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'~gS~tomplicated structures ~ay have consi.de~•able industrial "'~it:ations problems. An obvious place to begm IS at the recruit:::.)1f'~I;;.training sta?e to which public relatio.ns can contri?ute valu-
.IflIdtiCtion matenal such as literature, slide presentations, and
S".settes, the effort ~eit:g sustained by house journals and other : " •""'rii'i~orms of communication.
':''' .. ~th~e is a complete mixture of technologies and jobs, as with . ;i~riilifi;,:1unalgamations and conglomerates, each unit may have to be !f!~~~separately yet given a certain unity.
~'J!'f~s an are~ in which. the .International Associ~tion of Business ~om.•;municators IS developmg internal communcations beyond the rr8~f:hal sta~f. newspaper. Although based in San Francisco, the ~41ABa~as a British chapter.
~'4"J:§llnplzers and sertnces
ItlUA:.
~Ile'se~)wo external groups may include:
S~~0urces of raw matenals. t~~~itrces of components. ~~1.tppliers of print and packaging .
• ffi,uppl~ers of fuel. .
1~~,§upplIers of transportation.
~.;11JltiPPlierS of finished goods if it is a marketing organization, retailer,
l:rrof~ssion~l - advertising, public relations, . legal., acc~untaney etc. .'publIc services - health, water, refuse, police, fire bngade. IiEdu~ational .. day-release trai~ing, industrial t~aining board. ~Advlsory bodies, research stations, trade associations,
IQther suppliers and services will come to mind for particular organ~lions. Communications with these publics may be achieved through ~If!Fexternal house journal, works visits, seminars, videos and other ~blic relations media, but special efforts may be necessary in some (ijses. For instance, an organization conducting a dangerous trade ~9uld be wise to keep doctors, hospitals, ambulance and fire brigades [~~d the police aware of special hazards.
iThe maintenance of good relations with suppliers and services is ~e that can be overlooked, yet it is an example of the thoroughness ~hich is necessary when a PRO is planning a comprehensive annual
102
programme and is listing objec~i~es, publics and media. RememQ~ to put such people on the mailing list of the house Journal, invl~ ther:n to social occasions, seminars and works visits, sendin? t~~ copes of the annual report and accounts may be very useful lI1ct:~ But by listing such people among the publics new communic~~Q~ tasks and difficulties may be highlighted. How does one communicat''' effectively with the Chief Constable, the hospital surgeon, the V.'Mj company and even one's advertising agent and public relations (6t'F suItant? These are all part of the total communications of an organizatiJ~
5 The money market 1 Public companies, and private companies 'going public' and b!fni quoted on the Stock Exchange, depend on the money market b~~ well informed about their history, performance and prospects. Thls-' will affect the take-up of new share issues and the maintenance1trn share prices, and the latter may be necessary to avoid a takeover. t; money market begins with one's local bank manager, and exteIiqs', through building societies and insurance companies to sharehold~~ and investors and. those who advise them. At the top end of tl money market are Investment analysts, stockbrokers, merchant ba~~ and institutional buyers of large blocks of shares such as insuran~ll1 companies, unit trusts and pension funds. . .• ~
Financial and corporate public relations has become a very importartr~ part of the overall public relations programme, with many speciautfl financial public relations consultancies. In fact, the City and Finand~~ PUb~ic Relations Group of the IPR is one of its most active a~~ succes~f~.: •. :~ sections, having more than one hundred members. The BIg Bangil the City, and the deregulation of share dealing, has imposed ne-WI demands on financial public relations such as the Stock Exchange b