Public relations and the making of modern Britain

Stephen Tallents and the birth of a progressive media profession

Scott Anthony

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN:
  9780719090042
  9780719084577
• eBook ISBN:
  9781526129666
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Public Relations
• Index: History

Public relations was established in Britain by a group of liberal intellectuals in the aftermath of the slump. Central to the startling story of Britain's early public relations pioneers is Sir Stephen Tallents, the inaugural President of the Institute of Public Relations. Tallents was a public sector entrepreneur who lent his patronage to John Grierson's documentary film movement, the BBC Overseas Service, the development of Listener Research and the staging of the Festival of Britain.

A compelling portrait of how the social, economic and media revolutions of early twentieth century reshaped national life, Public relations and the making of modern Britain reveals a country struggling to cope with austerity and crisis that is at once very different from, and yet surprisingly similar to, our own.

This book includes the first reprint of Tallents' influential 'The Projection of England' for over fifty years. It will interest students and scholars of media studies and modern British culture, history and politics.

Table of contents

• PUBLIC RELATIONS AND THE MAKING OF MODERN BRITAIN : Stephen Tallents and the birth of a progessive media profession
• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Acknowledements
• 1. After the Great War: The origin of Public relations
• 2. Beginnings The Empire Marketing Board 1923-1933
• 3. The Projection of England and documentaery cinema
• 4. A triumph of public relations: The GPO, 1933-1935
• 5. The limits of public relations: The BBC and the Ministry of Information
• 6. Rebulding the nation: The Festival of Britain and the formation of the Institute of Public Relations
• 7. Conclusion
• APPENDIX: THE PROJECTION OF ENGLAND BY SIR STEPHEN TALLENTS
• Select bibliography
• Index