Public relations – career agency or apathy?
In 2011, I asked Do you know where you’re going to? in relation to careers in public relations. Beyond the individual career context, this question continues to have relevance for organizations and the wider occupation.
Within the wider occupation, debate is often over whether PR is a profession or a craft. However, each has specific [...]
Fifty shades of PR
What shade of PR do you practice? I believe that “PR is what PR does” which offers a broad perspective encompassing many shades.
In a recent PR Conversations post, Fraser Likely, said he didn’t “do” PR. Rather he advises on the management of PR functions. This is a shade of PR.
Similarly, the Melbourne [...]
Making public relations history
“Any fool can make history, but it takes a genius to write it”, according to Oscar Wilde. Those of us assembling in Bournemouth for the third International History of Public Relations Conference can debate this view after two days of illuminating presentations on the history of our field. We should also remember another Wilde quote: [...]
Looking for excellence in public relations
What exactly does ‘excellence’ mean in public relations? Is it something to be achieved by anyone following a particular approach (as implied by the Model of Excellence), or demonstrated by those recognised by the industry (such as winners of the CIPR Excellence Awards)?
My dictionary equates the term with ‘extremely good’ or ‘pre-eminent; which are [...]
Career moves in public relations: Climbing ladders, revolving doors and musical chairs
Are you looking for a career move or new opportunity in public relations? Judging by my own observations of the use of hashtag #PRjob on Twitter, there are plenty of opportunities around for a change of direction, as well as work placement and first jobs.
What isn’t clear is how these jobs differ, if at [...]
Public diplomacy: a higher calling for public relations
Public diplomacy: a higher calling for public relations
Guest post by John Paluszek, APR, Fellow PRSA
It is not hyperbolic to say it:
Public relations professionals now have an epic opportunity to serve the global society and thereby win new appreciation of our profession.
In fact, some are already well into that mission.
Let’s quickly examine the case for this [...]
Do you know where you’re going to? Public relations career advice
What was your route into public relations? In 1943, Averill Broughton (a public relations and advertising executive with his own firm) interviewed leading PR executives for his book, Careers in Public Relations: The new profession. He observed that these successful practitioners had:
“backed into the field, as it were, by accident, and sat down. Afterwards it [...]
Relationship advice for PR practitioners
Relationships are in the DNA of PR – in fact, the name itself indicates the function manages relations with publics. But the priority in PR practice is largely on writing skills rather than interpersonal ones; whilst although academic definitions and literature highlight two-way communications, they largely omit what is required to build and maintain mutually [...]
Sex sells – faking it in public relations
Women are successful in public relations – UK data shows a 64:36 female:male gender split in an industry worth £7.5bn. In particular, young women are attracted to the occupation – dominating specialist degree courses (by 4:1 in my experience) and reflecting the largest demographic group in practice.
The secret of their success is often stated as [...]
Arthur Yann: public relations in a fishbowl
An in-depth interview with the gent practising PR for the world’s largest organization of public relations professionals.
There’s an irony that public relations as a discipline struggles to manage the industry’s reputation. Why do you think this is the case?
There’s some truth to the “shoemaker’s children” analogy, but the root causes go well beyond that.
For one [...]