Researching Challenges of Public Relations Practitioners

Uniqueness of culture in Arabic culture can be both aThe reason for this is rooted in a relatively small role
threat and an opportunity. Cultural aspects enable aattributed to public relations within the country and also
public relations practitioner choose the most effectivea relatively small history of practice.
message and communication channel for a specificHigh digitalization of U.A.E. and governmental control
target group. The smallest language problems may beover major communication channels constitute a
very dangerous as they can lead to a total failure inunique informational environment of the local
the communication process.community. On one hand, invention and relatively high
Another unique challenge posed by U.A.E. communityspread of Internet changes the very essence of public
to public relations practitioners is rooted in the level ofrelations by shifting the focus to a new communication
ambiguity in the communication process. According tolandscape. However, at the same time, high reliance on
scholars, communication occurs within a range of hightraditional media channels controlled by government
to low context cultures. Further, they emphasize thedecreases the scope of opportunities that could be
importance of direct and exact verbal messages inrealized by public relations services in the U.A.E. While
low context cultures. Unites States and Northernthe advent of printing press, radio, and television has
Europe are the typical low context cultures, whereasforever changed the societal culture by granting power
Arab, African, and Asian countries tend to varyand opportunities to the poorest segment of society,
meaning of the message delivered depending onInternet might have a similar impact on society.
environment, settings, individuals, and personalInterestingly, due to clash of interests within the U.A.E.
relationship. As such, public relations practitioners incommunity, the outcome of such a relationship as well
U.A.E face additional challenges posed by culturalas its impact on public relations can hardly be
differences that are rooted in the level of ambiguity.reasonable predicted. As such, public relations
Another issue is the lack of opportunities and trainingpractitioners are exposed to another threat of
ground. Public relations practitioners in U.A.E. are not asuncertainty.
skilled as that of in the rest of the developed world.