement of the exact marketing objective, the diffusional model is dominant, playing a negative influencing role. The diffusional model obscures other alternative models that would show more democratic institutions.

Abstract

La comunicación municipal trasciende la simple información sobre servicios públicos, actividades, proyectos o trámites administrativos. Las estrategias comunicativas y de información en el contexto local se orientan hacia los ciudadanos para poner en valor un proyecto municipal compartido en el que éstos se implican como prosumidores en el diseño y desarrollo de estrategias sectoriales vinculadas a las políticas públicas. En consecuencia, los ayuntamientos deben integrar en su estructura una dirección de comunicación que asuma la función de información pública desde la gobernanza, la transparencia y la participación ciudadana proactiva. Desde la primera legislatura democrática en 1979 la evolución y adaptación de sus procesos y rutinas productivas se justifica por la necesidad de configurar una percepción positiva de la acción del gobierno y consolidar su reputación institucional. En este trabajo se realiza una aproximación a la dirección de comunicación municipal basada en los modelos rígidos y estandarizados de los años 80 y 90, para incidir en la revolución actual que representa el paradigma de la comunicación 2.0, la implementación de la web social en el contexto de proximidad y la estrategia de medios sociales.Abstract Municipal communication transcends the simple information about public services, activities, projects, and administrative procedures. Communicative and information strategies in the local context are oriented towards citizens who participate in a shared municipal project in which they are prosumers in the design and development of sectorial strategies linked to public policies. Consequently, city councils must integrate a communication structure that takes advantage of public information from governance, transparency, and proactive citizen participation. Since the first Spanish democratic legislature in 1979 the evolution and adaptation of process and production routines has been justified by the need to shape a positive perception of government action and consolidate their institutional reputation. In this paper an approach to municipal communication, based on the rigid and standardized models of the 80s and 90s, is presented to influence the current revolution that represents the paradigm of communication 2.0, the implementation of the social web in the context of proximity and social media strategy.

Abstract

Municipal communication transcends the simple information about public services, activities, projects, and administrative procedures. Communicative and information strategies in the local context are oriented towards citizens who participate in a shared municipal project in which they are prosumers in the design and development of sectorial strategies linked to public policies. Consequently, city councils must integrate a communication structure that takes advantage of public information from governance, transparency, and proactive citizen participation. Since the first Spanish democratic legislature in 1979 the evolution and adaptation of process and production routines has been justified by the need to shape a positive perception of government action and consolidate their institutional reputation. In this paper an approach to municipal communication, based on the rigid and standardized models of the 80s and 90s, is presented to influence the current revolution that represents the paradigm of communication 2.0, the implementation of the social web in the context of proximity and social media strategy.