Fluff, frivolity and the fabulous Samantha Jones: Representations of public relations in entertainment

Public relations (or ‘PR’) plays a significant role in the modern media landscape, with its size and influence having grown significantly over the last 30 years. It functions primarily to manage information, image, and stakeholder relationships, however PR is a discreet occupation that largely operates out of the public eye and is often considered most successful when it is ‘invisible’. In this chapter, using Sex and The City as a case study, we argue fictional entertainment provides critical insight into public relations as a profession and as a practice. We explore how such representations reflect and refract audience understandings about PR, and how this in turn impacts the role and reputation of public relations in our society