Public Affairs

The term public affairs has multiple meanings related to public relations. Most commonly, the term describes the management process by which mostly corporate organizations seek to influence public policy, policy makers, and stakeholders [Page 710]considered critical to their successful operations. Such influence strategies often include building and maintaining relationships and reputations with strategic publics or stakeholders, often within governments. This conceptualization of public affairs is sometimes considered a subcomponent of public relations or a public relations specialty focused on influencing public policy, legislation, and regulation. In this case, public affairs may be considered government affairs or government relations. It is sometimes called corporate affairs, external relations, or external affairs. Within government and nonprofit circles, particularly North American ones, public affairs is often used interchangeably with the term public relations. Government and government communicators may use the term public affairs to avoid potential negative connotations and misconceptions surrounding public relations. However, unlike common lay understandings, neither term is synonymous with publicity, propaganda, or media relations.

Reflecting the term's myriad meanings, the Public Relations Society of America has a “public affairs and government” section that describes itself as supporting government and military communicators as well as those at firms, businesses and associations that are tasked with communicating with stakeholders on public policy or public safety issues. The Public Affairs Council defines public affairs as an organization's efforts to scan and influence its business environment where public affairs is seen as an umbrella function that entails government relations, communication, issues management, and corporate social responsibility strategies aimed to impact public policy and establish and maintain reputations and relationships with priority stakeholders. This understanding of public affairs is closely linked with lobbying and other attempts to influence an organization's operating environment. Across the various conceptualizations and definitions of public affairs, scholars stress the emphasis on reputation as one point of agreement or consensus.