A voyage into uncharted waters: societal implications of today's global media environment

This presentation examines Russian tourism opportunities in today’s digital and social medi

The "Chicago School" in the global community: concept explication for communication theories and practices

This article advocates a theoretical grounding in "community" that not only has heuristic value in the social sciences, but that is particularly useful in building communication theory. This grounding is predicated on and is deeply rooted in the understanding of "community" as conceptualized by the sociologists of the Chicago School of Social Thought. First, this article presents a necessary background for defining "community" as a societal ideal from the Chicago School's perspective. Next, it argues for the continuing relevance of this early 20th Century concept to contemporary social science in a global, yet multicultural and fragmented, society, and specifically to communication theory and practice worldwide. Finally, it offers a range of examples of communities that have evolved that are illustrative of dysfunctional communities that stand in contrast to the ideals, i.e., the ethics and values, of the Chicago School's conceptualization of community. Such examples of dysfunctional communities can expand our contemporary understanding of the requisite elements of normative models of functional communities that can both inform and ground public relations theory and practice as espoused by Kruckeberg and Starck (1988). The article argues, not only for the utility of the concept of "community" in contemporary public relations theory, but also advocates that community-building must be the primary role of and a function of a successful public relations practice. The article furthermore identifies elements, or dimensions, of the concept of community that influence both the functionality and dysfunctionality of communities. Thus, this essay builds on previous research in community engagement, and particularly communication and public relations (e.g., Barbaro, 2006; Ramrez, Aitkin, & Kora, 2005; Kruckeberg & Starck, 1988; Starck & Kruckeberg, 2001) and extends a meta theoretical framework of community in relation to community-building to continue to inform communication theory-building by providing a typology of communities together with constitutive and operational criteria of both functional and dysfunctional communities — a categorization that has both theoretical and practical implications.Korean Society for Journalism and Communication Studies

Study on a conceptual model for campus transformation of classical universities in the digital era

This article presents a conceptual management model of campus space 4.0 (CS4.0), in which CS4.0 is viewed as a condition for the transformation of classical universities in the digital era. To create this model, we used the systems approach as well as complexity theory, focusing on the ontological, spatial, axiological, social, psychological, and management aspects. The model not only defines the systems status of CS4.0 and describes the three types of properties inherent in CS4.0. This model also explains why, in the digital era, CS4.0 can become the agent of change for a classical university that has had a long history. This model of CS4.0 will not destroy the university’s cultural identity and academic values; rather, it will serve the interests of all groups within the university community. This conceptual model can be the key to understanding one of the possible management strategies for the development of the classical university in the digital network society at the beginning of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

A comparison of public relations practitioners in hospitals and manufacturing industries within the geographic boundaries defined for health resources

Includes bibliographical references (pages 132-133)A questionnaire was sent to hospital and sample manufacturing public relations directors in the geographic area defined by the North Suburban Association for Health Resources (NSAHR). The questionnaire was designed to determine significant differences between hospital and manufacturing public relations directors with regard to age, title, educational background and experience, types of duties and responsibilities as well as other data which indicate the types of programs these public relations directors deliver. The 13 NSAHR hospitals are in a geographic area in Illinois which includes north Cook County and over half of Lake County. The 13 matching sample manufacturing public relations directors are from a total population of 1,772 manufacturing firms in 77 cities and villages (including a portion of Chicago) within the boundaries of the NSAHR. Manufacturing samples were matched and stratified to the hospitals according to number of employees. Stratification was in five divisions of 400 from 100-499 employees to 1,700-2,099 employees. Tests of characteristics of hospital and manufacturing public relations directors were hypothesized to show differences between the two groups and the programs they deliver. The Chi Square Test together with the Yates Correction Formula was used to determine any significant differences between hospital and manufacturing public relations directors. In 40 tested areas of possible differences, manufacturing public relations directors were not found to be significantly different from hospital public relations directors. In the other 13 tested areas of possible differences, significant differences indicated hospital public relations directors are better prepared for their profession than are manufacturing public relations directors. In the literature portion of this study, hospital public relations directors are generally considered to be less prepared for public relations than are manufacturing public relations directors. However, this study demonstrates that in the test population, hospital public relations directors are at least equal to their counterparts in manufacturing in all 53 tested areas and are better prepared in 13 of the tested areas. Further study can proceed in two directions. The same population can be tested further in other areas of possible differences. Of greater importance, however, would be similar studies of other hospital and manufacturing populations. This would determine whether the findings of this study are unique to the population studied or whether they represent overall data throughout the country.M.A. (Master of Arts

Public relations and trust in contemporary global society: A Luhmannian perspective of the role of public relations in enhancing trust among social systems

Public relations and trust in contemporary global society: A Luhmannian perspective of the role of public relations in enhancing trust among social systems  This article provides a theoretical conceptualization of the role of public relations in society based on the “organic theory” of public relations and on Luhmann’s systems theory as well as on the concept of trust. In a postmodern, hypercomplex society, we claim that the main role of public relations is to strengthen system interactions through the creation of trust among systems. To enhance, maintain and ensure trust, public relations practitioners must think, not only strategically, but “metastrategically,” beginning with a normative theory of society that is built on the foundation of existing social theory, e.g. Luhmann, but also on contemporary social theory that must be built within a framework of communication technology.Public relations and trust in contemporary global society: A Luhmannian perspective of the role of public relations in enhancing trust among social systems  This article provides a theoretical conceptualization of the role of public relations in society based on the “organic theory” of public relations and on Luhmann’s systems theory as well as on the concept of trust. In a postmodern, hypercomplex society, we claim that the main role of public relations is to strengthen system interactions through the creation of trust among systems. To enhance, maintain and ensure trust, public relations practitioners must think, not only strategically, but “metastrategically,” beginning with a normative theory of society that is built on the foundation of existing social theory, e.g. Luhmann, but also on contemporary social theory that must be built within a framework of communication technology

Public relations and trust in contemporary global society: A Luhmannian perspective of the role of public relations

This article provides a theoretical conceptualization of the role of public relations in society based on the “organic theory” of public relations and on Luhmann’s systems theory as well as on the concept of trust. In a postmodern, hypercomplex society, we claim that the main role of public relations is to strengthen system interactions through the creation of trust among systems. To enhance, maintain and ensure trust, public relations practitioners must think, not only strategically, but “metastrategically,” beginning with a normative theory of society that is built on the foundation of existing social theory, e.g. Luhmann, but also on contemporary social theory that must be built within a framework of communication technology

The global society and its impact on public relations theorizing: Reflections on major macro trends

This article contributes to the discussion on societal changes and their impact on communication disciplines by focusing on public relations and its role in contemporary global society. The thesis is that the public relations profession has been affected by contemporary societal changes that challenge the existing body of knowledge and its underpinning theories. To understand the role of public relations in 21st century global societies and pursuing future public relations theorizing, the authors argue it is paramount to comprehend which factors at macro, meso, and micro levels lie beneath the substantial changes in today’s global society. The article presents and reflects on four major macro trends of contemporary global society and concludes with suggestions for future directions for public relations scholarship and practice that are rooted in the concept of community and the idea of being part of and at the service of a community. This article contributes to the discussion on societal changes and their impact on communication disciplines by focusing on public relations and its role in contemporary global society. The thesis is that the public relations profession has been affected by contemporary societal changes that challenge the existing body of knowledge and its underpinning theories. To understand the role of public relations in 21st century global societies and pursuing future public relations theorizing, the authors argue it is paramount to comprehend which factors at macro, meso, and micro levels lie beneath the substantial changes in today’s global society. The article presents and reflects on four major macro trends of contemporary global society and concludes with suggestions for future directions for public relations scholarship and practice that are rooted in the concept of community and the idea of being part of and at the service of a community