ABSTRACT
Government public relations practitioners in many countries confront challenges that include political polarization, massive misinformation, changes in public trust, weakening of traditional media, and an enormous expansion in the number of information sources. However, most persons hired into government positions lack adequate public relations education or training. This chapter describes a simple, descriptive model that practitioners and students can use to systematically analyze the most fundamental aspect of government communications – the actual or perceived purpose of the communications. The chapter describes the model’s purpose, development, and classroom trials in three Russian regions (Moscow, Urals, and Siberia), Germany, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, and the U.S. The trials indicated that the model appears suitable for undergraduate and graduate courses, continuing education for practitioners, and by practitioners as a tool for their own work or to mentor others. The chapter includes recommendations for teaching and samples of teaching handouts.
