AWWA ACE91135

Public relations and public involvement are part of a utility's "real" work as much as daily operations or engineering. However, traditional utility public relations can be an obstacle to, rather than a means of facilitating a relationship with the public. The City of Portland (Oregon) Bureau of Water Works restructured its public relations program to incorporate careful planning for long-term goals. This paper explains the importance of public relations, structuring a "big picture" approach to public information to avoid speaking with too many voices on too many topics, and developing an action plan. The action plan is based on research to 1) determine the utility's existing relationship with the public; 2) clearly define the relationship the utility wanted to have with its public; and 3) design goals and objectives to bridge the differences. Research and good judgement are needed to achieve the first two objectives. The third requires knowing what the issues are, for whom, and what it will take to address those issues.

Product Details

Published:

01/01/1991

ISBN(s):

089867591X

Number of Pages:

9

File Size:

1 file , 450 KB