Public Relations, needed or not?

By Ana Rees

Public relations specialists are sometimes labeled deceptive and unethical, but are they doing more good than they are harm? 

According to an article in Forbes magazine, there has been a decline in the necessity of public relations professionals in recent years, because many companies are beginning to manage their own public affairs through utilizing the skills of already existing employees. For example, the job responsibilities of a public relations specialist align closely with that of a marketer and/or advertiser.

Not only do we see this reduction due to the thought of unencessity, but there have also been others who have questioned the ethics of public relations specialists, and therefore, question why we would we would need people in the workplace in whom we can’t fully trust. We will address the arguments of why some people do feel this way, because if looking in from the outside, it does raise questions when you see someone working for a campaign or business they don’t actually support. Although these arguments do exist and public relations specialists have been seen as deceptive or unethical for this reason and others, they are doing much more good than they are harm, and therefore are necessary in the workplace.

The ancient beginnings of public relations

West facade of the Parthenon, Athens, 5th century BCE

When you hear the words public relations, what comes to your mind?  For many people, they know what it is in a general sense, but can’t quite find the words to define it.  I saw this firsthand when I told others that I was accepted into the public relations program.  At first, they were very excited for me, but then I would watch as a puzzled look came over their faces where they would then ask me, “now what exactly is public relations?”  

Kairos in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the saints use a very different language in their congregations in comparison to how they speak ordinarily. Most speak in accordance with their culture in their regular activities and even inside the meeting houses, but when they pray, give a talk, or teach a lesson their language suddenly becomes more formal. Words like “admonished,” “epistles,” and “cease” are used rather than “got mad at,” “letters,” and “stop.”

Growing Up in the Church of Jesus Christ

The Bible, Book of Mormon and other religious books were written in ancient times and, as would be expected, they were written in ways that reflect those times. Members of the Church have grown up hearing people read these works and teach from them, and teachers habitually use the same phrases and words that are used in the scriptures when they elaborate on what was said. Because of this, it is natural for a member of the Church to automatically revert to speaking with these same terms and expressions when religious topics arise because that is how they have heard people speak about those subjects.

“Kairos” is an ancient term that encompasses the fact that people will alter what they have to say and how they say it based on the time, place and audience. Members of the Church undoubtedly implement the particular words and sentence structures they use because of these same reasons. When they do this, they are able to convey the messages they want to their fellow members, and all understand them.

Image credit: lds.org