Handbook of Public Sector Communication

A multidisciplinary collection on global public entity strategic communication

Research into public sector communication investigates the interaction between public and governmental entities and citizens within their sphere of influence. Today’s public sector organizations are operating in environments where people receive their information from multiple sources. Although modern research demonstrates the immense impact public entities have on democracy and societal welfare, communication in this context is often overlooked. Public sector organizations need to develop “communicative intelligence” in balancing their institutional agendas and aims of public engagement. The Handbook of Public Sector Communication is the first comprehensive volume to explore the field. This timely, innovative volume examines the societal role, environment, goals, practices, and development of public sector strategic communication.

International in scope, this handbook describes and analyzes the contexts, policies, issues, and questions that shape public sector communication. An interdisciplinary team of leading experts discusses diverse subjects of rising importance to public sector, government, and political communication. Topics include social exchange relationships, crisis communication, citizen expectations, measuring and evaluating media, diversity and inclusion, and more. Providing current research and global perspectives, this important resource:

• Addresses the questions public sector communicators face today
• Summarizes the current state of public sector communication worldwide
• Clarifies contemporary trends and practices including mediatization, citizen engagement, and change and expectation management
• Addresses global challenges and crises such as corruption and bureaucratic roadblocks
• Provides a framework for measuring communication effectiveness

Requiring minimal prior knowledge of the field, The Handbook of Public Sector Communication is a valuable tool for academics, students, and practitioners in areas of public administration, public management, political communication, strategic and organizational communication, and related fields such as political science, sociology, marketing, journalism, and globalization studies.

Dr. Vilma Luoma-aho is Professor of Corporate Communication and Vice Dean of Research at JSBE, University of Jyväskylä, School of Business and Economics (JSBE), Finland. Her research on intangible assets, stakeholders and public sector organizations has been published widely in leading journals of corporate communication and public relations.

María-José Canel, PhD, is Professor in Political & Public Sector Communication, University Complutense Madrid, Spain. She was Chief of the Cabinet of the Spanish Minister for Education, Culture and Sport. Dr. Canel has published widely in books and leading journals on government communication and intangible assets in the public sector.