TCNJ Welcome Back – Page 1 of 4
Hello everyone and welcome to COMM 370-02 – Topics in Communication Studies, which I will refer to as Introduction to Strategic Communication/Public Relations – Fall 2015 – well, almost. If you receive this mail, it is because you are registered for my course. First of all, do not hesitate to email me if you have questions.
Please visit my website ( and check it out. It contains many excellent resources including our syllabus, which is subject to change. Link to the syllabus via Student Resources.A syllabus is now posted – although it is subject to change.
Our first class meeting is Monday, Aug. 31 (5:30-8:20 p.m.). It will be more than just a get acquainted session. We will go over our semester game plan and discuss the wonderful world of public relations and how it fits into the strategic communication profession.Please bring with you – to hand in – your (own) personal definition of public relations.
In addition, the website ( has numerous handouts and PowerPoints. You will want to look at – and eventually download – PowerPoint No. 4.During class, we will discuss such other potential PowerPoint downloads as 1, 2, 5 and 9. All are pdfs, but the actual PowerPoints are also available.
As for books, I will be using and referring to those listed on the syllabus and below:
The Public Relations Practitioner’s Playbook
Fourth Edition [White Cover], AuthorHouse, 2013
Author – M. Larry Litwin, APR, Fellow PRSA
The ABCs of Strategic Communication
Second Edition [Green Cover], AuthorHouse, 2008
Author – M. Larry Litwin, APR, Fellow PRSA
More ABCs of Strategic Communication
First Edition [Orange Cover], AuthorHouse, 2015
Author – M. Larry Litwin, APR, Fellow PRSA
The books may or may not be available at the TCNJ, yet, but are available through popular online sites for as low as $32.95 each. My website has The PR Playbook and The ABCs bundled for $59.95 for bothwith free shipping although I prefer to bring them the first day. The newest book More ABCs sells for $19.95 and it supplementsThe ABCs.If you purchase the bundled books from my site, you will receive the E-version of More ABCs free. Thus, the three books would be $59.95.The firm that handles my book sales is Burwyn Associates. So, if you see that on another site, be aware, that site does mark up the retail price and charges for shipping. Please do not over pay. I try to make them available at the best possible price, but I’m not in the book business. Books ordered from my site would be brought to the first class.
The PR Playbook andMore ABCs are available as E-books, but only from AuthorHouse.com@ $9.95.
Famed economist, the late Paul A. Samuelson (MIT), employed this philosophy about his books and classes – they teach college students and professionals “how to think about their profession and how to ply their trade.” His aim was to make economics “understandable and enjoyable.” As you will discover in our class that, too, is my aim – to make your course “understandable and enjoyable” so when you graduate you will not only hit the ground running, you will be going in the right direction.
I will be using SMU’s “teaching naked” as I incorporate edutainment into almost every session. It is sometimes referred to as a “flipped classroom.”We use portions of each book and rely heavily on the PowerPoints and online sites as teaching and learning tools. Experience shows, if you sign onto this approach, class will be more enjoyable, you will get more out of it and all of us will learn much more.
So, visit the website, download your syllabus, peruse the handouts and buckle up for a fantastic ride (semester). There are no guarantees in the communication professions, but I can promise you I will come to every class fired up, fired up, fired up.
All the best,
LL
/ M. Larry Litwin, APR, Fellow PRSA856-767-7730