So... What Do You Do?

By: Gerry Alvarez

https://www.rankinpr.com/what-is-public-relations-and-do-you-need-it/

An unforeseen struggle I experienced while pursuing my public relations degree was addressing people’s confusion about what PR professionals actually do. I’ve had multiple conversations with family members who have confused public relations with either public affairs or international relations, which has led to quite a few awkward encounters where I have to explain that I’m not studying either. Along with general confusion about what it is that I study, I have had many people ask me what makes PR different from advertising or marketing. When I first arrived at BU, I had trouble answering this question because, to a certain extent, I had the same question myself. My views on PR were limited to firsthand experiences, leading me to believe that PR was only about the relationship between a brand and its customers. However, the more I have learned, the easier it has become to explain this difference.

I quickly learned that PR is so much broader than I originally imagined. As my understanding of public relations grew, so did my love of the industry. I originally thought the variety in a career in PR was limited to either in-house or agency work, but learning about the potential career paths I can go down, such as internal, investor, and even influencer relations. Now, when I get asked what PR professionals do, I know exactly what to say. PR is about the relationships an organization has. These relationships aren’t just limited to its customers. It's relationships with its suppliers, investors, and even employees. The job of PR professionals is to maintain these relationships and to ensure there is strong communication between each of these parties.