Final answer:
Public relations professionals create and maintain a positive image for their clients via media channels, while journalists provide balanced and impartial information to the public. The media serve several roles, including public debate facilitation and government-public communication. Press conferences are used strategically by politicians to control media narratives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of public relations (PR) is to shape and maintain the image of a company, organization, or individual in the eyes of the public, primarily through different media channels. PR professionals craft press releases to present newsworthy stories from a strategic viewpoint, aiming to put their clients in favorable light. This differs from the role of journalists, who aim to inform the public with balanced and impartial news.
The creation of dedicated roles such as the press secretary and the White House Office of Communications reflects the importance of streamlining communication from the government executive branch to ensure a consistent and coherent message reaches the media and, in turn, the public. Functions of the media include offering platforms for public debate, acting as linkage institutions that facilitate communication between the government and the public, and promoting public good by keeping citizens informed and engaged.
Press conferences are a critical media strategy in politics, serving to manage the dissemination of information and control the narrative to the public. Public relations offices play a distinct role in this ecosystem by promoting, managing, and strategizing communication efforts to build and sustain a positive image for their clients.