Veronica caught up with Dr Sarah Bowman, to discuss why mastering public affairs and deepening internal communication capabilities are becoming increasingly important for communication professionals. Sarah is a Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University and tutor at nesma for the CIPR Specialist Diplomas in Internal Communications and Public Affairs.
Why is public affairs so important?
You cannot ignore the fact that individuals and organisations are affected by the policies devised and implemented by government. It is essential for democracy and all of us that we contribute to this process – we have a responsibility to try and shape the debate to get the best policy outcomes we can. We need to be on top of issues that affect our organisations and communities and get our voices heard at a national, regional, or local level.
Effective policy needs different views and perspectives. At its heart, public affairs is about managing relationships with those who decide how we live, work, and play, and for many organisations, these decisions can make or break them.
But surely you can’t always get your way?
No, you can’t, but all views must get aired and the wider public interest explored. Through dialogue and discussion, hopefully, consensus and coalitions can emerge. After all, as the character Hamilton says in the musical of the same name, you need to be in the room where it happens’ if you want to influence decisions!
