Denora “Denny” Griswold was born in New York in 1908. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Hunter College and received a Master’s degree from Radcliff College. She went on to become a radio commentator for the Mutual Broadcasting Company, a script writer for NBC, and was managing editor of Forbes magazine.
Griswold is credited with bringing recognition to public relations as its own profession. She founded the industry’s first newsletter, Public Relations News, in 1944. She served as an editor for the newsletter for nearly forty years and won a Guinness World Record for founding the first public relations weekly in the world. PRNEWS is still in operation today.
In 1946 she also founded the first women’s public relations organization, Women Executives in PR (WEPR). Throughout her life, she received over 100 awards and honors for community and public relations achievements. Griswold died in 2001 at the age of 92 years old.
References:
Denny Griswold – Northwood University
https://www.northwood.edu/dw/archives/1970-2014/807_A
The Story of Denny Griswold, Founder of PRNEWS – PRNEWS
https://www.prnewsonline.com/griswold-spector-founder
Denny Griswold – The Vernon C. Schranz Distinguished Lectureship in Public Relations
Celebrating Women in PR: Meet 3 Public Relations Trailblazers – Shonali Burke
https://shonaliburke.com/celebrating-women-in-pr/
