The new term starts on Monday so I am finally getting around to tidying desk and shelves. Although I am not the sort of person who keeps books in neat alphabetical order, I can see the point in collecting together those I will use on an almost daily basis over the coming academic year.
Here are the ten titles on my close-at-hand shelf:
Core texts for most modules
Gordon, A (2011) Public Relations - really pleased to have a comprehensive introductory text at last
Tench, R & Yeomans, L (2009) Exploring Public Relations2nd Ed - if students are only going to buy one book, this is it
Theaker, A (2012) The Public Relations Handbook 4th ed - I have always liked Theaker and I think the new edition, bigger pages, brighter text, fresh faces, is pretty strong. And I wrote the Media Relations chapter...
Practical Guides
Gregory, A (2010) Planning and Managing Public Relations Campaigns3rd ed - probably the best How-to guide for students and practitioners alike
Oliver, S (2010) Public Relations Strategy 3rd ed - with Gregory, an essential for Level 2 strategy modules
Theory
Heath, R (2011) The Sage Handbook of Public Relations - brings together some of the sharpest thinkers in the PR academy
L'Etang, J (2008) Public Relations: Concepts, Practice and Critique - you can't engage with PR thinking without reading L'Etang
Botan, C & Hazleton, V (2006) Public Relations Theory II - along with Heath, contains some important chapters
Accessible critiques
Coombs, T & Holladay, S (2007) It's Not Just PR - Probably the most readable crtitique you will find. Don't agree with everything they say, but unlike some, they write in a way that isn't designed to baffle
Morris, T & Goldsworthy, S (2008) PR - A Persuasive Industry? The book I should have written! A level-headed, realistic appraisal that doesn't shy away from inconvenient truths
What do you think?
The eleventh book in my Top 10..... a well-thumbed Online Public Relations 2nd Ed is staked out on the operating table as David and I decide what is salvageable for the forthcoming Third Edition. (We don't do tweaks, we do major surgery - more RoboCop than Nip and Tuck).
Good list.
I'd suggest adding Kevin Moloney's Rethinking Public Relations: PR propaganda and democracy (2nd edition) - note the lack of punctuation in the sub title. Probably belongs under your 'theory' sub-heading.
I won't say which of your ten I'd chop!
Posted by: Richard Bailey | September 26, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Agreed, Richard. I rate Moloney highly... though I do wish he had written one more chapter, suggesting a way forward.
Posted by: Philip | September 26, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Agree that Kevin is a must on a PR reading list. Whenever I talk with him (being lucky enough to have that pleasure at Bournemouth Uni), I feel that he isn't in the business of suggesting ways forward however as he likes to draw that thinking out of you. For me the best type of writing also does this - leaves you thinking about how to address the issues raised.
Posted by: Heather Yaxley | September 26, 2011 at 03:50 PM
A very useful list, and definitely one to share with my students. I'm another who'd add Moloney - and Heath as well. I also find Coombs and Holladay's PR Strategy and Application useful. However, that takes me way over the 'ten books' total as there's only one on your list that I probably wouldn't include.
Posted by: Liz Bridgen | September 27, 2011 at 09:37 AM
I agree with you on all of these however my one criticism is that they all mostLy put forward a Eurocentric perspective of PR. I'd also add Sriramesh's The Global Public Relations Handbook (Revised and Expanded Edition), and not just because he is the office next door! In particular it offers some great insights to PR in Asia.
Posted by: Kane Hopkins | September 28, 2011 at 03:57 AM
I like Moloney. PR is propaganda (in a nice way). For e-PR I recommend Barefoot D, Szabo J, 2009. Friends With Benefits. A Social Media Marketing Handbook. No Starch Press: San Francisco.
As a general PR text (particularly for Australians) Harrison K, 2010. Strategic Public Relations: A Practical Guide to Success. 6th ed. Perth: Palgrave.
Posted by: Greg Smith | October 05, 2011 at 06:26 AM
Gregory, Planning and Managing Public Relations Campaigns is a brillant book, a must have
Posted by: Carl T. Jorgensen | November 25, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Agreed, Richard. I rate Moloney highly... though I do wish he had written one more chapter, suggesting a way forward.
Posted by: cristian | November 25, 2011 at 10:15 PM