Journal of Public Relations Research

Kim, Jeong-Nam; Rhee, Yunna

2011 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2011.582204

In public relations, employees are regarded as one of the most important strategic constituencies because they interact with external publics on a daily basis. However, employees' communication behavior (ECB) has not been extensively researched in public relations. The purpose of this research was to conceptualize and develop concrete measurements of ECB that can help theoretical development and strategic planning in public relations. In particular, the study identified two unique aspects of ECB—megaphoning and scouting—that refer to employees' voluntary efforts to collect and circulate strategic information externally and internally. In addition, a new concept, microboundary spanning, based on the two aspects of ECB is conceptualized. In this study, symmetrical internal communication and employee-organization relationships were posited as antecedent variables to the proposed ECB variables. A survey research was conducted with 300 employees in different types of organizations in Korea.

Ni, Lan; Wang, Qi

2011 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2011.582205

Past research has found that relationship cultivation strategies affect relationship outcomes. This study uses Gudykunst's (1985, 2005) Anxiety and Uncertainty Management (AUM) theory as the theoretical framework to examine whether the effects from cultivation strategies to relationship outcomes are mediated through anxiety and uncertainty management. An online survey solicitation was sent to a university's international student listserv, and 246 participants from 32 countries completed the questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Results largely supported the hypotheses, and indicated that cultivation strategies have both direct and indirect effects on relational outcomes, partially mediated by uncertainty and anxiety.

Laskin, Alexander V.

2011 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2011.582206

Investor relations officers say that one of the biggest challenges of their work is proving to the senior management that investor relations contributes value to the organization. This study provides an initial step in evaluating investor relations' contribution to an organization's bottom line. The study first offers a theoretical overview of academic and professional literature dealing with the contribution of investor relations to the organizational bottom line. Second this theoretical overview serves as a starting point for an empirical investigation organized as a Delphi panel. Investor relations officers from corporations and investor relations agencies were recruited to participate in the panel and share their practical insights in response to the theoretically identified indicators of investor relations value. As a result, the study found 4 key areas of investor relations contribution: fair share price, improved liquidity of stock, enhanced analyst coverage, and building and maintaining investor relationships.

Hutchison, Phillip

2011 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2011.582382

The social presence of African American boxing champion Jack Johnson stands out among the most controversial social and media issues of the early 20th century. This study examines the manner in which press agentry shaped and animated this 6-year historical episode. It portrays press agentry not merely in terms of personalities, but also in terms of a network of social and economic affiliations among promoters, sports celebrities, and the press. I argue that understanding these affiliations not only better informs the Johnson situation, but it also sheds light on the ambivalent relationship between journalism and publicity practices over time.