PR for government and public sector
Government PR: public sector communication through the media
Government PR informs citizens about services, policies and emergencies through the media. It must be accurate, timely and accessible to everyone. Public sector communicators build relationships with local and political reporters, publish clear releases and data, and respond quickly when things go wrong.
Story angles that work for government and public sector
Journalists do not cover companies, they cover stories. These are the angles that most often earn government and public sector coverage:
- New services or changes explained in terms of what residents must do
- Data releases with a plain-language summary
- Emergency and public safety updates
- Stories from staff and residents that show a programme working
How to run government and public sector PR yourself
- Pick one story. Choose the strongest angle above and write it in one sentence. If you cannot, the story is not ready.
- Build a short list. Find the 20 to 50 reporters who have covered government and public sector recently. A short list that fits beats a long list that does not.
- Write a personal pitch. Three short paragraphs: the news, why it matters to their readers, and what you can offer such as data, interviews or images.
- Follow up once. Three to five working days later, add something new rather than "just checking in".
- Track what lands. Note who replied and what they wrote about, so your next pitch is warmer.
What reporters on this beat want
- Political desks work to the news cycle, so pitch early in the day.
- Polling and original documents travel further than opinions.
Mistakes to avoid
- Jargon and acronyms the public does not understand.
- Slow responses during an incident, which create a vacuum others fill.
Who covers government and public sector
InsightFuse lists 672 journalists, editors and producers whose role or outlet points to government and public sector coverage, across 52 countries. Here is where they work and what they do.
Where they work: top outlets and employers
- US Government
- Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Pakistan) Official Media Government of Pakistan
- Library of Congress
- Foreign Policy
- Congressional Quarterly
- Federal Government
- Chicago Policy Review
- Government of Canada
- Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy
- New York City Council
- Auckland Council
- Johnson County Government
| Country | Journalists |
|---|---|
| United States | 331 |
| United Kingdom | 65 |
| Canada | 46 |
| Australia | 26 |
| India | 22 |
| Pakistan | 14 |
| United Arab Emirates | 12 |
| New Zealand | 11 |
| Role | Journalists |
|---|---|
| Editors | 211 |
| Writers | 145 |
| Reporters | 120 |
| Producers | 49 |
| Journalists | 42 |
| Correspondents | 26 |
Counts come from the InsightFuse database and include only people with editorial job titles. Names and contact details are available inside the app.
Browse journalists on these beats
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is government public relations?
Government public relations is how public bodies communicate policies, services and emergencies to citizens through the media, press offices and public information campaigns.
How should a government press release be written?
In plain language, with the key action or change first, a quote from an accountable official, practical details for residents and a contact for media questions.
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