International Communications Strategy

International Communications Strategy is about the cross-cultural challenges currently facing PR practitioners. Offshoring, globalisation and the rise of China and India have been triggering unprecedented change in the communication sector. New channels of global communications are also being opened up by social media tools, bringing different cultures across the world together instantaneously online. Understanding cross-cultural aspects of PR includes understanding the culture of different societies, online culture itself and cross-border uses of social media. Communication is seen less and less as an operational function. While in the past organizations seemed to need communication practitioners only for colourful brochures and press releases, you are now expected to provide strategic advice and help senior executives to engage effectively with stakeholders in various parts of the world. At the same time, you are required to be knowledgeable about social media and internet cultures and to be able to link on-line and off-line PR work successfully. By providing information on alternative approaches as well as containing cross-cultural case-studies and examples, the book will give you points of reference and ideas that you will be able to use every time you are asked to provide strategic communication guidance to senior management/clients.

This book discusses the effect of communication strategies in the course of China’s national image building from both a theoretical and a practical perspective. The research data are collected via researcher’s in-depth observation as well as focus group analysis and case study of selected Chinese radio and TV networks. On the basis of the empirical study and drawing on theories of international communication and political communication, this book also introduces an analytical framework that can be used to evaluate the effect of communication strategies in practice. Especially, the framework is applied to systematically analyze the formation and application of Chinese Communist Party’s communication strategy with an aim at improving the national image and increasing its global influence. This book is of interest to graduate students and researchers who are interested in the broadcast communication in China.

Informed by decades’ worth of agency experience, Bernard Gauthier prepares aspiring public relations professionals to think strategically about communication and to plan and implement effective campaigns. Strategic Communication in Canada is grounded upon a simple yet comprehensive framework called the CARE model, which teaches readers how to strategically select goals and objectives that bring about change, identify and engage key audiences, determine their strongest resources as well as those needing improvement, and scan the external environment for opportunities and threats. Brimming with examples from the Canadian context, this highly accessible text demonstrates how to develop a communication strategy, from building an action plan and amassing content, to implementing the campaign and evaluating the results. Easy to follow, this step-by-step guide to strategic planning features practical advice and study tools such as learning objectives, key terms and concepts, questions for critical reflection, and an original, detailed case study of a successful campaign. This insightful read is essential for students in public relations, marketing communication, and business strategy.

The framework guiding the IMF’s communications—established by the Executive Board in 2007—has enabled the institution to respond flexibly to the changing global context. The framework is based on four guiding principles: (i) deepening understanding and support for the Fund’s role and policies; (ii) better integrating communications into the IMF’s daily operations; (iii) raising the impact of new communications materials and technologies; and (iv) rebalancing outreach efforts to take account of different audiences. In addition, greater emphasis has been placed on strengthening internal communications to help ensure institutional coherence in the Fund’s outreach activities. Continued efforts are needed to strengthen communications going forward. Several issues deserve particular attention. First, taking further steps to ensure clarity and consistency in communication in a world where demand for Fund services continues to rise. Second, doing more to assess the impact of IMF communications and thus better inform efforts going forward. Third, engaging strategically and prudently with new media—including social media.

Strategic communication comprises different forms of goal-oriented communication inside and between organizations, their stakeholders and the society. Strategic communication is an emerging practice and research field integrating established disciplines such as public relations, organizational communication and marketing communication into a holistic framework. The field is based on an awareness of the fundamental importance of communication for the existence and performance of all organizations. This textbook offers a broad insight into the field of strategic communication. The main aim of the book is to give a general overview of theories, concepts and methods in strategic communication. The book also aims to develop an understanding of different perspectives and the consequences each one has for practice. After reading the book the student or reader will be able to define and reflect upon strategic communication as an academic field and professional practice, describe relevant theories and apply these to communication problems. The authors apply a reflective and practice-oriented approach meaning earlier research or theories are not only described, but also discussed from different critical perspectives. A practice-oriented approach means, in this book, that the authors strongly emphasize the role of contexts and situations—where strategic communication actually happens. This book will help business and communications students to not only define and understand a variety of strategic communications theories, but to use those theories to generate communication strategy and solutions.

This textbook takes a refreshing approach to strategic corporate communication and provides students and practitioners with the tools needed to understand what make a successful communication strategy. It offers s a new way of understanding the way successful communication strategies are constructed and delivered. Using a unique 'reverse engineering' approach, it takes apart the components of corporate communication, examines the mechanics, then rebuilds the strategy for use by communication students and practitioners across a wide range of corporate entities including not-for-profit organisations. This textbook will be recommended reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying PR, corporate or strategic communications, either within a business school or media studies department. The book will also appeal to students studying related topics including international relations and media studies, especially those wishing to work in a communications role for a corporate or not-for-profit organisation after university.

The strategy proposed in this paper seeks to build understanding and support for the IMF’s reform agenda as outlined in the IMF's Medium-Term Strategy, further integrate communications with operations, raise the impact of communication tools, and rebalance outreach efforts.