Public Relations

Relevance of Corporate Reputation Management Practice in The University of Calabar, Nigeria (Published)

With stiff competition inherent in corporate world and attempt to stay clean at all times making an institution the stakeholders’ choice, corporate reputation management becomes vital. For institutions such as university, reputation is influenced by sets of variables like student experiences, student selection, faculty attraction, stakeholder knowledge, and university valuation. Also, it’s quality of education, research activity, and social responsibility. This study therefore, examined the place of corporate reputation management at the University of Calabar, Nigeria. Findings described the university’s reputation and public relations services rendered by the university as average for corporate reputation and not so good for the university public relation. The study suggested that if the quality of academic staff, quality of academic programmes, quality of students and infrastructure are improved, it will boost the reputation of the university. 

Keywords: Corporate Reputation, Institution, Management Practice, Public Relations, image

The use of public relations for forging mutual understanding between colleges of education and their publics in Nigeria (Published)

This paper explores how the public relations can positively influence the relationship between the colleges of education and their publics. The study which used the College of Education as a case study, argues that public relations as an important aspect of every educational institution management and consequently it could be used to build healthy relationships with the publics and erode unfavourable rumors and stories that could drive Colleges into crisis. The study which relied on personal interview and ethnographic study of public relations related documents of the College of Education discovered that the public relations unit relied heavily on notice board publications, internal and external memos, college events as major tools to disseminate information to publics of the College. The findings further showed that there was heavy use of community relations activities by the college to build healthy relationships with her host community.

Harvey G.O. Igben  and Maureen Ugbome (2022) The use of public relations for forging mutual understanding between colleges of education and their publics in Nigeria, International Journal of International Relations, Media and Mass Communication Studies, Vol.8, No.1, pp.31-41

 

 

Keywords: Public Relations, Tertiary Institution, image building, publics

Influence of corporate culture on public relations practice in Nigeria (Published)

The paper examined the influence of corporate culture on public relations practice in Nigeria. Public relations practitioners might have seen corporate culture in relation to the practice of public relations as a natural phenomenon but scholars have hardly paid research attention to it as an important aspect of public relations practice. Scholars are curious to know what influence corporate culture might have on the communication process and relationship building between organizations and their stakeholders. Recent studies tend to link corporate culture with corporate change which is further seen as critical to the success of organisation. The theoretical framework for this study consists of organizational culture theory. It was established that perception of corporate culture has a direct bearing with corporate relationship.

 

Keywords: Corporate culture, Public Relations, Stakeholders, corporate communication, publics

Broadcast Media and Rural Mobilization: Did it help the Ebola Awareness Campaign in Nigeria (Published)

This study investigates broadcast media and rural mobilization and its influence on Ebola awareness campaign in Nigeria. The study adopted a phenomenological ontology and specifically employed focus group and single one-to-one interview approaches to collect data from residents in a single local government in South South region of Nigeria. 3 focus group interviews with 19 rural dwellers were conducted, while 8 single one-to-one interviews were conducted on media and health professionals, making it a total of 27 participants. Data was analysed using thematic template and content analysis techniques with NVivo 11 software for data management, thematic weighting and coding. Findings showed that four key themes: Language usage; the misconception of message content; expertise of Journalist and science journalism; and rural media participation influence participants’ experiences of broadcast media awareness campaign on Ebola disease in rural communities. But, language and rural media participation strategies were mostly employed by broadcast media professional for Ebola campaign awareness.

Keywords: Ebola Awareness Campaign, Marketing Communications, Nvivo 11, Public Relations, Qualitative Focus Group Approach, Rural Mobilisation, broadcast media

Broadcast Media And Rural Mobilization: Did It Help The Ebola Awareness Campaign In Nigeria (Published)

This study investigates broadcast media and rural mobilization and its influence on Ebola awareness campaign in Nigeria. The study adopted a phenomenological ontology and specifically employed focus group and single one-to-one interview approaches to collect data from residents in a single local government in South-South region of Nigeria. 3 focus group interviews with 19 rural dwellers were conducted, while 8 single one-to-one interviews were conducted on media and health professionals, making it a total of 27 participants. Data was analysed using thematic template and content analysis techniques with NVivo 11 software for data management, thematic weighting and coding. Findings showed that four key themes: Language usage; the misconception of message content; expertise of Journalist and science journalism; and rural media participation influence participants’ experiences of broadcast media awareness campaign on Ebola disease in rural communities. But, language and rural media participation strategies were mostly employed by broadcast media professional for Ebola campaign awareness.

Keywords: Ebola Awareness Campaign, Marketing Communications, Nvivo 11, Public Relations, Qualitative Methods, Rural Mobilisation, broadcast media

An Analysis of Speech Communication Skills Strategies of Effective Public Relations Management for Organizational Growth in Nigeria (Published)

The papers stands to advocates that effective knowledge of speech communication is necessary in discharge of public relations functions or duties, and is very vital for a public relations practitioner to be conversant with the principles of effective speech communication skills and strategies, as its job is based on establishing mutual line of communication between the organization and its publics for organizational growth and national development. The paper also poses that the key to successful employer and employees relation `is based on adequate information which can only be achieved through public relations effective two-way communication for harmonious existence and mutual understanding. Furthermore, it employs purposive sampling technique, and structured interview guide as a research instrument to elicit information from 65 final students of Public Relations and Advertising in Babcock University. The finding authenticates that effective communication is an anchor for any organizational harmony and development.  And recommended that all sphere of life require effective communication to exist, survive and to grow.

Keywords: Effective, Management, Public Relations, Strategies., communication

Sustainability of Post-Amnesty Programme in Niger Delta, Nigeria: Using Public Relations Proactive Strategy (Published)

The Niger Delta has for some years been the site of major confrontations between the people and the Nigerian government’s security forces, resulting in extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Since government underutilizes Public Relations in the act of governance, that made minor conflict to escalate to crisis.  To proffer solution, Federal government came up with Post-amnesty Programme. Based on this, the study sought to:  (i) determine the Public Relations tools and strategies that will be most effective in managing the Amnesty programme, (ii) determine how Public Relations can be used to effectively sustain Post Amnesty in Nigeria. The research design was descriptive survey method. The population of the study was 4,798,519 million youths [15-39years][last Census2006]  in Delta State, Bayelsa State and Rivers State. The study made use of qualitative and quantitative data analyses. The sample size was 400 using Taro Yamane formula. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the respondents in each of the states. A pilot study was conducted using split-half method and tested with Spearman Brown. Validity of instruments was measured using content validity, hypothesis two was tested using Friedman Chi-Square, hypothesis three was tested using two-related samples (wilcoxon signed ranks) Z test and hypothesis four was tested using One Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov (Z) test.  Public Relations dialogue method in form of public involvement is the most effective PR tool that will significantly manage the Post Amnesty Programme in Nigeria (Z_cal = 3.885 > Z_critical = 1.96, p < 0.05).  Public Relations evaluation method significantly maintains the Post Amnesty Programme in Nigeria (X²_{(friedman)cal} = 137.098 > X²_calculated = 5.9915, p < 0.05).  Public relations would sustain the Niger Delta peace agreement [treaties] beyond Post Amnesty Programme (Z_cal = 9.232 > Z_critical = 1.96, p < 0.05. The study concluded by  establishing  that a combination of the use of public initiative, third-party involvement and conference as forms of Public relations dialogue as well as Public relations evaluation method can enhance and sustain the Post-amnesty Programme. And it recommends the adoption of public relations’ modified multi-track approach which involves all the major parties in the conflict such as the Federal governments, militant groups, State governments, MNOCs, Traditional rulers, Religious leaders, and host communities to work as partners in the peace process.

Keywords: Amnesty Programme, Post-Amnesty, Proactive Strategy, Public Relations

Substantiating Public Relations Contributions to Organizational Success in Nigeria’s Bankcing Sector (Published)

This paper attempts to substantiate the contributions of public relations in Nigeria’s banking sector. This is against the backdrop of a seeming neglect for the profession. In gathering data for the work, the survey method was complemented with in-depth interviews. The study found that banks generate a public relations philosophy, that public relations makes important contribution to the success of the banking sector and also that a good reputation positively affects an organization’s (including banks) positive performance. It is therefore recommended among others that banks in Nigeria should elevate the status of their PR departments and better appreciate them while the PR executives should have a multi-disciplinary training that makes them competent in business administration and others.

Keywords: Banking Sector, Organizational Success, Public Relations

Substantiating Public Relations Contributions to Organizational Success in Nigeria’s Banking Sector (Published)

This paper attempts to substantiate the contributions of public relations in Nigeria’s banking sector. This is against the backdrop of a seeming neglect for the profession. In gathering data for the work, the survey method was complemented with in-depth interviews. The study found that banks generate a public relations philosophy, that public relations makes important contribution to the success of the banking sector and also that a good reputation positively affects an organization’s (including banks) positive performance. It is therefore recommended among others that banks in Nigeria should elevate the status of their PR departments and better appreciate them while the PR executives should have a multi-disciplinary training that makes them competent in business administration and others.

Keywords: Banking, Nigeria, Organizational Success, Public Relations

An Analysis of Speech Communication Skills Strategies for Effective Public Relations Management for Organizational Growth in Nigeria (Published)

The papers stands to advocates that effective knowledge of speech communication is necessary in discharge of public relations functions or duties, and is very vital for a public relations practitioner to be conversant with the principles of effective speech communication skills and strategies, as its job is based on establishing mutual line of communication between the organization and its publics for organizational growth and national development. The paper also poses that the key to successful employer and employees relation `is based on adequate information which can only be achieved through public relations effective two-way communication for harmonious existence and mutual understanding. Furthermore, it employs purposive sampling technique, and structured interview guide as a research instrument to elicit information from 65 final students of Public Relations and Advertising in Babcock University. The finding authenticates that effective communication is an anchor for any organizational harmony and development. And recommended that all sphere of life require effective communication to exist, survive and to grow.

Keywords: Effective, Management, Public Relations, Strategies., communication