Journalism, Public Relations, and Spin

In a history of American journalism, W. Bleyer reported that even before World War I the “system of supplying newspapers with publicity and propaganda in the guise of news became so popular that a census of accredited press agents” was conducted by New York newspapers. The shift from traditional to social media is increasing in Public Relations (PR) practice as well as among journalists, along with the use of owned media for digital publishing. Hence, social media and social networks deserve specific attention in any contemporary discussion of the relationship between PR and journalism. Media and communication schools in universities in the US, UK, Europe, and many other countries have burgeoning PR courses that have become “cash cows,” often propping up struggling journalism programs. Journalists and journalism scholars frequently view PR as solely focused on influencing journalists to gain media publicity. Research on the relationship between journalism and PR to date has been predominantly focused on major Western countries.

Journalism · Media studies · Physics · Political science · Sociology · Spin (aerodynamics) · Media Studies and Communication · Social Media and Politics

• Press emotional advocacy

  Open Access•Margarita Gil-Jerez, Mariola Moreno-Calvo et al.•Communication Research and Practice•2026

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