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The Page Center will award grants to support scholars and professionals making important contributions to knowledge, practice or public understanding of ethics and resposibility in public communication or other principles of Arthur W. Page.

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The Page Principles PDF Print E-mail

Page practiced seven principles of public relations management as a means of implementing his philosophy.

  • Tell the truth.
    Let the public know what's happening and provide an accurate picture of the company's character, ideals and practices.
  • Prove it with action.
    Public perception of an organization is determined 90 percent by what it does and ten percent by what it says.
  • Listen to the customer.
    To serve the company well, understand what the public wants and needs. Keep top decision makers and other employees informed about public reaction to company products, policies and practices.
  • Manage for tomorrow.
    Anticipate public reaction and eliminate practices that create difficulties. Generate goodwill.
  • Conduct public relations as if the whole company depends on it.
    Corporate relations is a management function. No corporate strategy should be implemented without considering its impact on the public. The public relations professional is a policy maker capable of handling a wide range of corporate communications activities.
  • Realize a company's true character is expressed by its people.
    The strongest opinions -- good or bad -- about a company are shaped by the words and deeds of its employees.  As a result, every employee -- active or retired -- is involved with public relations.  It is the responsibility of corporate communications to support each employee's capability and desire to be an honest, knowledgeable ambassador to customers, friends, shareowners and public officials
  • Remain calm, patient and good-humored.
    Lay the groundwork for public relations miracles with consistent, calm and reasoned attention to information and contacts. When a crisis arises, remember that cool heads communicate best   

Arthur W. Page: A man of vision, valor, and values.  An essay by Pamela J. Brubaker

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This essay discusses each of the seven principles of public relations management identified throughout the Arthur W. Page speeches.  The messages highlighted here offer a timeless reminder and call to action for how organizations should responsibly conduct business.  Organizations will find the philosophy of public relations management as Page advocated are as true and applicable to business operations today as they were when Page delivered these messages while working and consulting for AT&T from 1927 to 1955.