The purpose of this paper is to examine and analyse subjective well-being among public relations (PR) and communication professionals by looking at several factors: employer and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine and analyse subjective well-being among public relations (PR) and communication professionals by looking at several factors: employer and employee engagement, work culture and relationships, work–life balance and conflict, job satisfaction, well-being and networking and perceived gender discrimination and sexual harassment. Additionally, we examine and discuss them in the context of perceived organisational support (POS) and management-mediated well-being.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines several dimensions of well-being in the PR/comms industry in Romania: employer and employee engagement, work culture and relationships, work–life balance and conflict, job satisfaction, well-being and networking and perceived gender discrimination and sexual harassment. 117 adult respondents (male and female, full-time employed and freelancers, professionals from PR, advertising and corporate communications) filled-in a questionnaire developed within the EUPRERA Women in PR Network, which brings together communication and human resource (HR) perspectives.
Findings
The study revealed a gap between perceived and practical organisational support related to well-being. While emotional support is acknowledged, actionable support is less present. Gender-specific challenges, such as networking stress and sexual harassment, were more prevalent among women. Age and experience influenced job satisfaction, with mature professionals reporting higher satisfaction but more work encroachment into personal time. The characteristics of the industry, including its feminisation at both executive and managerial levels and the predominance of small businesses as market actors, underscore the need for tailored well-being strategies based on gender and age conditioned by organisational capabilities and resources.
Practical implications
The results can be used by PR and communication managers in Romania to better understand the perception of their employees regarding well-being and to develop organisational support systems.
Originality/value
This is the first study addressing well-being and POS in the PR and communication industries in Romania.
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Anca Anton and Teodora Doroftei
The branding of Bucharest, Romania's capital, lacks strategic coherence and fails to incorporate insights from its expatriate community. This study aims to address this gap by…
Abstract
The branding of Bucharest, Romania's capital, lacks strategic coherence and fails to incorporate insights from its expatriate community. This study aims to address this gap by incorporating perspectives from expats to refine Bucharest's branding strategies. Employing Scannell and Gifford's Person-Place-Process Model, the research prioritises the emotional and experiential dimensions of expats' interactions with the city. The empirical investigation combines quantitative data from an online survey of 100 expats with qualitative insights from a focus group comprising seven participants. The findings reveal that expats' attachment to Bucharest is significantly influenced by positive emotions, opportunities for personal growth and a sense of community, despite initial reservations about the city's infrastructure and urban planning. Expats appreciate Bucharest for its professional opportunities, safety and authentic experiences, often describing it as a place of ‘home’ and ‘potential’. Key areas of attachment include local landmarks and green spaces, underscoring the importance of integrating urban and natural elements in branding initiatives. The study provides actionable recommendations for city managers, suggesting that highlighting Bucharest's safety, authenticity and its unique blend of modernity and tradition can enhance its brand positioning. This research contributes to the relatively unexplored field of place attachment in city branding, particularly from the perspective of expatriates, offering fresh insights for improving Bucharest's image and appeal.
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Camelia Cmeciu, Anca Anton and Eugen Glăvan
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on national governments as (ir)responsible actors, it is valuable to investigate how national authorities handled this new…
Abstract
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on national governments as (ir)responsible actors, it is valuable to investigate how national authorities handled this new normality. The dark side of online activism emerged as a challenge for national governments since multiple voices with competing interests were present in the online environment. This chapter assesses how the Romanian government acted as a hijacker of the #Nuvreau/#Idonotwantto hashtag launched by COVID-19 anti-vaccine advocates. Adopting an issue arena approach and employing a network analysis and a framing analysis, this chapter explores the interconnectivity and the topics in the #Nuvreau/#Idonotwantto network. The findings showcase a narrative shift from an online conspiracy-laden citizen-driven movement against COVID-19 vaccination to a government-issued manifesto against the COVID-19 virus through a process of hashtag hijacking performed by a governmental authority. The Romanian national authority was the most important social mediator in this hashtag landscape, constantly emphasizing a recontextualization of the hashtag linked to the COVID-19 virus and its negative consequences. Using rational messaging based on figures and facts, the Romanian governmental authority as the most active pro-vaccination social media poster hijacked the #Nuvreau/Idonotwantto hashtag, mainly employing frame transformation as a strategic alignment process. Opinion leadership in the #Nuvreau/Idonotwantto broadcast network belonged to ROVaccination, the official governmental Facebook page, but timing, fast response, and frame extension are essential elements in the digital arena. Since governmental effective crisis responses are of paramount importance, this chapter concludes with implications of the urgency of issue tracking, of stakeholders mapping, and of an active role dominating the arena.