Ermina Duraj, head of the Office of the Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, presented her book titled ‘Media Relations in Local and Regional Self-Governing Bodies in Croatia’ in the Business School PAR in Rijeka on October 30, 2017
First of its kind to get written by a local author, Duraj’s extraordinary work was published by the Croatian Association for Public Relations (HUOJ). Judging by the outstanding attendance last night, there seems to be no lack of interest for the subject at hand, and the handbook on media relations in public offices couldn’t have been published at a better time.
A renowned expert in this particular field, Duraj devised the book as a combination of theoretical knowledge and examples from her ten years of professional experience in public relations representing the County. According to the author, she was inspired by her wish to help her colleagues find their ground in public relations when it comes to representing local and regional governing bodies; she also wanted to point to the importance of good communication between PR spokespersons and journalists. She stated the book was devised as a sort of manual aiming to help new generations of professionals working in PR, enabling them to avoid all concerns and problems she herself has faced in her career so far.
The audience was introduced to the publication by the president of the Supervisory board of HUOJ Vlatka Škorić, reviewers Prof. Božo Skoko PhD and Prof. Igor Kanižaj PhD, Prefect Zlatko Komadina, and two special guests – PR expert Krešimir Macan and Tihana Tomičić, journalist at Novi list.
Prof. Božo Skoko, Ermina Duraj, Prof. Igor Kanižaj and Prefect Zlatko Komadina
Prefect Komadina stated the book should be viewed as a valuable contribution to this field of expertise, but also to local self-government units. He added all public offices have a duty to aim for quality in their work, and then properly present the results of said work to the public.
Professor Božo Skoko called the book a successful combination of theory and practice, one that shows its author understands the intricacies of media relations in Croatia, all the while following global trends in the PR industry. Skoko conveniently summed up the importance of the work: “The book is a review of the current state [of PR in self-government units] and an enticement to all who haven’t yet sufficiently developed public relations to work on it more. In her work in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and with this book, Duraj managed to prove that it can be done.”
Sources: HUOJ, RiječanIn, PodUckun.net
