What is Public Relations?

Public Relations is the art of managing communication between an organization and its key publics to build, manage and sustain a positive image.

Outer Space Tourism Public Relations Purposes, Practices and Problems
By Gibson, Dirk C.
Virgin Galactic announced plans in December of 2005 to operate outer space tourism flights from a spaceport located in south- central New Mexico. Virgin signed a 20-year lease at one million dollars a year for 15,000 acres of state trust land where the Southwest Regional Spaceport will be erected in 2006. Is this space tourism stuff going to fly over well with the public and what problems may Virgin Galactic have to face when this business esculates in 2010 as they say it will, or will it be a bust?
http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/664633/outer_space_tourism_public_relations_purposes_practices_and_problems/index.html?source=r_space

The Home Depot Empowers Olympic and Paralympic Athletes to Do-It-Themselves in Athens
The Home Depot is the nation's largest employer of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls through its sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Committee's and olympic job opportunities progra. The program employs athletes year-round allowing them to work part-time, giving them time off to train and attend competitions, while offering full-time compensation and benefits.
The main objective for Home Depot is to position themeselves as the leading supporter of Olympic athletes, to make their company look better.
http://www.prfirms.org/resources/case_studies/Integrated_Marketing/2004/TheHomeDepot1.asp

Dawn Dishes It Out: Changing Consumers' Perceptions on Value
P&G with Marina Maher Communications Inc.
P&G's Dawn dishwashing liquid brand marketers had a BIG challenge: consumers understood Dawn's core equity [tough on grease] but they were unaware of its value proposition: that just a little Dawn cleans a lot of dishes. This situation posed a serious threat to the brand because consumers were being lured by lower priced products in larger-sized bottles that appeared to offer more value for everyday dishwashing use. Before the launch of a huge new product initiative, P&G recognized that its value message had to be communicated loud and clear to encourage brand loyalty and drive trial by competitive users. The Brand group was convinced that, if consumers understood that Dawn is cost effective (just one 25-oz. bottle cleans more than 10,000 dishes), the value message would encourage switching.
http://www.prfirms.org/resources/case_studies/Integrated_Marketing/2006/Dawn1.asp