Public Relations, Public Affairs and Lobbying

Speakers:
Bob Bellafiore, Director of Public Affairs, Eric Mower & Associates
Caren Z. Turner, Esq., CEO, Turner Government and Public Affairs

Bob Bellafiore

Public Affairs is a form of public relations, or strategic communications for political matters.

• Strategic communication opposed to products
• Think in terms of tools and tactics for political campaigns

How Public Affairs is different than Public Relations

• There is an opponent, which effects:
  • Messages
    • What can you say that people will remember?
    • Find messages that will “thread several needles at one time.”
    • Must be consistent
  • Research
  • Earn-media strategy
  • Execution
    • Closely examine liabilities and assets
    • Know what your audience already knows before you start your campaign
    • Be prepared for the bad things the opposition will say about you.
    • Play defense and offense

Rules for good Public Affairs

• Build a game plan. Build it on research
• Stick to your game plan
• Balance ideal outcomes with realistic objectives
• Do not lie

Caren Z. Turner, Esq.

PR Campaign

• Create a National “whatever” month
• Plan events and campaign around it
• Potential of using celebrities.
• Check legislative issues for PR-hook.
• Give clients credibility by working through legislative issues
• Research –– know what laws and bills out there are
• Litigation alternative
• Lobbying/Grassroots
  • Change the law

General Notes

• Lobbying is a subsection of PR. In short, you try to change the law
• For every bill you want to pass, or change, there will be opposition
• It is important that you develop good relationships with political leaders

When writing to politicians

• Use a pitch letter format with bullet points
• Limit your letter to one page
• Make sure the subject is something they care about

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