Cognitive communication competence within public relations practitioners: Examining gender differences between technicians and managers

This study examines gender differences within public relations practitioners. Of specific interest was the role that cognitive communication competence played within public relations managers and public relations technicians. Public relations practitioners completed a questionnaire that included the Duran and Spitzberg's [Duran, R. L., & Spitzberg, B. H. (1995). Toward the development and validation of a measure of cognitive communication competence. Communication Quarterly, 43(3), 259–275] Cognitive Communication Competence Scale. Participants self-identified whether they were a technician or a manager. Results showed that male public relations managers had significantly higher cognitive communication competence than male public relations technicians. However, the hypothesis that female public relations managers would have higher cognitive communication competence than female public relations technicians was not supported. Also, this study found no significant gender differences with levels of cognitive communication competence. However, female technicians have significantly higher cognitive communication competence than male technicians.     

REVIEWS

Proffessional Books:-Walter, J. L., & Peller, J. E. (1992). Becoming solution-focused in brief therapy.
Proffessional Books:-Nelson, T. S., & trepper, T. S. (Eds.). (1993). 101 interventions in family therapy .
Proffessional Books:-Imber-Black, E. (Ed.). (1993). Secrets in families and family therapy .
Proffessional Books:-Hanks, R. S., Matocha, L., & Sussman, M. B. (Eds.). (1992). Publishing in journals on the family .
Proffessional Books:-Shapiro, C. H. (1993). When part of the self is lost: Helping clients heal after sexual and reproductive losses .
Self-Help Books:-Smith, S. L. (1993). Making peace with your adult children: A guide to family healing .
Self-Help Books:-Gilbert, R. M. (1992). Extraordinary relationships: A new way of thinking about human interactions .
Audio And Videotapereviews:- Working with Couples in Conflict . (1992). (Audiotape of a workshop of a workshop by Susan M. Heitler).
Audio And Videotape Reviews:- Couples and Communication (1992). (Videotape for teaching communication skills to couples).     

Abstracts

Bennett, D., Fox, C, Jowell, T., & Skynner, A. C. R. Toward a family approach in a psychiatric day hospital.
Blechman, E. A., Olson, D. H. L., & Hellman, I. D. Stimulus control over family problem-solving behavior: The family contract game.
Butler, J. F. The toilet training success of parents after reading "Toilet Training in Less Than a Day."
Dell, P. F., & Appelbaum, A. S. Trigenerational enmeshment: Unresolved ties of single-parents to family of origin.
Kalter, N. Children of divorce in an outpatient psychiatric population.
Kelly, J. B., & Wallerstein, J. S. Divorce counseling: A community service for families in the midst of divorce.
Kelly, J. B., & Wallerstein, J. S. Brief interventions with children in divorcing families.
Klein, M. H. Feminist concepts of therapy outcome.
Krell, R., & Miles, J. E. Marital therapy of couples in which the husband is a physician.
Leiber, L., Plumb, M. M., Gerstenzang, M. L., & Holland, J. The communication of affection between cancer patients and their spouses.
Rubenstein, R. Briefing on inner space.
Strean, H. S. The extramarital affair: A psychoanalytic view.
Turkel, A. R. The impact of feminism on the practice of a woman analyst.
Wincze, J. P., Caird, W. K. The effects of systematic desensitization and video desensitization in the treatment of essential sexual dysfunction.
Wyatt, G. E., Strayer, R. G., & Lobitz, W. C. The treatment of sexually dysfunctioning couples of Afro-American descent.     

Measuring stewardship in public relations: A test exploring impact on the fundraising relationship

Though scholars have explored the impact symmetrical relationship maintenance strategies from interpersonal and marketing communication in public relations contexts, they have largely ignored stewardship. Explicated by Kelly [Kelly, K. S. (2001a). Stewardship: The fifth step in the public relations process. In R. L. Heath (Ed.), Handbook of public relations (pp. 279–289). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage] as a core component of the ROPES process of public relations, the “S” or stewardship proposes four elements that foster relationship growth when incorporated into organization's strategic efforts. This study created original scales to measure the impact of reciprocity, responsibility, reporting, and relationship nurturing in the fundraising setting. Results indicate that donors favor these strategies, and path analysis demonstrates they have significant impact on how donors evaluate the nonprofit organization–donor relationship.     

Post-crisis communication and renewal: Expanding the parameters of post-crisis discourse

Crisis communication is growing as a field of study due in part to the frequency and high profile nature of recent crises such as 9/11, Anthrax and bioterrorism in the mail supply, the Tsunami in the Southeast Asia, and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In each of these crises, the role of communication has been highlighted. Communication is particularly challenging during crises because an immediate response is necessary, because of the looming threat, and because these situations are inherently uncertain. Much of the present literature suggests that managing image during a crisis is critical to an effective response [Benoit, W. L. (1995). Accounts, excuses and apologies. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press; Coombs, W. T. (1999). Ongoing crisis communication: Planning, managing, and responding. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; Hearit, K. M. (1995). “Mistakes were made”: Organizations, apologia and crises of social legitimacy. Communication Studies, 46, 1–17]. Although image is important and embedded within the threat, uncertainty, and chaos of crisis so too is the opportunity for growth and renewal. In this case, depending upon the crisis, either issues of image restoration or renewal may emerge as more of a central theme in the post-crisis discourse. This paper argues that renewal, along with image restoration, is an important genre of post-crisis discourse. As a result, efforts to understand post-crisis communication should be expanded to include both image restoration and the discourse of renewal.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
Laird, J., & Green, R. (Eds.). (1996). Lesbians and gays in couples and families: A handbook for therapists.
Levant, R., & Pollack, W. (Eds.). (1995). A new psychology of men.
Combrinkc-Graham, L. (Ed.) (1995). Children in Families at risk: Maintaining the connections.
Dishion, T. J., & Ptterson, S. G. (1996). Preventive Parenting with love, Encouragement, and limits: The preschool years.
Quick, E. E. (1996). Doing what works in brief therapy: A strategic solution focused approach.
Chevalier, A. J. (1995). On the client's path: A manual for the practice o solution-focused therapy.
Carlson, J., Sperry, L., & Lewis, J. A. (1997). family Therapy: Ensuring treatment eficacy.
Rosen, R., & Leiblum, S. (Eds.) (1995). Case studies in sex therapy.
Fenell, D., & Weinhold, B. (1997). Counseling families; An introduction to marriage and family therapy
Hofman, S., Gafni, S., & Laub, B. (Eds.). (1995). Cotherapy with individuals, amilies, and groups.
Bloomquist, M. L. (1996). Skills training for children with behavior disorders: A parent and therapist guidebook.
GENERAL INTEREST BOOKS: Weakland, J. H., & Ray, W. A. (Eds.). (1995). Propagations: Theirty years o inluence from the Mental Research Institute.
GENERAL INTEREST BOOKS: Anderson, C., & Stewart, S., With Dimidjian, S. (1995). Flying solo: single women in midlife.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this articles.
Broderick, C. (1993). Understanding family process: Basics of family systems theory.
Galanter, M. (1993). Network therapy for alcohol and drug abuse: a new approach in practice.
Freeman, E. M. (Ed.). (1993). Substance abuse treatment: A family systems perspective.
Chernick, B., & Chernick, N. (1992). In touch: The ladder to sexual satisfaction (rev. ed.).
Nardone, G., & Watzlawick, P. (1993). The are of change: Strategic hypnotherapy without trance.
Landau-Standon, J., & Clements, C. D. (1993). AIDS, health and mental health: a primary sourcebook.
Lukas, S. (1993). Where to start and what to ask: An assessment handbook.
Rambo, A. H. Heath, A., & Chenail, R. J. (1993). Practicing therapy: Exercises for growing therapists.
Griffin, W. A. (1993). Family therapy: Fundamentals fof theory and practice.
Linesch, D. (Ed.). (1993). Art therapy with families in crisis: Overcoming resistance through nonverbal expression.
Erickson, B. M. (1993). Helping men change: The role of the female therapist.
Inger, I. B., & Inger, J. (1992). Co-construcing therapeutic conversations: A consultation of resistraint.
Pritikin, E., & Reece, T. (1993). Parentcare survival guide: Helping your folks through the not-so-golden years.
Akner, L. F., with Whitney, C. (1993). How to survive the loss of a parent: A guide for adults.
Beekman, S., & Holmes, J. (1993). Battles, hassles, tantrums, and tears: Strategies for coping with conflict and making peace at home.
Virginia Satir: The Use of Self in Therapy.
Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples: Restructuring Attachments. (1993).
Clinical Dilemmas in Marriage: The Search for Equal Partnershp. (1993).     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
The Behavioral Sciences Today. Edited by B ernard B erelson .
A Short History of Sociology. By H einz M aus .
Sociological Theory, Values, and Sociocultural Change: Essays in Honor of Pitirim A. Sorokin. Edited by E dward A. T iryakian .
Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking. By W illiam B. C ameron , with a Foreward by C harles H. P age .
Ethnic Patterns in American Cities. By S tanley L ieberson .
American Community Behavior. By J essie B ernard .
Governing the Metropolis. By S cott G reer .
Theory of Collective Behavior. By N eil J. S melser .
Race Relations in International Affairs. By R obert S. B rowne . R oger N. B aldwin .
Intergroup Relations and Leadership: Approaches and Research in Industrial, Ethnic, Cultural, and Political Areas. Edited by M uzafer S herif .
The Radical Right. Edited by D aniel B ell .
These Rights They Seek: A Comparison of the Goals and Techniques of Local Civil Rights Organizations. By J acquelyne J. C larke .
Society and the Law: New Meanings for an Old Profession. By F. J ames D avis , H enry H. F oster , J r ., C. R ay J effery , and E. E ugene D avis .
Home, School, and Work: A Study of the Education and Employment of Young People in Britain. By M. P. C arter .
Young Germany: A History of the German Youth Movement. By W alter Z. L aqueur .
Two Generations of Soviet Man: A Study in the Psychology of Communism. By J ohn K osa .
Work and Leisure. By N els A nderson .     

All glamour, no substance? How public relations majors and potential majors in an exemplar program view the industry and function

Studies in public relations often conclude that the field is misunderstood [Kopenhaver, L. L. (1985). Aligning values of practitioners and journalists. Public Relations Review, 11(1), 34–42; Stacks, D. W., Botan, C., & Turk, J. V. (1999). Perceptions of pubic relations education. Public Relations Review, 25, 9–29] and misrepresented in media [Spicer, C. (2000). Public relations in a democratic society: Value and values. Journal of Public Relations Research, 12(1), 115–130]. Public relations professionals themselves often do not know what is involved in or support public relations education [Wright, D. K., & Turk, J. V. (2007). Public relations knowledge and professionalism: Challenges to educators and practitioners. In E.L. Toth (Ed.), The future of excellence in public relations and communication management: Challenges for the next generation (pp. 571–588). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum]. Both the special issue (Public Relations Review, 1999) on public relations education and a following study published in this journal [Bowen, S. A. (2003). I thought it would be more glamorous: Preconceptions and misconceptions of public relations among students in the principles course. Public Relations Review, 29, 199–214] argued that public relations majors often do not realize what is involved in the academic discipline or the professional field. This research builds on the findings of those studies to ask: are public relations educators doing any better in communicating the core competencies, responsibilities, knowledge requirements, skills, and abilities of the discipline and the public relations major? Through the use of 10 focus groups across majors at a top research university, we can see that little is known about public relations among non-majors, but public relations majors can articulate the requirements and functions of the field. Several primary areas of confusion emerged about public relations related to: marketing or promotion, spinning the truth, image, and public relations as a career choice. These ideas show a critical lack of transparency in public relations. Credibility of the public relations function is hampered by this failure to communicate about the functions and core competencies of the field. Implications for both the public relations practice and for public relations education are discussed.     

Ideals and realities: Renaissance state communication in Machiavelli's The Prince and More's Utopia

Communication plays very different parts in two of the most influential political works of the last 500 years, The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) and Utopia by Sir Thomas More (1478–1535). The contrasts between More's carefully controlled and Machiavelli's unconstrained political communication shed light on the communication issues and practices of their times, some of which may still figure in relations between state and citizen.     

Public relations and strategic issues management challenges in Venezuela: A discourse analysis of Crystallex International Corporation in Las Cristinas

This investigation, using critical discourse analysis (CDA), seeks to develop an understanding of strategic issues management through Crystallex International Corporation’s discursive construction and management of legitimacy in the Las Cristinas mine in Venezuela. This analysis of the Las Cristinas case unearths elements that could provide useful insights about the Latin American environment in general and public relations efforts in that region specifically. Additionally, this analysis contributes to ongoing efforts of finding the most effective public relations practices for this particular part of the world, as well as help to highlight what constitutes a “fully functioning society” [Heath, R. (2006). A rhetorical theory approach to issues management. In C. Botan & V. Hazelton (Eds.), Public relations theory II (pp. 63–99). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Mahwah, NJ] in developing countries.     

Managing a nation's image during crisis: A study of the Chinese government's image repair efforts in the “Made in China” controversy

The image of a nation is crucial in the conduct of international relations (Wang, J. (2006). Managing national reputation and international relations in the global era: Public diplomacy revisited. Public Relations Review, 32, 91–96). A favorable image plays a critical role in asserting one's influence (Benoit, W. L., & Brinson, S. L. (1994). AT&T: “Apologies are not enough”. Communication Quarterly, 42, 75–88; Wang, J. (2006). Managing national reputation and international relations in the global era: Public diplomacy revisited. Public Relations Review, 32, 91–96). Often, strategic communication tools like public relations and media diplomacy are used to enhance a nation's image (Giffard, A., & Rivenburgh, N. K. (2000). News agencies, national images, and global media events. Journalism Quarterly, 77, 8–21). In 2007, China's reputation as “the workshop of the world” (Gaulier, G., Lemoine, F., & Unal-Kesenci, D. (2005). China: A workshop of the Cd and a market for Europe. At: http://ideas.repec.org/a/cii/cepill/2005-245.html. Accessed on 14 May 2009) came under severe threat with a series of product recalls. This was arguably the first time that allegations of product deficiencies were targeted at a country. Using the image repair theory, this paper examined the strategies used and the image these strategies generated for China. Findings showed that the initial defensive strategies generated an image of a hurried and harried country. After it was willing to confront the crises through corrective action, a surer and more determined image emerged.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Abstract

HANDBOOK OF DEMENTIA: PSYCHOLOGICAL, NEUROLOGICAL, AND PSYCHIATRIC PERSPECTIVES. Edited by Peter A. Lichtenberg, Daniel L. Murman, & Alan M. Mellow. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2003, 440 pp., ISBN 0-471-41982-6. Reviewed by Doug Messinero.

ESSENTIALS OF CRISIS COUNSELING AND INTERVENTION. Donald E. Wiger and Kathy J. Harowski. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003, 221 pages, $34.95 paperback. ISBN 0-471-41755-6. Reviewed by Geraldine R. Brinkley.

HANDBOOK OF DEPRESSION. Edited by Ian H. Gotlib and Constance L. Hammen. New York/London: The Guildford Press, 2002. Reviewed by Karen Judd.     

MEDIA REVIEWS

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN [Motion Picture]. United States: Focus Features & Universal Studios. 135 Minutes. Ossana, D., Schamis, J. (Producers), & Lee, A. (Director), 2005. Reviewed by Brian L. Ott, Susan A. Sci.

LESBIAN WIDOWS: INVISIBLE GRIEF. Whipple, V. New York: Harrington Park Press, 2006. Reviewed by Karma R. Chávez.

SONS TALK ABOUT THEIR GAY FATHERS: LIFE CURVES. Gottlieb, A. New York: Harrington Park Press, 2006. Reviewed by Rafael Cervantes.

TRANSAMERICA [Motion Picture]. Moran, L., Bastian, R., and Dungan, S. (Producers) & Hunter, D. (Director). Solana Beach, CA: Genius Products, 2005. Reviewed by Isaac West.     

A Global Clan: Scottish Migrant Networks and Identities Since the Eighteenth Century

Malcolm Cross, Migrant Workers in European Cities: Concentration, Conflict and Social Policy (Birmingham, SSRC Research Unit on Ethnic Relations, Working Paper on Ethnic Relations, No. 19, 1983). Pp. 31. £2.75.

John Solomos, The Politics of Black Youth Unemployment: A Critical Analysis of Official Ideologies and Policies (Birmingham, SRC Research Unit on Ethnic Relations, Working Paper on Ethnic Relations, No. 20, 1983). Pp. 23. £2.25.     

Abstracts

Bernstein, B. E. Lawyer and counselor as an interdisciplinary team: one lawyer's suggestions.
Brandwein, R. A., Brown, C. A. & Fox, E. M. Women and children last: the social situation of divorced women and their families.
Cookerly, J. R. The reduction of psychopathology as measured by the MMPI clinical scales in three forms of marriage counseling.
Denfeld, D. Dropouts from swinging.
Fulton, W. C. Counseling as an insured benefit: perspectives from the insurance industry.
Hurvitz, N. The family therapist as intermediary.
Raths, O. N., Bellville, T. P., Bellville, C. J. & Garetz, F. K. The counter-phobic mechanism as a force in mate selection and marital stability.
Rolfe, D. J. The financial priorities inventory.
Solomon, M. A. Resistance in family therapy: some conceptual and technical considerations.
Sonne, J. C. On the question of compulsory marriage counseling as a part of divorce proceedings.
Strauss, M. Leveling, civility, and violence in the family.
Weiss, R. L., Birchler, G. R., & Vincent, J. P. Contractual models for negotiation training in marital dyads.     

Commentary: new technologies,public relations,and democracy

This commentary is based on Hiebert's keynote address given to BledCom 2004, the 11th International Public Relations Research Symposium on “New Concepts and Technologies for Public Relations, Public Affairs, and Corporate Communication,” Bled, Slovenia, July 2, 2004. It suggests that the new communication technologies can save democracy by restoring dialogic and participatory communication in the public sphere, thus preserving a role for public relations as two-way communication rather than propaganda and spin. However, the pathway ahead for public relations is strewn with landmines.     

Abstracts

Friedman, P. H. Outline (alphabet) of 26 techniques of marital and family therapy: A through Z.
Fuchs, K., Abramovici, H., Hoch, Z., Timor-Tritsch, I. & Kleinhaus, M. Vaginismus—the hypno-therapeutic approach.
Goldberg, M. The uses of dreams in conjoint marital therapy.
Grunebaum, H. & Abernethy, V. Marital decision making as applied to family planning.
Hadley, T. R., Jacob, T., Milliones, J., Caplan, J., & Spitz, D. The relationship between family developmental crises and the appearance of symptoms in a family member.
Jacobs, M. & Whiteley, J. M. (Eds.). Sex counseling.
Leichter, E. & Schulman, G. L. Multi-family group therapy: a multidimensional approach.
McPherson, S. R., Brackelmanns, W. E., & Newman, L. E. Stages in the family therapy of adolescents.
Slipp, S., Ellis, S., & Kressel, K. Factors associated with engagement in family therapy.
Spark, G. Grandparents and intergenerational family therapy.
Weakland, J.H., Fisch, R., Watzlawick, P., & Bodin, A. M. Brief therapy: focused problems resolution.
Wilson, W. C. The distribution of selected sexual attitudes and behaviors among the adult population of the United States.