8.19:
Public Relations I
Public relations or PR are activities aimed at promoting and managing a company's reputation and influencing public opinion to gain support.
PR can be paid or non-paid publicity to build favorable relationships with stakeholders by educating the public and effectively managing crises.
For instance, KFC launched a witty, apologetic PR campaign to apologize for the chicken shortage in the UK due to supply chain issues. This campaign effectively restored its reputation and trust.
PR also helps to create a greater sense of credibility for the targeted stakeholders.
In the digital era, Lego's 'Rebuild the World' campaign aimed at encouraging creativity, physical play, and greater bonding between children and families using Lego toy bricks.
This campaign saved Lego from almost bankruptcy, repositioning it as a creative experience for all age groups.
On the other hand, PR focuses predominantly on reputation management, making it difficult to measure its direct impact on sales.
Despite these challenges, PR is a powerful tool for shaping public perception and fostering goodwill.
8.19 Public Relations I
Public Relations (PR) is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and the public. It's about influencing, engaging, and building a relationship with key stakeholders to shape and frame the public perception of an organization.
PR can be used to protect, enhance, or build reputations through the media, social media, or self-produced communications. A good PR campaign can provide credibility and enhance the organization's reputation by portraying it positively and appealing to its audience. This can help an organization to achieve its full potential.
However, PR is not just about broadcasting messages but also about listening and engaging in conversations with stakeholders. It's a two-way communication process, aimed at increasing mutual understanding and benefit.
PR professionals handle organizational functions such as media, community, consumer, industry, and governmental relations; political campaigns; interest-group representation; conflict mediation; and employee and investor relations. PR plays a critical role in helping an organization communicate its core values and benefits effectively to its target audience.
In conclusion, PR is a vital tool for any organization, helping to manage its image, reputation, and relationships with its key stakeholders.