Background
A public relations campaign’s objectives, target audience, organization’s goals, and required communication medium must all be defined in a complete Media Plan before the campaign can be successful. A good way to reach a wide audience is to use the media to restore the company’s tarnished reputation. Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is a well-known US non-profit media organization; a press release, TV, and the Internet will be a potent media mix. Minnesota Public Radio’s public relations plan and stated objectives can be achieved through a press release (Ferguson, 2018). Such actions will enable the organization to get local and international media coverage, reaching a big target audience. The corporation can respond to negative press and announce new accomplishments by releasing a press release.
A company’s public relations plan can be effectively implemented through television. It is possible to send messages to large groups of people as often as desired. Advertising can be creative and compelling in conveying its value to its target audience. A manager of the organization should organize an interview with a big television network if there are media issues when the bulk of viewers are expected to be paying attention.
Community Relations
Community relations refer to the methods Minnesota Public Radio may use to create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with the communities they serve. A company’s most important communication initiative may be cultivating local community relationships (Williams et al., 2019). Obtaining and sustaining public support to operate has become a key challenge for most businesses in the current atmosphere of public skepticism. Managers should begin outreach efforts in communities where their need is similar to that of the communities they serve.
There are numerous long-term benefits to a company’s success when it takes its civic responsibilities seriously and actively works to improve the well-being of its community. As a result, it is expected that its products and services will be better known. It can be beneficial to collaborate with other organizations in the area when there are not enough people, time, or resources. Additionally, it broadens the project’s scope, allowing it to benefit a larger audience and raise awareness of your company’s brand. Minnesota Public Radio should consider joining local business organizations, such as the chamber of commerce and the industrial guilds in the region.
Participating in community activities as a sponsor rather than just being a passive recipient of a donation will help the company becomes a benefactor through sponsorship. For example, sponsoring a sports team, a scholarship, or an event concurrently creates goodwill for the company. An organization focusing on the community is the best example of dedication. Encouraging new employees to join the team through team-building exercises helps strengthen the bonds between your firm and the community.
Government Relations
Legislative policy decisions, an organization’s responsibility concerning those decisions, and the potential to influence and affect public policy are all logical components of communicating with a broader audience. Any communications company’s public relations strategy must include good government relations practices. Government relations involve how a firm interacts with the different branches and government officials that constitute the field of government relations. This public relations branch fosters productive contacts between businesses and government officials (Tian et al., 2019). Regulation communication, one-on-one meetings with government officials, and lobbying on behalf of an organization or group are all examples of government relations work.
When dealing with government agencies and authorities, clients want communications businesses to be well-versed in all communication elements. Minnesota Public Radio may find it difficult to navigate the political landscape, but some of these difficulties can be avoided with the help of a communications agency for customers. The company should be able to represent a client’s interests across many industries and be up to date on legislative developments. Connect with high-ranking government officials and utilize your connections to engage in direct lobbying on behalf of your clients’ interests. An investment in long-term political relations can help a company or individual gain recognition and a better reputation by making them more visible to the public.
The News Release
The press release will efficiently distribute information to stimulate the media outlet’s interest, provide a framework for approaching the subject, and allow Minnesota Public Radio to communicate with its target consumers. Minnesota Public Radio will use this sample press release to improve its reputation and build stronger relationships with its target audience. Following Garrisons’ case of sexual harassment, a radio presenter of Minnesota Public Radio, the company declares that no such behavior will be tolerated in the future. The company states that notwithstanding a worker’s authority, charisma, and talent, any employee will be fired if involved in unethical behavior. An independent law firm will participate in every investigation to ensure that the accusations are justified. MPR states that it will provide the employees with training programs the staff needs to learn about types of harassment and ways to deal with it. In addition, the company is using a public relations campaign to establish its damaged image.
Content and Style of the News Release
For a press release to succeed, it must be factual and short, and it must also provide the audience with the crucial story elements. A representative from the company will get in touch if they need any additional information. The news will be accurate and written in the publication style that the story has a decent chance of being picked up. The firm’s logo will be included in the press releases and an eye-catching headline that will pique the reader’s interest. In a widely read and on a major television network, a lead paragraph will summarize the most important aspects of the story that will be aired to ensure the goals and objectives of the company are met.
Planning Issues Related to Crisis Management
There are five planning issues to consider when preparing for and managing risks and concerns. First, the company should identify the audiences who may be at risk. In the case of MPR, the risk could be identified mentioning that any unethical behavior could result in loss of reputation, reduced sales and compromised employee safety. Secondly, the company should determine the procedures necessary to address each identified risk. For instance, developing strategies such as zero tolerance rule to unethical practices to create confidence that the issues will never be encouraged in the future. It is more likely that the audience will accept the reasoning if a good solution is created to mitigate the issue. The third step is to figure out where the danger is coming from by analyzing any loopholes. By demonstrating that one understand what went wrong, the company will give the impression that it can quickly correct it. For instance, the unethical action could have happened due to lack of appropriate policies in the workplace.
Fourth, the company should demonstrate that it has an effective management plan. This involves taking the correct action to ensure the best approaches are put in place to correct unethical practices through long-term solution. The fifth process is to come up with a single, cohesive statement. The company should choose a spokesperson who will speak on behalf of the entire group to serve the purpose of exacerbating the situation. For instance, this should involve a single approach that all stakeholders and the public will be notified without inconsistences about the plan that will be followed to curb unethical practices.
References
Ferguson, M. A. (2018). Building theory in public relations: Interorganizational relationships as a public relations paradigm. Journal of public relations research, 30(4), 164-178.
Tian, Y., Wang, Y., Xie, X., Jiao, J., & Jiao, H. (2019). The impact of business-government relations on firms’ innovation: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing industry. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 143, 1-8.
Williams, A., McKeown, S., Orchard, J., & Wright, K. (2019). Promoting positive community relations: what can RE learn from social psychology and the shared space project? Journal of Beliefs & Values, 40(2), 215-227.