W. Timothy Coombs, David McKie JaCritical Integrated Marketing Communication/Public Relations CONVENORS W.

Timothy Coombs, Eastern Illinois University wtcoombs@eiu.edu David McKie, University of Waikato dmckie@waikato.ac.nz Jacquie L'Etang, University of Stirling j.y.letang@stir.ac.uk Workshop Description: Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) and Public relations each contribute to the marketized society. Public relations intersects with IMC at a number of points. The most visible point of intersection is in the promotion of products and services to consumer publics. However, public relations extends beyond customer publics to the community, media, government, employees, activists, and investors to name but the primary publics. Public relations can play a vital role in reputation management by helping to shape peoples expectations and evaluations of organizations. Both fields have been criticized as being manipulative and a corruptive force within society. In particular, research in public relations has lacked a reflective approach to these concerns. Call for Papers This workshop invites papers that present a critical approach to IMC and public relations under the general heading of Speaking for (and of) the organisation.. Public Relations as an asset to Critical Management practice. Potential themes would include but are not limited to: Role of public relations and IMC in suppressing activism Role of public relations and IMC in giving voice to the marginalized PR and nationalism: stateless nations, nation-building, national identity Public relations as a cultural practice: tourism, sport, religion Technology and discourse communities Theory developments: sociology of public relations; cultural theory and PR Manipulation of the news media by IMC and PR Values and ethical issues in the development of IMC and PR knowledge

Radical assessments of contemporary IMC and PR practices Reputation management, substance or style Role of IMC and PR in greenwashing and bluewashing Corporate social responsibility as a stakeholder lead revolution and PRs role

Timeline Abstracts to Convenor (wtcoombws@eiu.edu) Decisions on acceptance/rejection communicated Full paper to Convenor Abstracts should fit the following requirements:

Nov. 1, 2008 Dec. 1, 2008 May 1, 2009

Submissions in Word Arial Font Maximum Length 1500 Words Including: Title Authors (affiliation, contact details) Body of Text References