Position Paper 4 - Wild Card

 Hannah Diffee

Professor Reppert

International Public Relations

May 2024

Position Paper 4 - Wild Card

What is Public Relations?
No company or organization would thrive without quality public relations strategies. Public relations is a communication process to build mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and the public. 

"At its core, public relations is about influencing, engaging and building a relationship with key stakeholders across numerous platforms in order to shape and frame the public perception of an organization" (Public Relations Society of America).

Public relations (PR) specialists and firms do various tasks to enhance the image of the person, company, or brand they work for. They may analyze public opinion to protect an organization's reputation, create content to boost customer engagement, and implement programs to reflect a company's values. PR may happen via social media, press conferences, news releases, interviews, and other means. PR is connected to marketing and advertising, though its primary focus is to develop and maintain a brand or image.

Public Relations Strategies & Campaigns in England

Last month, I had the chance to travel to England on a Wesley Heritage Tour. The trip, hosted by Educational Opportunities Tours, was for United Methodist pastors in Arkansas and their guests. My dad applied for the trip and, once selected, chose me to travel with him! The tour explored sites in England significant to the Methodist movement. We visited locations like John Wesley's New Room in Bristol (the oldest Methodist building in the world), Christ Church College at the University of Oxford (where John and Charles Wesley studied), and Wesley's Chapel in London. In addition to tracing the roots of our faith, we toured the ancient Roman bathhouses in Bath, visited Stonehenge, and had a free day of fun in London. 

Click the itinerary for a full brochure.

Along the way, I saw many public relations tactics used to promote traveling and life in England.                                 

The Plane
This trip was my first time traveling by plane, and I had a great experience. American Airlines had fantastic in-flight service and entertainment options. I watched two movies I hadn't seen before--Wonka and Mean Girls (2024) and rewatched the first four Twilight movies.  I also enjoyed AA's music options. While browsing the podcast selection, I discovered "Center Stage," a series that highlights musical artists and their songs. I was excited to see interviews with Laufey and Conan Gray, two artists I have grown to love recently.

Fans on Reddit expressed excitement about Laufey being featured on AA flights.

Celebrities such as Tom Brady, Jackie Chan, and Jennifer Aniston have collaborated with airline companies to endorse their brand. These endorsements can help airlines gain media attention and attract customers they might not have reached otherwise. However, celebrity partnerships are often costly and require extensive campaigning over a long period. Conducting exclusive interviews through "Center Stage" may be a more cost-efficient method to interest passengers and help musicians earn recognition.

Ed Sheeran & Five Guys

Ed Sheeran loves Five Guys Burgers and Fries and visits the restaurant frequently. A framed picture of the musician hangs on the wall in Five Guys restaurants. He once tweeted that "Five Guys is everything." I took this picture at Five Guys in Coventry, England. Sheeran's endorsement of the fast food chain helps build its credibility, especially in England, since the singer is English-born and raised.

Salisbury Charter Market

On April 20th, we visited Salisbury, a cathedral city in Wiltshire County. We visited Salisbury Cathedral and Salisbury Methodist Church, two beautiful places of worship with a long legacy in the city. Salisbury's Market Square hosts a bi-weekly Charter Market where vendors sell food, fresh produce, clothing, and other items at affordable prices. My dad and I bought fresh burgers from one vendor and red velvet cake pops from another.  In addition to delicious cake pops, the vendor, Pie and Piper, baked cakes and other desserts. To their left was a vendor called Especially Dogs that sold specialty dog treats and accessories.  If we had more time in the area, I would have loved to explore the market more and purchase more local products. The market is a fantastic way to attract tourists and locals to Salisbury. 

Harry Potter

Many fans of the Harry Potter franchise visit England to experience the magical lives of students and staff at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. During our England visit, we discovered two locations that stand out as prominent Harry Potter landmarks. The first is Christ Church College, located at the University of Oxford. Known by locals as Christ Church, the college was founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII and has educated 13 British prime ministers, the most out of all colleges at Oxford. 

Many Christ Church locations, including the Bodley Staircase, were featured throughout the series' eight films. "The staircase was used to film the famous entrance scene where Professor McGonagall meets Harry, Ron and Hermione" (Experience Oxfordshire). When I entered Christ Church, I saw many fans wearing robes, multicolored scarves, and other Harry Potter apparel, with a few wielding fake wands. After I took this picture, I passed a girl having a photoshoot on the steps.

Walking up the steps takes you to the Christ Church dining hall, which inspired the Great Hall of Hogwarts. The Great Hall was the main gathering area where students and professors dined, held the Sorting Hat ceremony, and hosted celebrations.

Several other locations around Oxford were utilized in the movies, including Christ Church's cloisters, the Bodleian Library, New College'zs cloisters, and the New College courtyard and tree.

Oxford Harry Potter Locations: A Self-Guided Tour

Harry Potter Attractions at Platform 9 3/4

The second location we found was Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station on the edge of central London. In Harry Potter, this is the secret platform where Hogwarts students board the Hogwarts Express train to travel to and from school each term. In real life, King's Cross Station does not have a Platform 9 3/4, but there is a photo opportunity with the sign between platforms nine and ten. On the site is a unique Harry Potter Shop, the first Harry Potter store opened outside of a themed attraction. The store offers everything you could imagine, with a wide range of collectibles, clothing (including robes), and candy inspired by the treats sold at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in the series. Customers can also purchase special wands at the store. I unfortunately did not get a photo by the platform because the line was so long. 

PR campaigns and marketing strategies are highly effective in attracting audiences and increasing brand appeal.