Folk devils and moral vigilantes – The occupational branding of public affairs consultants and the management of stigma

IF 2.7 Q1 COMMUNICATION

Public Relations Inquiry Pub Date : 2023-11-21 DOI:10.1177/2046147x231218309

Elin Helgesson

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Public affairs is a rising field of practise; at the same time, it is reputationally complicated. In view of the widespread concern about the impact of its practise on democracy, this study explores how practitioners construct an occupational identity and present their occupation as meaningful to a wider audience. Using the concepts of occupational branding and stigma management communication, the study unpacks how practitioners manage and understand the stigma associated with their occupation and how the meaning of public affairs work is negotiated, described and framed. Drawing on interviews and free-text answers from a nationwide survey of public affairs consultants, the study illuminates how practitioners utilise a variety of strategies while engaging with and navigating the stigma, as well as the societal and historical discourses associated with their profession. Further, the findings show that practitioners are in no rush to reconfigure their image and instead have found productive ways to live with taint and tensions. These results open for debate not only the professionalisation project of public affairs but also the implications that keeping the status quo has on the development of democratic society.

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民间魔鬼与道德卫士--公共事务顾问的职业品牌与污名化管理

公共事务是一个正在崛起的实践领域，同时也是一个声誉复杂的领域。鉴于人们普遍关注公共事务对民主的影响，本研究探讨了从业人员如何构建职业身份，并向更广泛的受众展示其职业的意义。本研究利用职业品牌和污名管理传播的概念，探讨从业人员如何管理和理解与其职业相关的污名，以及如何协商、描述和构建公共事务工作的意义。通过对全国公共事务顾问的访谈和自由文本回答，本研究揭示了从业人员如何利用各种策略来应对和驾驭污名，以及与其职业相关的社会和历史论述。此外，研究结果表明，从业人员并不急于重新塑造自己的形象，而是找到了卓有成效的方法，与污点和紧张关系共存。这些结果不仅开启了公共事务专业化项目的讨论，也开启了维持现状对民主社会发展的影响的讨论。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Public Relations Inquiry COMMUNICATION-

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

11.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： Public Relations Inquiry is an international, peer-reviewed journal for conceptual, reflexive and critical discussion on public relations, supporting debates on new ways of thinking about public relations in social, cultural and political contexts, in order to improve understanding of its work and effects beyond the purely organisational realm. We interpret public relations in a broad sense, recognising the influence of public relations practices on the many forms of contemporary strategic, promotional communication initiated by organisations, institutions and individuals. The practice of public relations arises at points of societal and organisational change and transformation, affecting many aspects of political, economic, social and cultural life. Reflecting this, we aim to mobilize research that speaks to a scholars in diverse fields and welcome submissions from any area that speak to the purpose of the journal, including (but not only) public relations, organizational communication, media and journalism studies, cultural studies, anthropology, political communication, sociology, organizational studies, development communication, migration studies, visual communication, management and marketing, digital media and data studies. We actively seek contributions that can extend the range of perspectives used to understand public relations, its role in societal change and continuity, and its impact on cultural and political life. We particularly welcome multi-disciplinary debate about the communication practices that shape major human concerns, including: globalisation, politics, and public relations in international communication migration, refugees, displaced populations terrorism, public diplomacy public and corporate governance diversity and cultural impacts of PR the natural and built environments Communication, space and place The development and practices of major industries such as health, food, sport, tourism, technology.