The Practice of Government Public Relations

Description

Along with such traditional management tools as budgeting, HR, planning, and leadership, The Practice of Government Public Relations, Second Edition demonstrates that the 21st-century government administrator needs new tools to address the changing context of government communication. It provides public managers with an understanding of the uses of public relations as tools to advance the goals of public agencies, including media relations, an informed public, public branding, listening to the citizenry, and crisis management. While no manager can be an expert in all aspects of public administration, this book will help managers know what external communications tools are available to them for advancing the mission and results of their agencies.  The authors argue that government public relations activities can serve three broad purposes: mandatory activities, which support governance; optional activities, which offer a pragmatic means of improving policy outcomes, inputs, and impacts; and dangerous but powerful activities, which may serve political interests. The book focuses on practitioners throughout the public sector, including the U.S. federal government, state and local governments, and public administrators outside of the U.S.  Several new chapters address the use of digital communications as social media and the resultant rapid diffusion of information has transformed the responsibility, accessibility, and vulnerability of government communications.  In addition, two new chapters examine the topic of branding, its growing influence in the public sector, and how it can be used to connect with citizens and increase public engagement.  The Practice of Government Public Relations, Second Edition is designed to help government managers at various levels of administration looking to specialize in public relations, those assigned to communications offices, and program managers seeking innovative and cost-effective ways to implement their programmatic missions. It will also be of interest to students of publication administration who will become the government workers of the future.  Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Page Contents List of Figures List of Tables and Handouts Editor Biographies Contributor Biographies Preface Acknowledgments 1 Introduction 2 Government Public Relations: What is It Good For? 3 Media Relations 4 Public Information Campaigns 5 Crisis Communication Challenges in the Public Sector 6 Strategic Communication Planning in the Digital Age 7 Harnessing Social Media Effectively on Behalf of Governments 8 Why Do Places Brand? Branding in the Public Sector 9 Digital Branding for Government Public Relations 10 Ethics in Government Public Relations and Modern Challenges for Public Sector Organizations 11 Operating in Awareness of Legal, Institutional, Political Contexts 12 Monitoring and Evaluating Government Media and Social Media Engagement 13 Reputation Management 14 Applying Mordecai Lee’s Government Public Relations Model in Teaching and Practice 15 Public Relations(hips) through Public Engagement: Approaching Public Administration as Civic Professionals 16 Conclusion Index