What is the function of public relations?
Public relations can be defined as the process of managing the communication between an organization and its publics. Public relations professionals work on behalf of businesses, organizations, government agencies, and brands to shape the public image of the organization, issue press releases, and contribute to shaping public opinion that is in line with the organization's goals.
Essential elements of a public relations department
A public relations department relies on important operational pillars to perform its duties. Some of the most prominent of these pillars are as follows:
Working in a structured effort
Establishing shared relationships between the organization and the community
Providing opinions on the situations encountered by the organization
Legislating the organization's policies and organizing its procedures
Ensuring that the policies and procedures are available to the local community
Public relations tasks
The tasks and functions of a public relations department fall under the following:
Preparing important papers on issues of importance to the organization
Carrying out advertising and promotional tasks
Disclosing news of activities and events to be available to the external audience
Maintaining communication with the media
Coordinating press conferences and media tours
Relations with the organization's guests
Receiving guests
Preparing a schedule for guest visits and other matters related to the visit
Preparing guidance booklets for guests
Preparing gifts for guests
Marketing relations
Advertising new products or services or any improvements that have been made to products and services
Developing and implementing promotional materials
Participating in trade shows and marketing events
Goals of a public relations department
Here are the most prominent goals that any public relations department in any institution should achieve:
Presenting a decent image of the institution to the community and other institutions
Expressing interest in public opinion at both the internal and external levels
Participating in providing advice to the management of the institution in the event of making any decision or policy
Protecting the institution by preparing contingency plans that prevent the institution from encountering any problems
Ensuring the formation of good relations between the employees of the institution and the management
Attracting employees with high skills and competencies to the institution
Conclusion
Public relations is an important function in any organization. It helps to shape the public image of the organization, build relationships with the community, and achieve the organization's goals.