Letter from the Editor

At JPRE, we love it when a plan comes together, resulting in a powerful themed issue. In 11-1, the evolving landscape of public relations (PR) education and the necessity of preparing students for industry challenges through experiential learning, ethical considerations, and AI literacy is brought full circle. This issue features a diverse array of pedagogical innovations aimed at bridging the gap between academic instruction and professional application.

“The Kids Are Alright” by Tefertiller, Vaszuez and Brammer delves into the ethical dimensions of AI use among PR students, revealing how future practitioners navigate the complexities of AI-driven communication while maintaining professional integrity​. The creative thinking of Riddell, Fenner, and Kearney uses Enneagram Harmony Triads for group formation in PR courses, and highlights the role of team dynamics in successful campaign execution. By leveraging personality-based grouping, this method improves collaboration, reduces interpersonal friction, and enhances overall project outcomes, reinforcing the importance of soft skills in PR education​. The teaching brief by Howes on creating a prompt library for AI-driven public relations education underscores the growing importance of AI proficiency in public relations practice, emphasizing both the technical skill of prompt engineering and the critical thinking necessary to evaluate AI-generated content​. Finally, the critical dimension of industry readiness is explored by the dynamic duo from Jacksonville State University, Murphy and Joyce, in a teaching brief giving us a roadmap for the integration of job application practice into a PR campaigns course, which provides students with hands-on experience in applying for PR roles, refining their resumes, and preparing for professional interviews​. This approach mirrors industry expectations, ensuring that students graduate with not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills that enhance employability.

Together, these articles reflect the Journal of Public Relations Educator’s ongoing commitment to advancing pedagogical strategies that align with industry needs. From AI literacy and ethics to career preparation and collaborative learning, the articles in this issue provide a roadmap for equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical frameworks necessary to thrive in the modern PR landscape.

Coming soon: Keep your eyes peeled for two special issue calls dropping in the upcoming weeks: first, in what we are calling the graduate issue, is the collective creation of previous JPRE editors-in-chief, Pamela Bourland-Davis, Emily Kinsky, and Charles “Chuck” Lubbers which will invite invite research articles, teaching briefs, and book reviews – we are especially interested in manuscripts that explore BOTH the challenges and opportunities for public relations pedagogy focusing on graduate-level education; then the second special issue, we are affectionately referring to as the GIFTs of leadership which features another all-star guest editor lineup of David Grossman (The Grossman Group), Tina McCorkindale (IPR), Karla Gower (Plank), and more. This special issue will welcome submissions of articles, teaching briefs, and book reviews that examine both the challenges and opportunities in public relations pedagogy, with a focus on leadership in the undergraduate classroom. Watch the AEJMC PRD listserv for complete calls and the PRD community website for these calls as they go live.

Our appreciation goes out to the Editorial Review Board, the Past Editors Council, as well as our beloved sponsors, the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication and the Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations – Moody College at the University of Texas at Austin. If you are interested in joining the ERB or sponsoring JPRE, please reach out. I’d love to talk to you about how you can contribute to our 100% volunteer-operated open-access journal.

Onward!
Adrienne A. Wallace
Editor-in-Chief

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from the Editor
Adrienne A. Wallace

ARTICLES

The Kids Are Alright: Examining How U.S. Public Relations Students Ethically Navigate Artificial Intelligence
Alec Tefertiller, Rosalynn Vasquez & Matthew Brammer

Do We Have to Work in Groups? Using Enneagram Harmony Triads for Improved Group Formation in the Classroom
Heather Riddell, Christopher Fenner & Christina Kearney

TEACHING BRIEFS/GIFTS

Creating a Prompt Library: Applying Generative AI Skills to Public Relations Practice
Pauline Howes

Preparing Students for the Workplace: Integrating Job Application Practice into a Campaigns Course
Breann Murphy & Teddi Joyce

BOOK REVIEWS

A Modern Guide to Public Relations: Unveiling the Mystery of PR
Matthew P. Taylor

Read the Full Issue: