Public relations and tourism: Critical reflections and a research agenda

This article is based on the belief that research focused on PR tourism is of fundamental importance to understanding the role of PR in contemporary culture. Our analysis shows that tourism has not received much attention from PR researchers and that a critical perspective uncovers a host of key issues in promotional culture: power, politics and diplomacy in international communication; risk, ethics and social responsibility; globalisation and multiculturalism; and ‘media panics’ and ‘media events’.     

Public relations and sport in promotional culture

This paper argues that by examining a central feature of contemporary culture, new insights about public relations practice can be gained. Concepts of spectacle, ‘mega-events’, media events, celebrity, politics and lifestyle are highlighted. The paper blends various disciplinary sources and themes and links to the work of Curtin and Gaither, Hodges and Pieczka [Curtin, P.A. & Gaither, T.K. (2005) ’Privileging identity, difference and power: the circuit of culture as a basis for public relations theory’, Public relations review 17 (2), 91-115; Hodges, C. (2006). Relaciones humanas: The potential for public relations practitioners as cultural intermediaries in Mexico City. Unpublished doctoral thesis. University of Bournemouth; Pieczka, M. (2006). Promotional work: The case of PR consultancy in the UK 1995–2000. Unpublished doctoral thesis. University of Stirling] all of whom have explored Bourdieu's concept of ‘cultural intermediary’ in relation to the role of public relations.     

Constructing a city,building a life: Brazilian construction workers’ continuous mobility as a permanent life strategy

This article provides an ethnographic analysis of domestic labor mobility among Brazilian construction workers in the context of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. We start from the premise that mobile laborers are crucial for the physical development and expansion of cities. However, the importance of domestic migrants in this process is insufficiently addressed in mobility studies. Building on existing research on domestic population movements in Brazil, we argue that the current generation of mobile construction workers draws on the intangible and material infrastructure generated by previous generations of migrants to enable novel kinds of (permanent) labor mobilities.     

Computable General Equilibrium assessment of mega-events: Issues and possible solutions

Mega-events are often perceived as opportunities to foster regional development. To assist policy makers in deciding whether to host such events, Computable General Equilibrium models are increasingly used. The literature has recently begun reviewing these studies and has shown that they are at risk of providing misleading policy recommendations if they do not pay more attention to the various specificities of mega-events. This paper identifies 13 modelling issues, examines their implications and discusses how they could be overcome. Fostering a discussion of these issues among scientists could be beneficial for the progress of policy modelling in this specific area.