History is something that we need to understand the present, isn't it?
Australia and USA are often said to be pretty similar countries, for example they are both individualist English speaking nations. I was reading the book Public Relations: Theory and Practice by Jane Johnston,Clara Zawawi and found there a clear chronology of the Public relations development in Australia. I’ll give a brief summary of it here but more detailed can be read in the book, pages 23-40. But one can see how the American public relations practices have had an impact on the way how public relations has developed in Australia.
1840s-90s There were three significant developments which had implications for the development of PR industry: Development of schools and schooling programs which enlarged the audience for news papers; Creation of technology that would allow the production of daily newspapers; Newspapers begin to develop objectivity for to avoid alienating readers and to offer advertisers the largest possible audience.
1920s US production/distribution companies entered Australia. There are many Hollywood studios. Australian publicity staff travels regularly to America for training. American-style of publicity, sales and motivational concepts and techniques introduced.
1930s The Depression lead to more restrained use of promotion. Women emerge as an important audience and a growing range of publications appear to cater to the female market.
1940s World War II becomes the catalyst to allow public relations to develop into a fully fledged profession. The methods of public relations practices were from America, from The US Office of War Information. They introduced a different view of publicity: focus was on ‘news management’ and this was different from the earlier publicity. The new approach stressed that press coverage must be managed, controlled and influenced to achieve an end that might have nothing to do with product sales but everything to do with public opinion.
1950s Public Relations Institute of Australia PRIA is founded
1960s Women begin to move into the public relations industry.
1970s Multinational consultancies begin to move into Australia. Television has an impact on the advisory nature of public relations, bringing new audiences and new approaches.
1980s and 1990s Continuing development and emphasis on public relations education.
Written by Akviliina
All good things have to come to an end
16 years ago
