What Can You Do With a Public Relations Degree?

What is Public Relations and who are Public Relations Specialists?

There are several meanings of what it is to be a public relations specialist. No two public relations roles are the very same. As stated by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), job details can incorporate duties such as media relationships, marketing communications, social media, community connections, special activities, crisis control, analysis, and personnel communications.

Among the day-to-day, the public relations specialist will typically participate in dialogue and engage with both internal organization leaders and managers in addition to the wider constituents impacted by a business’s product and protocols: customers, stockholders, workers and the press.

A normal day may consist of keeping the public updated about the endeavors of the company, handling press inquiries concerning a certain issue, pitching to the media regarding a particular corporate campaign or circulating relevant information and releases externally for the company. In a government organization, public relations might fall under the space of public affairs although the role will entail describing policies, handling campaigns and getting through by means of legislative networks. Nonetheless, the effective public relations specialist will devote a lion’s share of their working day being a powerful communicator– in writing, face to face, on the telephone and through social media sites and digital networks.

Public Relations Strategy

The material of the work of a public relations specialist is formless and there isn’t always a standard day. Unanticipated obstacles may develop where a significant trouble, company adjustment, news update or crisis management issue will overshadow over existing day-to-day undertakings– being aware of headlines, preserving communication with reporters, putting together speaking engagements, generating talking point, addressing queries and communicating straight to the media on behalf of a client.

A PR person must be familiar with current events, market trends and effects, both geopolitically and financially, at the time of the news cycle to comprehend how and when to deliver to the media reports that will capture the general public’s interest. This takes a combination of evaluation, analysis, and method of crafting your client’s communication and brand in the public sphere.

Together with the expansion of technology, the rise in social media and refinement of digital resources, communications campaigns are more immediately gauged and matched to business results– creating more possibilities for the public relations specialist to team up with areas of advertising and marketing and also expand their traditional functions.

Public Relations Degrees

Despite the fact that the academic criteria for professions slightly differ, those curious about occupations in public relations are urged to begin through acquiring a bachelor’s degree within an appropriate region of studies such as communications, public relations or journalism. Accomplishing additional training in subjects like English, business enterprise, writing, public affairs, advertising, and speechmaking are similarly beneficial. Some particular illustrations of coursework located in a common public relations degree program consist of Public Relations 101, Basics of Advertising, Advertising Research, Media Law, and Communication for Businesses.

Where can public relations specialists get proper training? Although some hiring managers may employ a public relations specialist that only acquires a bachelor’s degree, specialists that want an upper hand on the opposition usually acquire a master’s degree in public relations and collect a number of years of work experience. Most positions are most likely to need a time of on-the-job training too. Public relations specialists may use other resources to gain an advantage such as online certification programs, training through vocational organizations, internships, graduate school, or volunteer services.

Job Prospects

Public relations specialists have a wide range of options for employment and one of the many benefits of being in the field is choosing an array of interesting jobs.

Some of the jobs include but are not limited to:

• Multicultural relations
• Investor relations
• Media buyer
• Media relations
• Strategic planner
• Government affairs
• Sales representative
• Special events coordinator
• Employee relations

Public relations is a high-speed, multi-faceted, and lucrative career option. Public relations careers are often set in high-stress environments and specialists usually work over 40 hours a week; however, the career requires one to hone a variety of communication skills and is rewarding as it is challenging.

Ronn Torossian is the CEO of 5W Public Relations