When I was a young, student leader at the University of Florida, I had an eye-opening experience during a meeting with a Congressperson in D.C. I had meticulously prepared my case for a legislative change affecting students and felt confident as the discussion progressed. The Congressperson was engaged, asking insightful questions, and I believed I was making real progress.

As the meeting ended, we walked to the door, and the Congressperson put a hand on my shoulder and said, “I agree with you, but I can’t help you—yet. It’s too soon. Your job is to build the pressure on me and my friends.”

That moment taught me a critical lesson: successful policy change requires understanding and preparing the political environment before moving forward.

Why Preparation Matters

Policy change is a complex, multifaceted process that demands a strategic approach. Without the right groundwork, even the most compelling proposals can falter. Decision-makers are influenced by political realities, public opinion, and stakeholder pressures. To succeed, businesses and advocacy groups must align their goals with the broader political landscape and create the conditions for policymakers to act.

The Outside Game: The Role of Political Affairs Experts

Political affairs experts are to understand and shape the political environment.  The work lays the foundation for successful advocacy efforts and creates momentum for change through key strategies:

Strategic Vision & Planning: They analyze the political landscape, identify the stakeholders, power players, and the relationships, and develop a comprehensive roadmap (to include processes) and budget for the entire policy campaign.

Stakeholder / Power Mapping & Engagement: They identify key stakeholders, including agencies, industry groups, and advocacy organizations, and develop engagement strategies to build coalitions and garner support.

Issue Identification & Research: They meticulously analyze the policy problem, gather data, and conduct comprehensive research to understand its impact and potential solutions.    This may involve data analysis, exploring other jurisdiction’s approach, identifying knowledge gaps to be filled by experts, and conducting public opinion polling and focus groups.

Opposition Research & Counter-Messaging: They delve deep into the opposition’s arguments, funding sources, and potential weaknesses, developing counter-messaging strategies to neutralize their influence.

Narrative Development: They craft compelling narratives that resonate with lawmakers, stakeholders, and the public, framing the issue in a way that demands attention and action.    This often entails translating complex information into more digestible materials.

Policy Whitepaper Development: They synthesize research findings and stakeholder perspectives into persuasive policy whitepapers that provide evidence-based arguments for change.

Targeted Messaging & Channel Optimization: They tailor messaging for specific audiences, including lawmakers, the public, and media outlets, ensuring consistent and persuasive communication across all channels.  This can include collateral to digital programs to full-blown advertising campaigns.

Resource Allocation & Coordination: They strategically budget and allocate resources, including funding, personnel, consultants, and media outreach, to maximize impact and efficiency throughout the campaign.

The Inside Game: The Role of Lobbyists

Lobbyists are the boots on the ground, leveraging their relationships and expertise to navigate the legislative process. They work in tandem with political affairs experts to present the research, the proposal, and push policy change through formal channels.

Legislative Champion Recruitment: They identify and engage lawmakers with influence and interest in the issue, building relationships and securing sponsors for the bill.

Pre-Filing & Legislative Advocacy: They conduct briefings with legislative committees, staff, and leadership and ensure buy-in from key committees before formal introduction of the bill.

Committee Process Management: They organize expert testimony for public hearings, negotiate amendments with stakeholders, and work behind the scenes to secure votes in committees.

Floor Vote & Passage: They orchestrate last-minute advocacy pushes, ensure cross-chamber coordination in bicameral systems, and engage the Governor’s office to secure support or negotiate potential veto overrides.

Governor & Executive Branch Engagement: They engage with the Governor’s office, the Governor’s staff, and relevant agencies to ensure smooth implementation and minimize potential roadblocks.

Post-Passage Implementation: They work closely with regulatory bodies during the rulemaking process, mobilize supporters to advocate for favorable implementation rules, and monitor compliance and performance metrics.  (Note sometimes the implementation lobbyists may change depending on area of expertise.)

The Power of Synergy in Policy Change

Policy change is not a linear process. Political affairs experts and lobbyists must work simultaneously, both inside and outside the legislative arena, to build momentum and overcome resistance. Their collaboration ensures:

• Policy initiatives are well-researched and strategically positioned.
• Stakeholders are engaged and mobilized effectively.
• Policymakers are equipped with the right information at the right time.

Key Takeaways for Businesses

Preparing the political environment requires a strategic, long-term approach. Businesses seeking significant policy changes should:

1. Invest Early in Research: Understand the landscape and anticipate challenges.
2. Build Relationships: Cultivate trust with key stakeholders and decision-makers.
3. Craft Compelling Narratives: Simplify complex issues and align messaging with audience values.
4. Mobilize Support: Leverage grassroots and grasstops advocacy to build momentum.
5. Be Patient: Policy change is often slow; persistence is key.

Conclusion

Effective policy change doesn’t happen in a vacuum. By preparing the political environment, businesses can increase their chances of success and create lasting impact. Whether engaging political affairs experts, lobbyists, or both, the key lies in strategic planning and consistent effort.

Often we get asked what is it that we do – exactly.  It is difficult to answer that in a elevator speech, but the best I have come up with is “We manage political affairs by  understanding and shaping political environments.  Ozean does this through research, data, message development, and media.”

So, public affairs?  Not exactly. but kinda.

So, public relations?  Not exactly, but kinda.

So, you do politics?  Yes.

What is Public Relations?

Public Relations or PR is the practice of managing an organization’s reputation and building relationships with its publics.  In theory, it is much broader than garnering press coverage, but in most smaller PR shops, they believe managing a organization’s reputation is primary done through the media.

What is Public Affairs?

What is Political Affairs?

Political affairs is the practice of influencing government policy and legislation via all legal means. At times this can be inside the building and at other times outside the building.

This means, depending on the situation, political affairs professionals could be identifying and targeting not only political elites but also public opinion.  Our activities could also be an attempt to bring indirect pressure on the process.

We do this through:

Research:  Can take the form of surveys, focus groups, and generating data sets or  studies and reports to be used in the process.  In addition, properly identifying all stakeholders can be a crucial and painstaking process.

Data:  This can be part of research or can be part of building and augmenting data sets to reach digital audiences.   Very often data services are intertwined with Research services.

Message Development:  developing persuasive messaging in today’s hyper-partisan and polarized political environment is much more delicate – often being nuanced to each identified stakeholder.

Media:  creating and executing media plans – whether paid or earning – whether in a traditional media or digital media – is in a sense putting it all together.

Shaping Political Environments

In a sense this at the heart of what Ozean does – shaping political environments, and it includes things that don’t always fall neatly into research, data, message development, or media.  We use all our knowledge to understand the political process and decide what levers to pull or sometimes more importantly not pull to win. 

After deliberate research, Ozean identifies the stakeholders and conceives different tactics to manage a clients activities and messaging to win.    At times, those activities don’t fall neatly into the services commonly thought of performed by public relations or public affairs officials.  These political operations could be before the voting, during the voting, or after the voting because frankly we believe that politics never stops.    

At times, we wear all the hats, but depending upon the scope and size of the project and because we understand all facets of the process, Ozean may act at the organization that assembles the team and coordinates efforts.

Political Affairs

So now you know the difference between political affairs, public affairs, and public relations.    All three fields play important roles in helping organizations achieve their goals, but they have distinct approaches and target different audiences.

In the bustling world of politics, where power and influence dance in a delicate waltz, a crucial role is played by those who navigate the intricate web of relationships and perceptions – the political affairs professionals. Often misconstrued as mere public relations practitioners, political affairs specialists possess a unique blend of expertise that extends far beyond crafting press releases and managing media relations.

Navigating the Political Landscape

Political affairs professionals are the strategists who guide organizations through the complex political landscape, ensuring their interests are not only heard but also considered in the decision-making process. They are the architects of influence, deftly weaving relationships with key stakeholders, from elected officials and government bureaucrats to industry leaders and community groups.

While public relations focuses on shaping public perception and maintaining a positive image, political affairs delve into the nitty-gritty of public policy development, legislation. and or regulatory environments. They are the advocates who champion their clients’ causes, presenting compelling arguments and building consensus among policymakers.

Beyond Press Coverage: A Multifaceted Role

The realm of political affairs encompasses a diverse range of activities, extending far beyond the realm of press coverage. Here’s a glimpse into the multifaceted role of a political affairs professional:

Identifying Stakeholders:  Identifying stakeholders, often with indirect associations, are the key to success or failure.

Lobbying: Engaging with policymakers to promote or oppose specific legislation or policies.

Grassroots Mobilization: Activating supporters to voice their concerns and influence decision-making.

Coalition Building: Forming alliances with like-minded organizations to advance shared goals.

Issue Management: Identifying and addressing potential challenges or crises that could impact the organization’s interests.

Demystifying the “Political” Aspect

The term “political” often carries a negative connotation, conjuring images of backroom deals and partisan maneuvering. However, in the context of political affairs, it is more about understanding and navigating the political process to achieve positive outcomes for the organization and its stakeholders.

Political affairs professionals are not merely spin doctors or political operators; they are experts in understanding the motivations and dynamics of the political sphere. They possess a keen understanding of the political process, the players involved, and the levers of influence that can be employed to shape policy and opinion.

A Crucial Role in the Modern World

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, where government policies and regulations have far-reaching impacts on businesses, communities, and individuals, the role of political affairs has become more critical than ever. Organizations across industries recognize the need for strategic engagement with the political system to protect their interests, promote their values, and contribute to a more informed and engaged public discourse.

Political affairs professionals play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the private sector and the public arena, ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and considered in the decision-making process. They are the architects of influence, the advocates for change, and the guardians of a well-functioning democracy.

Simply put, political affairs practicioners are much more than writers and distributors of press releases.  

Political affairs is the process of shaping the political environment for government officials, elected representatives, interest groups, media, and any other relevant stakeholders. It involves creating, executing, and managing strategies and tactics to influence the decision-making process of those in power.

At its core, political affairs is a mixture of public relations and public affairs, with a focus on the political landscape. In the United States, political affairs often involves engaging with elected officials and other government representatives, as well as their staff members, to advance the interests of a particular group or organization.

Political affairs is essential for organizations that want to have an impact on public policy, regulation, and legislation. It requires a comprehensive understanding of the political environment, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with those in power. Political affairs professionals must be able to navigate the complex political landscape, develop targeted messaging, and build strong relationships with stakeholders.

At Ozean Media, we specialize in political affairs, providing our clients with the expertise and insights needed to succeed in the political arena. Our approach is based on data, research, and media skills, allowing us to create targeted audiences and deliver precisely targeted communications and messaging.

We work closely with lobbying firms and in-house public relations teams to maximize our strengths and provide our clients with the most comprehensive services possible. Our focus on research, data, and media allows us to provide a unique perspective on political affairs and deliver measurable results for our clients.

Political Affairs – In Conclusion

In conclusion, political affairs is an essential component of any organization’s strategy for success in the political arena. It requires a comprehensive understanding of the political landscape, targeted messaging, and the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders. At Ozean Media, we are committed to providing our clients with the expertise and insights they need to succeed in the political arena.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your organization succeed in the world of political affairs.

Our easy-to-use appointment scheduling tool makes it simple to find a time that works for you.

I hope you had a great 4th of July.  As a true nerd, I spent some time looking at American National Election Studies (ANES) data.  For those unfamiliar with the data, it began at the University of Michigan and now is a jointly done with Stanford.  The survey research is conducted prior and after Presidential elections – often asking the same questions over multiple series.

It is a treasure trove of data, open to the public, and if you are unfamiliar with the data set, check it out.

Because, if you find yourself with a free weekend and a curiosity, you may be able to tease out some interesting finds.

This is where I found myself.  I was thinking again about the hyper-partisan political times we find ourselves in and playing around with ANES data.

ANES has used a feeling thermometer to measure how people feel about the political parties.  On a scale of 0 – 100, how do you feel about the _____ party?

I looked at a panel that collapsed party identification to inlclude those that leaned towards one party or the other. 

Observations

Just a couple of quick observations:

• On average, Republicans like their own party slightly less than Democrats like theirs.
• Independents are really just going to independent – they don’t really like either party.  (makes sense, if they did like one, they’d likely join one…)
• After 2000, that seems to be the date things really changed.  
• The hyper-partisanship appears mostly driven by negative partisanship. 

Big picture, on average – how we feel about our own party hasn’t changed THAT much.  It wouldn’t explain what we see in today’s politics. 

However, how we feel about the OTHER party has nose-dived after 2000.  And it is / has happened on both sides of the aisle. 

It appears the parties have sorted, closed ranks, and now the change in our politics is defined by what we don’t like.