World War I and the birth of public relations

Abstract

This commentary in the Journal of Professional Communication discusses the historical origins of the public relations profession. It discusses how United States President Woodrow Wilson created the Committee on Public Information which was formed to favrouably influence opinion among American citizens toward the war effort in Europe. Ivy Lee’s early influence is detailed, as he was the first one to open a public relations agency. As well, the importance of Edward Bernays, nephew of Sigmund Freud who worked for the Latin American section of the Committee on Public Information is described. Bernays and Lee moved public relations from the publicity model employed by P. T. Barnum to a model of two-way communication where both the organization and its publics felt that they were gaining something from their relationship.  ©Journal of Professional Communication, all rights reserved.