Emergence of a Professional Practice

Abstract

Knapp and Hulbert describe the origins of ghostwriting in ancient Greece and Rome, Eastern civilizations, and the Elizabethan era. They then examine more recent developments, focusing on the growth of public relations practice in the twentieth century and describing the behind-the-scenes roles of public relations professionals who draft speeches, books, and other communications for their clients. Knapp and Hulbert then consider ghostwriting in view of the ethics codes of major professional societies, and reflect on the ways in which the practice has developed due to necessity in a communication-driven world. The authors conclude by offering reflections on the chapter through the lens of the ethical framework introduced in Chap. 1.