Aims

By the end of the course, students will have acquired the skills to:
- understand and interpret the key developments in theories and practices of public relations, and the various current models of public relations;
interpret public relations situations in terms of transaction rites, and to analyse the systems of interactions that characterise social exchange put in place by participants in various situations or manifestations of public relations;
- ask themselves ethical questions about public relations behaviour;
- analyse the components of the identity of organisations communicated by them to a range of
populations;
- differentiate between the maid kinds of approach to the notion of population (in public
relations).

Main themes

The course aims to study the forms of communication (relation and formation) that make up the
Specific features of public relations and of organisations' communications policies.

Content and teaching methods

" An examination of various (e.g. technical, strategic and communicationa1) approaches to public relations.
" A review of various (e.g. general and particular) theories of public relations e.g. notion of the population).
" An analysis of existing interactions between the various social actors involved in public
relations situations (e.g. anniversaries, factory visits, previews, press relations, the publication of annual reports and workplace magazines, and presentation folders).
" An analysis of the identity communication of organisations; the various expressions of these organisations and the nature of the phenomenon.
" The development and geographical comparison of public relations practices

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Pre requirement: To have completed courses in sociology.
Assessment: Regular tests on the subject, and an oral examination.
Support: A portfolio of texts.
Additionally: A range of public relations and organisational situations will be analysed during the course: there will be audio-visual support.

Other credits in programs