Public Affair class summary - Essay Example

Summary Lee and Neeley, Chapter One and Two: Chapter one of this book analyzes the importance of effective communication strategies in the field of Public Administration. Public Information is an important element that promotes government accountability to its citizens. The media is an important tool that public administrators use in providing public information. Public relations deal with how the government provides Public Information. It is therefore an important tool of governance. Administrators use the tools of Public Relations to advance the mission of the agency, for external communications, and for purposes of promoting good governance.

Furthermore, the government uses Public Relations for purposes of influencing the public, to behave in a way that is conducive to them. Public Relations is therefore an important tool of governance and promotion of accountability. Chapter Two of this book analyzes the importance of Public Relations to administrators and the government. For instance, this chapter denotes that Public Relations is important in helping administrators to achieve efficiency in whatever they do. Public relations achieve this objective by helping administrators to achieve the central mission of the agency, and helping to fulfill the democratic responsibilities of the government.

Some of the missions that Public Administration helps to achieve include customer relations, delivery of services, provision of information, etc. By enabling administrators to provide information, public relations help to depict accountability of the government agency, to the people. Furthermore, an efficient and effective public relations tool helps a government agency to conduct its affairs and mission in a less expensive manner. Another important role of public relations is political. It is used for purposes of advancing the political autonomy and power of the agency.

In short therefore, the functions of public relations are categorized under the following three groups (Lee and G, 9), Mandatory, this involves the democratic role of public relations. They are,a. Public reportingb. Media relations c. Promoting accountability.Optional, which involves the optional role of public relations. These includes,a. Public education.b. Increase of the utilization of products and services.The dangerous role of public relations, which is the desire to achieve political power and autonomy.

Fitch Chapter 11:Fitch talks about how federal agencies communicate with their employees and the public. This chapter examines the difference between Federal agencies, and other agencies. The major difference denoted is that in a federal agency, communication is structured and hierarchical. This means that communication emanates from the manager to the junior officers. This is in terms of instructions and policies of the organization (Fitch, 251). Furthermore, these organizations have a spokesman or woman, whose role is to communicate with the media or relevant authorities that seek any information regarding the organization.

Fitch also explains that the FOIAs act and the Hatch act regulate the manner in which Federal agencies and institutions give relate with the media, and the citizens. This is in regard to giving information to the people.Summary of the Film: Behind Closed Doors:This film talks about lobbying. According to this film, almost all institutions and business organizations are lobbyists. This includes the Catholic Church and leading companies such as Apples. These companies use approximately 9 billion dollars for purposes of lobbying.

Public relations firms are always used to lobby the government and the congress on behalf of their clients. For successful lobbying to occur, two components must be there, that is access and money. Most lobbyist fund the campaigns of politicians, and in exchange for concessions from the politician under consideration. However, it is illegal for people to lobby the parliament and administrators to pursue policies that favor them. In fact, it is difficult for any legislation to pass in congress, without lobbying.

Even President Obama had to lobby huge financial institutions, to ensure that the health care act passed in congress.Works Cited:Behind Closed Doors of Washington Lobbyst. Attkinson, Sharyl. CBS. 7 Oct. 2012. Television. Fitch, Bradford. Media relations handbook: for government, associations, nonprofits, and elected officials. Second ed. Alexandria: Capitol Net, 2012. Print. Lee, Neeley, and G Stewart. The practice of government public relations.. Florida: Taylor and \ Francis Group, 2012. Print.