Introduction and origin of Public relation

Introduction

Public relation is an inter-disciplinary study involving human psychology, anthropology, sociology, mass media modern communication, and scientific management. It can be called as a human skill in its core definition. Public relation is a developed study in social science, focusing on social communication. This field of social science emphasizes on creating a consensus among different assemblages for maintaining the social relations primarily. The objective of this discourse is to keep equilibrium between the stake holders and the related public to the organizations. The process begins with examining and analyzing the subjects- the organization or an individual; and the objects- the public, internal as well as external. In other terms, it can be said that it tries to develop an agreed opinion among the people of the organization and outside institutions. Further,it builds deliberate and researched plans and executes these plans in accordance with the management with the efficient use of communication techniques and tools. Most significantly, media is the source of disseminating of the information for the public relation bodies.

Origin of Public relation

 The origin of public relation is as aged as the society itself. For example, according to Cultip et al. (2000: 102), “The communication of information to influence view points or actions can be traced from the earliest civilizations. Archaeologists found a farm bulletin in Iraq that told the farmers of 1800 B.C how to sow their crops, how to irrigate. Public relations was used many centuries ago in England, where King’s maintained lord Chancellors as ‘keepers of the King’s conscience.”  PR started as a practice of human skills very early in the history, soon after the tribal system of governance changed to societal.  The PR in our understanding today, began in the last years of the 19^th century and in the early 20^th century. Early practitioners were known as publicists. The fundamental illustration is found in the career and practice of two PR’s most influential figures-Ivy Ledbetter Lee (1877-1934) and Edward Bernays (1891-1955). Lee and Bernays were contemporaries but differed in the practice and idea of the PR. Lee considered it more of an Art where in creativity, innovation and soft skills are critical whereas Bernays influenced by the Psychological ideology of his uncle Sigmund Freud, considered it more of a scientific practice. The conditions and the ambiance under which the PR came out as a developed discourse and practice is found during the First World War and making its bases in USA. The development of PR practice and study evolved in the countries having close links to USA. For example Brazil developed in PR very early in the 20th century. And china which had not much close ties with US developed very late in the public relations.