Kirk Research

Downloadable PDFs and links related to:

General academic research activities

Short Publications List 5/24

Two-page Resume 1/19

Narrative Profile [Extended] 03/19

Curriculum Vitae 3/19
Colorado State Faculty Profile 5/20
Research Gate Profile
Google Scholar page

Professional and personal research on topics of continuing interest

See tabs above for works related to 1913-1914 Colorado Coal Strike, Families (genealogies of Laidmans, Sheppards and Hallahans), and Publicity.

Most frequently cited/additional academic works

Emergence of strategic communication. Hallahan, K., Holtzhausen, D., van Ruler, B., Verčič, D. & Sriramesh, K. (2007). On defining strategic communication. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 1(1), 3-35. Responsible for the definition of strategic communication found in the inaugural article of the then-new journal — “the purposeful use of communication by an organization to fulfill its mission.”

Strategizing about outcomes in strategic communication. Hallahan, K. (2014). Organizational goals and communication objectives in strategic communication. In Derina Holtzhausen & Ansgar Zerfass (Eds.), Handbook of strategic communication (pp. 244-266). New York: Routledge. Principles derived from earlier works about campaign and communication management.

Strategic communication as a comparative framework Excerpt (pp 9-10, 8 and 2) from: Heath, R.L., Johansen, W., Hallahan, K., Steyn, B., Falkheimer, J. & Raupp, J.J.. Strategic Communication. In Robert L. Heath & Winni Johansen (Eds.), International encyclopedia of strategic communication, Vol. 3, pp 1463-1486, 2018. DOI: 10.1002/9781119010722.iesc0172. Argues a dozen communication disciplines follow a similar campaign/program process.

Framing ideas and messages. Hallahan, K. (1999). Seven models of framing: Implications for public relations. Journal of Public Relations Research, 11(3), 205-242. Examines applications of the framing concept from anthropology, sociology, psychology, and media effects research. Summary Encyclopedia Entry | Application in Political Public Relations

Improving Messaging Effectiveness. Hallahan, K. (2000). Enhancing motivation, ability and opportunity to process public relations messages.  Public Relations Review, 26(4), 463-480. Principles based on a review of the psychological and persuasion literature particularly important for reaching inactive publics with low levels of knowledge or involvement in a topic.

Reconceptualizing publics. Hallahan, K. (2000). Inactive publics: The forgotten publics in public relations. Public Relations Review, 26(4), 499-515. Suggested that publics can be categorized based on the knowledge and involvement of members and that much of public relations is directed to groups with low levels of one or the other, or both (inactive publics — versus active publics, high in both).

Creation and containment of issues. Hallahan, K. (2001). The dynamics of issue activation and response: An issues processes model. Journal of Public Relations Research, 13(1) 27-59. Reviews core ideas of issues management driven by people’s knowledge and/or involvement in a topic.

“Community” versus “Publics” Hallahan, K. (2004). ‘Community’ as the framework for public relations theory and research. Communication Yearbook (now Annals of International Communication Association), 28, 233-279. Critiques the “publics” construct and argues community might be a useful alternative.

Integrated communication in Excellence Theory. Hallahan, K. (2007). Integrated communication: Implications for and beyond public relations excellence. In Elizabeth L. Toth (Ed.), The future of excellence in public relations and communication management: challenges to the next generation (pp. 299-337). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum. [Edited volume honoring the work of James and Larissa Grunig]. Reviews and critiques how integrated communication is addressed in the theoretical model for managing public relations widely embraced in the 1990s and early 2000s.) | Earlier convention paper developed in graduate seminar in marketing theory: A Typology of Organizational Relationships Between Public Relations and Marketing

Early academic publishing about public relations. Hallahan, K. (2012, March). Courtier to the academy: Edward L. Bernays’ publishing in academic journals, 1928-1947. Proceedings of the 15th International Public Relations Research Conference, Miami, FL (pp. 176-210). Examines evolution of thinking by the promotion-savvy pioneer public relations counselor considered by many to be the father of public relations.

A paradigm for PR practice? Hallahan, K. (1992). The paradigm struggle and the public relations practitioner. Public Relations Review, 19(4), 197-205. As part of a special journal issue devoted to the competing paradigms in PR scholarship (systems v. rhetorical v. critical), Kirk’s first published journal article suggested that the paradigm question might be extended to PR practice itself — a precursor of his notion that strategic communication serves as a useful framework for the examination of public relations. Overlooked at the time, he also would argue a Cultural paradigm might focus on how PR shapes lasting cultural beliefs, values and routines among members of a society or group. Effects might be analyzed based on observable cultural artifacts (objects, rituals, traditions, mores, fads, etc.) versus measured changes in the behavior or behavioral intent of individuals. The focal question: How does PR alter popular culture or people’s lifestyles/quality of life?

Agenda building to overcome mortgage discrimination. – Hallahan, K. (1992). The Mortgage Redlining Controversy, 1972-1975. Paper presented to AEJMC Qualitative Studies Division. Case study chronicles how fair housing activists in Chicago secured passage of the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975. Inspired by Kirk’s involvement in equal lending issues while in the California savings bank industry.

Miscellaneous

Publications and papers about early Online Public Relations, 2000-2010: Online PR overview 2010 (2004 version), websites as relationship tools – convention paper | poster, crises and risks in cyberspace, organizational-public relationships in cyberspace, responsible/ethical online communications, protecting an organization’s digital assets, and improving website usability.

Encyclopedia of Public Relations (2013) — PDFs of 23 entries. See page 2 for list and page numbers of entries. Omitted from list: Public Relations Education—History of, vol. 2, pp. 730-733.

Public Relations. Entry in R.L. Heath & W Johansen (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Strategic Communication, vol. 2, pp. 1192-1207. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2018.
DOI: 10.1002/9781119010722.iesc0140. Kirk’s “last word” on the topic. Reviews definitions, public relations as a professional practice, public relations as an academic discipline, and state of the field.

All citations: See Short Publications List (same link as above) for citations for works available online and for other single-authored convention papers, encyclopedia entries, convention papers and articles based on graduate student research (second author), and miscellaneous works.