<P> The number of media outlets increased and PR talent from wartime propaganda entered the private sector . The practice of public relations became ubiquitous to reach political, activist and corporate objectives . The development of the press into a more real - time media also led to heightened scrutiny of public relations activities and those they represent . For example, Richard Nixon was criticized for "doubletalk" and "stonewalling" in his PR office's responses to the Watergate scandal . </P> <P> Trade associations were formed first in the U.S. in 1947 with the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), followed by the Institute of Public Relations (now the Chartered Institute of Public Relations) in London in 1948 . Similar trade associations were created in Australia, Europe, South Africa, Italy and Singapore . The International Association of Public Relations was founded in 1955 . The Institute for Public Relations held its first conference in 1949 and that same year the first British book on PR, "Public Relations and publicity" was published by J.H. Brebner . The International Association of Business Communicators was founded in 1970 . Betsy Ann Plank is called "the first lady of public relations" for becoming the first female president of the PRSA in 1973 . </P> <P> Two of today's largest PR firms, Edelman and Burson - Marsteller, were founded in 1952 and 1953 respectively . Daniel Edelman created the first media tour in the 1950s by touring the country with "the Toni Twins," where one had used a professional salon and the other had used Toni's home - care products . It was also during this period that trade magazines like PR Week, Ragans and PRNews were founded . John Hill, founder of Hill & Knowlton, is known as the first international PR pioneer . Hill & Knowlton was the first major U.S. firm to create a strong international network in the 1960s and 1970s . Both Edelman and Burson - Marsteller followed Hill & Knowlton by establishing operations in London in the 1960s and all three began competing internationally in Asia, Europe and other regions . Jacques Coup de Frejac was influential in persuading U.S. and UK companies to also extend their PR efforts into the French market and for convincing French businesses to engage in PR activities . In the early 2000s, PR in Latin America began developing at a pace "on par with industrialized nations ." </P> <P> According to The Global Public Relations Handbook, public relations evolved from a series of "press agents or publicists" to a manner of theory and practice in the 1980s . Research was published in academic journals like Public Relations Review and the Journal of Public Relations Research . This led to an industry consensus to categorize PR work into a four - step process: research, planning, communication and action . </P>

Who created what is believed to be the first in-house public relations department