Post Office Press Relations First Class

The Post Office's press relations is the best in British Industry, according to a MORI survey.

Industrial and labour correspondents from 13 national daily and Sunday newspapers, four national radio and TV channels and several regional papers were asked by MORI for their views on 16 major companies.

The survey, which is conducted annually, concluded: "The Post Office's press relations are spontaneously mentioned as its major strength and it receives almost universally high scores on various aspects of its press relations on prompting."

"The PR department is praised for its speed, helpfulness and the amount of information it provides. PR staff are considered to be very helpful and honest."

MORI said that 95% of journalists questioned described the service delivered by The Post Office Newsroom as good and added: "favourablility towards The Post Office among industrial and labour journalists is not only at its highest level ever, but is also the highest recorded level for any company or organisation measured over the past ten years.

MORI continues "almost all journalists feel The Post Office is above average in terms of accessibility, openness and keeping them informed, while three in four say the same of its honesty and integrity."

The survey also found that The Post Office's lack of commercial freedom was perceived as a weakness, a quarter mentioning this spontaneously.

Nick Lillitos, National News Manager for The Post Office, said: "this is the fifth time in the past seven years our newsroom has been voted best in British industry, and during those seven years we have come second twice. I am delighted that once again our media relations team has maintained its standing with the national news media."

Alan Williams, Director of Communications and Corporate Relations for The Post Office said: "we are very proud of our newsroom's achievements. They are the voice of The Post Office and their credibility and professionalism is highly respected by this important group of opinion formers. The newsroom is one of out greatest strengths in our ongoing communications with our customers." But he added: "we need to remember that reputations are hard won, but all too easily lost."

Technical details

21 Industrial and labour journalists were interviewed by telephone between May 11th and June 2nd 1998 for the survey.