Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives To provide students with (i) insight into the processes of Government and how organisations can use public relations to relate to Government; (ii) knowledge of public relations processes which are effective in relation to financial institutions and major financial transactions; (iii) the ability to apply knowledge of these government and financial sectors to the development of appropriate communication strategy; (iv) the ability to use appropriate techniques within these sectors.
Synopsis The subject will cover the characteristics of Government target groups - ministers and their advisers at Federal and State levels, the political parties, quasi-government bodies, local government, government departments and public servants, lobbyists; techniques for accessing government target groups; third-party lobbying; financial market environments which give rise to the need for public relations - investor relations, company/financial market relations, floats, mergers and takeovers, privatisation, new issues; the implications of mass communication theory for public relations in government and financial sectors.
Assessment Assignment A - Individual (3000 words): 30% + Assignment B - Group (4000 words): 40% + Examination (2 hours): 30%