ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with communications of public organizations. Public communications is taking an increasingly important place in advanced democratic societies. Public communications has developed in response to changes in society, changes in the roles of public-sector organizations, and changes in the media sector. Public communications – communications used in a public-sector setting that take into account the corresponding specificities, notably the importance of neutrality and specific legal framework. Communication between senders and receivers can be intentional or unintentional, declared or undeclared, personal or impersonal, active or passive, etc. Active communication covers all information provided spontaneously and generally in an organized manner by the authorities and by government departments. Such communications may focus on the general public or to defined target groups. Conversely, passive communications refers to information transmitted by public bodies in response to requests based on access-to-information legislation existing in most countries.
