The Handbook of Strategic Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications, Second Edition, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 14GOVERNMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION: Portal to the Public

Brent BakerRear Admiral (Ret) and Former Chief of InformationU.S. NavyDean Emeritus, College of CommunicationBoston University

While the United States is one of the leaders in the practice of governmental public relations, it has never had a government Ministry of Information or government-run domestic national newspaper, radio or television station. However, U.S. government leaders, beginning with President Andrew Jackson in the 1830s, began to hire ex–newspaper journalists as press assistants to help get their messages out to the American people. So, the American model of government public relations practice has always involved a democratic government informing the public via a free, ...