Governance as a Means of Legitimacy in Public Relations

Abstract

Legitimacy emerges as a concept that explains the level of support towards the actions and procedures carried out in almost every area where the governing body and the governed relationship is found. The support of the target audience given to the actions and procedures of the organization regarding public relations would elicit positive effects in ensuring the legitimacy of the organization. For this purpose, the organization’s consideration of such governance principles as clarity (openness), accountability, transparency, responsibility and consistency in its activities would reinforce its positive image in the presence of the target audience. In public relations, it is aimed to gain the support of the target audience for the actions and procedures carried out and to acquire public support for the upper administration in this respect. In this study, an evaluation is presented on the concept of governance, which is in the foreground with the principles of openness, accountability, transparency and consistency as an important means of ensuring legitimacy in public relations.