About our authors Professor Ralph Tench is an internationally recognised leader in public relations and strategic communication, with over 30 years’ experience across academia, research and professional practice. As Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange at Leeds Business School, Leeds Beckett University, he leads research strategy, REF submissions and funding across a large academic community. A professor since 2007, he has combined senior leadership with active teaching and supervision, while driving the expansion of communication programmes and doctoral education. His research—focused on the role of communication in organisational performance and social impact—has shaped global understanding through flagship initiatives such as the European Communication Monitor and the EU-funded ECOPSI project. A former journalist and PR consultant, he brings strong real-world insight to his work, which has influenced policy, professional standards and education internationally. A past President of EUPRERA and a prolific author of more than 60 journal articles and 40 books, including the widely used Communication Excellence, his career is defined by impactful, practice-oriented scholarship and sustained international leadership in the field.Stephen Waddington is a professional adviser at Wadds, Inc., and a PhD researcher at Leeds Business School, specialising in strategic communication, organisational decision-making and the role of public relations as a management discipline. Originally trained as an engineer, he has nearly three decades of experience in public relations, including senior roles at agencies such as Rainier PR, Speed, Ketchum and Metia, and as co-founder of two award-winning agencies, Rainier PR and Speed. He has advised global organisations including The Economist, HM Government, Intel, Microsoft, the NHS, Tesco and Virgin Media Business on reputation, strategy and organisational change. A former President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), he is a Chartered Practitioner, Honorary Fellow of the CIPR and Fellow of the PRCA. He co-founded Socially Mobile, a social enterprise supporting practitioners from underrepresented backgrounds. A prolific author and editor, he has also written and edited several books on public relations and management.

• Public relations: origins and definitionsWorking with the mediaSocial media for public relationsPublic relations, politics and democracyCommunity and society: corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environment, social and governance (ESG)Interculturalism and working internationallyThe role of the practitionerPublic relations theories: Leadership communication in the age of GenAIStrategy and strategic management in public relations planning and managementStrategic public relations planning and managementMeasurement and evaluation for effectiveness and impactDisinformation, fake news and social realityCorporate image, reputation and identityPublic relations: professionalism and ethicsMedia relationsInternal communicationsIssues managementCrisis public relations managementArtificial intelligence and communicationStrategic communicationsInfluencing international policy developmentIntegrated marketing communicationsCorporate communicationsStrategic non-profit communicationsCelebrities and influencersHealth communicationsSports, public relations and sponsorshipFashion public relationsFuture issues for public relations and management communication

About our authors Professor Ralph Tench is an internationally recognised leader in public relations and strategic communication, with over 30 years’ experience across academia, research and professional practice. As Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange at Leeds Business School, Leeds Beckett University, he leads research strategy, REF submissions and funding across a large academic community. A professor since 2007, he has combined senior leadership with active teaching and supervision, while driving the expansion of communication programmes and doctoral education. His research—focused on the role of communication in organisational performance and social impact—has shaped global understanding through flagship initiatives such as the European Communication Monitor and the EU-funded ECOPSI project. A former journalist and PR consultant, he brings strong real-world insight to his work, which has influenced policy, professional standards and education internationally. A past President of EUPRERA and a prolific author of more than 60 journal articles and 40 books, including the widely used Communication Excellence, his career is defined by impactful, practice-oriented scholarship and sustained international leadership in the field.Stephen Waddington is a professional adviser at Wadds, Inc., and a PhD researcher at Leeds Business School, specialising in strategic communication, organisational decision-making and the role of public relations as a management discipline. Originally trained as an engineer, he has nearly three decades of experience in public relations, including senior roles at agencies such as Rainier PR, Speed, Ketchum and Metia, and as co-founder of two award-winning agencies, Rainier PR and Speed. He has advised global organisations including The Economist, HM Government, Intel, Microsoft, the NHS, Tesco and Virgin Media Business on reputation, strategy and organisational change. A former President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), he is a Chartered Practitioner, Honorary Fellow of the CIPR and Fellow of the PRCA. He co-founded Socially Mobile, a social enterprise supporting practitioners from underrepresented backgrounds. A prolific author and editor, he has also written and edited several books on public relations and management.

• Public relations: origins and definitionsWorking with the mediaSocial media for public relationsPublic relations, politics and democracyCommunity and society: corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environment, social and governance (ESG)Interculturalism and working internationallyThe role of the practitionerPublic relations theories: Leadership communication in the age of GenAIStrategy and strategic management in public relations planning and managementStrategic public relations planning and managementMeasurement and evaluation for effectiveness and impactDisinformation, fake news and social realityCorporate image, reputation and identityPublic relations: professionalism and ethicsMedia relationsInternal communicationsIssues managementCrisis public relations managementArtificial intelligence and communicationStrategic communicationsInfluencing international policy developmentIntegrated marketing communicationsCorporate communicationsStrategic non-profit communicationsCelebrities and influencersHealth communicationsSports, public relations and sponsorshipFashion public relationsFuture issues for public relations and management communication