Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication
(First Edition)
©2022, 442 pages
Paperback list price: $ 88.95
Cognella Direct Ebook: $67.95
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Students learn essential strategic thinking and planning skills to create effective and intentional writing. The book presents the theoretical underpinnings of behavior, which students can then employ to generate prose that prioritizes the audience’s reasons for attending to the message. The book is unique in presenting a primer on communication, persuasion, and moral theories that provides students a roadmap for constructing effective, ethical arguments. Throughout, anecdotes, examples, quizzes, and assignments help connect theory to practical, real-world applications.
Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication helps readers build their persuasive writing skills for professional and effective public relations, employing unique strategies and tactics, such as:
—A generative writing system that helps students identify and organize important information to produce quality prose, then adapt it to various media, on deadline
—Interactive walkthroughs of writing examples that deconstruct prose, offering students insights not just into what to write, but how and why practitioners make strategic choices—down to the word level
—Long-form scenario prompts that allow students to hone their persuasive writing, editing, and communication management skills across an array of platforms
—Three two-chapter modules where the first chapter demonstrates how to write effective prose for a particular channel and the second offers practical help in delivering those products through message-delivery channels
—Detailed case studies demonstrating how to translate research and planning into storytelling that addresses organizational problems
—Unique chapters building important analytical literacies, such as search engine optimization tactics, marketing statistics analysis and data-driven audience targeting methods
Cognella Active Learning is available for this title! Watch Nicholas Browning guide you through the Active Learning modules and activities designed to support Writing For Public Relations and Strategic Communication.
Watch Nicholas Browning’s video on what makes Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication an ideal resource for classroom use here.
William Thompson brought experience from an active national consulting career to his students during 23 years teaching public relations and communication theory at the University of Louisville. A former head of AEJMC’s Public Relations division, he authored a previous PR writing textbook, Targeting the Message.
Nicholas Browning (Ph.D., The University of Georgia) is an associate professor at The Media School at Indiana University, where he serves as the school’s curriculum coordinator for the public relations major and teaches courses in the sequence. He also serves as associate editor for the Journal of Public Relations Research and is the co-founder director of IU’s Strategic Communication Research Lab.
Cognella Active Learning is available for this title! Adopting instructors can provide students with dynamic online learning activities that reinforce key concepts from the text, provide engaging educational experiences, and support various learning styles.
Please note: Cognella Active Learning can be bundled for purchase with the text or posted separately. Contact us to learn about bundle discounts.
The Cognella Active Learning content for Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication includes:
Watch Nicholas Browning guide you through the Active Learning modules and activities designed to accompany Writing For Public Relations and Strategic Communication.
To see a full demo, please email us and one of our adoption specialists will follow up with you.
Please note: Cognella Active Learning can be bundled for purchase with the text or posted separately. Contact us to learn about bundle discounts.
The Cognella Active Learning content for Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication includes:
- 15 sets of flashcards
- 12 Self-Edit activities to engage students in the theories and concepts presented in the textbook
- 11 Click-through activities to illustrate the writing techniques presented in the textbook and more!
Watch Nicholas Browning guide you through the Active Learning modules and activities designed to accompany Writing For Public Relations and Strategic Communication.
To see a full demo, please email us and one of our adoption specialists will follow up with you.
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| $44.95 | Standalone Cognella Active Learning | Cognella Active Learning provides dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Free with purchase of textbook or ebook. |
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| $88.95 | Paperback + Cognella Active Learning Code Talk to a rep for ISBN details |
Cognella Active Learning provides students with dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Access codes are available with print books or ebooks. Contact us for course adoptions; not available for individual purchase. |
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| $79.95 | Ebook 978-1-7935-6410-8 |
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| $142.95 | Hardcover 978-1-7935-6409-2 |
Great for libraries and rental programs. Contact us for course adoptions; also available for individual purchase through national wholesalers and retailers. |
| $80.45 | Other Formats Talk to a rep for details |
Other formats (spiral bind, perforated, etc.) may be available. Contact us for course adoptions; specialty formats are not available for individual purchase. |
| $44.95 | Standalone Cognella Active Learning Talk to a rep for ISBN details |
Cognella Active Learning provides dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Does not include the ebook. Contact us for course adoptions; not available for individual purchase. |
“[T]his text is one that students should hold on to throughout their career. The book is also one that could be used in multiple courses and/or as a companion book in multiple courses beyond writing such as campaigns, social media, and to a lesser extent research. In addition, it could be used at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The authors succeed in accomplishing what they hoped – they developed an accessible writing book that presents writing in a completely different way.”
Brigitta R. Brunner (Auburn University) in the Southern Communication Journal
"This is one of the best strategic communication texts I have read. From the moment the authors clearly demonstrated the connection between communications and economic theory, I was sold. It is an excellent text for high-performing institutions. The theoretical backing is superb and the authors excel at demonstrating the relationship between theory and practice without confusion and in a tone that is interesting and easy to read while offering just the right amount of challenge in concepts to create relevant dialogue. … The organization makes excellent sense to me as a professor and practitioner who appreciates guided processes. ... I like the more academic tone that is set throughout the text. … I believe theory gets the short end of the stick in too many communications writing texts. Based up having attained my master’s in communications management after a number of years in the professional world, I understand the value of the theory in helping students to understand the landscape of communications and the media. Why what we do works makes the how and what we do more meaningful. The theoretical aspects are deep and rich and help to create an understanding that most books don’t cover."
Kelly C. Gaggin, APR, Assistant Teaching Professor, Public Relations, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
"I like the idea of not just getting students to write first, but to think first before writing. Most textbooks tend to have students just writing for the sake of diving into skills and tactics. Writing can’t solve all problems and sometimes we shouldn’t write for our audiences, but instead do something else. … Most important is Part I, 'Think First, Write Second,' in which the textbook shows how much prep goes on before the writing begins. That’s a good niche for this textbook to fill, and it addresses the problems of writing for writing’s sake, rather than for good reason for the right audience in the right way. … This textbook brings together the whole toolbox of strategic communication—with its research, planning, and strategies—and places this toolbox at the disposal of writers and content creators, so that they don’t do writing in isolation from the toolbox. In addition to writing formats, this text includes terrific resources such as quizzes and assignments, which is helpful to any writing professor who will spend a bulk of their time in responding to assignments."
Jacqueline Lambiase, Professor of Strategic Communication, Bob Schieffer College of Communication, Texas Christian University
"I believe the idea behind the book is a good one. In my classes, I continually emphasize the process of first thinking strategically about the purpose of a communication, and only after that, putting together the actual content. The book does a good job of describing up front the relationship between initial strategic thinking and its eventual execution. … Their approach differs in a couple of ways, which are positive. First, there are a good many anecdotes and specific examples, which I believe greatly strengthen any book of this kind. Second, there is generally a breezy, conversational, informal tone to the wording, which generally works well with students. Third, the breakdown [at the beginning of each chapter] of 'What You Know' and 'What You’ll Learn' and the summary of each chapter is a nice tool. … [This textbook] is an interesting, up-to-date discussion of the interplay between strategy, content, and tactics in PR and marketing communication."
Russell Mack, Instructor of Strategic Communication, Bob Schieffer College of Communication, Texas Christian University
"I very much like this approach, because it emphasizes that each piece of writing must have a defined purpose (goals and objectives) and must be developed in response to the organization’s goals and objectives. … As students learn to use the thinking and planning principles to understand and think strategically beyond just creating some type of communication, their writing becomes sharper and more focused on the goals and objectives. They also find they can defend why they approached different situations as they did, which is essential to demonstrating the power of public relations."
Barbara DeSanto, ARP, Fellow PRSA, Adjunct Associate Professor, A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Kansas State University
"Thompson and Browning’s Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication provides a thorough introduction to the thinking and planning that’s required prior to the penning of any PR product. Thompson and Browning leave no gaps—they begin with an application of the theoretical underpinnings of behavioral response, and offer a number of novel approaches for strategic communication. An excellent resource for anyone who wishes to fully explore the why behind prospective word choice in PR tools."
Paul T.M. Hemenway, Professor of Communication, Department of Communication and Media, Lamar University
"An overview of strategic communication writing on multiple platforms, from planning to assessment. … The authors clearly love their topic and are excited to share information with students. The approach is grounded in strategic and critical thinking, which is essential for student to understand professional and effective public relations. The writing level is appropriate for an introductory course and moves at a fairly effective pace. It would be easy to incorporate this text into just about any broad PR or strategic communications course."
Erica Salkin, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Whitworth University
"This text emphasizes the importance and value of understanding target audiences, which is a positive; further, it gives time to the importance of research and data analysis on which communication content approaches are based. ... [T]his is a very comprehensive book that moves beyond just writing. It helps create an integrated picture about the role of writing in the larger practice of PR."
Stephanie Smith, Associate Professor, School of Communication, Virginia Tech
"Very thorough and well written textbook on writing for strategic communication. The text covers current topics every professional in this field deals with regularly and shares excellent personal examples and stories to emphasize important concepts."
John J. Powers, School of Communications, Quinnipiac University
"I personally like their concept of the 'receiver-centered writing process,' which is a new and interesting concept for me and makes total sense. I also like their integrated approach to traditional and social media communications."
Donna Stein, Adjunct Professor of Public Relations, New School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
"A practical writing text that incorporates theory in an easy to understand manner."
Arien Rozelle, Assistant Professor of Public Relations, St. John Fisher College
"This is an excellent introduction to contemporary theories of public relations and marketing."
Vivian Wagner, Associate Professor of English, Muskingum University
Brigitta R. Brunner (Auburn University) in the Southern Communication Journal
"This is one of the best strategic communication texts I have read. From the moment the authors clearly demonstrated the connection between communications and economic theory, I was sold. It is an excellent text for high-performing institutions. The theoretical backing is superb and the authors excel at demonstrating the relationship between theory and practice without confusion and in a tone that is interesting and easy to read while offering just the right amount of challenge in concepts to create relevant dialogue. … The organization makes excellent sense to me as a professor and practitioner who appreciates guided processes. ... I like the more academic tone that is set throughout the text. … I believe theory gets the short end of the stick in too many communications writing texts. Based up having attained my master’s in communications management after a number of years in the professional world, I understand the value of the theory in helping students to understand the landscape of communications and the media. Why what we do works makes the how and what we do more meaningful. The theoretical aspects are deep and rich and help to create an understanding that most books don’t cover."
Kelly C. Gaggin, APR, Assistant Teaching Professor, Public Relations, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
"I like the idea of not just getting students to write first, but to think first before writing. Most textbooks tend to have students just writing for the sake of diving into skills and tactics. Writing can’t solve all problems and sometimes we shouldn’t write for our audiences, but instead do something else. … Most important is Part I, 'Think First, Write Second,' in which the textbook shows how much prep goes on before the writing begins. That’s a good niche for this textbook to fill, and it addresses the problems of writing for writing’s sake, rather than for good reason for the right audience in the right way. … This textbook brings together the whole toolbox of strategic communication—with its research, planning, and strategies—and places this toolbox at the disposal of writers and content creators, so that they don’t do writing in isolation from the toolbox. In addition to writing formats, this text includes terrific resources such as quizzes and assignments, which is helpful to any writing professor who will spend a bulk of their time in responding to assignments."
Jacqueline Lambiase, Professor of Strategic Communication, Bob Schieffer College of Communication, Texas Christian University
"I believe the idea behind the book is a good one. In my classes, I continually emphasize the process of first thinking strategically about the purpose of a communication, and only after that, putting together the actual content. The book does a good job of describing up front the relationship between initial strategic thinking and its eventual execution. … Their approach differs in a couple of ways, which are positive. First, there are a good many anecdotes and specific examples, which I believe greatly strengthen any book of this kind. Second, there is generally a breezy, conversational, informal tone to the wording, which generally works well with students. Third, the breakdown [at the beginning of each chapter] of 'What You Know' and 'What You’ll Learn' and the summary of each chapter is a nice tool. … [This textbook] is an interesting, up-to-date discussion of the interplay between strategy, content, and tactics in PR and marketing communication."
Russell Mack, Instructor of Strategic Communication, Bob Schieffer College of Communication, Texas Christian University
"I very much like this approach, because it emphasizes that each piece of writing must have a defined purpose (goals and objectives) and must be developed in response to the organization’s goals and objectives. … As students learn to use the thinking and planning principles to understand and think strategically beyond just creating some type of communication, their writing becomes sharper and more focused on the goals and objectives. They also find they can defend why they approached different situations as they did, which is essential to demonstrating the power of public relations."
Barbara DeSanto, ARP, Fellow PRSA, Adjunct Associate Professor, A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Kansas State University
"Thompson and Browning’s Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication provides a thorough introduction to the thinking and planning that’s required prior to the penning of any PR product. Thompson and Browning leave no gaps—they begin with an application of the theoretical underpinnings of behavioral response, and offer a number of novel approaches for strategic communication. An excellent resource for anyone who wishes to fully explore the why behind prospective word choice in PR tools."
Paul T.M. Hemenway, Professor of Communication, Department of Communication and Media, Lamar University
"An overview of strategic communication writing on multiple platforms, from planning to assessment. … The authors clearly love their topic and are excited to share information with students. The approach is grounded in strategic and critical thinking, which is essential for student to understand professional and effective public relations. The writing level is appropriate for an introductory course and moves at a fairly effective pace. It would be easy to incorporate this text into just about any broad PR or strategic communications course."
Erica Salkin, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Whitworth University
"This text emphasizes the importance and value of understanding target audiences, which is a positive; further, it gives time to the importance of research and data analysis on which communication content approaches are based. ... [T]his is a very comprehensive book that moves beyond just writing. It helps create an integrated picture about the role of writing in the larger practice of PR."
Stephanie Smith, Associate Professor, School of Communication, Virginia Tech
"Very thorough and well written textbook on writing for strategic communication. The text covers current topics every professional in this field deals with regularly and shares excellent personal examples and stories to emphasize important concepts."
John J. Powers, School of Communications, Quinnipiac University
"I personally like their concept of the 'receiver-centered writing process,' which is a new and interesting concept for me and makes total sense. I also like their integrated approach to traditional and social media communications."
Donna Stein, Adjunct Professor of Public Relations, New School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
"A practical writing text that incorporates theory in an easy to understand manner."
Arien Rozelle, Assistant Professor of Public Relations, St. John Fisher College
"This is an excellent introduction to contemporary theories of public relations and marketing."
Vivian Wagner, Associate Professor of English, Muskingum University
Watch William Thompson and Nicholas Browning discuss the overarching pedagogy found in their book.
Watch William Thompson and Nicholas Browning talk about one of the most important features of their book—the focus on audience-centered writing—here.
Watch William Thompson speak to the topic of teaching numerancy and explain how Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication helps students build the higher-level skills and competencies they need to not only understand various research methods, but also develop into more strategic thinkers.
Watch William Thompson and Nicholas Browning discuss how they used a specific voice and writing style in their book to convey that a text can be serious in purpose but also entertaining, accessible, and engaging to students.
Watch William Thompson and Nicholas Browning talk about one of the most important features of their book—the focus on audience-centered writing—here.
Watch William Thompson speak to the topic of teaching numerancy and explain how Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication helps students build the higher-level skills and competencies they need to not only understand various research methods, but also develop into more strategic thinkers.
Watch William Thompson and Nicholas Browning discuss how they used a specific voice and writing style in their book to convey that a text can be serious in purpose but also entertaining, accessible, and engaging to students.
