Political PR or Political Communications

Political PR or Political Communications?

By Yushau A. Shuaib

More nomenclatures are being created for Public relations (PR). We have heard of Fashion PR, celebrity PR, PR in NGOs and the popular Financial PR among several others. Political PR is what some would shy away from calling Political Communications.

political rally

When some public commentators want to attack partisan political communicators they then remember to call it ‘Political PR’ for unclean reasons. That is why an argument was raised in MA PR Class at University of Westminster that “Political PR has undermined public trust in politicians and is the single biggest threat to our democratic health?” How true could that be?

Understanding Political PR

Political PR derives its name from political communication, a field of communications that is concerned with politics and political decisions. It communicates specific issues to earn public support especially on government policies and electoral process. It is largely used by politicians and public officers to persuade their publics. This to some extent includes lobbying.

Political PR is the communication process to sustain relationship and engage stakeholders on political development and action to promote transparency and accountability in politics and governance.

The Basics

Some names associated to Political PR include Spin Doctors, Propaganda, Public Affairs and government relations, most activities under this PR sector are aimed to protect national security and national interests in the campaigns.

The public and media rely on authorised Political PR persons to get necessary and available information on political issues and personalities involved including elected political office holders. As reliable sources, political spokespersons provide vital information to minimise spread of falsehood and hearsay on topical issues.

Societies could have been dull without well articulated and eloquent campaigns messages coined by people in Political PR to persuade electorates, which add spices to electioneering and campaigning.

We must be aware that some of those thrilling media coverage, live political debate and eloquent oratory by public figures and politicians are the handworks of Political PR people who have researched, planned and implemented the campaigns.

All sectors of PR and their campaigns whether fashion, political, financial, crisis management, media relations among others are guided by the same strict code of professional ethics. Similarly they all undertake plans of actions to ensure success of their campaigns by analysing trends, defining goals, planning strategies, implementation and measurement of results.

Confusion over the term Political PR

voteforme

The scope of political PR is broad with many communicators utilising the elements of political communications to persuade and influence political decisions. They include the roles of lobbyists and the strategies of trade unions, activists and NGOs in their attempts for favourable legislations.

Though the antics and shortcomings of few political communicators have been the bases of criticisms of Political PR there is no profession that is not subject to abuse. Democratic processes have failed in few countries likewise social media for instance have been abused by some disgruntled users.  Should we therefore denounce any of these because of few shortcomings. No industry or sector is immune from insiders’ abuse.

Political PR covers a wide range of activities and is used by officers responsible for information dissemination at all tiers and arms of government, national, grassroots, executive branch and legislative arms.

So Political PR is not necessarily about personalities like Alastair Campbell. Have we thought about contributions of spokespersons to Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama? There are many good examples of Political PR people including the success of of unseen lobbyists and hidden persuaders towards a better informed society on political process.

Yushau A. Shuaib

Online Warfare: The Propaganda Battle Ground Renewed

Online Warfare: The Battle Ground has shifted from mere propaganda from an obvious spokesperson to invisible hands behind computers using the social media to hit the targets.

I believe for sometimes that the next world war will not be fought using the bows, arrows, gun, bomb, missiles and other so-called Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), internet is the battle ground while social media applications will serve as the tools for destructive engagement.

One doesn’t need to fully understand the practice and concepts of public relations to know how interested parties have deployed the immediacy of intenet technologies to pursue a course of action and persuade the publics for rethink. The success of Barrack Obama’s electioneering, the revolt against Iranian authorities over the June 12 election and mass solidarity with Haiti earthquake victims, where development broght about by social media. There is a clear signal that almost every one seeking patronage and symphathy must use the online media platforms.

The recent outburst of Chinese government against US administration’s interference in Iranian election reconfirms the belief that the world today doesn’t need to shed blood through destructive tools to win wars, free flow of information and ideas through social media is a timely and effective option to engage perceived enermies (we may call it competitors in PR).

The only fear here is there is a strong suspicion that some countries and institutions who are at the advantage in the application of the technology are using it to manipulate the system in undermining others’ interest.

What could one say about the statement in an authoritative editorial of a Chinese newspaper that accuses the United States of using a “cyber army” to foment unrest in Iran? The Chinese People’s Daily goes further to add that “America was exploiting social media such as Twitter and YouTube to generate protests against the Iranian regime.”

The paper also condemns Americans’ freedom of expression by stating that “Behind what America calls free speech is naked political scheming. How did the unrest after the Iranian elections come about?” It doesn’t wait for anyone to respond to the allegation as it provide the answer thus: “It was because online warfare launched by America, via YouTube video and Twitter microblogging, spread rumours, created splits, stirred up, and sowed discord between the followers of conservative reformist factions.”

This decade starting from January 2010 will see how propagandists, spin doctors and the like, including the PR practitioners will join the battalion to the online battle field.

YAShuaib

Publicists’ Celebrities: Between Beckham and Haye

I am confused over iconic-worshipping of celebrities that one wonders what may have influenced their incredible high-personality profiles especially if they do not make noticeable positive impact to the society and lives of the people as role models in character and characteristics.

In my PR Class at University of Westminster, an English footballer, David Beckham is always cited among other global personalities like Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, as an example of individuals whose actions and inactions are reference points for media mentions.

Until when I start to read free daily newspapers of Evening Standard, Metro and London Lite that I try to understand what really make some of the individuals more visible and recognisable: skills of their hired publicists and the power of the press. In fact some of the celebrities are just and simply media hype for commercilization and promotional stunts.

British media can be very sensationally patriotic with the way they cast their headlines and promote their brands and the people. Most of the papers have beautiful layouts and flawless in their brief narration of events… no more lengthy news items or long features… short and direct but the newsy stories focus largely on sex, crime, conflict, competition (mostly on sports) politicking, politics of welfarism and lately casualties from the War-fronts.

The publicity that caught my attention last week was on undisputable new World Boxing association (WBA) champion David Haye. He boasted with pride like an average American (even if subconsciously he doubted himself) bragging he would defeat a truly heavy Beast from the East Nikolai Valuev to become Britain’s latest world heavyweight champ. The media supported, endorsed and hailed him. But the published pictures of his extremely giant opponent, was so scary that I kept wondering who was fooling who.

Finally the day came and he won to the surprise of almost everybody.

For keeping to his words and for not disappointing the media and their readers (I am one of them) he is indeed a new genuine icon and celebrity that deserves more publicity-hype than David Beckham who I only know as a fashion-footballer and husband of gorgeously skinny Victoria, a former singer.

While some media have started campaigning to launch him into another British shining star with his good look, coherency and gait, he should not be distracted in his dream to be a great boxer. He is said to be a faithful family man who so much cares for his wife, Natasha, and young child Cassius, who live with him in his northern Cyprus hideaway. He has admitted that he wouldn’t want to be mobbed like Becks to enjoy a simple happy life.

I am also glad with his humility to move freely and exchange greeting with people when he told the press that his popularity is already increasing to the point where it becomes quite strange to himbecause of the fight. He said: “Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe and Lennox Lewis are our highest-profile boxers around, but they can still go down the street. People might stop them to shake their hand, but they don’t get mobbed. David Beckham couldn’t walk down Oxford Street, it just wouldn’t happen. There would be an instant roadblock. That’s what I like about boxing, no matter how well you do, you can still have a normal life. I wouldn’t want that to change.”
With that words David Haye becomes a celebrity I can dote on… fresh, talented with a vision.

By the way, if hired publicists are paid by ambitious celebrity, do the image merchants also pay the media for photo shots and recycled news stories in the press around the paymaster? I suspect some of the paparazzis are arrangees not truly interested in the photo session just to create the HYPE… another name for propaganda. I am just confused.

YAShuaib