The Story of Ivy Lee and Corporate Public Relations Evolution

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This chapter traces the pioneering work of Ivy Lee in corporate public relations, emphasizing transparency and shaping narratives through the first press release. It explores the transformation of the relationship between media and corporations using Lee's strategies with the Rockefellers during a PR crisis, showcasing the shift towards corporate PR. The chapter sheds light on John D. Rockefeller Sr. and Jr., detailing their contrasting approaches to business, family life, and public perception, while also highlighting the harsh working conditions and struggles faced by coal miners in Colorado.

When people started saying that John D. Rockefeller Jr. was responsible for the deaths of two women and 11 children near a coal mine in Colorado, he decided to do something unusual. He hired “the father of public relations.”

Scott Martelle's book is Blood Passion: The Ludlow Massacre and Class War in the American West.

Amy Westervelt's podcast is called Drilled.

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