Public Affairs

As a child, I thought the Confederate flag was cool. I didn’t know it meant anything. On my first day…

In the March 1980 Republican primaries, George Bush had already lost what he called his “Big Mo” to Ronald Reagan. He bounded off his campaign plane in conservative Augusta, Georgia, for another obligatory meeting with local reporters.

Likely as early as next year, Arkansans will no longer have to visit other states for casino gaming. By a 54-46 margin, voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing casinos in Jefferson and Pope counties, Oaklawn in Hot Springs and Southland in West Memphis.

What started as a quest to find a swimming pool for her daughter’s swim team turned into the beginning of a career in public service.

The practice of public affairs focuses on building and maintaining long-term relationships with stakeholders to affect change. Think about these public affairs programs – Just Say No, Don’t Drink and Drive, Click It or Ticket and the iconic Keep America Beautiful campaign from the ‘70s. Why were these programs successful? Here are key factors:

The Little Rock Police Department unveiled a new recruitment effort this month, including a website designed to attract applicants with informative videos, a salary calculator and information on benefits and incentives. A $5,000 bonus and a five percent annual raise are part of the financial package being offered to new officers.

Arkansas’ May 22 primary and non-partisan judicial election is right around the corner, and early voting is underway. You have likely heard the hubbub surrounding the voter ID requirement. The latest: The Arkansas Supreme Court decided that election officials at the polls can require voters to present photo identification prior to casting ballots.

PR practitioners are from Venus, media are from Mars? Sometimes it seems that way, especially in this digital age. It’s important that media relations folks build a bond with key members of the media.

Like the human resources department, PR is frequently viewed as a cost center rather than a revenue generator. Because of this perception, it’s important to prove value to the C-suite.

To succeed in today’s world, every CEO needs a political antenna. According to a recent Global Strategy Group report, Americans believe “corporations should take action to address important issues facing society (81%) and have a responsibility to do so (77%).”

Communicating complex information is often a challenge for businesses. Endless communication channels and competition can make things even more difficult. These strategies can help you keep your clients informed and engaged:

The citizens’ group Driving Arkansas Forward launched an effort to generate additional funding for Arkansas highways through a constitutional amendment to legalize a maximum of three casinos in the state.

The City of Little Rock will suspend fines and late fees on parking violations in exchange for nonperishable items throughout the month of November. Items will be donated to the Jericho Way Day Resource Center.

Though 16 months away, the Little Rock mayoral election is already drawing significant attention after a candidate has emerged to challenge incumbent Mayor Mark Stodola. State Rep. Warwick Sabin is exploring a run for mayor. Stodola has also said he intends to seek re-election to the post.

In the final episode of our video series, Democrat and Republican wax optimistic.

Millions around the country participated in the Women’s March in January. More than 4,000 registered to participate in the demonstration outside the Arkansas State Capitol.

“Social media has given rise to the ability of individuals to say anything they want to say irrespective of what the facts are. People make things up.

“One of the serious questions is where any person gets their information and how they verify, when anyone and everybody through their Facebook page, through their blogs, can put any kind of conspiracy theory out there.”

When Democrat Ted Kennedy compromised with Republican Saxby Chambliss on immigration, both found themselves under siege.

First-term US Senator Saxby Chambliss was on the Senate floor two days after being sworn in when Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy introduced himself.

Former US Senators Saxby Chambliss and Wyche Fowler agree there’s too much money in politics in our third episode of Across the Aisle.

Former US Senator Wyche Fowler offers three solutions to the partisanship strangling America in the second of our eight-episode video conversation with him and former US Senator Saxby Chambliss.

America wasn’t always this vitriolic. It need not be now. To prove it, we convened two former US Senators – one Democrat and one Republican – to kick off our eight-part video series.

We’ve always tried to remain grateful to live in America, though we’d become a little despondent during the 2016 election. Then we had an idea.