All about Public Relations 👩🏽‍🎓💻: What it's like to be a PR major + Why Study PR

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their experience studying public relations at the University of Aberdeen. They explain what public relations is, including its various branches like media relations, crisis management, and influencer marketing. The video also covers the skills necessary for success in PR, such as communication, creativity, and self-motivation. The creator highlights the growing importance of social media in PR and emphasizes that the field requires passion and dedication. They also encourage viewers to explore different PR courses and think about their future career goals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Public relations (PR) is about creating, sustaining, and cultivating a brand image or reputation.
• 😀 PR includes various fields like political PR, nonprofit PR, crisis management, media relations, and internal communications.
• 😀 PR professionals handle media relations to manage an organization's public image, including getting news coverage and maintaining credibility.
• 😀 PR courses are diverse, and include modules like writing, media relations, campaign planning, and event management.
• 😀 PR education is project-based, requiring students to be self-motivated and passionate, as learning by doing is key to success.
• 😀 PR is increasingly linked to social media and influencer marketing, with many future roles focusing on social media management.
• 😀 PR professionals can work internally for an organization or externally in PR consultancies serving multiple clients.
• 😀 Key skills for PR include creativity, communication, project management, and the ability to work with tools like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and social media management platforms.
• 😀 PR requires strong writing and speaking abilities, as professionals need to convince others, manage negotiations, and promote ideas effectively.
• 😀 Communications degrees are often misunderstood as easy, but PR requires dedication, hard work, and a drive to perfect one’s skills for long-term success.
• 😀 The speaker suggests that while their specific PR course may not be ideal for everyone, the field of PR offers great career opportunities and diverse roles.

Q & A

What is public relations (PR)?

Public relations (PR) is all about creating, sustaining, and managing a brand's image and reputation. It involves handling media relations, crisis management, internal communications, and fostering relationships with stakeholders like the media, influencers, and the public.

What are some of the different fields within public relations?

Some of the key fields within public relations include political PR, nonprofit PR (for charities), crisis management, internal communications, and media relations. PR is a broad field with a variety of specializations.

What do students typically study in a public relations degree program?

Public relations students study a diverse range of subjects, including writing, media relations, campaign planning, event management, and digital media. The program is often project-based, with a focus on hands-on learning and real-world experience.

What kind of skills are necessary for a successful career in public relations?

Successful PR professionals need strong communication skills, creativity, leadership abilities, good writing, and an understanding of campaign management. They should also be good at managing projects and people, and have a passion for learning new tools and technologies like social media management platforms and design software.

How is public relations evolving with the rise of social media?

PR is increasingly tied to social media, as it enables real-time communication with audiences. Many PR roles are shifting toward social media management, influencer marketing, and building digital relationships with consumers, reflecting the changing media landscape.

What makes studying public relations different from other fields of study?

PR is dynamic and hands-on, focusing more on practical experience than exams. It requires students to be self-motivated and proactive, as success in PR is closely tied to passion and the ability to go above and beyond the basics.

What are some future career prospects for public relations graduates?

Graduates can work in various sectors, including PR consultancies, the public sector, political parties, charities, and even in industries like theme parks or airports. Many roles will focus on social media management, crisis communication, and influencer marketing.

What role does influencer marketing play in modern public relations?

Influencer marketing is becoming a major part of PR, as brands seek third-party credibility through influencers. PR professionals help connect organizations with the right influencers and manage those relationships to boost brand image and reach.

What tools and software should public relations students be familiar with?

PR students should be familiar with tools like social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer), graphic design software (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator), and video editing tools (e.g., Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro). Familiarity with coding tools like Dreamweaver is also beneficial.

What advice does the speaker offer for those considering a career in public relations?

The speaker advises that PR is not an easy field and requires hard work, passion, and continuous learning. Students should be driven, motivated, and willing to develop the necessary skills to succeed. PR is about mastering communication, organization, and leadership skills, and excelling in these areas will lead to success in the field.