Choosing the right career is undoubtedly the most important decision-making process of life. Job opportunities, work environment, financial gain, along with passion, talent, skills, knowledge – are considered while making this decision. So if you are reading this, it is because you are considering a career in PR. We hope this is helpful to you and it guides you to make a thoughtful decision by answering your basic questions like what is PR, the role of a public relations professional and more:

What is Public Relations?

In simple words, Public relations professionals earn media attention to promote a product or to maintain the reputation of a company/Individual. Initially, traditional media like Newspapers, news channels, radio were used to tell stories. Now in this digital world, there are many channels to communicate your message like Social media, blogs, white paper, etc. This has led to an increase in the scope of work and fastens the entire process of communication. To learn more check out our blog on What is Public Relations

Is it the Right Career for Me?

We say communication is a key to Public relations. So if you are good at communicating with others and conveying your stories, or are passionate for media-related tasks and events then you should consider a career in Public Relations (10 signs you are made for Public Relations)

Related article – Why PR Career Rocks

What is the Role of a Public Relations Professional?

So if you become a PR professional there are different roles that you can get to play on your job.

1. Building Brand and Spokespersons Image

One of the important role of a public relations professional is to build a right brand image. They have to make sure a right communication about the brand is sent to the media at the right time. Also, an image of a company’s spokesperson reflects an image of an organisation. Similarly, a PR Professional has to make sure the right image is created and maintained of its spokespersons. This is done by making sure the right message or quotes are sent to the media.

2. Crisis Management

Crisis management is the process by which an organisation deals with a disruptive and unexpected event that threatens to harm the organisation, its stakeholders, or the general public. Tackling a crisis can be very challenging and difficult most of the time. One has to prepare themselves to manage the crisis.

3. Reputation management

Reputation management team first monitors the sentiments of responses on social media, news, blog, and any form of communication that happens around the organisation or its spokesperson. And when required it is one of the role of a Public relations professional to change or maintain the reputation.

4. Media relations

This is also one of the crucial role of a Public relations professional. By media relation, we mean developing and maintaining relations with journalists and influencers to make sure your story/Press release is picked and published on the right channel; for it to reach the right audience.

5. Communication Command Center

Creating a clear and apt piece of communication to pitch it to the journalists is done by PR Pro. They are the one who creates a key message or a story that has to be communicated to their audience. Like, when any news about the company has to be broken, it is PR Professionals who decides how public should get to know. PR pros will create a well planned strategy for communication and make sure that the company in the best media spotlight possible. 

6. Internal Communication

Last, by not the least, PR Professionals looks after the streamless process of communication within the organisation. It is they who make sure that the internal stakeholders are well aware of the development, crisis, critical changes, etc. that takes place within the organisation. (Why is Internal Communications Important?)

Hope this helps you in your career decision-making process. Also, read about the scope of PR to know more your career growth in PR. Leave in the comments below if you have any future queries related to the public relations career. We will be happy to help.

Happy Career!

– Shreya Doshi

Shreya Doshi is a Marketing and Communications Manager at School of COmmunication and REputation, Mumbai (SCoRe).

She has completed her Masters in Marketing and Advertising from Mumbai Educational Trust (MET) University. She believes that learning should never stop in life. Hence, learning something new every day is her moto. She loves to travel, enjoys the thrill while performing adventure sports, music and dance are her other passions.

She can be reached on Twitter and LinkedIn