Editor’s essay: a new chapter

Abstract

Change is the only constant, or so the Greek philosopher Heraclitus thought. In the public relations field, that certainly rings true. Social media and a decentralized internet brought with them the promise of a more engaged and informed publics, but the spread of dis/misinformation has become so rampant that news seeking on social media now negatively correlates with knowledge and engagement (Infield, 2020). Yet practitioners must divine ways to operate within this direct-to-public communication environment as traditional news media – and trust in them – simultaneously erode (UNESCO, 2022). Companies like Disney and Coca-Cola, which once prided themselves on avoiding sociopolitical controversy, now find themselves thrust into deepening culture wars (Barnes, 2022; Gelles, 2021). All the while, practitioners desperately search for ways to manage relationships and reputations amidst the fray. And as organizations amass power, wealth, and influence that rivals or surpasses that of nationstates, they now struggle to fulfill the increasing social responsibilities expected of them from both stakeholders and the public writ large (Scherer & Palazzo, 2011). These are just a few of the challenges facing our field, largely in corporate communication – to say nothing of nonprofit, governmental, and other sectors. How do we, as public relations scholars and professionals, meet this moment? As the incoming editorial team for the Journal of Public Relations Research, we’ve pondered this and many other questions in recent months. Volume 34 marks the beginning term of editor-in-chief Dr. Sung-Un Yang, associate editor Dr. Nicholas Browning, and senior editorial assistant Ejae Lee. We are humbled and grateful for this great opportunity to serve a vibrant community of public relations researchers, and we are committed to the continuance of JPRR’s prestigious status, editorial mission, and research impacts. Strangely, the concept of continuance just as much as change brings us back to that philosopher from antiquity: