ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the variety of roles public relations professionals may assume within political public relations and how to best navigate its practice. Political public relations is a sector that has significant influence over the daily lives of citizens and society, but is often one of the least examined sectors for public relations students. Another role that a public relations professional may hold in political public relations is being a lobbyist. While the nature of political public relations is being radically influenced with new media, there are several established key functions that political public relations professionals will likely perform. Beyond the roles held or strategies and tactics used to reach objectives in public relations, there are also critical elements to perception and reputation that are central to political public relations. In summary, political public relations has a variety of opportunities for public relations to excel. It is a fast-paced, rapidly changing sector.
