When initially published in 2005, the two-volume Encyclopedia of Public Relations was the first and most authoritative compilation of the subject. It remains the sole reference source for any library serving patrons in business, communication, and journalism as it explores the evolution of the field with examples describing the events, changing practices, and key figures who developed and expanded the profession. Reader’s Guide topics include Crisis Communications & Management, Cyberspace, Ethics, Global Public Relations, Groups, History, Jargon, Management, Media, News, Organizations, Relations, Reports, Research, and Theories & Models. Led by renowned editor Robert L. Heath, with advisory editors and contributors from around the world, the set is designed to reach a wide array of student readers who will go on to serve as opinion leaders for improving the image and ethics of the practice.

The Second Edition continues to explore key challenges facing the profession, such as earning the trust and respect of critics and the general public. Much greater emphasis and space will be placed on a theme that was just emerging when the First Edition appeared: the Internet and social media as public relations tools. International coverage and representation has been greatly expanded, as well. Finally, biographies (which are now widely available on the Web) have been deleted to give room to areas of enhanced coverage, and biographical material are included where appropriate within the context of topical entries. However, a long entry on women pioneers in public relations has been included as an appendix.

《公共关系百科全书》两卷本于2005年首次出版，是该学科的第一部也是最权威的汇编。它仍然是为商业、传播和新闻业的赞助人提供服务的图书馆的唯一参考资料来源，因为它通过描述事件、变化的实践和发展和扩大这一职业的关键人物的例子来探索这一领域的演变。读者指南的主题包括危机传播与管理、网络空间、伦理、全球公共关系、团体、历史、行话、管理、媒体、新闻、组织、关系、报告、研究、理论与模型。由著名编辑罗伯特L。希思，与来自世界各地的咨询编辑和投稿人，这套旨在达到广泛的学生读者谁将继续担任意见领袖，以改善形象和道德的做法。
第二版继续探讨该行业面临的主要挑战，如赢得评论家和公众的信任和尊重。当第一版出版时，一个刚刚出现的主题将得到更大的重视和空间：作为公共关系工具的互联网和社交媒体。国际覆盖面和代表性也大大扩大。最后，删除了传记（现在在网络上可以广泛获得），以便为加强报道的领域腾出空间，并在适当情况下将传记材料纳入专题条目。然而，一篇关于公共关系领域女性先锋的长篇文章已作为附录列入。