Comment by kortilla
2 years ago
No, lobbying is “attempting to influence the government”. Advertising about proposed bills is 100% lobbying.
Without any funding to the politician involved, a lobbyist’s job is to convince the politician of voting a particular way.
A sleazy lobbyist may try money in indirect ways for/against the politician, but a regular one will try to raise awareness through advertising and public pressure. It’s all lobbying.
Lobbyists may engage in PR activity, but that does not make PR activity lobbying.
Lobbying has a pretty clear definition which you are trying to stretch here.
Let me put it this way: Airing an ad about a government rep or piece of legislation is PR or advertising. Using the threat or promise of airing that ad to try to talk a politician into doing something is lobbying.