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watched, and episode summaries on the MTV website allowed the author to learn about
what the specific episode entailed. Additionally, articles and reviews about the show and
the cast were researched to see if there were any other significant quotes or descriptions
not mentioned in the episode summaries.
Since previous studies and research concluded that public relations is typically
shown in a glamorous light (Miller, 1999, p.8; Morris & Goldsworthy, 2008, pp. 6 – 7),
specific comments and scenarios that supported this claim were noted. This included any
footage that showed or had a character talking about parties, celebrities, glamour, fame,
or anything related to these topics.
The overall portrayal of intelligence levels of the women on these shows was
carefully investigated as well. With Miller (1999) and Morris and Goldsworthy’s (2008)
claim that public relations is often thought of as ditzy or an easy field to enter, the author
wanted to see if reality portrayals of female public relations professionals affirmed or
debunked these arguments. Overall tone of conversation was looked at, as well as topics
discussed between colleagues, and any mention of previous education or “hard work.”
This also included a look at the relationship between executives and employees, and the
overall level of professionalism between both parties.
Lastly, the wardrobe of the women on these shows was analyzed. Morris and
Goldsworthy (2008) stated that those in public relations are shown as knowing the latest
and greatest in fashion, food, music, etc (p.6). Although the authors made this claim
about public relations as a whole, it seems natural that those in the entertainment industry
Object Description
| Title | Power party girls, good looking crowds and one hellish boss: The portrayal of the female entertainment publicist on reality television |
| Author | Hashem, Camille Renée |
| Author email | chashem@usc.edu; chashem87@gmail.com |
| Degree | Master of Arts |
| Document type | Thesis |
| Degree program | Public Relations |
| School | Annenberg School for Communication |
| Date defended/completed | 2011-04-01 |
| Date submitted | 2011 |
| Restricted until | Unrestricted |
| Date published | 2011-05-03 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Thorson, Kjerstin |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Floto, Jennifer Saltzman, Joseph |
| Abstract | This thesis is an examination of the portrayal of the female entertainment publicist shown in reality television. With the large success rate of Samantha Jones from Sex and the City in the 1990s, female interest in public relations has increased, and good or bad, Jones has served as one of the predominate images of the publicist in the entertainment industry. Those who have performed critical analysis of the image of the public relations practitioner have deemed these representations as showing negative characteristics of those in the profession. While there has been previous research on the image of public relations in media, analysis of the female entertainment publicist in reality television has been left untapped.; The project consisted of a content analysis as well as interviews with various women in entertainment public relations. Three reality television shows featuring female entertainment publicists were watched: MTV's PoweR Girls (2005), Bravo's Kell on Earth (2010) and E! Network's The Spin Crowd. After conducting this analysis, the author found that the female publicist is put in one of two gender categories, the masculine bitch or the overtly sexy "PR Bunny." Other findings inferred that the dominant images within each series suggested that public relations is overall an easy field to enter, with little or no experience or professionalism needed. Finally, although the three series had some subtle differences, public relations is still shown as a glamorous job.; Interviewee responses showed that the negative representations of entertainment publicists on reality television are not indicative of the real life job itself, but that media's representation of it has led others to believe false or skewed images of the profession. Since these three shows' target demographics include young women about make a career decision, the impact they may have on this demographic, and how it may affect the future of public relations and the expectations of those about the enter the industry, is also discussed. |
| Keyword | communication; entertainment; media; public relations; reality television |
| Geographic subject (country) | USA |
| Coverage date | 1990/2010 |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Provenance | Electronically uploaded by the author |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m3875 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Rights | Hashem, Camille Renée |
| Repository name | Libraries, University of Southern California |
| Repository address | Los Angeles, California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Filename | etd-Hashem-4503 |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume26/etd-Hashem-4503.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 36 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | 36 watched, and episode summaries on the MTV website allowed the author to learn about what the specific episode entailed. Additionally, articles and reviews about the show and the cast were researched to see if there were any other significant quotes or descriptions not mentioned in the episode summaries. Since previous studies and research concluded that public relations is typically shown in a glamorous light (Miller, 1999, p.8; Morris & Goldsworthy, 2008, pp. 6 – 7), specific comments and scenarios that supported this claim were noted. This included any footage that showed or had a character talking about parties, celebrities, glamour, fame, or anything related to these topics. The overall portrayal of intelligence levels of the women on these shows was carefully investigated as well. With Miller (1999) and Morris and Goldsworthy’s (2008) claim that public relations is often thought of as ditzy or an easy field to enter, the author wanted to see if reality portrayals of female public relations professionals affirmed or debunked these arguments. Overall tone of conversation was looked at, as well as topics discussed between colleagues, and any mention of previous education or “hard work.” This also included a look at the relationship between executives and employees, and the overall level of professionalism between both parties. Lastly, the wardrobe of the women on these shows was analyzed. Morris and Goldsworthy (2008) stated that those in public relations are shown as knowing the latest and greatest in fashion, food, music, etc (p.6). Although the authors made this claim about public relations as a whole, it seems natural that those in the entertainment industry |
