Readings week 1

Introduction:

• The handling of public opinion is ethical, knowledgeable & diplomatic.
• Effective ways is the task of public affairs
• subject is particularly concerned with how public affairs work has consequences for voters, political parties, governments and legislative change which affects the operations of the organisations we rely on.

Historical Introduction to Public Opinion:

LEE 1877 - 1934

• Advised corporations how to deal properly with an upwelling of protests.

LIPPMANN 1922

• Claims it is not possible to have a sufficient grasp on the workings of our society in order for us to make rational decisions about society on an individual basis.
• Implies that it is inevitable that there must be reliance on ethical and competent institutions.

NOTES:

• Implies and I agree that opinions of publics in which we work is too varied and different for people without specific training to have adequate understanding.
• Therefore, the study of public opinion came about & professionals in the specified field began.
• "They must be our proxies to make sense for us of the endless confusion of public affairs".

EDWARD BERNAY'S, "PROPAGANDA". 1928

• "We are governed, our minds are moulded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organised"
• "Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together in a smoothly functioning society"

NOTES:

• Not really sure what he means?
• Is this mind control a good thing or a bad thing?
• To what extent is he speaking on in terms of this mind control?
• Does this make public affairs and, by asscoiation, public relations unethical practice?