In its seventh guide, the Analytical Studies Unit at W7Worldwide Strategic and Media Consultancy identified

seven key steps for developing “new public relations communication strategies aligned with government recovery plans.” Its report emphasized

the importance of understanding the economic and health threats caused by the coronavirus pandemic, in its advisory report published this August,

COVID-19, when engaging with the public sector.

The guide noted that the relationship between the public and private sectors has become critically important in order to take further steps to protect

Jobs, so companies need to take a proactive approach in their efforts with the public sector, which is responsible for responding

immediately and engaging with new situations.

The guide also notes that over the past few months, major companies and interest groups have been

competing to influence government policies for managing the pandemic’s economic fallout, as this will enable them to build a sound

“public relations strategy when dealing with the government sector,” based on the principle that they are “part of the solution, not the problem.”

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1) Leadership by the CEO and Chairman of the Board

The guide’s authors—the company’s CEO and Board of Directors—placed this among the key steps for engaging with the government sector

in the post-recovery period. The guide noted that they are responsible for determining how to communicate with the government sector, emphasizing

The importance of keeping public relations and communications strategies at the top of business leaders’ agendas to help drive recovery

in a positive direction.

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2) Stakeholder Management

The second step is stakeholder management. Companies need to review and monitor new guidelines,

as well as developments in their sector at both the national and international levels. The guide noted that the best starting point for building this

relationship is through associations, official bodies, or unions.

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3) Virtual Reality Support

The third step focused on strengthening virtual reality for government-sector operations by supporting remote work systems,

particularly as the pandemic continues and there is no official timeline for the end of the health crisis. It emphasized that government departments

increasingly prefer virtual engagement with their internal and external audiences—a key point for the private sector

to consider when developing its communications strategy.

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4) Government Participation

The guide’s authors emphasized the importance of understanding frameworks for government-sector participation in management and recovery strategies to overcome the

economic downturn, and incorporating this into strategies for engaging with the public sector, which increasingly depends on the private sector to meet

its needs for the required skills and resources.

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5) الشفافية

Step five highlighted the importance of “transparency.” The guide called on companies to be transparent in their dealings with the government assistance

they receive, and to demonstrate responsible, measured conduct across all their activities, presenting themselves as part of the recovery plan. It also recommended that company leaders

ensure the integrity of their collaboration with the government sector and publicly report on the efforts they

They participate throughout the crisis.

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6) Smart Planning

The guide labels the sixth step “Smart Planning,” noting that governments are currently working on plans

for urgent recovery to reactivate their economies. Companies should therefore develop comprehensive public relations plans to stay

in communication with the identified entities and stakeholders they need to engage with, including the media, employees,

customers, government officials, and the public, while preparing to respond to sudden changes resulting from legislation that

that are relevant to their line of work.

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7) صناعة الفرص

The final step in developing the guide focused on “creating opportunities” by encouraging companies to participate actively

in government economic and social recovery plans. The report recommended that companies position themselves as experts for the public sector

to help it overcome the financial challenges the COVID-19 pandemic caused in the national economy.

The results of the latest survey conducted by W7Worldwide on the popular social media platform Twitter

to explore the views of public relations professionals in Saudi Arabia showed that 24.5% of respondents took the survey in English

And (19.7%) of Arabic-language respondents consider planning for future opportunities during the recovery from the pandemic crisis

to be a top priority. Nearly 24.9% of English-language respondents and 15.1% of Arabic-language respondents

consider strengthening the remote work system equally important. Compared with Arabic-language respondents

(9.4%), a larger share of English-language survey participants (18.9%) believe that supporting government policies is

أهمية كبرى.