3.2 Persuasion in the Activities of the Public Relations Writer

Part One
advocate
noun |ˈadvəkit|
a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy

convince |kənˈvins|
verb [ trans. ]
cause (someone) to believe firmly in the truth of something

entice |enˈtīs|
verb [ trans. ]
attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage

induce |inˈd(y)oōs|
verb [ trans. ]
1 succeed in persuading or influencing (someone) to do something

influence |ˈinfloŏəns|
noun
the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself

manipulate |məˈnipyəˌlāt|
verb [ trans. ]
control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously

persuade |pərˈswād|
verb [ trans. ]
cause (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument

Part Two

How does persuasion fit into the activities of a public relations writer?

A public relations writer is supposed to state the facts of an event, person, place, or thing. Along with stating the facts, there still has to be a pull to bring the reader in and believe that what you are saying is credible. If you are not credible or persuasive in a public relations position, there will hardly be an audience that listens to you. In Public Relations, you are working on something that you believe yourself to be true, so you want others to feel the same. There words in part one are very accurate in the goals of PR writing. You have to convince people what you are stating is fact and "firmly believe in the truth of something," You have to influence them to believe it is right. You have to advocate the cause you are writing for and about. As a public relations writer, the activities you engage yourself in are also ones that persuaded you to believe to be true. There was someone that convinced and enticed you to accept what they were saying. You double check the facts yourself to know your material to be able to restate and influence someone else. You wouldn't advocate the benefits and facts of vegetarianism at a rally or in an article and then after you're done working you go to the nearest Arby's and chow down on a roast beef sandwich. Or aggressively campaign for John McCain on 15th and High Street and then on voting day vote for Barack Obama. You state things you believe to be true. You believe to be firmly true.