a passion for PR is something i discovered long before i could define what PR is. PR weekly noted that people view the field as somewhat undefinable; something that you can't even describe to your mom. those practicing know it's vital, challenging, and hey, if you are like me, you have a slight arrogance when it comes to those "marketing and advertising" people.
the best definition i have heard is that public relations is the "art of managing strategic relationships." what i love about this definition other than it's specific description of the field is it depicts what an open and sprawling field PR truly is. one of my professor's said that PR gives you the opportunity to combine two loves: a love for communication as well as another field (ex: music, sports, non-profit organizations, politics, travel, etc.). furthermore, you can find your niche within a client or an agency that you are lucky enough to land a job with (ex: internal relations, corporate relations, international relations, event planning, etc.). PR is what you make it, which is why i find it so fascinating. i'm the girl who has a notepad by her bed jotting down ideas at 3 a.m. i see things through a PR lens, dissecting promotional work and catching news angles of different stories.
PR is also defined by a vital second component: PR expresses an unpaid, uncontrolled message. this is where my PR arrogance comes in. before my senior year of college, i didn't know the difference between PR, marketing, and advertising. when i came ot understand that PR was unpaid and uncontrolled in contrast to the paid and controlled messages set forth by advertising and marketing, i found myself offended by those who wanted to categorize me as such. you cannot buy my message like a distant step parent trying to close a love gap with a Coach bag. it must be earned through the development of *strategic relationships* and strong verbal/written communication.
with a better understanding of these three fields and a lot of therapy, i have grown and accepted the function that all three fields play. so it is with an open heart that i welcome all three to hire me :)
-k
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In the professional world, the greatest part about PR is that it is a flexible industry. You touch on this ("the opportunity to combine two loves") and I think that this is probably the most valuable lesson a blossoming PR professional should know. The industry may not be as glamorous as its advertising and marketing counterparts, but it's just as valuable--some would argue more so in today's economy--and even more flexible in terms of pursuing a career. PR opens the flow of communication between any two entities, which, in a society that is based on social networking and extensive communities, cannot be replaced. Its versatility is just one of its many payoffs.
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