THINK Public Relations Wilcox/Cameron/Reber/Shin Ch 17: Government and Politics

Overview Government public relations Public information and public affairs The federal government State governments Local governments Government relations by corporations Lobbying Election campaigns

Government Public Relations Federal Government State Governments Local Governments

Government Public Relations Basic purposes of government public relations Public service The circulation of information

Public Information and Public Affairs Public information affects citizens’ decision- making processes about policies

Public Information and Public Affairs Objectives of government information efforts Inform the public about the public’s business. Improve the effectiveness of agency operations. Provide feedback to government administrators. Advise management on how to communicate a decision or a program. Serve as ombudsman. Educate administrators about the role of the media.

The Federal Government The largest disseminator of information in the world The White House Presidents have used media attention to implement public reactions strategies. Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton George W. Bush Barack Obama Donald Trump

The Federal Government Congress The House of Representatives and the Senate Engage in extensive information-focused efforts to reach their constituents

The Federal Government Federal agencies Employ public affairs officers and public information specialists

State Governments Employ public information officers Conduct campaigns to inform the public about health and safety issues and to promote the state as a tourist destination

Local Governments Employ public information specialists to inform citizens about city services and promote economic development

Government Relations by Corporations Monitor governments and legislative activity Gather information Disseminate management’s views Cooperate with government on projects Motivate employees to participate in political process

Lobbying A government relations specialty Effort directed to influence legislation/regulation Many participate at local, state, and federal levels Many constituents have lobbyists

Lobbying Pitfalls of lobbying Grassroots lobbying “Influence peddling” involves coalition building

Election Campaigns Fund-raising is key. Range of communication techniques employed New communication tools quickly adopted The Internet and social media

What Do You Think? How do the Internet and social media play an important role in election campaigns?