A career in Public Relations is about dealing with all public aspects of an organization. Public Relations professionals are the face of an organization to the media and the general public. They handle everything from creating and managing publicity campaigns, making presentations, organizing events, conducting press conferences and media events, networking, lobbying and engaging in creative writing and media production.
Pursuing a Career in Public Relations
You can build a career in Public Relations if you have a flair for communicating and reaching out to others. If communication, writing, public speaking and other aspects of public relations come naturally to you, or if you have an interest in them, then you can be sure that you could become a successful public relations professional, even if you are yet to gain any working experience in the field. This area of expertise is all about communication and information, so make sure you always stay updated with what is going on around you at all times.
Public Relations Career: Qualification, Courses, Training
In order to start a career in Public Relations, you need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree in disciplines like Public Relations, Communications, Journalism or a related discipline. Some of the managerial positions in Public Relations may require post graduate degrees or advanced certification. Certifications such as PCPR or Professional Certificate in Public Relations and APR or Accredited in Public Relations could really increase your chances of success manifold.
Public Relations Career: Schools, Colleges, Universities
Some of the top schools, colleges and universities offering specialized degrees and certifications in Public Relations are as follows.
- New York University, New York, NY
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- Syracuse University, New House School of Public Communications, Syracuse, NY
- University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School of Communication, Philadelphia, PA
- James Madison University, School of Communications, Harrisonburg, VA
- Ball State University, Muncie, IN
Public Relations Career: Job Opportunities, Salaries and Recruitment
With the growing emphasis on information with every passing day, you do not need statistics to know about the growing opportunities in Public Relations. The jobs are expected to grow at 11% from 2008 to 2018. Public relations managers can earn $65.33 per hour on average.