Communication services

• strategies
• The right strategy is at the heart of good communications. This is as important for a one-off activity such as a media release as it is for meeting a broader objective over time.
• plans
• Plans should express the strategies just as they should encompass realistic and measurable goals. The discipline in devising a plan is as important in communications as it is in any other area of business.
• programmes
• A plan outlines a programme of activities and that is what brings the strategy to life. The programme may include a variety of devices and activities such as brochures, reports, DVDs, websites, direct mail, advertising, customer research, community consultations, interest group presentations and meetings.
• public relations
• We mention this specifically because it is a sub-set of the broader discipline of communications and should be seen for what it is i.e. a special and quite narrowly defined activity.
• media
• The news and current affairs media are critical conduits for information and views about people and organizations. Providing material that they can and want to use requires a thorough knowledge of what the media will see as worthy of interest as well and when and how it could be used.
• community consultation
• Consulting communities and others can be critical to the successful implementation of a project. It is important to recognise this and know how to go about it in a way that is genuinely two-way.
• production
• Managing the production of items to convey information requires knowledge and experience for it usually involves control over a number of variables including quality and co-ordinating sub-contractors such as designers, photographers, illustrators and printers.