Let's talk PR

What comes to your mind when you think about PR. I wager that it has to do with artiste management, student government positions, publicity and damage control. You would be right BUT this is just an aspect of Public Relations. Public Relation is kinda hard to define. The closest I can come to defining PR is that "it is the management function that identifies, establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its various publics on whom its success and failure depends on" as stated in Think Public Relations.
Public Relations involves a lot of research and analysis, policy formation, programming, communication and feedback from numerous publics.

Public Relations professional work in two roles. Either as an advisor: who counsels clients or an organization's top management and as technicians: who produces and disseminates messages in diverse media channels. A PR pro's objective is to gather information and facts for the sole reason of informing the public thereby managing competition and conflict in the best interest of the practitioner's employer, and also save money for the employer also.

           
Public Relation practices involves a process of research, action, communication and evaluation (RACE) and has diverse components:
Counseling: like every other profession that involves clients and consumers, a PR person provides advice to its employees on issue concerning policies, relationship and communications.

Research: A PR practitioner does a lot of research on a regular basis in order to determine the attitudes and behavior of groups and carry out effective public relations strategies. Research is done to understand, influence and persuade the public.

Media Relations: A PR practitioner works closely with mass media whether seeking publicity or responding to their interest in the organization or individual that the PR person represents.

Publicity: One which everyone is familiar with. The dissemination of planned message through select media to further an organization/individuals interest, goals and agenda.

Employee/Member Relations: It involves responding to issues that bug organization's employees and members and motivating them also.

Community Relations: maintaining an environment that benefits both the organization and the community that surrounds it.

Public Affairs: It involves developing effective involvements in public policy and helping an organization adapt to public expectations. Also it describes the public relation activities by government agencies and big corporations.

Government Affairs: It involves relating with legislature and regulatory agencies on behalf of an organization. Lobbying is part of it.

Issues Management: Which involves identifying and addressing public concern issues that affect the organization.

Financial/Investor/Shareholders Relations: A PR practitioner creates and maintains investor confidence, and builds relationship with people in the financial community.

Industry Relations: A PR person keeps in touch with other firms and trade associations.

Development/Fundraising: A PR personnel show the need and encourage the public to support a cause, organization or individual in cash and kinds.

Multicultural Relations/Workplace Diversity: which involves relating with individuals and groups in various cultural groups.

Special Events: creating interest and buzz in a person, product or organization by having a focused happening or activities designed to interact and listen to the public.

Marketing Communications: using a combination of activities designed to sell a product, services or idea which include advertising, publicity, promotion, direct communication, trades hows. special events and collateral materials.

This is but just a few about what Public Relations is and what it entails.