Articles, Chapters, Papers by Shannon A Bowen
Partecipazione e Conflitto, 2020
This article aims to investigate the evolution of public sector communication before and after th... more This article aims to investigate the evolution of public sector communication before and after the Covid-19 crisis that has strongly impacted governmental institutions, public policy, contemporary society, and media ecologies. After a review of the main characteristics of public sector communication, the article proposes an interpretative and dynamic model to better understand the new challenges for public institutions. The model introduces ethics as the new, primary driver for public sector communication to surround all decisions, pointing out the need for transparent, authentic participation and dialogue to build trust. Focusing on two dimensions (trust/distrust, openness/closedness), the authors investigate the main trajectories of change for public sector communication, conceiving the three pillars of open government (transparency, participation and collaboration) as strategic values for improving the quality and efficacy of communication. In this time of uncertainty, the new trajectories of communication should fully embrace an ethical approach in order to become resilient, able to respond to citizens' needs and expectations, and to maintain responsible relationships with media, varied strategic publics, and a rapidly changing global community.
Papers by Shannon A Bowen
Corporate Communication
An Integrated Approach to Communication Theory and Research, 2019
The paper presents the analysis of speed aptitudes in French Trotter, breed which due to its perf... more The paper presents the analysis of speed aptitudes in French Trotter, breed which due to its performances, can be used in time as infusion material for Romanian Trotter breed. The studies were carried on 279 heads, data being processed through usual statistic methods, on age categories, depending on parental performances and depending on the stallion which the animal taken in study comes from. As a result of studies, it was found that the variability of speed aptitudes for trot is influenced by the age of individuals, origin and genetic line which they come from, by technological factors of exploitation (feeding, maintenance, training and dressage, the young stock of breeding conditions), as also the good practical of management in studs.
Almost a decade after the collapse of Enron, it is time to ask what lessons have been learned fro... more Almost a decade after the collapse of Enron, it is time to ask what lessons have been learned from the unethical conduct of the organisation. Enron was the seventh largest corporation in the United States, with a Code of Ethics published in book form (Enron 2000) and distributed to all employees. With Enron’s collapse, unethical and illegal behaviour at the highest levels of the corporation emerged. In the years since Enron’s demise, public trust in business has continued to decline (Edelman 2009). What can we learn from the events inside Enron to halt the decline of public trust in business? This paper analyses Enron’s 64page Code of Ethics and compares that document against the company’s operation and unethical behaviour. This study seeks to discover why the Code of Ethics failed by looking closely at the organisational culture inside Enron, extending the research of other scholars on this topic (Sims and Brinkman 2003) and updating it with historical context. Rather than being se...
Partecipazione e Conflitto, 2020
This article aims to investigate the evolution of public sector communication before and after th... more This article aims to investigate the evolution of public sector communication before and after the Covid-19 crisis that has strongly impacted governmental institutions, public policy, contemporary society, and media ecologies. After a review of the main characteristics of public sector communication, the article proposes an interpretative and dynamic model to better understand the new challenges for public institutions. The model introduces ethics as the new, primary driver for public sector communication to surround all decisions, pointing out the need for transparent, authentic participation and dialogue to build trust. Focusing on two dimensions (trust/distrust, openness/closedness), the authors investigate the main trajectories of change for public sector communication, conceiving the three pillars of open government (transparency, participation and collaboration) as strategic values for improving the quality and efficacy of communication. In this time of uncertainty, the new tr...
Partecipazione e Conflitto, 2020
Mutually beneficial relationships (MBRs), a concept used to conceptualize public relations proces... more Mutually beneficial relationships (MBRs), a concept used to conceptualize public relations processes and outcomes, has been featured relatively uncritically for many years. This normative concept became an elixir for collective problem solving and shared decision making. Careful consideration of highly contested issues reveals evidence that within-group MBRs can prevent overarching solutions, decisions between issue groups, and can constitute stalemating or hegemonic tribalism. Strategic issues management (SIM) provides decision-making intelligences by which conflict between businesses and other members of society can be understood and resolved. Issue advocates' adversarial strategies can frustrate any society's ability to solve problems and make meaningful decisions, even when parties share a common motivating value. Stalemated public policy interpretations create sores that cannot heal; complex problems cannot be solved. Thus, MBRs are not the promised panacea or even a no...
Communication Ethics as a Foundational Construct in Applied Communication Theory, Research, and Practice
The Handbook of Applied Communication Research, 2020
30 Ethical theories and public relations: Global issues and challenges
Public Relations, 2021
International Journal of Strategic Communication, 2016
‘I thought it would be more glamorous’: preconceptions and misconceptions among students in the public relations principles course
Public Relations Review, 2003
... Sorto[14] found the primary reason students identified for pursuing this career was that they... more ... Sorto[14] found the primary reason students identified for pursuing this career was that they liked working with people. Other reasons for choosing it included corporate image building, social opportunities, writing, and the growth of the public relations industry. ...
Public Relations Review, 2009
Studies in public relations often conclude that the field is misunderstood [Kopenhaver, L. L. (19... more Studies in public relations often conclude that the field is misunderstood [Kopenhaver, L. L. (1985). Aligning values of practitioners and journalists.
Expansion of Ethics as the Tenth Generic Principle of Public Relations Excellence: A Kantian Theory and Model for Managing Ethical Issues
Journal of Public Relations Research, 2004
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC RELATIONS RESEARCH. ЩI ). 65-92 Copyright© 2004. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. I... more JOURNAL OF PUBLIC RELATIONS RESEARCH. ЩI ). 65-92 Copyright© 2004. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Inc. Expansion of Ethics as the Tenth Generic Principle of Public Relations Excellence: A Kantian Theory and Model for Managing Ethical Issues Shannon A. Bowen ...
A Practical Model for Ethical Decision Making in Issues Management and Public Relations
Journal of Public Relations Research, 2005
Issues management is the executive function of strategic public relations that deals with problem... more Issues management is the executive function of strategic public relations that deals with problem solving, organizational policy, long-range planning, and management strategy as well as communication of that strategy internally and externally (Chase, 1977; Ewing, 1981; Hainsworth & Meng, ...
A State of Neglect: Public Relations as ‘Corporate Conscience’ or Ethics Counsel
Journal of Public Relations Research, 2008
View all references and other scholars argued that the corporate conscience role should belong in... more View all references and other scholars argued that the corporate conscience role should belong in the public relations function. But, how common is the use of ethics counsel among public relations professionals? This qualitative research found that many public relations practitioners ...
Journal of Public Affairs, 2002
focuses on the ethics of issues management from a perspective of Kantian moral philosophy. Her Ph... more focuses on the ethics of issues management from a perspective of Kantian moral philosophy. Her PhD dissertation (University of Maryland, 2000) won the International Communication Association's award for the most outstanding dissertation in public relations. Shannon's research focuses on incorporating a rational, ethical approach into the strategic issues management of organisations. She also worked on Capitol Hill and as a political research analyst (MA
The public relations philosophy of John W. Hill: bricks in the foundation of issues management
Journal of Public Affairs, 2002
... monitoring; and issues communication. This analysis drew on a wide body of literature and fea... more ... monitoring; and issues communication. This analysis drew on a wide body of literature and featured the work of Chase (1984), Ewing (1987), Heath and Nelson (1986), and Coates et al. (1986). More recent statements have ...
Journal of Public Affairs, 2005
Many corporations use legal rather than ethical standards for decision making in issues managemen... more Many corporations use legal rather than ethical standards for decision making in issues management. The Enron collapse provides a case example of why legal standards should never be used as a substitute for ethical principles. As we illustrate in this discussion of Enron, seeking loopholes in the law can lead to ethical violations that are ultimately more severe than legal infractions. We use systems theory and rhetorical rationales to discuss the issues management function as the proper location in an organization for ethical decision making and corporate responsibility. Both systems theory and rhetoric support the argument that an organization must be good internally and make decisions from an outside-in perspective; management at Enron heeded neither idea. This research recommends a deontological approach, based on Kantian norms of moral autonomy and good intention as a basis for ethical issues management, and uses the Enron case for illustration of these principles. We conclude this discussion by offering a matrix simplifying the principles of both ethical and legal decision making based on systems theory and rhetorical approaches to public policy.
Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 2013
Through systematic case analyses of much-discussed social media cases, both negative aspects and ... more Through systematic case analyses of much-discussed social media cases, both negative aspects and best practices of social media use are revealed. Ethical theory is applied to these cases as a means of analysis to reveal the moral principles associated with each case. Four cases are analyzed, ranging from bad to arguably innovative. Based upon comparing the moral principles upheld or violated, descriptive ethics are used to infer normative ethical guidelines to govern the use of social media. Fifteen ethical guidelines derived from the cases and normative moral theory are offered as a way to begin a discussion that leads to a deeper understanding of ethics in the burgeoning realm of digital engagement. PURPOSE Public relations as an industry and as an academic pursuit has been heavily involved in pioneering the digital engagement of publics via social network sites (SNS) such as Facebook or Twitter or social media sites such as Blogger. The public relations industry sees digital engagement as a new tool of public relations with more access to directly influence the attitudes and ultimately behaviors of publics than the more traditional media with its gatekeepers guarding access to publics. Digital engagement can be defined as an organization creating active and interested relationships with publics using Internet channels, such as product endorsements by prominent bloggers. To conceptualize the construct of digital engagement, one can synthesize the work of the numerous scholars, building on J. E. Grunig's (1992) excellence theory and also on mass communication theories; specifically, agenda setting (McCombs & Shaw, 1972), framing (Entman, 1993), and uses and gratifications (Katz, 1959) theory. The use of social media in the public relations industry is primarily as a tool to build an active relationship between an organization
Autonomy in communication
Journal of Communication Management, 2006
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine three perspectives on autonomy: communication mana... more PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine three perspectives on autonomy: communication management or public relations autonomy, autonomy in management theory, and the autonomy of moral philosophy.Design/methodology/approachThese arguments for autonomy are combined and studied to ascertain their impact on: the contribution of the communication function to strategic management of the organization, and, the enactment of an ethics counselor role by public relations. This research examines autonomy in communication at two global organizations through 43 interviews, observation, and document analysis. Factors influencing and contributing to autonomy are discussed.FindingsAutonomy was found to be necessary for optimal contribution to strategic management and acting as ethical counsel in the public relations function. In both ways, autonomy contributes to the stature of the communication function within an organization and the development of public relations as a profession. Autonomy ...
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Articles, Chapters, Papers by Shannon A Bowen
Papers by Shannon A Bowen