Public Affairs

Public Affairs: Public Information & Communications Management.

A PRESENTATION BY JIDE JOHNSON

FOR CADP COMMUNICATION OFFICERS

AT ADA COMPLEX OKO OBA, AGAGE, LAGOS

MARCH ,2014.

Introduction

•Government activities depend on public opinion , stakeholders engagement and public by-in informing & involving the targets(donor agencies, MDAs ,the public ,media) in public policy formulation and execution- is Public affairs News management

Introduction II•However, Communication &

Information officers play strategic roles in public affairs, particularly in the area of citizens understanding of government’s policy & programmes.

Background

•Citizens need to be fully informed about issues and problems confronting them and actions taken by their government to address it.

•The Communication officers via media outlets exist to serve and meet this need.

Background II•The success and sustenance

of public policy are ultimately determined by continuous citizen’s bye-in & approval.

•Public opinion provide the climate /platform in which public official ,agencies and institutions succeed or fail… Lattimore et al.

Public Affairs News Management

•As gatekeepers of information, the Communication officers are custodian of public information.

•They are both Internal Journalist and external relations management expert.

Introduction•You are:•News manager•Journalist•Broadcaster•Negotiator•Interpreter •Crisis Manager•Agenda setter•Opinion Moulder•Gate keeper•Store house of knowledge &

information•Watchdog not Lapdog

Definition IPublic Affairs is the process of building public policy relationships between governments and her citizens.

It is a specialized aspect of public

communications that deals with news management of governmental affairs and interpreting its activities to & for the population at large.

It is also referred to as governmental relations, external affairs or corporate communications. In a nut shell, it involves dealing with issues management.

It also includes reporting everything and anything that deals with appropriation, distribution and expenditure of public funds.

News Management• news management is the

shaping of public message for the function of communication, information, crises management and government affairs.

• It is an act intended to influence presentation of information

• According to Underwood (2003) news management is,“…normally used to describe the way that individuals or organizations attempt to control the flow of news to the media and to ‘set the agenda’ for the media”.

PurposeAccording to John Paluszek, “PA helps an

organization develop and maintain quality relationships with the various groups of people (publics) who can influence the future. It addresses public policy and the publics who influence such policy”

Thus PA serves the following purpose:• Helps Government and public

institutions anticipate or respond to issues.

• To shape public opinion and legislation.• Develop effective responses to matters

of public concern.• Monitor public policy and provide the

much needed political education• Encourage political, social & economic

participation.

The Goals of Public Affairs Communications information…provide information that guides

decision making

education… simplify complicated process persuasion…used to change /alter / reinforce

perception or attitudes and opinions motivation… propels actions or reactions of

people/targets communication …build understanding relations…the tool and mechanism of

relationship building. Mobilisation Integration

Targets

•The World Bank•Federal Government- MDAs•CADP, National Officer.•State Governments, MDAs•CADP, State officers•CIGs•Potential Beneficiaries•Opinion leaders, CDAs, CDCs•The General public•The media

Channels•Press /News releases•News stories•Interviews/Speaking

engagement•Features writing•Editorial/cartoons•Special reports•Radio drama•News analysis•Special focus•Interviews•New & Social media

▫ SMS, email , twitter, Facebook.

Dimensions of Public Affairs News Management

•Journalistic skill(reporting and writing)

•Public Affairs knowledge: interest in government and public affairs

•Professional and Ethical responsibility

•News judgment,•Social responsibility

Public Affairs in Government

A Management function that helps to:

•define the objectives and philosophies of a government and its agencies.

•communicate with all relevant internal and external publics and other stakeholders.

•Develop, execute and evaluate programmes that promote the exchange of information .

•Build an understanding between the government and the citizenry.

Qualities of Public Affairs News ManagerThe public affairs specialist

must possesses and/or improve on his/her:

•Journalist skills -intelligence gathering,

-fact finding -Listening -reporting and - writing

• Public affairs knowledge ,and •Social responsibility

Functions of Public Affairs in Government• Seeks to achieve mutual

understanding between govt. agencies & the public

• Provides the public with complete, candid and continuous reports about government activities

• Provides accessible channels for feedback.

• Promote cooperation and confidence between the citizenry and the government.

• Help officials to interact with officers and leaders of the various authorities, using the instrument of LOBBYING

Responsibilities of Public Affairs News Manager.

•Information gathering, processing, and dissemination.

•The complex task of fact-finding•Social responsibility • Building goodwill.• Inform the of public about

ongoing events and activities of government & other significant players.

•Provide Feedback on Public opinion.

•Rally public support for government programmes and policies.

News ManagementAs Public Information

manager, we:1.Specialize in management of

news on governmental activities

2. understand, explains and interprete government policy to the populace

3.Communicate with clarity, accuracy and precision

4.Help shape public opinion, policy and legislation

News Management II5.Build and Mobilize grassroots

support

6.Make government responsive to citizen wishes

7.Define issues in terms government policies and public interest

8.Investigate the interactions among the news media, society and government

9.Above all, Lobby for public good

Conclusion.•Public affairs helps an

Institution develop and maintain quality relationship with the various groups of people-publics.

•Public affairs is Information management practice that addresses public policy and the public who influence such policy.

Parting Shots

“It is not the answer that enlightens but the question”.

Eugene Ionesco… Romanian playwright

Thank You“You can ask questions and pretty soon, you come up with answer”.

…Theodore Leavitt…American Marketing Guru

References•Underwood, M.(n.d) Mass

media: limited effects. Retrieved from

•http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/index.html