An article by Frances Ward-Johnson, associate professor in the School of Communications, appears in the August issue of Public Relations Tactics, a publication by the national Public Relations Society of America. Titled “Reflections on Public Relations from African American Women Practitioners,” Ward-Johnson’s article focuses on four African American women PR managers’ careers and the racial and gender issues that they have faced during their careers.
Ward-Johnson pointed out that more than 30 years after the Kerner Commission Report recommended that the media hire more people of color, racial and ethnic groups remain under represented in the media and public relations. According to Ward-Johnson, there is little research on factors influencing minorities to choose and work in public relations, specifically African American women, who are a large part of PR minority groups.
Ward-Johnson spent more than 12 years in the communications industry, including working as manager of public relations for the international Center for Creative Leadership, before entering academia. She is working on a report that examines the differences in perceptions of female African American students and public relations practitioners about PR careers.