Public relations education: Where is pedagogy?
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The year 1998 was a significant time for public relations education. Data for the Public Relations Education Survey were collected and analyzed and public relations educators met in suburban Washington, D.C. for the National Communication Association's Summer Conference on Public Relations Education to discuss the survey and its implications for public relations education. Pedagogy was one of the four major discussion topics at the conference. This article synthesizes results from the survey and discussions of the Pedagogy Task Team at the conference. A hopeful picture of public relations pedagogy emerged from the data and discussions. Current pedagogy places an emphasis on active learning, an important strength in the delivery of course material. But the picture includes weaknesses, too. Public relations educators are rather slow to utilize new technology in the classroom. Moreover, public relations as a field has not given enough attention to pedagogy. Research of public relations pedagogy is sparse, pedagogical tools are weak and teacher training is minimal. Placing more emphasis on public relations pedagogy will help to overcome these weaknesses and build on its strengths.