The process of public communications and public relations in river basin committees in the São Paulo state

Abstract

This article presents results of a research carried out with the objective of generating scientific knowledge about the quality of flows of information and practices of mediated and non-mediated communication among the social actors in the Tietê-Batalha and Tietê-Jacaré River Basin Committees, of the State of São Paulo. The study investigated, through content analysis, document analysis, and direct observation, communicative processes and forms of relationship between social actors of those instances of democratic deliberation. The results indicate the existence of information in online and offline media formats ranging from 37 to 70% of the total considered necessary, according to the theoretical and methodological context of the research, for the complete characterization of a public policy of sustainability. Records of activities in non-mediated contexts indicate scenarios with a predominance of tools of dissemination of information. Drawing on these results, the study provided indications of communication strategies and public relations that can contribute to the improvement of the debate around decision-making and public policies that focus on the management of water resources.

Keywords: public communication, public relations, sustainability, water resources.