Edelman and the Rise of PR in Chicago

Following the 60^th anniversary celebration dinner last December at the Casino Club, I received a copy of the new book, “Edelman and the Rise of Public Relations.”  After finishing the book in two evenings of non-stop reading, I commented to my wife that this would make a great textbook for a PR course at DePaul University.

Upon Dan Edelman’s death earlier this year, I decided I wanted to teach a class about the history and growth of Chicago agencies beginning with Dan’s bold move from a corporate job to become an agency entrepreneur. 

During the spring quarter, students in my PRAD 391 course will read the Edelman story, which is referred to inside the agency as “The Book of Dan.” Students will post their thoughts on this blog as they finish reading each chapter. In late May, the class will visit Dan's office in the Aon Center, and they will meet with Rick Murray, President of Edelman Chicago.

In addition to studying Edelman, students will research and report on 31 other great Chicago agencies. They will compare notes and present their findings as part of their mid-term and final exams. Along the way, they will hear from several PR and media professionals, including History Factory Founder Bruce Weindruch, Chicago Sun-Times Editor Jim Kirk and PR legend Al Golin and his wife, June. They also will visit the offices of Chicago integrated marketing agency entrepreneurs Gary Slack and George San Jose.

The public relations community of Chicago is rich with history and talent, and I look forward to learning as much as my students as we embark on this fun educational journey.