[originaltext] The rise of multinational companies, global marketing, new comm

The rise of multinational companies, global marketing, new communications technologies, and shrinking cultural differences have led to an unparalleled increase in global public relations or PR.
  Surprisingly, since modern PR was largely an American invention, the US leadership in PR is being threatened by PR efforts in other countries. Ten years ago, for example, the world’s top five public relations agencies were American-owned. In 1991, only one was. The British in particular are becoming more sophisticated and creative. A recent survey found that more than half of all British companies include PR as part of their companies planning activities, compared to about one third of US companies that do so. It may not be long before London replaces New York as the capital of PR.
  Why is America lagging behind in the global PR race? First, Americans as a whole tend to be fairly provincial and take more interest in local affairs. Knowledge of world geography, for example, has never been strong in this country. Secondly, Americans lag behind their European and Asian counterparts in knowing a second language.
  Finally, people involved in PR abroad tend to keep a closer eye on international affairs. In the financial area, for instance, most Americans read The Wall Street Journal. Overseas, their counterparts read the Journal as well as the Financial Times of London and The Economist, the latter two being publications not often read in this country.