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Spinning at the Border: Employee Activism in ‘Big PR’

Author

Listed:
  • Camille Reyes

    (Department of Communication, Trinity University, USA)

Abstract

This article extends Coombs and Holladay’s (2018) social issues management model to provide new perspectives on activism and public relations. It also fills a gap in the literature on internal activism by analyzing the case of The Ogilvy Group and their employees, many of whom pushed for the agency to resign its work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Through a textual analysis of a leaked transcript documenting a meeting between Ogilvy management and internal activist employees, the communicative tasks of definition, legitimation, and awareness (Coombs & Holladay, 2018) are explored in a way that complicates identity and power. As public relations practitioners are increasingly called upon to either advocate for or against social issues, this study provides an interesting contrast, showing one interpretation of what happens when there is dissension in the ranks.

Suggested Citation

  • Camille Reyes, 2021. "Spinning at the Border: Employee Activism in ‘Big PR’," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 133-143.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:meanco:v:9:y:2021:i:3:p:133-143
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