Ivy Lee is called one of the fathers of PR and a pioneer in this field. He opposed hiding the truth and manipulating information by various organizations and enterprises. What is the story of one of the most important specialists in PR history and what earned him this title?Ivy Lee was born in 1877. He worked for several New York newspapers, including the New York Times. His social circle during his professional career, mainly well-known economic figures, influenced all his subsequent actions, views, and career.
He is responsible for formulating the fundamental principle of public relations, which states: “the public must be informed.” This sentence, spoken in 1900, is still relevant today. It emphasizes respect for the public’s right to receive reliable and truthful information through communications sent to employees, customers, and labor unions. This was contrary to the then-prevailing approach, where messages sent to the public could be manipulative and untrue, prioritizing the organization’s own interests.
Ivy Lee is also known for opening the first PR agency in the world—in 1905. The following year, he created the first press release concerning a train disaster directed at journalists—this unconventional move brought him recognition. In 1906, he also published the Declaration of Principles concerning PR activities and disseminated it through the media.
Soon he began collaborating with the richest man in history, John D. Rockefeller, aiming to improve the philanthropist’s image. Ivy Lee suggested that Rockefeller give poor children pennies—a small gesture intended to make J. D. Rockefeller be perceived by the public as a kind-hearted man.
Ivy Lee played a very important role in PR history—as the first who was not afraid to speak about dishonest practices of organizations and enterprises. He effectively promoted an opposing stance, convincing that accuracy and honesty can achieve more than lies—which sooner or later come to light anyway. According to him, a company should reach a compromise with its environment and thereby build trust in the brand.
As an interesting fact, Ivy Lee once worked for Poland. He was employed during the interwar period with the task of promoting Polish bonds and building trust in our national economy.
Text author: Ola
