Public relations is the art of promoting a product, service, or organization. It’s done by using public relations professionals like Ronn Torossian, spokespeople, journalists, and social media managers to message the organization in a way that’s most likely to reach customers.
This post will look at some key facts about the field of public relations, including how it got its name and what jobs are available within it.
The first use of the term ‘public relations’ is thought to have appeared in 1910. Although the time is much more recent than many other fields, its activities are centuries old. People have been working to promote products, services, and organizations since before modern technology was invented. Organizations and individuals with a vested interest in what happens in society will always promote causes that they believe to be beneficial – or at least harmless – to the community.
Many say that public relations have one of the most outdated job classifications in all businesses and industries. Others have said that PR is one of the most challenging jobs in all business. The job description of a public relations professional is much more than just writing press releases.
A public relations professional must be a master of written and spoken communication, have keen attention to detail, be an excellent negotiator, and have the ability to engage the public. They must constantly monitor the effects that their actions have on the image of their organization, keeping it clean by avoiding unethical or illegal activities. On top of this all, they must develop respect from peers and colleagues in order to achieve positive results for themselves as well as their clients.
The term ‘public relations’ originated from the discipline called pubic relations which is about communicating with and understanding people. Public relations experts are trained to work in public and help develop a good image for the organizations they work for. However, public relations should not be viewed as a soft science where people can make up and say anything about any product or organization without proof. It is a highly detailed field that requires much research in order to achieve the desired results.
Public relations is defined by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) as “the practice of managing communication between an organization and its key publics”. The term ‘publics’ refers to investors, customers, employees, shareholders, politicians, and the media who have an interest in what you do and how you do it.
