Ivy Lee And Public Relations 

Public relations became a profession in 1903 as Ivy Lee undertook to advise John D. Rockefeller on how to conduct his public relations. 

Rockefeller owned coal mines and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Miners were on strike and the railroad hushed up the facts when its trains were involved with accidents.

Lee advised Rockefeller to visit the coal mines and talk to the miners. Rockefeller spent time listening to the complaints of the miners, improved their conditions, danced with their wives, and became a hero to the miners.

After a railroad accident, Ivy Lee invited reporters to inspect the wreck and get the facts. The Pennsylvania Railroad then obtained its first favourable press coverage. 

Ivy Lee professionalized public relations by following these principles:

     

1. Tell the truth

2. Provide accurate facts

3. The public relations director must have access to top management and must be able to influence decisions.

Ivy Lee is the first practitioner of Modern PR who invented Press Release and Crises Communication.

Lots of PR <3