Red, white and blue festive bunting, parades, grilled hotdogs and fireworks may sum up the Fourth of July for many Americans most years, but 2026 is special.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is an opportune time to reflect with respect on U.S. history and the vision, wisdom and bravery of our Founding Fathers.
But, dare we say, it might also serve as an excuse to look back into history from another perspective—public relations. Afterall, it was more than Paul Revere’s “PR campaign,” communicating “The British are coming. The British are coming,” that brought us to where we are today.
The Communications That Built America
While the Museum of Public Relations credits cave drawings from 37000 to 17000 BC as the earliest form of communication, for the purpose of this article and to mark our nation’s 250th, we will explore how PR has evolved since 1776.
The Age of Print kicked off in 1773 when Samuel Adams shared messages to raise awareness among colonists of British oppression. The pamphlets and propaganda he distributed have credited him with inspiring the Boston Tea Party in opposition of British taxation.
Not long after, colonist Thomas Paine drafted and distributed a famous pamphlet known as Common Sense to promote support of a revolution against Great Britain. Then, of course came one of America’s most famous communications—The Declaration of Independence penned by Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers detailing what the future government of the United States of America would look like.
According to the museum, Amon Kendall, a cabinet member to President Andrew Jackson, was one of America’s first to hold a professional communications position in the White House around 1829. He is credited with drafting messaging for Jackson and redefining his public image from “a southern born war hero to a polished intellectual.”
In the 19th century, early PR tactics were used to promote the abolition of slavery and the women’s suffrage movement. Later, mass media emerged with inventions like the telegraph, telephone, motion picture camera and long-distance radio. These tools enabled communicators to share messages far and wide unlike ever before.
With the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, a free press rose demanding transparency from leading businesses. John D. Rockefeller worked with Ivy Lee, considered the “founder of modern public relations” to reshape his image into that of respected philanthropist rather than oil tycoon. Lee is also credited with the creation of corporate PR departments.
World War II ushered in a range of new communications tactics, including Joseph Goebbels’ propaganda campaign for Adolf Hitler and the Nazi movement in Germany. Meanwhile, an ocean away, the U.S. Office of War Information office was created to leverage media, radio and other communications tools to share news around the war effort within the U.S. and abroad.
Soon after, PR agencies entered the scene.
What’s Next for PR?
The history of PR is fascinating. It goes on to include the rise of crisis communications with the 1982 Tylenol scandal, to welcome the internet and then, of course, social media.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this weekend, we are now navigating a new world shaped by artificial intelligence. AI is making its mark across society and business ,and PR practitioners have also been caught within its wake. The good news is AI is shining a spotlight on our industry, which has long operated behind the scenes developing strategy, crafting messaging, ghostwriting for others and the like. As you have read here, PR has been integral to many of the historic movements that shaped our country. That role is positioned to become even more important in this new world of AI. For example, AI search, which society is quickly coming to depend on, relies on credible third-party content known as earned media to inform its responses.
When you enjoy that hot dog, hamburger or potato salad this July 4th, be sure to honor our Founding Fathers for their vision, initiative and honorable actions in building America.
And for those of us in PR, let’s take a moment to reflect on the value of our profession and the important role we play in shaping its future. Long before 1776, communication initiatives have helped to inform the public, drive progress and shape societies. Today, our goals as PR pros remain much the same, to advance visibility and build credibility, to share compelling stories, raise awareness and build trust on behalf of our clients.
PR Matters 