Notary Foundation

in and markets grew, the concept of propaganda evolved and public relations took hold.

Oil companies and large corporations initially embraced public relations in its various models. Scholars identified four initial models: • press agentry/publicity, • public information, • two-way asymmetrical, and • two-way symmetrical. The latter widely promoted today reflects dialogue and the development of mutual understanding among organizations and their respective publics, be they consumers and/or citizens.

Most businesses, not-for-profit organizations, governments at all levels, and their politicians use public relations to interact with consumers, voters and property owners, business, and tourists.

PR: A Growth Industry

Public relations is a growth industry and has been for the past 50 years. It is for the most part unregulated, meaning anyone can work in it or use its notable time-tested techniques.

In the past, many organizations recruited journalists to become information officers and public relations spokespersons. Their storytelling skills often reflected inherent professional training, experience with media, investigatory cunning, ethics in serving the public good, as well as their wide community experience, writing speed, and accuracy.

My Role in Public Relations

In this new climate of intentional communication and as a practising journalist, I was hired by a firm in London, England, to assist in handling pubic relations for an Arab state in the Middle East, then I subsequently worked for the Yukon, Ontario, and BC Governments in communication-management of diverse portfolios.

Working in London with former intelligence officers, I was introduced to global initiatives involving relationship-management, often working to eliminate the communication gap between reality and perception, to increase trade, maintain peace, and other behavioural change on a mass scale.

In the past, many organizations recruited journalists to become information officers and public relations spokespersons.

The Notary Foundation of British Columbia works with interest generated by BC Notaries’ Trust Accounts and received from our financial industry and other partners, to promote education for BC Notaries and the public, foster legal research, support law libraries, and help fund legal aid in BC. Talk to us if you’re interested in having an impact on those important facets of BC’s communities.

Funding and strategic decisions and oversight are provided by a Board of Governors made up of 8 Directors of The Society of Notaries Public, 1 appointee from the Office of the Attorney General of BC, and 2 Governors at Large appointed by the BC Government. Applications for funding of law-related education programs, research, and projects may be made and will be considered throughout the year. For more information, visit our website at www.notaryfoundation.ca.