Evaluating the Use of Public Relations Strategies in Managing COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Crises by Anambra State Government

Abstract

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus escalated myriad of health and socialcrises that government at all levels had to battle with to ensure the safety of thecitizenry. The effective management of these crises is highly dependent on theresources at the disposal of government institutions and their ability toappropriately employ and deploy the various public relations strategies that willeffectively address the fabric of the crises escalated by the pandemic. This studyevaluated how the Anambra State Government managed COVID-19 relatedcrises through the use of public relations strategies. The study looked at theactions and inactions taken by the Anambra State government geared towardsmanaging all the COVID-19 related crises, their use of the various channels ofcommunication and how effective these PR strategies were in managing thecrises. The study made use of library research method in carrying out the studywhere the researchers depended on secondary data in carrying out theinvestigation. It was found that the Anambra State Government used publicrelations strategies like press releases, press conferences, announcements, townhall meetings with critical stakeholders like the market unions, transport unions,town unions etc. in disseminating appropriate information and behavior thathelped in managing the various COVID-19 related crises in Anambra State. Itwas also found that the state government employed various media platforms like ABS Radio and Television, Newspapers, Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. Thestudy recommended that the state government should employ such PR strategiesin handling other issues of concern in Anambra state owing to its effectivenessin handling COVID-19 pandemic-related crises.