Effect of media relations on audiences: Comparing how editorials and advertising influence behavior Cover Image

Utjecaj odnosa s medijima na ponašanje javnosti: usporedba uredničkih sadržaja i oglašavanja
Effect of media relations on audiences: Comparing how editorials and advertising influence behavior

Author(s): Đurđica Vučković, Ana Tkalac Verčić
Subject(s): Economy
Published by: CROMAR (Hrvatska zajednica udruga za marketing) i Ekonomski fakultet Zagreb
Keywords: public relations; editorial content; advertising; perceived influence multiplier

Summary/Abstract: A notion, according to which editorials have a bigger communication influence then advertisements, is very common and quite popular in public relations. The said notion is so prevalent (among both public relations and marketing communications experts) that it has led to the concept of preceived influence multipliers that point to a strong editorial influence in comparison to advertising influence (2.5 to 8 times stronger). Based on the described assumption, the aim of this paper was to further explore how the target audience perceives editorial and advertising content. The research problem was to compare the effects of both types of content on behavior and behavioral intent (through four media - Internet, radio, newspapers and television.) Respondents were divided into two groups - current users of the services that was in focus (for influence on behavior) and potential users (for influence on behavior intent). Even though current users said editorials had a bigger influence on their behavior, this difference was not significant. On the other hand, potential users stated that the advertising content shaped their behavioral intent more than did editorials. These results once again show the assumption, according to which editorials have a stronger communication influence than advertisements, to be highly questionable.

  • Issue Year: 22/2010
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 43-55
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Croatian