Public Relations in South America

Public Relations is about building relationships with the media, consumers, and stakeholders. These relationships must be ethical and legal accepted.  I believe that is the bottom line worldwide; however, there are three factors influencing the right development as a PR professional.

Negatively speaking, South America is well known for armed conflict, dubious political procedures and legal evasion. For this blog I will refer specifically to public relations in Colombia. Based on my experience as a communicator and my perception as a citizen of Colombia, I find it extremely difficult to operate in public relations at the same level of freedom of speech as in North America.  ­­­­

First off, political parties are a huge barrier regarding the development of a PR practitioner, communicator and even as a journalist.  Blue, red, green political parties are synonymous of whether you can try to establish good, bad or double faced relationship.  It is a big challenge to proceed strategically within your job with those who are not following the same political beliefs. 

Also, in regard to criminal activities, if a communicator has important information whether it is political, economic, employment, people´s personal life, etc. This is when crime starts to influence who you share that information with. Malicious groups have and will exert pressure in order see the results that they want or do not want.  Consequently, risk is one more factor to consider as a barrier in the success of your action plan as well as your own safety.

Finally, acting under government regulations is one more challenge.  Some private or public organizations could overstep the law and nobody will prosecute them because there are experts to hide wrong procedures who work for the organizations but who are also in positions of power.  

All in all, there are several situations that become a big challenge in order to work as a PR practitioner.  Is there conflict of interest? is it ethical or unethical behaviours? What would you do in a country with 9.9 percent of unemployment, limited access to education and economic difficulties? 

Luisa Gil