Brigham Young University. Public Communications
Dates
- Existence: 1978 - 1997
Administrative History
Public Communications was responsible for overseeing mass media on all levels, local all the way up to international. Directors for Public Communications included Paul C. Richards (1978-1991), Margaret Smoot (1991-1994), Brent Harker (1994-1997). In 1997, Lee Bartlett assumed control of Public Communications and the name was changed to University Communications.
The main function and purpose of Public Communications was to act as the official university channel for interacting with mass media at local, state, regional, national, and international levels. This meaning they worked with broadcasting on campus, various publications including BYU Today, and Fine Arts News and Features.
The director of Public Communication reported to the president of University Relations. In 1992, with the creation of the Vice-President of Advancement, Public Communications was then under the care of Ronald G. Hyde, Vice-President of Advancement.
Prior to 1978 this unit was called the Brigham Young University News Bureau (1952-1978). The organization has been called University Communications ever since 1997 when the Public Communications Department was abolished.
Citation:
University Communications records, 1921-2009 (Brigham Young University, Public Communications)BYU organizational history, via WWW, Mar. 12, 2013 (Public Communications; previously known as the News Bureau, renamed in 1978; reports to the university administration; responsible for overseeing university mass media; name changed to University Communications in 1997)
Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:
Public Communications records
Contains newspaper clippings from the Deseret News, Provo Herald, and Salt Lake Tribune concerning Brigham Young University from between 1951 and 1977. Also includes recruiting correspondence for women's intercollegiate volleyball for 1975 to 1984, and press releases for 1984 to 1987.
University Communications files on personnel, 1921-2002
Contains letters, comments, guidelines, newspaper clippings, news releases, speeches, photographs, pamphlets, biographical information, and inauguration files concerning both general and individual presidential, faculty, and VIP files from 1954 to 2002.
University Communications files on the Communications Department, 1956-1999
Contains newspaper clippings, news releases, correspondence, meeting minutes, and photographs concerning the Communications Department from 1956 to 1999. Materials also relate to community relationships, the communication disorders clinic, communications week, public communications, the Communications Council, media services, and cooperative education.