The communicative structures of journalism and public relations

Abstract

This article seeks to analyze the communication structures of journalism and public relations, using the communication ethics of Jürgen Habermas. The intention is to use this analysis to draw attention to the differences between journalism and public relations in the interests of good journalism and in the interests of democracy. I do not deny that public relations is an inevitable part of the communications order but rather that, contrary to some recent suggestions, it is with good reason that good journalists reject the use of public relations techniques in their own practices. The article ends with the suggestion that journalists need to defend their practice in policy and a clearly articulated self-understanding.