This book provides an executive overview of the field of public relations with a focus on what managers need to know to master the function quickly and effectively. The authors bring to bear on the topic of public relations management our research and academic knowledge in the areas of business management and strategy, mass communication, marketing, public relations, organizational communication, journalism, ethics, and public opinion along with years of professional experience in managing public relations. Throughout the text, we integrate the academic with the professional by asking: How can an executive use this knowledge to make the most of the public relations function, department, and initiatives in order to help their whole organization be successful?