Public Interest Communications: Foundation, Influence, and Importance

This edited volume assembled by Brigitta R. Brunner and Kelly Chernin serves as an introduction to the emerging field of public interest communications (PIC) and establishes a solid vision for the interdisciplinary field by identifying its foundations, practical uses, and lasting importance. PIC began on the heels of monumental movements toward societal change for the public good in the U.S., including the Civil Rights Movement, the Stonewall Riots, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. Contributors provide essential historic context alongside contemporary examples such as COVID-19 misinformation and book bans to emphasize how PIC, with its primary goal of fostering effective communication between public and private stakeholders, is not only relevant but necessary as our society continues to grapple with astronomical issues including climate change, economic and racial inequality, and the rise of authoritarianism. Although PIC is rooted within strategic communication, contributors from disciplines as diverse as journalism, business, and even biology demonstrate the necessity of utilizing interdisciplinary approaches and methods toward establishing ongoing operative strategies that improve the human condition and, crucially, last beyond a single campaign.