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Journal Article 15.1: Graham, M. W. (2014). Government communication in the digital age: Social media’s effect on local government public relations. Public Relations Inquiry, 3(3), 361-376.

Abstract: Using data collected from interviews with public information officers (PIOs) in local governments, this study explores the use and perceptions of social media as a communication tool. It specifically addresses how social media are used as a public relations function to promote democratic, participatory, and transparency models in government. Results indicate that social media are highly regarded as a beneficial communication tool for local governments. Four primary themes emerged from the data analysis: dialogue promotion, engagement, unconstrained, and barriers. The first three themes focus on the opportunities that social media provide PIOs to communicate with citizens and the fourth theme presents the challenges faced by local governments that utilize social media. The insights shared by PIOs in local governments are useful for public relations professionals and scholars to help them understand and apply social media practices to build relationships with citizens and enhance communication practices.

Journal Article 15.2: Kantola, A. (2016). Cleaning rotten politics, selling exclusive liaisons: Public relations consultants as storytelling professionals between markets and politics. Public Relations Inquiry, 5(1), 33-52.

Abstract: The article examines communication and public relations (PR) consultants as storytelling professionals, who legitimate their professionalism by telling stories in everyday encounters as they occupy new fields. I draw upon 26 interviews with communication and PR professionals working in communication and PR consultancies and show how they legitimate their expertise in political advocacy and lobbying. The analysis finds that they use four clusters of antenarratives to challenge the existing political order and traditional practices of political advocacy and to populate the political field with new actors and identities. In toto, the stories create a ‘living story’ of professionalism which is nevertheless hampered by contradictions between the logics of market and politics. While the consultants claim to be reformers of a closed political system, at the same time, they promote hidden practices and resist the effective regulation of openness.

Journal Article 15.3: Graham, M. W. (2014). Government communication in the digital age: Social media’s effect on local government public relations. Public Relations Inquiry, 3(3), 361-376.

Abstract: Using data collected from interviews with public information officers (PIOs) in local governments, this study explores the use and perceptions of social media as a communication tool. It specifically addresses how social media are used as a public relations function to promote democratic, participatory, and transparency models in government. Results indicate that social media are highly regarded as a beneficial communication tool for local governments. Four primary themes emerged from the data analysis: dialogue promotion, engagement, unconstrained, and barriers. The first three themes focus on the opportunities that social media provide PIOs to communicate with citizens and the fourth theme presents the challenges faced by local governments that utilize social media. The insights shared by PIOs in local governments are useful for public relations professionals and scholars to help them understand and apply social media practices to build relationships with citizens and enhance communication practices.