Government Relations

The following information was taken from a presentation that I had to do in class:


What is Government?
Examples:
Armed forces, police and fire departments
Social programs (health and food safety)
Developers of guidelines and laws
Elected political representatives
*Try to find any aspect of our daily lives that is untouched by government activity

Breakdown of Government
Two relationship perspectives:
Governmental relations
Public Affairs
Governmental Relations
“An organization’s efforts to build and maintain a working relationship with elected politicians or appointed government officials.”

Goal: To ensure the organization’s concerns and needs are known to appropriate representatives to ensure the long-term success and survivability of the organization.

Within these organizations…
Public Affairs Specialist-
Writes factual informational letters
Op-ed pieces
Position papers
Newsletters
Create and place advocacy advertising
Visit government officials to discuss issues
Provide testimony for public hearings

Lobbying
A persuasive campaign to support, defeat, or amend legislation that the organization deems necessary to its own interests.
Continuous and strategic pressure advocacy tactics
Negative side: sometimes results in unethical and illegal behavior to buy influence through expensive gifts, travel, or other perks to politicians

Lobbying continued…
Grassroots- enlist the help of average citizens
Calling legislators
Letter writing
Holding rallies/protests

Stealth lobbying- using front groups wherein the organization hides its involvement

Public Affairs
Fulfills government’s need to inform its publics about its programs and services, respond to inquires, and gauge public opinion of its efforts.

Public affairs, public information officer, press secretary, administrative aide, and government program analyst

Public Affairs
Informational Campaigns
Elected officials
Military

Public Affairs and Informational Campaigns
Must alert constituents of new services or changes and seek feedback
Requires research, planning, implementation, and evaluation (just like corporations) to reach target audiences
Campaigns require creative strategies to reach audience

Public Affairs and Elected Officials
They must tell their constituents what they are doing on their behalf and respond to their needs/concerns
Politicians have press secretaries and staff to help coordinate communication and relationship building activities required for winning elections and staying in office
Media relations/event planning
During their campaigns they need public relations to strategize, fundraise, and communicate effectively

Public Affairs and the Military
“Military public affairs is geared toward boosting public opinion about the armed forces, maintaining or improving personnel morale, procuring financial support for its programs, and nurturing public understanding and support.”
public information officer/public affairs specialist

Public Affairs and the Military cont.
Main Challenge:
Maintaining professional and open lines of communication between military commanders and the news media during difficult times.
Uses:
News conferences, news releases, news articles, media tours, Web sites, television/radio programs, magazines, newsletters, and full transcripts of news conference and other interviews, and embedded journalist
Goal:
Provide accurate and timely information
Consistent messages are reinforcing the military’s strategy and actions

Base Closing and Realignment
Facts:
May 13, 2005- U.S. secretary of defense Donald Rumsfield presented proposal for military base closures and realignments
Rome, New York- Air Force Research Lab
Already had the Griffiss Air Force Base closure in 1993
1995 DoD recommendation to close
Past experience made them determined to fight
Became proactive and gained support with a few influential people
Information is power- goal is to pump accurate and persuasive info build positive relationships with the people in charge of analyzing & assessing Rome’s facilities, give simple/easy facts, economic impact analysis reports, fact sheets with graphics/photos/talking points, PowerPoint presentations, informational DVD and posters, local media relations
Resulted in saving base and they even expanded it to send people from the other consolidated locations

Case Study Abu Ghraib
Three parts:
Public Affairs & the Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Scandal
Damage Control: The U.S. Government’s Response
On-the-Ground Response

Public Affairs and the Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Scandal
Summary:
What is Abu Ghraib?
What was the scandal?
When was the first news release?
Punishment?
Media’s response?

Reported Incidents
Videotaping & photographing naked male & female detainees
Forcibly arranging detainees in various sexually explicit positions for photographing
Forcing detainees to remove their clothing & keeping them naked for several days at a time
Forcing naked male detainees to wear women’s underwear
Forcing groups of male detainees to masturbate themselves while being photographed & videotaped
Arranging naked male detainees in a pile then jumping on them
Placing a dog chain or strap around a naked detainee’s neck & having female soldier pose for picture
Using military dogs (w/out muzzles) to intimidate/frighten detainees and, in at least one case, biting & severely injuring a detainee

Damage Control: The U.S. Government’s Response
April 30, 2004
President Bush
White House Spokesperson (Scott McClellan)
General Kimmitt (media briefing in Iraq)
U.S. Department of State
May 3
Pentagon
May 4
Deputy Commanding General of Detention Operations in Iraq
Special Defense Dept Briefing with the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and Provost Marshal General
May 5
President Bush with Alhurra and Al Arabiya Television Stations

Damage Control cont…
ABC’s Good Morning America with Secretary Rumsfeld
NBC Today with Secretary Rumsfeld
CBS Early Show with General Peter Pace
White House Press Briefing
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing
Maj. Gen. Geoffry Miller at Abu Ghraib

On-the-Ground Response
Developed public diplomacy messages
The day-to-day media relations (opened 24hrs/day)-briefings, news releases
Media tours of Abu Ghraib- allowed reporters a look at the detention center, cells where abuse occurred, and housing tent for detainees

On-the-Ground Response cont.
Message: remind reporters that an investigation was launched immediately when abuse was reported, investigation followed procedures, those responsible were being held accountable, and that corrective action had been taken to prevent further abuse.
Epilogue: by June 2006, 11 low-ranking solders had been convicted