Public relations and public diplomacy: Conceptual covergences

Abstract This article argues that public relations and public diplomacy seek similar objectives and use similar tools. However, the authors suggest, the exact ideas and concepts which can be transferred from one area to the other have yet to be fully delineated and tested. Dr. Signitzer is an associate professor of communication and head of the Public Relations Area, Department of Communication and Journalism, Salzburg University, Austria. He received his doctorate from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Dr. Coombs is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Illinois State University. He received his Ph.D. from Purdue University.