politics

Three Reasons for PR Pros to Pay Attention to Politics

Nigel Becker Leave a comment
Three Reasons for PR Pros to Pay Attention to Politics

Political news shapes public sentiment, brand perception and communication trends. For PR pros, especially new professionals, understanding political developments can improve audience awareness, crisis management and campaign creativity.

The last few weeks have been busy ones in American politics: Voters in Virginia and New Jersey elected new governors, New York City chose a new mayor and the federal government shutdown disrupted air travel, public assistance programs and more. 

If you’re a political nerd like I am, or if your clients operate in policy-related spaces, you may have been following these events closely. 

But even if politics don’t excite you and your day-to-day role isn’t tied to public policy, it’s still worth keeping an eye on political news as a new pro. Here’s why.

Political issues may impact your audience

As communicators, we need to understand what’s happening in our audience’s lives. Maybe they’re stressed about losing access to a government program, or they’re anxious about the outcome of an upcoming election. 

Being mindful of these stressors can help your organization avoid appearing out of touch. For instance, if your audience is stressed about finances, you might proceed with caution when promoting pricey products, or highlight how your organization is supporting community nonprofits.

Politics can appear in surprising places

In recent years, brands have found themselves in the middle of political debates over everything from DEI programs, to commercials perceived as dogwhistles, to controversial logo redesigns. 

These controversies can seem to come from out of nowhere, but by staying aware of hotly debated topics, you can help your organization tweak non-political communications to avoid taking an accidental stand — or decide how best to weigh in when a cause aligns with its values.

(PRSA’s daily “Issues and Trends” newsletter, which all members can sign up for, regularly highlights trends like these.)

Campaign communications can inspire non-political comms

Political communicators exist in the same ecosystem as the rest of us: They’re navigating AI, deepfakes, shifting social media algorithms, distracted audiences and a public that’s increasingly skeptical of both political and business leaders. 

Despite these challenges, they continue to find creative ways to cut through the clutter, simplify complicated concepts and craft messages that resonate. Trade publications like Campaigns & Elections offer a glimpse into how campaigns are reaching voters and communicating under pressure. 

Many of the challenges campaign communicators tackle — like navigating shrunken budgets and experimental influencer partnerships — can spark ideas for non-political communicators, too. 

A note for outside the office:

Local politics and civic participation depend on communication, too

Even outside of work, following politics can help you be a more engaged citizen… and can open opportunities to use your skills for causes you believe in.

Maybe a local advocacy group needs help running social media or promoting events. Perhaps a school board or city council candidate needs help sharing their ideas with the community. You might even find yourself writing a letter to the editors or speaking at a city council meeting about an issue that matters to you.

Many of us were drawn to PR by a love of explaining complex issues and connecting with people. Those same skills lend themselves perfectly to civic involvement.

About the author

Nigel Becker serves as the Social Media Chair of PRSA New Professionals, overseeing the section’s Instagram and Facebook. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 2024 and is an account associate at Slide Nine, a communications, public relations and digital marketing agency based in Columbus, Ohio.

One of his majors at OSU was Political Science, as you may have guessed!

Intro to Political PR

Heather Sliwinski Leave a comment

Growing up, I knew I had to be involved in politics. From the time my mom took me to a presidential rally when I was only five years old, her political enthusiasm rubbed off on me. I helped knock on doors to get out the vote in high school and registered to vote the day I turned 18. There’s nothing like the thrill of election night, when all the hard work pays off and the candidate you believe in is allowed the privilege to work on behalf of the people.

Working on campaigns, Capitol Hill and in the executive branch has given me a unique perspective on how the political world works. Political PR is not for the faint of heart – expect long hours, unexpected demands and job uncertainty because of elections. However, it’s incredibly rewarding when you see major legislation, which you helped guide through, passed and signed into law.

As I knew the natural progression of working in political communications leads to Washington, D.C., or a state capital, I have learned a few things throughout my journey that can help tremendously if you’re looking to break into political PR:

1)     Always network. In an extremely competitive environment like politics, it may seem tough to break into the industry. Not having many political connections myself, I worked hard to connect with anyone and everyone who would meet with me. Make the most of your friends, classmates and their connections. Once you identify someone whose work and experience interests you, ask for an informational meeting and always be thankful for their time. Even if a position isn’t open at the moment, there might be one down the line, and that person can help you land it.

2)     No position or task is beneath you. Although you may have graduated from college, politics is all about working your way up the totem pole. Many young professionals make the mistake of thinking they are qualified to be a press secretary without any experience. It’s important to find solid internships, perhaps on the Hill, which will help you gain skills applicable to a legislative office to be considered for entry-level jobs. If you want to do communications, ask to help the press secretary or communications director with drafting press releases or coordinating social media.

3)     Join a campaign. Often, some of the best hands-on experience you can gain is to join a campaign and work on the trail. A lot of people begin their political PR careers on campaigns, which always need extra help. If you join a race at a more local level, you are more likely to earn more responsibility.

These are just a few takeaways from my time spent in Washington, D.C. One of the most important rules is to have fun. I’ve had made some of my best friends through working in politics. Also, pay it forward – someday, when you’re a big shot, remember there will be people looking for their start and how you have been in their shoes. Happy politicking!

 

Kate EnosKate Enos is currently an account executive at GYMR Public Relations. Previously, she served as deputy press secretary for the federal agency, the Corporation for National and Community Service. She also has several years of varied legislative and political experience, working on Capitol Hill and on several state and nationwide political campaigns. Enos is the PRSA New Professionals Section mentorship co-chair.