{"id":4821,"date":"2023-02-20T19:32:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T17:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=4821"},"modified":"2026-04-18T20:50:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T18:50:01","slug":"history-of-public-relations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/blog\/history-of-public-relations.html","title":{"rendered":"History of public relations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you ever wonder about the history of public relations? The necessity to communicate has always existed, as has the desire to be presented in the best possible light. From the inscriptions on the cave walls and papyrus of ancient Egyptians to live streaming videos, a wide range of methods have been used throughout history to share stories with others. People have been using various tools and channels to transmit important information to each other and keep news of what\u2019s occurring known. These communication methods have helped shape what we know as public relations today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of Public Relations: Most Interesting Facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are some interesting facts about the history of public relations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. One of the earliest known examples of public relations was Julius Caesar’s writings about his military conquests, which he used to shape public opinion and gain support for his campaigns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The first PR agency was founded in Boston in 1900 by George V. S. Michaelis, who focused on promoting theatrical productions and books.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Ivy Lee, known as the father of modern PR, is credited with creating the first press release in 1906, which he wrote on behalf of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to provide information about a train accident.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. During World War I, PR played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and gaining support for the war effort. The Committee on Public Information was established in the US to disseminate pro-war propaganda.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Edward Bernays, who is often referred to as the father of public relations, pioneered the use of psychology and social science in PR campaigns. He worked with major corporations and political figures, including President Calvin Coolidge and President Herbert Hoover.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. One of the most famous PR campaigns of all time was the 1950s “torches of freedom” campaign created by Bernays to encourage women to smoke cigarettes as a symbol of feminism and freedom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. The advent of television in the 1950s and 1960s led to a new era in PR, as campaigns began to be designed specifically for television audiences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. The rise of the internet and social media in the late 20th century and early 21st century has transformed the PR industry once again, as companies and individuals can now communicate directly with their audiences through digital channels.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Four Ages of PR History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Traditionally, it\u2019s considered to divide the history of PR into four ages: the Beginnings of PR, the Age of Print, the Age of Mass Media, the Age of Digital and Social Media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg invented the first printing press in Germany. Predictably, the machine quickly gained popularity in Christian Europe. For 100 years, it spread from Kyivan Rus’ in the east to Lisbon in the west, from Greece in the south to Sweden in the north. This invention accelerated the beginning of the Renaissance and became one of the attributes of the transition from the Middle Ages to the New Age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Therefore, the history of PR and propaganda is usually divided into before and after the 15th century, the age of print.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Content originally created by the PRMuseum<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A century of PR evolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    It\u00b4s been 100 years since PR became an important tool in the modern world. It\u00b4s been a long road, but each step shaped and showed the crucial role of every aspect of it. By making mistakes and achieving tremendous successes, PR has become what it is today. But the challenges are not over, and they are the hardest ever. PRnews presents you with \u201cA century of PR evolution\u201d infographic!<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"history<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
    History of PR – x2 Retina-min.jpg<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Before 15th Century: The Beginnings of PR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are many examples where public relations has been used for millennia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    37000\u201317000 BC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Cave inscriptions are among the first forms of graphic communication. The pigments for those paintings were made from the juice of fruits and berries, colored minerals, or animal blood. The aim and reason of these ancient drawings have been learned by scholars for years, but the most popular theory states that the inscriptions were used as an instruction for others what animals were safe to eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some of the earliest known paintings were found in the El Castillo cave in northern Spain, southern France, and the limestone caves of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    3300 BC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The \u201csacred carvings\u201d found in Egypt were commonly written by royalty, priests, and civil officers to communicate prayers, magical texts, worship details, thoughts about life after death, pharaohs\u2019 documents, biographies, and counting (e.g., the size of the pyramids). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Egyptian<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    300-100 BC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Early handwritten documents and books appeared. The word \u201cmanuscript\u201d is received from the Latin term \u201clibri manu scripti\u201d which means to \u201cbook written by hand\u201d. Most handwritten manuscripts were made from vellum as the paper was not widely available. The first manuscripts found at Qumran (Israel) date from the 3rd century B.C.E. e. to the 1st century AD and have great historical, religious, and linguistic significance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s remind ourselves, the Library of Alexandria, an extensive library that stored more than a half million scrolls and manuscripts, was a meeting place for scholars and intellectuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The majority of books and documents were written for religious purposes. This was due to the fact that writing a religious book was viewed as a form of worship, and also that most books were written by monks in monasteries. Because only the monks and the very rich people were given the opportunity to become literate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    50 B.C.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In 50 B.C. Julius Caesar wrote the first campaign biography, which was called Caesar\u2019s Gallic Wars<\/a>. He \u201cadvertised\u201d his military exploits to convince the Roman people that he would become the best leader of the state. Political candidates keep on publishing themselves with their biographies and merits to this day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Gallic<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    1st Century<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Apostle, theologian, and letter writer, St. Paul, created some of the earliest Christian writings. He moved around the Mediterranean and spread the word about Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In 394 A.D., St. Augustine being a professor of rhetoric in Italy transmitted the regular eulogies to the emperor and was the closest person to a minister of propaganda for the imperial court. Thus, St. Augustine was one of the first the President\u2019s press secretary or communication directors, if we needed to adapt his position to the modern title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"St.<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    206 BC to 220 AD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    During the Chinese Han dynasty, handwritten news sheets were distributed among government officials. This early form of written news was used and distributed again in China during the Tang Dynasty in the eighth and ninth centuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"the<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    700-1300<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The period between the 7th and 13th centuries is called the age of the religious manuscript. The 13th century, however, caused an exciting change in the realm of the written word.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"Illuminated<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    1162\u20131227<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Genghis Khan, known for his huge conquests in Asia, united the Mongols and created an empire. He invented a system of way stations for horses and their messenger riders, helping the empire give orders and share the news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While it is still debated, public relations first served as a method to manage and manipulate public opinion through sociology and mass psychology, however, at the beginning public relations was criticized for sometimes being a major form of propaganda.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"Genghis<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    15th Century: The Age of Print<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In the 1440s in Mainz, Germany, Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized printing production when he invented the printing press. Using a wine press and movable cast metal type, his invention could make documents at a lower cost and higher volume, deriving a huge increase in accessing knowledge and information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Propaganda was very widespread after the creation of the printing press. It allowed outstanding figures to spread information to the audience and influence them to think a certain way. This was a great tool when many countries grew into a democracy and citizens had the right to participate in government elections. During this time, there were many people using public relations to manage public opinion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1517<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The beginning of the Protestant Reformation started in the \u201cDisputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences\u201d published by Martin Luther to the Wittenberg Palace church door. The book, called the \u201c95 theses,\u201d listed Luther\u2019s grievances with the Catholic Church. Using the Gutenberg printing device, Luther supporters printed copies of the theses, spreading the word across and beyond Germany. <\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"Martin<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    1572\u20131627<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    \u2018Propaganda\u2019 the Latin word for plant and animal reproduction, was reinvented by Pope Gregory XIII (1572\u201385) when he created the propaganda document, a commission of cardinals tasked with spreading Catholicism to non-Catholic countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Pope<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    1773<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    American colonist and Founding Father Samuel Adams was called a \u201cmaster of propaganda\u201d who promoted political messages to resist the British monarchy. You may find out more searching for information about The Boston Tea Party.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"Samuel<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1829<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The White House started to use PR in its communications. Newspaper owner Amos Kendall was considered one of the most important figures of journalism of the 19th century. He became the most influential member of President Andrew Jackson\u2019s cabinet, drafting many of Jackson\u2019s policy messages re-creating the president\u2019s image from a southern-born war hero to a polished intellectual. <\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"Amos<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    2nd half of 19th Century: The Age of Mass Media<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Many communication inventions appeared during the 1800s and 1900s: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. the telegraph (1830s by Samuel Morse); <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. the daguerreotype (1839 by Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre); <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. the telephone (1876 by Alexander Graham Bell); <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. the phonograph (1877 by Thomas Edison); <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. the gramophone (1887 by Emile Berliner), <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. the motion picture camera and wireless telegraphy ( 1892 and 1896 by Thomas Edison); <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Tesla coils (1897 be Nikola Tesla); <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. photography (1826 by Joseph Nic\u00e9phore Ni\u00e9pce).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      That\u2019s why appeared far more possibilities to spread the ideas, it had a huge impact on the PR industry of those times and therefore it is considered to be the new era of mass media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1871<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum was a master of press agentry, an early form of publicity that relied on \u201cpseudo\u201d events and often deception in the name of promotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"Phineas<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      1882<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      It was a big lesson for the future PR business that \u201cWords cannot be unsaid.\u201d William Henry Vanderbilt (1821\u201385), president of the New York Central and numerous other railroads, was a quiet, honest, modest, and, above all else, moderate man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Within twenty-four hours of his quote, the phrase \u201cThe public be damned\u2026\u201d had become one of the great public relations catastrophes in American business history and was published on the first pages of hundreds of newspapers. It was the first huge business scandal, showed the significance of words, and provoked editorials, sermons, cartoons, and political speeches by the thousands. So what happened?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"William<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Vanderbilt was on his way to a tour of the West and was traveling in his private railroad car to Chicago. Clarence Dresser, a young freelance reporter with a reputation as a journalistic agent provocateur, sought an interview. He had barged into Vanderbilt\u2019s car on its arrival and demanded his immediate attention. Vanderbilt said that he was in the middle of lunch but, if Clarence would wait until he had finished, he would talk with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cBut it is late,\u201d Dresser said, \u201cand I will not reach the office in time. The public\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cThe public be damned,\u201d Vanderbilt burst out. \u201cYou get out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      But came back to the office Dresser made his way to the Tribune and turned in a different story:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cDoes your limited express [between New York and Chicago] pay?\u201d Dresser asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cNo, not a bit of it. We only run it because we are forced to do so by the action of the Pennsylvania Road. It doesn\u2019t pay expenses. We would abandon it if it was not for our competitor keeping its train on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cBut don\u2019t you run it for the public benefit?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cThe public be damned\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      20th Century: The Age of Digital<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The 20th century continued to fuel the development of public relations with such inventions as long-distance radio communication (1900 by Guglielmo Marconi), television (1939), Internet (1969), cell phones (1973). Which, of course, accelerated and changed the methods of information transfer and its management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      But despite such a long history of Public relations and various devices for it, PR as a profession appeared only in 1903 as Ivy Lee undertook to advise John D. Rockefeller on how to conduct his public relations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Rockefeller owned coal mines and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Miners were on strike and the railroad didn\u2019t mention the facts when its trains had accidents. Lee recommended Rockefeller to come to the coal mines and talk to the miners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Rockefeller spent time listening to the complaints of the miners, satisfied some of their requests, danced with their wives, and became a hero to the miners. After a railroad accident, Lee invited journalists to inspect the crash and collect the facts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The Pennsylvania Railroad then obtained its first positive press coverage. Lee promoted public relations by following these principles: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Tell the truth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Provide accurate facts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Public relations managers must have access to top management and decision-making.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Mr. Ivy gave a description to public relations, as \u201cPublic relations means the actual relationship of the company to the people and that relationship involves more than talk. The company must act by performing good deeds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1918 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Public relations became more professional in 1918 as Edward Bernays advised the President of the new country of Czechoslovakia to announce independence on a Monday, rather than on a Sunday to get maximum press coverage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"Czechoslovakia<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Bernays and Lee were highlighting the idea that the enterprise should accept social responsibility. Bernays\u2019 concepts about social responsibility led to his refusal to accept unethical clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1933<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Campaigns Inc., the first political consulting company, was created by husband and wife team Clem Whitaker and Leone Baxter. The company worked with Republican candidates and created PR techniques still used nowadays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"Clem<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        1939<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Television Pervades the Landscape. At the 1939 New York World\u2019s Fair, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) announced the all-electronic television. By the 1950s, televisions had swept the nation, providing news, entertainment, and advertisements into the home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"the<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        1942<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        World War II showed a variety of PR techniques. Joseph Goebbels leaded propaganda movements for Hitler, ensuring all communication was in support of the Nazis regime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"Joseph<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        The 1930s \u2013 1950s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Following the War, there was a rise in public relations agencies. And the field was developing into a business. Notable agencies including Carl Byoir & Associates (1930), Edelman (1952), and Burson-Marsteller (1953) would continue to prosper and become multinational companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"Carl<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        The 1950s\u20131970s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Posters, buttons, anthems, and chants were among the tools used in the biggest social movements of the 20th century. <\/p>\n\n\n

        \n
        \"Poster<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

        1969<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        On Oct. 29, 1969, ARPAnet connected to the internet and delivered its first message: a \u201cnode-to-node\u201d communication from one computer to another, using satellite communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"ARPAnet\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        21st Century: The Age of Digital and Social Media<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        In the early 2000s, public relations became prominent as the internet created a source where information was readily available to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Blogging became one of the most popular social media platforms. A weblog or \u201cblog\u201d was first developed in 1997 but became mainstream in 2000. A blog made it possible for any person with Internet access to create a type of website without having to be familiar with any form of HTML coding that is generally necessary to create a website. Blogs replaced journals as a form of self-expression for many young people.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Social media and blogging have had a significant change in personal and professional relationships. Reputations started to be able to built and destroyed with a few clicks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        2008<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Social media in politics. The 2008 presidential election was the first time social media had such an extensive use and connected politicians and voters. Barack Obama used Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Twitter, Digg, BlackPlanet, LinkedIn, AsianAve, and more platforms to gain the youth vote and win the election. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"Barack<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Social media\u2019s unparalleled growth at the beginning of the 21st century brought profound changes in human connections. The public relations profession took a leadership role in social media\u2019s use and development as a two-way communication instrument. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        2015<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        The New York Times added to the dimensions of storytelling when it converted an ordinary cardboard box when combined with a smartphone, into a virtual reality device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The Future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        With new technology always on the horizon, the way we and enterprises communicate with each other will change dramatically. To be continued\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n<\/a> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Do you ever wonder about the history of public relations? The necessity to communicate has always existed, as has the desire to be presented in the best possible light. From the inscriptions on the cave walls and papyrus of ancient Egyptians to live streaming videos, a wide range of methods have been used throughout history to share stories with others. People have been using various tools and channels to transmit important information to each other and keep news of what\u2019s occurring known. These communication methods have helped shape what we know as public relations today. History of Public Relations: Most<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":4824,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[856],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-public-relations"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4821","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4821"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4821\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31559,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4821\/revisions\/31559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}