Business as not so unusual

I remember a conversation at the end of the year with a friend, when I told him that I would start working in a lobbying office in January. He congratulated me, but then raised his eyebrows and asked me, "So what am I actually going to do? I didn't have a very comprehensive answer. It is difficult to fully understand lobbying until you have done it for a living.

Lobbying offices arouse suspicion and their activities seem to be strangely mystified. The sector is relatively new and little known in Finland, and public debate has certainly not helped alleviate images of dark-suited bureaucrats huffing and puffing in rooms filled with cigarette smoke. These myths and beliefs circulating in coffee-table discussions are largely false. It is true that much of the lobbying takes place in secret. The reason for this is often as simple as the lack of media interest in the issue being promoted. In many cases, lobbying through publicity is a roundabout way of lobbying, based on the reception and transmission of information between the decision-maker, the client and the lobbying office. The lobbyist is an important partner, messenger and expert for the decision-maker.

Lobbyists in Finland are often criticised for the fact that the industry is hardly regulated, for example through an open register of lobbyists. The requirement for transparency is justified and the lobbyist must therefore say who he is dealing with. This was one of the first things I learned during my time at Brainee. Another key lesson is that a lobbyist must always tell the truth and base his information on facts. This principle is the basis for good relations with decision-makers, which are the lifeblood of a successful lobbying office. In an age where there are alternative truths and where we talk about after the fact, I believe this only adds value to policy making. A register of lobbyists would probably benefit lobbying agencies and improve the reputation of the industry. However, drawing a line, for example, as to where the boundaries of professional lobbying lie is not without its problems. The responsibility for regulating and defining the boundary lies with politicians, not lobbyists, although they are certainly happy to be involved.

While lobbying offices are a relatively young industry in Finland, lobbying, or advocacy as I came to know it when I worked in student organisations, has always been practised. What is new are lobbying offices, which combine knowledge of political processes, networks of influence and an understanding of business and the needs of their social relations. There are differences: in my experience, lobbying is more professional, coordinated and fast-paced than in the organisations I have worked in. Also, whereas organisations often have to balance the different views and positions of their members or member organisations, the lobbying project is often much more straightforward when it comes to the lobbying office. This makes it easier to shape the message and promote the cause.

Unfortunately, everyday life at Lobbar does not consist of soggy lunches, sauna nights and running around the corridors of Parliament changing pins in your coat. My typical day involves meetings, coffee breaks, meetings, sending emails, preparing materials for clients and so on - like pretty much everyone else working in a tidy office. All in all, in just over a month's time in the brainee, I have learned a huge amount about political processes and substance as well as the lobbying business, and these lessons are guaranteed to be useful in the future: whether as a policy maker, behind the scenes or as an active citizen.

Jemi Heinilä

Brainee