Definition of Publics in Public Relations ?
- Publics in public relations is a professional term which refers to the different sections of the society that an organization should or must deal with in order to achieve its various goals.
- These are the people directly or indirectly deals with a company or organization, and whose organization action and reaction may effect
Types of Publics
These publics can be internal or external to the organization and have varying levels of interest, involvement, and impact on the organization’s objectives and operations. Publics in public relations can be broadly categorized into several groups, however, only two categories will be considered for the purpose of this class, these are the 2 types as identified by (Ogbiten, 2014).
- Internal Publics: These include individuals or groups within the organization, such as employees, managers, and shareholders. Managing communication within the organization is crucial for maintaining a positive work environment and ensuring everyone is aligned with the organization’s goals.
- External Publics: These refer to individuals or groups outside the organization that can affect or are affected by the organization’s actions. External publics can include customers, suppliers, media, government agencies, and the general public. Public relations professionals work to build and maintain positive relationships with these external publics to enhance the organization’s reputation and achieve its objectives. Understanding and effectively managing relationships with these various publics is a fundamental aspect of public relations. PR professionals strategize and tailor their communication efforts to address the specific needs and concerns of different publics, aiming to build trust, credibility, and positive relationships between the organization and its stakeholders.
Internal publics of a university/poly:
- Lecturers
- Students
- Faculty Staff
- Alumni
- Student Union
- Non-Teaching Staff
- Polytechnic/University Board & Management Team
- Causal Workers
- ASSU
- Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP)
- Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) etc
External publics university/poly:
- Federal government
- State government
- Exams Bodies – JAMB, WAEC, NECO, NABTEB
- Universities
- polytechnics
- National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
- Host Community
- Media
- Okada Association
- Drivers Association
- Computer and Photocopier Association
- Food Vendors
- Market Women and Men
- Hostel Owners etc.