Faculty Publications

The Role And Ethics Of Community Building For Consumer Products And Services

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Chicago school of social thought, Communitarian, Community, Community-building, Consumer community, Culture, Ethics norms, Public relations, Social capital, Social ethic, Society, Values

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Promotion Management

Volume

10

Issue

1-2

First Page

133

Last Page

146

Abstract

Kruckeberg and Starck (1988) argue that public relations is the active attempt to restore and maintain the sense of community that has been lost in contemporary society. Many manufacturers and service providers seek “communities” of consumers. However, what is the social ethic of such consumer communities? Do they provide an authentic “sense of community” as advocated by Kruckeberg and Starck? This article examines these and related questions and offers suggestions regarding the creation and maintenance of consumer “communities.” Consumer communities-when appropriately formed and nurtured-can have impact on individuals and society at large that are best considered from a public relations, not marketing, viewpoint. © 2004 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Department

Department of Communication Studies

Original Publication Date

5-11-2004

DOI of published version

10.1300/J057v10n01_09

Link to Full Text

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