History
1900-1950
History
In the early 1900s, Henry Ford developed
three public relations concepts still used
today:
Positioning: credit and publicity always go to
those who do something first
Press Accessibility: being available to the press
is critical in establishing a relationship of mutual
trust and respect.
Corporate Social Responsibility: using a
company’s platform to endorse positive
community initiatives.
History
In 1900, the nation’s first publicity firm
– The Publicity Bureau – opened its
doors in Boston.
In 1903, the Teddy Bear promoted
President Theodore Roosevelt’s
conservation efforts and his sense of
fairness.
History
History
Ivy Lee, considered one of the first PR
experts, issued his “Declaration of
Principles,” which urged practitioners
to accept their public responsibilities.
He represented the mining industry in
the anthracite coal strike and
represented J.D. Rockefeller in the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Strike.
History
In 1908, Mary Baker Eddy, founder of
the First Church of Christ, Scientist,
created her own international
newspaper to counter negative media
coverage – The Christian Science
Monitor.
History
In 1915, Theda Bara became a movie
star – whose name, background and
persona were the products of movie
studio PR agents. Her real name was
Theodosia Goodman and she was
from Cincinnati.
History
History
In 1916 the Committee on Public
Information, headed by George Creel
and created by President Woodrow
Wilson, marked the first time the U.S.
government coordinated wartime
communications and propaganda
through a central point of command.
History
History
In 1923, Edward Bernays wrote his best-
selling book, Crystallizing Public Opinion,
and taught the first public relations course at
New York University.
In 1917, Arthur Page was named vice
president of public relations for ATT,
accepting the job only if he was assured a
place at the company’s policy-making table.
History
1929 marked two important public relations
“events:”
The Torches of Liberty Parade, supposedly
staged to promote female empowerment,
featured women in their teens and early 20s
marching down Fifth Avenue smoking cigarettes.
The Parade was sponsored by the American
Tobacco Company and the cigarettes, Lucky
Strikes, were provided to the women.
History
Bernays orchestrated “The Golden
Jubilee of Light” event which marked
the 50th anniversary of the invention of
the electric light bulb.
History
In 1933 President Franklin Roosevelt
used the relatively new medium of
radio to take his messages directly to
the people of the United States with
his weekly “Fireside Chats.”
In 1936, the Oscar Meyer
Wienermobile debuted.
History
History
1936 also marked the first widespread
use of public opinion polling.
In 1937 the two reigning kings of radio
comedy, Jack Benny and Fred Allen,
began a public “feud” to generate
publicity for their programs.
History
In 1937, Hollywood launched the most
elaborate publicity campaign of all time with
its “Search for Scarlett O’Hara.”
In 1939, Marian Anderson, an African-
American singer offered a free Easter
concert atop the steps of the Lincoln
Memorial after being denied the opportunity
to perform at Constitution Hall because of
her race.
History
History
In 1942, the Office of War Information
worked with the media and
entertainment industry to build public
support for American’s military efforts
during World War II, most notably in its
use of Hollywood filmmakers to create
documentaries.
History
In 1942, Rosie the Riveter posters
celebrated female factory workers
during World War II.
History
History
In 1945, the War Advertising Council
became the Advertising Council, now
known as the Ad Council. This group
creates informational campaigns on
behalf of various social causes.
Smokey the Bear
The Red Cross
National Safety Council
History
In 1946, television began to grow as a
medium, offering a new venue for
publicity and public relations.
In 1949, Radio Free Europe, a
Congressionally-mandated radio
network, reached across the Iron
Curtain during the Cold War to spread
American news.