IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE PRACTICES OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Abstract

Public relations are evaluated as an important management function in local governments. By the virtue of public relations practices, local governments can learn the problems of the public in a short time and produce solutions. In the historical process, local governments have used different communication channels to continue their public relations activities. In recent years, in parallel with technological developments, it is seen that local governments have started to benefit from new media tools in the public relations process. In this context, in recent years social media has an important place in the new media tools that local governments have used to continue their public relations activities. Today, considering that a large part of society uses social media, it is seen that the use of social media is an important tool in reaching the public in the public relations process. This has paved the way for showing an increase in research conducted on the importance of social media in the conduct of public relations activities in local governments in recent years. In this research, the place and importance of the use of social media in public relations activities in local governments are emphasized.