The Concept of PR - Assignment Example

PR plan Public relations is an important practice that refers to the exchange of information between individuals with the view of developing a desirable image. An individual image is important especially for individuals whose personality is part of their businesses. This implies that such iconic individuals must maintain a positive and likable image in order to enhance their success. Among such individuals are politicians, such are people in the public lime light but must always maintain a likable image in order to enhance the success of their professions. The basic aim of public relations is therefore to persuade the public to maintain a particular point of view, which in most cases is likable. Such individuals must therefore develop numerous yet effective public relation strategies in order to interact with their publics and succeed in influencing their viewpoints. Individuals in the limelight carry out public relations strategically depending on their demands. While some may maintain a positive relationship with the public at all the time, the occurrence of crises often expedite the need for effective public relation plans in order to counter the negative effects of such crises. In such cases, the individuals contract public relation agencies who in turn develop effective public relation messages and communicate them effectively thereby earning them the desired viewpoints. Public relations campaigns target specific audiences for particular durations. Within such periods, the agencies must develop effective messages and assess the effectiveness of the campaigns at the end of the period. This way, the agency decides on the future action depending on the public’s mindset. Effective public relations campaigns result in the desired public view about the individuals. Robert Bruce Ford, commonly known as Rob Ford is an iconic Canadian politician and the current mayor of Toronto. Rob Ford has been a politician for more than three decades serving a two terms tenure in the council before being elected to the mayor’s position. As Such, Rob Ford is a public figure who requires a likable public image in order to achieve widespread acceptance since such enhances the success of the mayor. Despite such, the mayor’s political career has had numerous work elated and personal controversies some of which threatened his political career. The latest of such scandals was the drugs and substance abuse charges in 2013. Rob denied all the allegations but after extensive investigation into the allegations, the police discovered videos of Rob’s involvement with the drug syndicates. With such Rob Ford admitted all the charges admitting drunk driving, smoking cocaine and illegal drug use among other similar allegations. Despite such admissions, Rob refused to resign. Additionally, the council cannot remove him from office according the law. This implies that Rib continues to serve as the mayor of the most powerful city in the country but with a negative reputation. Rob thus requires an image overhaul. This implies that the mayor must interact with the people of Toronto and remodel himself with the view of developing a new likable image despite his involvement with the drugs. The mayor must invest extensively in developing a new image for himself, one that will make the people of Toronto overlook all the charges thus like the mayor despite their knowledge of the involvement with the drugs barons. The success of his political career relies on the appropriateness of the image he develops thereafter. Among the basic ways of influencing, the mindset of the people is to enhance his interaction with the people. As stated earlier, Rob admitted all the allegations. Despite the fact that he did so only after the police discovered a video, he portrayed himself as an honest mayor who accepts his mistakes (Lattimore 32). After accepting such, the mayor must therefore enhance his interactions with the people. Through heightened interactions, the mayor will have a personal influence over his supporters before reaching out to be iconic critics. Politicians are public figures with both the supporters and opposition. Some of such supporters especially for such individual as Rob who have stayed in politics for more than thirty years are die-hard fanatics who will accept the politicians despite the allegations. The mayor must therefore sensationalize his image by reaching out to those who admire him and letting them accept him despite the mistake. After this, it becomes possible to reach out to his opposition as a new individual. The mayor must therefore issue press releases accepting the allegation and outlining the reasons for his refusal to resign. In the releases, the mayor must admit fault and position himself as a just and faithful family man who just as any other human has weaknesses. However, his official duty and call to serve the people of Toronto is important thus validating his hold on the office. Such will serve as preliminary trendsetters that will get the public’s attention. This way, it becomes possible for the mayor to introduce a series of other campaigns that seek to rebrand him. He must convince the public that he relinquished the behaviors and is a new man who will uphold integrity and faithfulness to the constitutionalism. Additionally, in the campaigns he must prove to the public that the allegations did not affect his objectivity. The mayor must develop a series of press conferences, media interviews and seminars among other similar platforms in which he engages his audience and explains his situation. In the platforms, the mayor must permit the public to criticize and advise him on the way forward. He should present himself as a human thus prone to err. However, he must not admit political weakness and defend his position as an elected mayor with a period of four-year term. After successful media campaign, the mayor must carry out specific drug related development projects that will prove his innocence and revival to the public. He can roll out a campaign against drug abuse by introducing social projects by constructing rehabilitation centers and street clean up exercises. This way, the public will like and remember him. More importantly, the mayor should serve for the remaining period and either retire from politics or take a break from politics. Work cited Lattimore, Dan. Public Relations: The Profession and the Practice. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2008. Print. Read More