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Who is a Public Relations Specialist?
If I was down to my last dollar, I would spend it on public relations ~Bill Gates
A goodwill and positive public image in the consumer market is required for building up the brand value of an organisation and maintaining it. An individual who opts for a career as a public relations specialist thus contributes to an increase in the sales of products and services of an organisation by maintaining its goodwill and reputation in the consumer market.
A public relations specialist job is to provide support to build the trust of the public in a certain brand. A public relations specialist directly functions in liaison with media outlets. He or she coordinates with media personnel for broadcasting and publishing of press releases.
Public affairs specialist duties include organising press conferences and events sponsored by clients for promotion. A career in public relations is all about taking the queries of media persons and the public on behalf of his or her clients. Here we will discuss how to become a public relations specialist in India and public relations specialist eligibility.
Public Relations Specialist in a Nutshell
Individuals who opt for a career as public relations specialists are professionals responsible for building up the brand value and reputation of an organisation. Public affairs specialists function in liaison with media outlets to promote positive public awareness of the company through external communications.
A public relations specialist spans various industries. Public relations specialist's jobs are to work in the house for an agency. They are required to possess several skills for effective functioning which include interpersonal skills, time management and an eye for detail.
Quick Facts for Public Relations Specialist
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Suitable for
Male, Female
Individuals can take up a career as public relations specialists, it is not gender-specific. Males, women, and others can choose a career as public relations specialists. The career of a public relations specialist is suitable for everyone regardless of gender. Whether a person is male, female or belongs to any other gender, he or she can opt for this career. A person’s gender does not affect his or her career growth.
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Any special needs
Yes
Everyone, including those with physical disabilities, is appropriate for individuals who opt for a career as a public relations specialist. The career as a public relations specialist is well suited to everyone, even those with special needs. Candidates with special needs can opt for this career. This career does not require much travelling or physical labour. Networking with media professionals is essential in the career of a public relations specialist.
Table of Contents for Public Relations Specialist
What is the role of Public Relations Specialist?
An individual who opts for a career as a public relations specialist is also known as a communications specialist or media specialist. He or she is responsible for handling an organisation’s communications with the public, consumers, investors, reporters and other media specialists. A public relations specialist employed by the government department is known as a press secretary.
Public affairs specialist keeps the public informed about the activities of government officials and agencies. Public affairs specialist duties include drafting press releases and communicating them to the media personnel working in the print and broadcast media industry. He or she drafts articles for a magazine, newspaper stories, television and radio special reports.
A press release includes a public issue such as health, energy, environment and issues that concern the organisation. Press releases are sent through the internet, social media and traditional media outlets. A public relations specialist is often responsible for monitoring and responding to social media questions and concerns. Public affairs specialist works functions unlikely to advertisers.
Drafting Press Releases
The Public Relations Specialist roles and responsibilities include writing press releases and preparing the information to be published or broadcast on media platforms. He or she is responsible for responding to the media requests for information.
Liaising with Media
The public relations specialist job description involves providing support to clients for communicating effectively with the public. Individuals who opt for a career as a public relations specialist draft speeches and arrange interviews for the top executives of an organisation. A public relations specialist contributes to building an organisation’s corporate image and identity.
Evaluation
Public Relations Specialist roles and responsibilities also include evaluating the results of advertising and promotional campaigns run by him or her. He or she determines whether the campaign or programme is compatible with the organisation’s public relations efforts.
An individual who opts for a career as a public relations specialist is responsible for evaluating the public opinion of clients through social media.
Types of a Public Relations Specialist
Here we have mentioned some of the types of Public Relations Specialist.
Communications Specialist: A communications specialist is a professional responsible for providing support to businesses with the management of all internal as well as external communications of the company. He or she is responsible for drafting media statements, taking media queries on behalf of the company and representing it to the outside world.
Social Media Specialist: A social media specialist is responsible for achieving superior customer engagement, website traffic and revenue with his or her expertise in using social media tools for marketing roadmap.
He or she possesses the knowledge of optimising content to improve public engagement on social media channels. A social media specialist is responsible for joining conversations on social media and responding to consumer's queries on behalf of the brand.
Media Relations Specialist: A media relations specialist functions in liaison with the media outlets to build a positive public image of the brand. He or she stays aware of what is going on within the company. A media relations specialist drafts press releases plans advertising campaigns, and organises events and conferences for clients or employers.
Publicist: Individuals who opt for a career as publicists are responsible for planning and executing strategies and campaigns that yield publicity and build a positive image in public for their clients or organisations. Celebrity publicist works on effective networking with media professionals.
Public Relations Executive: Public relations (PR) executives help a company, organisation, or government agency to maintain a positive public image. This may be done using different forms of media to convey a positive message to a target audience in a career as a public relations officer.
Social Media Manager: A career as a social media manager includes looking after the social media profiles of companies and trying to increase business with the help of social networking sites. A social media manager works for organisations to make money through social media other than being an influencer on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
What is the workplace/work environment of Public Relations Specialist like?
Individuals who opt for a career as public relations specialists work in an office environment. He or she is responsible for delivering speeches and attending meetings and community activities. A public relations specialist works in a high-stress environment. His or her work responsibilities include organising press conferences and promotional events sponsored by clients or employers.
A public relations specialist spends his or her working hours in interacting with marketing and public relations team members, company leaders and clients. He or she uses computer programmes to prepare public relations plans, draft press releases and develop external and internal mail content.
A public relations specialist may often require travel to work on-site with clients, and deliver presentations on behalf of the employer or client. He or she may often be required to work extended hours to meet the deadlines.
Does Public Relations Specialist require travelling?
Likely
An individual who opts for a career as a public relations specialist may often be required to travel to events sponsored by his or her client or employer. He or she is required to coordinate with media outlets to arrange interviews.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, On Call, Work From Home
An individual who opts for a career as a public relations specialist works full-time. On-call and work from home may often be provided in this career. A public relations specialist usually works a standard eight to nine hours. He or she may often be required to work extended hours to meet deadlines.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
Individuals who opt for a career as a public relations specialist work on both contractual and permanent basis. The contractual term completely relies on the requirement of the employer.
Work Place
Office
Individuals who opt for a career as public relations specialists work in an office environment. A public relations specialist uses computer programmes to draft public releases, emails and speeches. He or she may often work from home leisure but he or she is required to be in the reach of his or her clients at any time through phone calls or other mediums of communication.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai provide alluring career opportunities to public relations specialists.
Time Pressure
Likely
Individuals who opt for a career as a public relations specialist often required to work under frequent time pressure to complete tasks to meet deadlines.
Overtime Details
Individuals who opt for a career as public relations specialists may often be required to work overtime under stress to meet deadlines.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 35 Hours
Individuals who opt for a career as a public relations specialist work a minimum of standard thirty-five hours per week. The hours of work often get extended due to excess work pressure and deadlines. A public relations specialist is required to be in reach of his or her clients at any time.
How to become a Public Relations Specialist?
Steps to become a Public Relations Specialist
If you are someone who can communicate effectively with people and are interested in protecting the image of an individual or a company then a career in the Public Relations field will be one of the best options for you. If you are someone who wants to take up this career and looking for information on how to become a Public Relations Specialist in India then in this section we have discussed all the necessary steps required.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Public Relations Specialist?
When it comes to how to become a public relations specialist, the first thing that you should know about is the public relations specialist skills. Some of the essential public relations specialist skills we have mentioned below.
Communication Skills: A public relations specialist is required to possess effective communication skills in both written and verbal form. He or she is responsible for writing press releases and other materials for publicity for his or her clients. A public relations specialist knows which story will get more attention from journalists and hence he or she pitches the story accordingly. This is one of the most important public relations specialist skills.
Organising Skills: A public relations specialist is required to perform multiple tasks in a given time. He or she works under pressure. A public affairs specialist plans and executes promotional activities, organises press conferences, and events and schedules interviews. He or she is required to be organised to avoid mismanagement.
Interpersonal Management: A public relations specialist is required to communicate with a number of people on a daily basis. A public affairs specialist is required to form a network of media contacts to function efficiently and effectively. A public relations specialist has to take queries from media personnel on behalf of his or her clients. This is one of the most important public relations specialist skills.
Patience: A public relations specialist has to deal with numerous people and information provided by them. He or she has to remain calm in extreme situations. A public relations specialist has to work under excess pressure. He or she should not be starstruck by celebrity clients.
Popular Online Arts And Crafts Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Public Relations Specialist?
Internship Availability
Internships play a crucial role in establishing a successful career. It is a learning experience required to get a full-time job role. It brings industry insights and public relations experience which is very important for the future. One can learn about the functioning of the industry through internships.
A PR specialist should opt for internships during the semester break of an academic programme or after the successful completion of an academic programme. Internship increases the chances of getting a full-time job role in the same organisation.
A PR specialist intern is required to provide assistance in media pitching, press clippings, phone calls, and preparation for the launch of upcoming projects. He or she is required to research and assist with the preparation of music and project releases. Public relations specialist's jobs include media outreach planning, social media strategy, copywriting and managing events sponsored by clients and other administrative responsibilities.
What is the job outlook for Public Relations Specialist?
The career in public relations is vast. It includes non-profit organisations, book publishers, movie studios and corporate houses. There are numerous job opportunities for public relations specialists jobs.
A public relations specialist may work with various professionals such as book editors, music critics, film critics, music journalists, radio DJs, television producers, personal managers, recording artists, booking agents and record-level representatives.
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Frequently Asked Questions for Public Relations Specialist
Que. What is the average fee of a B.A. Public Relations?
Ans.The fee of B.A. Public Relations course varies depending on institutions. Government colleges charge lesser fees as compared to private colleges. The average fee of the programme ranges Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 300,000.
Que. What is the average fee of a postgraduate diploma in public relations?
Ans.Candidates who have successfully completed an undergraduate-level academic programme with an aggregate of 50 per cent marks are eligible for opting for a postgraduate diploma in public relations. The average fee for a postgraduate diploma in public relations ranges from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 800,000.
Que. What is the average salary provided to freshly graduates in public relations?
Ans.The salary varies depending on the skills and work experience of candidates. Employers prefer to hire candidates with prior work experience. Hence, candidates who possess prior experience of interning in a public relations firm pose a higher chance of getting a full-time role. The average starting salary offered to candidates ranges from Rs. 200,000 to Rs. 800,000.
Que. What are other programmes that one could opt to establish a career as a public relations specialist?
Ans.Several programmes that one could opt for to improve his or her communication skills and learn about the functioning of the PR industry are B.M.C. (Bachelor of Mass Communication), B.A. (J&M.C.) Bachelor of Arts (Journalism and Mass Communication), B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in Journalism and B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration) in Media Management.
Que. What degree do you need to be a PR specialist?
Ans.A degree, diploma or certification in communication, public relations, English, business, media management or journalism is required to become a public relations specialist.
Que. What qualification is required for public relations?
Ans.The qualification required for public relations is a bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, English, journalism or business and if you are interested you can also opt for a master’s degree as well.
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Did you know?
Fact 1
The United States of America alone has 7000 public relations firms
Fact 2
Social media press releases did not exist before the year 2000, as there were no social media
Fact 3
It is estimated that 35 per cent of people will retire from the PR industry in the next five to seven years
Fact 4
FedEx has won 40 design awards for its logo
