Public Relations
This is a broad based guide that covers a variety of sources relevant to the field of Public Relations.
- Best Bets: Databases
- Public Relations, General topics
- Case Studies
- Corporate Image & Crisis Com
- Political Consultants
- Trade Publications and Blogs
- Writing & Presentation Resources
- Tools and Services
- Data & Statistics
- Library Videos
- Contact Us
- Search Argos
- Google News Alerts
- PRSSA
- Related Library Guides
- O'Dwyer's
- PR Newswire
- PR News Blog
- PR Week
- Ragan PR
Note: The Dashboard (see right column) searches across all databases. I recommend it as a starting place. For more search control using field codes and databases thesaurus, search the databases one at a time.
Public Relations News: Business
Any of the databases below are good to search on any topic.
Public Relations News: Business
- Business Source Premier (Original Interface)
- ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry
- Business Insights: Essentials
- Nexis Uni (replaces LexisNexis)
- Business Source Premier (Original Interface) (BSP) Top index to business information. Trade and scholary. EBSCO interface.
- ABI/INFORM Collection Also a good index to business information. ProQuest interface.
- ScienceDirect Mainly science information but contains some strong public relations titles.
- Business Insights: Essentials Good for searching company and industry information. Compares to the Company Dossier in LexisNexis.
- Prendismo Video Clip Collection
16,000 video clips from 750 experts. These 2-minute video clips cover 200 business topics, such as ethics, finance, innovation, sales, strategy, women, and leadership. Provided by the Ithaca College School of Business. No off-campus access. There is a fee to download a clip.
- Communication Source Top index to the field of communications. Trade and scholarly. EBSCO interface.
- Communication Studies: a SAGE Full-Text Collection Twelve fulltext journals in the field of communications by the publisher SAGE
Any of the databases below are good to search on any topic.
- Academic Search Premier Multidisciplinary database on an EBSCO interface.
- ProQuest Research Library Multidisciplinary database on a ProQuest interface.
- Academic OneFile Multidisciplinary database on a GALE interface.
- Ebook Central (formerly ebrary) Multidisciplinary database of full-text ebooks.
- Google Scholar
- Nexis Uni (replaces LexisNexis) Top database for current news.
- US Newsstream
U.S. Newsstream enables users to search current U.S. news content, as well as archives that stretch back into the 1980s. It features top newspapers, wires, broadcast transcripts, blogs, and news sites in full-text format. U.S. Newsstream provides key national and regional news sources from the U.S. and includes exclusive and preferred access to top titles, including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Newsday, and Chicago Tribune. All titles are cross searchable on the ProQuest platform.
Encyclopedias and Handbooks:
- Advertising and public relations law
New York : Routledge, 2011. - Encyclopedia of communication theory
REF P87.5 .E496 2009
SAGE, 2009. - Encyclopedia of Public Relations
REF HD59 .E48 2005
2 volumes. Covers a wide variety of definitions and essays on various topics. - Evaluating public relations : a best practice guide to public relations and evaluation
HD59 .W325 2007
Kogan Page Limited, c2005. - The handbook of communication ethics
P94 .H353 2011
Cheney, May & Munshi. New York: Routledge, 2011. - Handbook of Public Relations
REF HD59 .H267 2001
Includes definitions of the discipline, best practices in a wide variety of contexts, etc. - Handbook of strategic public relations & integrated communications
HM263 .H317 2012
2nd ed. Covers different industries that use PR and integrated marketing communications. - IABC handbook of organizational communication : a guide to internal communication, public relations, marketing, and leadership
Jossey-Bass, 2011. ebook - Nonprofit Almanac
REF HD2769.2 .U6 N64 2008Urban Institute Press, 2008. Provides statistics on the nonprofit sector. Chapters: 1. The Nonprofit sector and its place in the national economy ; 2. Wage and employment trends ; 3. Trends in private giving and volunteering ; 4. Financial Trends ; 5. The Size, scope, and finances of public charities. Includes a glossary and index.
- O'Dwyer's directory of public relations firms
REF HM263 .O37
Directory of public relations firms and their clients. One can also determine the public relations firm(s) for various companies. - SRDS Media Solutions
- Advertising, Political--United States
- Persuasion (Psychology)
- Propaganda
- Public relations
- Public relations firms
- Public relations Management
- Public relations Moral and ethical aspects
- Public relations Evaluation
- Public relations Social aspects
- Public relations--United States--Case studies.
- International Journal of Strategic Communication
- Journal of Marketing Communications
- Journal of Public Relations Research
- PRweek (U.S. ed.)
- Public Relations Quarterly
- Public Relations Review
- Ragan Report
- Social Marketing Quarterly
- American Rhetoric
A database of over 5000 full text, audio, and video versions of public speeches, sermons, legal proceedings, lectures, debates and interviews. - Institute for Public Relations (IPR)
Non-for-profit organization founded in 1956 that provides educational resources and research to educators, practitioners, and the public. - Museum of Public Relations
Online exhibit that explores the careers of pioneers in the field of public relations such as: Edward Bernays, Moss Kendrix, Carl Byoir, Arthur Page, and Chet Burger. - Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
Membership organization devoted to advancing the field of public relations. Related to PRSSA the national student chapter.
Books:
- PR News
Popular trade publication in the field of public relations. Search "case study" to find case studies on particular scenarios. - PR news : top 100 case studies in PR
REF HM1221 .P7 2007
Gives a wide variety of examples about how a company, organization or individual handled a public relations event or program. See also: PR News Casebook (REF HM263 .P657 1993).
Handbooks and Reference:
- Crisis Management Guidebook
KF5920 .C75 2013
Published by PR News, 2013. Covers: social media, reputation management, internal communicaitons, issues management, and media relations. - Handbook of communication and corporate social responsibility
HD60 .H334 2011
Edited by Øyvind Ihlen, Jennifer L. Bartlett, and Steve May. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. - Handbook of crisis communication
HD49 .H34 2010
Edited by Coombs and Holladay. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. - Handbook of strategic public relations & integrated communications
HM263 .H317 2012
2nd ed. Covers different industries that use PR and integrated marketing communications. - IABC handbook of organizational communication : a guide to internal communication, public relations, marketing, and leadership
Jossey-Bass, 2011. ebook - Jane's crisis communications handbook
HV7936 .P8 F47 2003
Assists organizations with media relations during a crisis. - Oxford handbook of corporate reputation
HD59.2 .O94 2012
Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2012. - Plunkett's advertising & branding industry almanac, 2009
Industry reports on the advertising and branding industry. Only one person at a time can view this e-book.
- Boards of directors.
- Business communication
- Communication in organizations This is good for searching internal communications.
- Communication in management
- Communication in marketing.
- Communication in personnel management
- Corporate culture
- Corporate governance.
- Corporate image
- Corporations Public relations United States
- Corporations--Corrupt practices
- Crisis management
- Emergency communication systems
- Emergency management
- Graphic design (Typography)
- Industrial publicity
- Mass media and business
- Social responsibility of business.
- Social media
- CORPORATE communications
- CORPORATE image
- CRISIS management
- PUBLIC relations
- SOCIAL networks
- SOCIAL responsibility of business
- Bloomberg Businessweek Videos
Interviews with business leaders about technology, investment, management, etc. Users can create a playlist. Videos can be browsed or searched. - CSRwire.com
The leading source of corporate responsibility and sustainability, press releases, reports and news. - FORA.tv
Streaming video of lectures in politics, business, technology, the world, and culture, from academics, think tanks, authors, politicians, etc. Some videos are free and some are pay-per-view. - International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
Founded in 1970, this organization serves business communicators who work in PR, Corporate communications, Public Affairs, Investor relations, Government Relations, etc. - Trademarkia
Non-governmental free search engine for finding United States federally registered trademarks. - Violation Tracker
Violation Tracker is the first national search engine on corporate misconduct. Version 2.0 covers banking, consumer protection, environmental, health, safety, price-fixing and bribery cases initiated by 27 federal regulatory agencies and the Justice Department since 2010; in all, 110,000 cases with total penalties of $270 billion. Other types of violations, especially wage & hour and employment discrimination cases, will be added later. Violation Tracker is produced by the Corporate Research Project of Good Jobs First. (from the website).
Reference:
- Encyclopedia of media and politics
REF P95.82 .U6 E47 2007
CQ Press, 2007. - Encyclopedia of political communication
REF JA85 .E65 2008
Kaid & Holtz-Bacha (eds.). Sage Publication, 2008.
- Campaign management United States.
- Communication in politics.
- Political campaigns United States.
- Political consultants United States.
- Public relations and politics.
- POLITICAL Consultants
- PRESS Secretaries
- Political Communication & Public Relations
- Public Relations & Politics
- American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC)
Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a member association of political and media consultants. - European Association of Political Consultants (eapc)
Association of political consultants and public affairs professionals in Europe. Includes a Member list.
Trade Publications:
Access via the library will typically provide a larger scope than going direct to the website. The website is good for current news and signing up for feeds, Twitter, email, etc.
Access via the library will typically provide a larger scope than going direct to the website. The website is good for current news and signing up for feeds, Twitter, email, etc.
- PR Week via the library ; website
- PR News via the library ; website
- Ad Week via the library ; website
- Consumer Reports
The current issue is available from 01/01/1988 to present via Nexis Uni.The current year is also available in paper in the library (Popular Periodicals). - O'Dwyer's: Inside news of public relations & marketing communications
- Alltop - Top PR News
Alltop aggregates posts from all the top PR blogs. - Brian Solis
Blog analyzing the effects of social media and technology on marketing, entertainment and culture. - Bulldog Reporter's Daily Dog
PR views, news and tools by Infocom Group. Includes a free white paper library. - Clip Report by Steve Rubel, EVP/Edelman
- Edelman Blog (6 A.M. Post) Trends in communications by Richard Edelman, Pres. &CEO/Edelman
- FIR: The Hobson & Holtz Report
Twice weekly commentary on public relations and technology by Shel Holtz & Neville Hobson. - The Flack Public relations in politics, pop culture, journalism, business, entertainment, tech, social media, consumer marketing & sports by Peter Himler.
- Holmes Report
Provides information to Public Relations professionals including case histories. - Ragan's PR Daily
Public Relations tips and news from Ragan. - Strategic Public Relations Opinion on marketing strategy & more by Kevin Dugan. Includes a tab to the Bad Pitch Blog.
Journals
- Adbusters
From the Adbusters Media Foundation, this is the online companion to the activist magazine that mocks commercial advertising and offers media criticism through edgy articles and images. - Creativity: Adcritic
Online site for Creativity magazine contains Adcritic picks for TV, print & interactive advertising.
- AdSlogans
AdSlogan.com, a UK company, posted materials for students and educators such as SloganMaker, Sloganalysis, Brand Categories, & the Advertising Slogan Hall of Fame (the best ads of the past 100 years). TV ads can be viewed in full. Note: this page is no longer updated as of 2006 but is still useful - Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC)
A coalition of health care professionals, educators and parents who advocate against children's' exposure to commercialism through marketing. There are almost 30 member organizations. - Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY)
Part of the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, CAMY. "monitors the marketing practices of the alcohol industry to focus attention and action on industry practices that jeopardize the health and safety of America's youth." - Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU)
A unit of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. that offers guidelines for advertising messages to young children. - CRETV, Center for Research on the Effects of Television
- Fast Food FACTS
Yale University health researchers (Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity) developed this site of facts on advertising food to youth for consumers and researchers. - Marin Institute
Organization that monitors the alcohol industry. Includes free reports under the Resources tab. - Media Education Foundation
Organization that produces educational documentaries that examines American mass media's impact on society. - Project Look Sharp
Project Look Sharp provides materials, training and support to help teachers prepare students for life in today's media saturated world. Project Look Sharp promotes the effective integration of media literacy and critical thinking into classroom curricula at all educational levels and instructional areas. Project Look Sharp also evaluates the effectiveness of school-based media literacy education.
Reference:
- Associated Press (AP) stylebook and briefing on media law
REF DESK PN4783 .A83 - PR styleguide: formats for public relations practice
REF HM1221 .D54 2013
Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013. - American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
- Ithaca College Library: Citation Page
- Wilson, K. (2011). The AMA handbook of business documents: guidelines and sample documents that make business writing easy. New York, NY: AMACOM.
- Wilson, K., & American Management Association. (2010). The AMA handbook of business writing: the ultimate guide to style, grammar, usage, punctuation, construction, and formatting. New York: AMACOM/American Management Association.
- Truss, L. (2004). Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. New York: Gotham Books.
- Zotero is software that allows you to easily collect, manage, and save bibliographic information about the items you find on the Web. It also works with word processing programs to help you easily cite your sources as you write. Ron Gilmour, our Science Librarian, created, "A Brief Guide to Using Zotero".
Firms:
- O'Dwyer's had a good website but our print guide (IC Reference section, floor 2) has more complete information, use:
- O'Dwyer's directory of public relations firms
REF HM263 .O37
Directory of public relations firms and their clients. One can also determine the public relations firm(s) for various companies.
- EDGAR Database (Securities and Exchange Commission)
Official SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) documents such as Form 10-K, 10-Q, Proxy statements, registration statements, and merger and acquisition documents. *Be sure to look at the DEF14A (Proxy) statements and the Management Discussion and Analysis sections of Form 10-k, Form 10-Q for insights into management. - SEC Info
Securities Information from the SEC EDGAR database. Search by Name, Industry, Business, SIC Code, Area Code,Topic, CIK, Accession Number, File Number, Date, ZIP. You may have to join but membership is free.
- Brand Keys
Company that focuses on "customer loyalty and engagement metrics" in branding. They publish the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index. - BurrellesLuce
Public relations company that provides the following services: media outreach, media monitoring, and media reporting. They have a nice Resources tab for PR practitioners including: White Papers (there is one on Copyright Compliance), Tip Sheets, Newsletters, and Webinars. - Constant Contact
Company that facilitates online marketing. - General Sentiment
Analyzes consumer sentiment on the internet and though social media outlets. Products and services include: Media Measurement Dashboard, Custom Reporting, Syndicated Reporting, and API. - NextMark
Buy, sell, and learn about mailing lists. Includes a Directory of Providers. - VMS
Integrated Media Intelligence company that monitors media for public relations, marketing, and advertising.
- Charity Navigator
An independent charity evaluator. Provides evaluative information about the financial health of over 5,300 of America's largest charities. - Consumer Product Safety Commission
A United States agency, "charged with the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction." Their site SaferProducts.gov allows consumers to report risks of harm and search on products they own or may purchase. - GuideStar.org
Searchable database of the programs and finances of more than 1.7 million IRS-recognized nonprofits and over 3.3 million people who work in the nonprofit sector. Source for 990 forms; nonprofits are required to file a 990 revenue statement with the IRS. Use GuideStar to screen for nonprofits. - Social Media Marketing Examples
This wiki includes: company name, SMM Example, Type of Social Media, Industry, Country, & contributor.
- American FactFinder
Current population, housing, economic, and geographic data from the US Census Bureau. Includes the Annual Survey of Manufactures, Economic Census, Current Population Estimates, Business Patterns, and American Community Surveys. The Guided Search walks you through each step in picking the data and/or geographies you want to download. - compete
Compete (Kantar Media) "helps the worlds top brands improve their marketing based on the online behavior of millions of consumers." Demographic data from this service is also included in SRDS Consumer Media. - Data.gov
The purpose of Data.gov is "to increase public access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government." The site includes searchable data catalogs providing access to data in three ways: through the "raw" data catalog, the tool catalog, and the geodata catalog. - Doubleclick ad planner
A Google ad planning feature that assists market researchers define audience and build media plans. Demographic data are also included in SRDS Consumer Media. - Klout Score
The Klout Score measures influence on topics across the social web. - Nielsen
Measures audiences for television and other media markets. Claritas SiteReports provides U.S. demographic data. - Q Scores
This company measures the consumer appeal of personalities, products, characters, licensed properties, programs and brands. The Q Score is a "measure of likeability" that predicts consumer involvement. Data is sold to advertisement and PR firms amongst others. - Television & cable factbook
Lists cable and television stations by geographic area. Shows coverage area maps, DMA information including # of households with cable and television. Programming offered by cable companies, etc. 4 volumes. Library retains current edition only. - U.S. Census Bureau
Social, demographic and economic information. Includes the American FactFinder resource. - UNdata
UNdata pools major UN databases and those of several international organizations - browse, search and download data from a large number of statistical databases. Data categories include: agriculture, education, employment, energy, environment, health, human development, industry, information and communication technology, national accounts, population, refugees, trade, and tourism.
Run a search in Google News. Consider using Google Search Operators to refine your search. After searching, scroll down. On the bottom right of the screen click on Create Alert. Under "show options" you can set some limiters.
Interested in a career in public relations? Consider joining IC's chapter of PRSSA, the Public Relations Student Society of America.
Subject Guides are complete source lists by resource type. Class guides are used for in class presenations and may contain resources specific to class assignments.
- Communication Management & Design (subject guide)
- Communication Research Methods (bibliography)
- Corporate Communications (class guide)
- Crisis Communications (class guide)
- Designing Communication Strategies (class guide)
- How to Research a Company (Jim Bondra, Business Librarian)
- How to Research an Industry (Jim Bondra, Business Librarian)
- Human Communication in Organizations (class guide)
- Integrated Marketing Communications (subject guide)
- Media Writing (class guide)
- Public Relations (list of sources)