The practice of PR in the public sector, the case of Turkish airlines: A critical appraisal

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi, Siyaset Bilimi ve Kamu Yönetimi Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2006

Öğrenci: RECEP GÜVELİOĞLU

Danışman: AHMET RAŞİT KAYA

Özet:

This study starts with the explanations of importance, principles, management stages, targets and tools of public relations in general and gives detailed information on its theoretical base. The first two chapters are designated to provide detailed information about public relations. In the third chapter the evaluation of public relations in the public sector which is the main goal of the research is presented. It is obvious that public relations is a management function which creates a mutual understanding between the corporation and its publics or audience. But this isn't the case all of the time in the public sector. THY is taken as a case in order to provide clear examples of the mentality and practices in public relations in the public sector. The detailed information about the corporation and its public relations units are given to explain the PR activities of the corporation. THY as a state economic corporation, has a socially responsible approach in its service; on the other hand, it is a profit-making entity as well. From the number of assigned personnel to the sub-structural matters and the principles of promotional activities, THY administration's approach to public relations is evaluated in this study. v In the selected year of 2003, THY administration was at the edge of changing mentality in public relations issues. Three cases such as the Diyarbakır plane crash, SARS crisis and the starting flights to New Delhi are taken to explain the traditional mentality and the new business like mentality in public relations. The public relations in THY is compared with British Airways and Lufthansa in their websites.