HISTORY: The history of public relations extends far into antiquity, long before the practice was called public relations.
INDUSTRY: Public relations has a profound influence on the news you read, the products you buy, and the laws that govern your behavior. In this chapter we look at some of the activities, functions, and tools of this industry.
CONTROVERSIES: Disagreements between public relations practitioners and their critics include concerns about the ethics of certain tactics; the lack of attribution for public relations materials in some news reports; and accountability, the question of who polices the industry and guards against ethical abuses.
