Тема №24. Public relations in public service

Word List

Public Relations	связь с общественностью
to tabulate	заносить в таблицу; сводить; сводить данные в таблицу
public attitudes	отношение со стороны общественности; общественный настрой, отношение общества
to earn	заслуживать
ongoing	происходящий в настоящий момент
to burnish	полировать
vehicle ['vi.ikl]	средство передачи, распространения чего-л.
regulatory	законодательный, регулятивный, нормативно-правовой
treatment	помощь; обращение; режим; отношение
ballot box ['baeldt]	урна для голосования
branding	маркировка; брэндинг, обозначение продукта (использование дизайна, символа, имени или их комплекса для идентификации продукта)
patronage ['paetranid3]	клиентура
to portray	изображать, представлять
legacy	наследство; наследие
community	государство; местное сообщество; общество
journalism	профессия журналиста; журналистика; пресса, печать
broadcast	передавать по радио, вещать; передавать по телевидению
speaking engagement	выступление
to keep up	поддерживать
to be aware of	знать, сознавать, отдавать себе полный отчет
constituent [ksn'stitjuant]	избиратель
to seize upon	ухватиться, воспользоваться (случаем, предлогом)
flip-flop	внезапный резкий поворот (направления, точки зрения)
formidable'	внушительный, значительный
spin-doctor	политтехнолог, эксперт по связям с общественностью PR

Text 1

The term Public Relations was first used by the US President Tho­mas Jefferson during his address to Congress in 1807.One of the earliest definitions of PR was created by Edward Bernays. According to him, «Public Relations is a management function which tabulates public attitudes, defines the policies, procedures and interest of an organization followed by executing a program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance».

Examples/users of public relations include:

· Corporations using marketing public relations (MPR) to con­vey information about the products they manufacture or serv­ices they provide to potential customers in order to support their direct sales efforts. Typically, they support sales in the short to long term, establishing and burnishing the corpora­tion's branding for a strong, ongoing market.

· Corporations using public relations as a vehicle to reach legis­lators and other politicians, in seeking favorable tax, regula­tory, and other treatment. Moreover, they may use public re­lations to portray themselves as enlightened employers, in support of human-resources recruiting programs.

· Non-profit organizations, including schools and universities, hospitals, and human and social service agencies: such organ­izations may make use of public relations in support of aware­ness programs, fund-raising programs, staff recruiting, and to increase patronage of their services.

· Politicians aiming to attract votes and/or raise money. When such campaigns are successful at the ballot box, this helps in promoting and defending their service in office, with an eye to the next election or, at a career's end, to their legacy.

Today «Public Relations is a set of management, supervisory, and technical functions that foster an organization's ability to strategical­ly listen to, appreciate, and respond to those persons whose mutually beneficial relationships with the organization are necessary if it is to achieve its missions and values.» (Robert L. Heath, Encyclopedia of Public Relations).

Essentially it is a management function that focuses on two-way communication and fostering of mutually beneficial relationships be­tween an organization and its publics.

An organization's reputation, profitability, and even its continued existence can depend on the degree to which its targeted «publics» support its goals and policies. Public relations specialists–also referred to as communications specialists and media specialists, among other ti­tles–serve as advocates for businesses, nonprofit associations, uni­versities, hospitals, and other organizations, and build and maintain positive relationships with the public. As managers recognize the im­portance of good public relations to the success of their organiza­tions, they increasingly rely on public relations specialists for advice on the strategy and policy of such programs.

Public relations specialists handle organizational functions such as media, community, consumer, industry, and governmental rela­tions; political campaigns; interest-group representation; conflict mediation; and employee and investor relations. They do more than «tell the organization's story.» They must understand the attitudes and concerns of community, consumer, employee, and public in­terest groups and establish and maintain cooperative relationships with them and with representatives from print and broadcast jour­nalism.

Public relations specialists draft press releases and contact people in the media who might print or broadcast their material. Many radio or television special reports, newspaper stories, and magazine arti­cles start at the desks of public relations specialists. Sometimes the subject is an organization and its policies toward its employees or its role in the community. Often the subject is a public issue, such as health, energy, or the environment, and what an organization does to advance that issue.

Public relations specialists also arrange and conduct programs to keep up contact between organization representatives and the public. For example, they set up speaking engagements and often prepare speeches for company officials. These media specialists represent em­ployers at community projects; make film, slide, or other visual pres­entations at meetings and school assemblies; and plan conventions. In addition, they are responsible for preparing annual reports and writ­ing proposals for various projects.

In government, public relations specialists–who may be called press secretaries, information officers, public affairs specialists, or communication specialists–keep the public informed about the ac­tivities of agencies and officials. For example, public affairs specialists in the U.S. Department of State keep the public informed of travel advisories and of U.S. positions on foreign issues. A press secretary for a member of Congress keeps constituents aware of the representative's accomplishments.

A tactic used in political campaigns is known as «defining one's opponent» Opponents can be candidates, organizations and other groups of people.

In the 2004 US presidential campaign, George W. Bush defined John Kerry as a «flip-flopper», among other characterizations, which were widely reported and repeated by the media, particularly the con­servative media. Similarly, George H.W. Bush characterized Michael Dukakis as weak on crime (the Willie Horton ad) and as hopelessly liberal («a card-carrying member of the ACLU»). In 1996, President Bill Clinton seized upon opponent Bob Dole's promise to take Amer­ica back to a simpler time, promising in contrast to «build a bridge to the 21st century.» This painted Dole as a person who was somehow opposed to progress.

The other best model in PR is Tony Blair's formidable spin-doc­tor, Alastair Campbell. One major role of the spin-doctor is to influ­ence the news agenda. A good example is when Labor opted to launch a «welfare road show» with Blair going to the streets to put his case of welfare reforms to British people. Blair had to give his first speech on there forms in Dudley. The day before his speech Alai stair Campbell privately briefed the media on aspects of Blair's speech. The following day which was the official launch of important the road show two national newspapers «The Mirror» and The Times' carried an article written by Tony Blair which was very similar to the private briefing that Alastair Campbell gave to the media. That evening again in Dudley Blair's speech reinforced the same message with the same language style. And now there was a new hero, new Tory leader, Dav­id Cameron using his spin-doctoring in politics.

Notes:

ACLU(American Civil Liberties Union)	- Американский союз защиты гражданских свобод
Labor	- Лейбористская партия

 

EXERCISES