Public relations is a term many people know, but many misunderstand its meaning. Some people view it as advertising or publicity, but the field includes much more.
Ethan Lauren, sophomore public relations and broadcast and digital media production double major, shared insight into how he defined public relations.
“I would define public relations as all of the strategies and things that different companies utilize to be able to create a good reputation. Making sure that they’re perceived well and that they’re able to have that good reputation [and a] good client basis,” Lauren said.
To build a stronger understanding of public relations, Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, professor of communication and leadership studies, offered additional perspective.
“Messaging is important. If we want to get a message out to raise money for a certain cause, or to promote public interest in another cause, we have to be able to understand how to craft those messages to reach targeted audiences,” Pearson said.
Pearson also explained how public relations skills extended beyond the profession and applied to everyday communication.
“Even in the faith realm, for sharing your testimony with someone and explaining about your faith in Jesus. So it gives you the tools to building strategic messages that are tailored for certain audiences, and I think that is a skillset that can help everyone,” Pearson said.
Understanding how to communicate effectively can benefit people in many fields. Celeste Campos, sophomore marketing major with a minor in public relations, shared her experience learning about the field.
“I was first introduced to public relations because of an ambassador program that I am a part of, and I was being sent PR boxes,” Campos said. “So you hear PR boxes, and you’re like, ‘Oh, what does this actually mean? What does this make PR?’ So I learned that PR isn’t just simply about sending your customers gifts. It’s about connecting [customers] to the brand and the brand wanting to connect to customers.”
Public relations connects closely with business, but its principles also apply to anyone who wants to communicate effectively. Lauren explained why understanding the basics of public relations can be valuable.
“I think that everyone should know the basics of public relations because it is the basis of communication, [like] how you’re presenting yourself, the ethics behind it, what you’re willing to share [and] not share… I think that it’s just really important for everyone to have knowledge about how they’re going to present themselves, especially in business,” Lauren said. “If you’re going to be creating a business, you definitely want to know about how to have a good reputation and how to build trust.”
Many people never study public relations, yet the skills can be valuable in many careers.
“PR is kind of a hidden gem, if you will, but students who do become aware of it are very happy with it and glad to have that information at their disposal,” Pearson said.
Ultimately, public relations remained an important concept to understand, regardless of the field someone pursued.
