Scott Cutlip

In 1994 and 1995 Cutlip published two histories of public relations that develop the practices through the stories of professional operators.

Cutlip's contributions to public relations are commemorated in a special 1991 issue of Public Relations Review.

In 1990 Cutlip was admitted to the College of Fellows of the Public Relations Society of America. In 1995 the Society presented him with its Golden Anvil award. That year the International Association of Business Communicators presented him with a special award to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Association.

In 1987 he was nominated to the Hall of Fame of the Arthur W. Page Society.

In 1984 he received the Commander's Award for Public Service from the Department of the Army and in 2003 was inducted into the U.S. Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame.

At the University of Georgia from 1976 to 1983, Cutlip served as dean of the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

In 1972 Cutlip was recognized with the first Outstanding Educator Award presented by the Public Relations Society of America.

In 1971 Cutlip was presented the honorary degree Litt. D. by West Virginia Wesleyan College of Buckhannon.

As practitioners of the craft, Cutlip listed "propagandist, press agent, public information officer, public relations or public affairs official, political campaign specialist, lobbyist". The occupations operate under conditions of free speech. In a democracy, it is the informed votes of citizens that rights a listing ship of state, according to Milton. Cutlip also cited Hugo Black of the U. S. Supreme Court re-affirming the free speech context of practitioners in 1961.

In 1952 he co-wrote the first edition of Effective Public Relations with Allen H. Center. This textbook was reissued in the 11th edition in 2012. In 1957 Cutlip produced a bibliography on public relations (updated in 1965), and in 1965 he authored a book on fundraising in the United States.

Cutlip married Erna K. Flader of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on May 21, 1947. Erna Cutlip died in 1997. Scott was diagnosed with cancer several months before his death.

He joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin in 1946, teaching news editing and introducing the study of public relations. As Cutlip later explained,

Cutlip was born in Buckhannon, West Virginia, the son of Okey Scott Cutlip and Janet Munson. He was raised by his uncle George Carper Reger. Cutlip started in newspapers with the Buckhannon Record in 1933. Moving to Morgantown, West Virginia in 1935, he worked for the West Virginia Newspaper Publishing Company for three years. In 1939 he obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from Syracuse University. His career in public relations began in 1941 with the West Virginia State Road Commission. In Madison, Wisconsin he continued to study journalism and political science, earning a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin. In 1942 he entered the United States Army Air Forces, where he served with the Fifth Air Force from Australia.

Scott Munson Cutlip (July 15, 1915 in Buckhannon, West Virginia – August 18, 2000 in Madison, Wisconsin) was a pioneer in public relations education.