Public relations (PR) are the practice of managing and disseminating information from an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) to the
public in order to influence their perception.
Public relations and
publicity differ in that PR is controlled internally, whereas
publicity is not controlled and contributed by external parties.
Public relations may include an organization or individual gaining exposure to their audiences using topics of
public interest and news items that do not require direct payment. The exposure mostly is media-based. This differentiates it from advertising as a form of marketing communications.
Public relations aims to create or obtain coverage for clients for free, also known as earned media, rather than paying for marketing or advertising also known as paid media. But in the early 21st century, advertising is also a part of broader PR activities.
Public relations specialists establish and maintain
relationships with an organization's target audience, the media, relevant trade media, and other opinion leaders. Common responsibilities include designing communications campaigns, writing press releases and other content for news, working with the press, arranging interviews for company spokespeople, writing speeches for company leaders, acting as an organization's spokesperson, preparing clients for press conferences, media interviews and speeches, writing website and social media content, managing company reputation (crisis management), managing internal communications, and marketing activities like brand awareness and event management. Success in the field of
public relations requires a deep understanding of the interests and concerns of each of the company's many stakeholders. The
public relations professional must know how to effectively address those concerns using the most powerful tool of the
public relations trade, which is
publicity.
Learn more in:
An Analysis of Eskisehir Metropolitan Municipality Activities in the Context of Public Diplomacy and City Diplomacy