Political Communication Careers

Political & Campaign Consulting

Candidates, political parties, businesses, and nonprofit advocacy organizations spend billions of dollars every year to influence public opinion and convince people who to vote for. All of these groups hire consulting firms to shape their messages, craft advocacy and outreach strategies, organize supporters, and create advertising and social media campaigns.

Lobbying & Government Relations 

Citizens need to talk to their representatives, and they usually do it through organizations. When you hear the word “lobbying,” you may think of big businesses talking to representatives in Washington, D.C., but that’s only part of the picture. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community groups also communicate with city, county, and state governments. Even many moderately sized businesses and nonprofits have government relations offices that craft advocacy and outreach strategies, organize supporters, and serve as liaisons to elected and appointed officials. 

Government Public Relations & Strategic Communication Office

Elected and appointed officials need to be able to talk to constituents, and they do it through direct communications (mailings, social media, speeches) or through the press. They need to communicate important public health and safety information, explain public policy, justify choices they’ve made, or communicate with foreign governments. Government agencies in larger cities and at the state and federal level have communication offices that help them do so. 

Journalism & Media

Even in the age of social media, reporters still serve as the key way that both citizens and those within government learn about what’s going on in the world. Local, state, and national newspapers, websites, social media companies, and broadcast media need people to do research, gather information, and report the news. They are also large organizations that need to gather and analyze data about their audiences and users and sell their product.