draw positive attention to a company and help build a positive image.
This could include such things as cause-related marketing or ‘ green ’ marketing.
The BP (British Petroleum) campaign from the mid-2000s focusing
upon alternative energy sources is a good IMC example. Not only
was PR involved in its traditional role, but corporate advertising was
also used to underscore the company ’ s activities in seeking energy alternatives
to petroleum. Reactive PR results when a company experiences
negative publicity and must deal with ‘ damage control ’ . This reflects
what in social psychology is known as impression management, where
one seeks to protect one ’ s self by maximizing positive associations while
minimizing negative associations.