Browsing by Subject "Public Relations"
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Item A framework for selecting strategies to impact the success of high volume roadway projects(Texas A&M University, 2006-08-16) Chabannes, Clayton C.State Highway Agencies (SHAs) are being forced to focus more on rehabilitation, resurfacing, and reconstruction of existing roadways rather than the construction of new facilities. These activities can create several challenges when they must be conducted on roadways with high traffic volumes. This research identified numerous strategies that can be implemented by SHAs that have the potential to influence the overall success of roadway projects with high traffic volumes. This research also created a framework for when to implement these different strategies. These strategies were identified through an in-depth literature review and through case studies conducted on highway projects that were under construction. Through the case studies the different strategies were documented within the context that warranted their use. Information from the case studies was collected and documented through interviews and site visits. The strategies identified through this research were used to create four matrices that summarize the research findings. A general matrix was created to show the motivating project conditions that warrant the use of each strategy. A public relations matrix was created to display the influence the impacted road user groups have on public relations and information strategies. A traffic management matrix was created to show different types of traffic management strategies and the potential impact they will have on the project. Finally, an interdependency matrix was created to show groups of strategies that are related to each other or require the use of other strategies to be able to influence the success of the project. These matrices could be further developed to create a set of guidelines that could be used by a SHA during the planning phases of a roadway project.Item Texas public relations association members' perceptions of an academic major in agricultural communications and journalism(2009-05-15) DuBois, Jessica AnneThe purpose of this study was to determine Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA) members' perception of the word agriculture and how that perception influences perceptions of the skills and qualifications of graduates from agricultural communications and journalism (AGCJ) programs. A researcher-developed electronic questionnaire was used for data collection. Of accessible population of 148 TPRA members, 83 responded to the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 56.08%. This descriptive study found that TPRA members did not have a negative perception of agriculture or the AGCJ major, but there was a lack of awareness of the AGCJ major and respondents had low self-perceived agricultural knowledge. Writing, interpersonal skills, public relations, editing, and media relations were considered to be the five most important skills in the public relations profession; however, AGCJ graduates were perceived to be only somewhat competent in these skills. Respondents ranked AGCJ as seventh of eight majors according to how well prepared graduates were perceived to be for entry-level public relations positions. Results indicated a positive correlation between awareness of the AGCJ major and perception of the major; therefore, the lack of awareness influenced the less positive perception of the major.Item "The Fourth Dimension of Naval Tactics": The U.S. Navy and Public Relations, 1919-1939(2012-07-16) Wadle, Ryan DavidPrior to 1917, the United States Navy only utilized public relations techniques during times of war or to attract recruits into naval service. Following World I, the Navy confronted several daunting problems, including the postwar demobilization of naval assets, the proposed creation of an independent air service, and a public desire for naval arms limitation which many officers believed would endanger the Navy's ability to fulfill its missions. These issues threatened the generous support that the Navy had received from Congress for a quarter of a century, and also hampered the service's attempts to incorporate new weapons systems into its arsenal and recruit high-quality manpower. In response to these challenges, the Navy developed a peacetime public relations capability during the interwar period, despite the fact that many senior naval officials placed a low priority on public relations. Their attitude led subordinates in different parts of the Navy Department to perform public relations tasks despite lacking official orders to carry out such work. Such efforts were haphazard, redundant, handicapped by tradition, and dependent largely upon individual initiative. To augment its meager capabilities, the Navy relied upon external groups, such as the Navy League, to lobby the public for naval expansion. The service also developed formal and informal ties to the mass media, particularly the rapidly expanding motion picture industry. These disparate elements attempted to convince the public that the Navy was a haven for morally upright masculine behavior, a service able to integrate aircraft and submarines into its force structure and keep their operators safe, and a vital national asset with value beyond basic national defense. During the interwar period, the Navy expanded and reorganized the ways in which it courted public opinion. By forging ties with motion picture studios, radio broadcasters, and the print media, it was able to improve the image of the service, attract high quality recruits, and gained the public support for its drive to gain the resources needed to modernize and expand the fleet. During the same era, naval officials became more adept at minimizing the negative impact of the accidents linked to the development of aviation and submarines. Developments of the era laid the foundation for the institutional development of public relations and enhanced media relations during World War II and in the decades that followed.Item The PR in CSR: Assessing Perceptions of Partnerships versus Donations in Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives(2014-08-05) Walton, Michaella RaquelAs Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives become more common, practitioners need evidence to help them determine how initiatives are perceived. Research indicates factors such as involvement with an initiative?s issue and the type of initiative have effects on outcomes such as perceptions of effectiveness and attitudes. A 2 X 2 between-subjects factorial experiment was conducted in which participants (N=433) were shown a CSR advertisement. After viewing the advertisement, participants were given a posttest that rated their perceptions of initiative effectiveness and their attitudes toward the initiative. Results indicated that both types of CSR were perceived positively. However, partnerships had an indirect effect on positive perceptions of both attitudes and initiative effectiveness through long-term commitment. That is, partnerships had a positive indirect effect when participants indicated that the sponsoring corporation was invested in helping the cause for an extended period of time, as compared to one-time initiatives such as a campaign donation. Inconsistent with the hypotheses, involvement did not moderate perceptions of the corporation?s commitment and thus did not affect perceptions of initiative effectiveness or attitudes. Results suggest citizens are likely to perceive partnerships and donations in positive ways, regardless of their involvement; however, partnership initiatives have stronger positive, indirect effects on perceptions because they are more likely to indicate a long-term commitment to the cause than one-time donation initiatives.