A lecture on political public relations (PR) sparked an interesting discussion at Osmania University’s Journalism Department. The debate focused on whether political strategists contribute to corruption by charging high fees from political candidates.
The discussion took place during a lecture titled “Political PR – Challenges and Opportunities,” organized by the Department of Communication and Journalism at Osmania University on Friday.
Dr. S Ramu, a journalist, media educator, and PR expert with over 30 years of experience, spoke about the advantages and disadvantages of political PR. Dr. Ramu, who is also a Professor of Communications and Director of Collaborations at MNR University, interacted with students and highlighted how political PR shapes public opinion and governance.
He explained that political PR happens in three major phases: before elections, during elections, and after elections. Before elections, the main focus is on building a leader’s public image and managing campaigns. During elections, PR professionals handle media relations, crisis management, and event organization. After elections, the focus shifts to maintaining the leader’s reputation and managing governance-related PR.
As traditional journalism faces challenges, political PR is becoming a promising career option. It requires skills in strategic thinking, crisis management, and media handling. Professionals in this field must understand complex political situations and manage a leader’s public image effectively.
A Political PR Officer (PRO) plays a crucial role in managing leaders, handling issues, and organizing events. They also deal with crises, media relations, and public perception. Success in this field requires skills such as strong communication, analytical thinking, creativity, crisis management, and the ability to handle criticism.
Dr. T Sateesh, Head of the Department, was also present at the lecture.
