Listed below are colleges and universities that offer online degrees or certificates in Public Relations and a detailed list of the programs that are offered.
For those who can handle pressure, love working with people,are not easily rattled, and have a passion for finding solutions, public relations may be a good field to choose. It is a great job for those who love being given a problem to solve that few others know how to handle.
It is the opportunity to literally be the saving grace of a company or organization. The task of public relations employees is by no means menial. Organizations care a great deal about how the public views them, because their funders or members are the public. As Abraham Lincoln said, 'a universal feeling, whether well or ill founded, cannot be safely disregarded.'
Pros of Entering this Field
- It is a somewhat new field, and a changing field, which means new opportunities more chances for success.
- You will probably not be bored. You will work with many people, many situations, and find multiple unique solutions.
- Creativity is an important part of every day work.
- It pays well.
Some things to Consider
- You will be working on deadlines. Public relations is very stressful.
- Be ready for a flood of information that must be processed and distributed differently to multiple groups according to that group’s need.
- Your first concern is the image of your employer, not simply informing the public.
- Sometimes a press release you write will never be noticed by journalists.
PR Myths
Hollywood sometimes portrays public relations professionals as spinners of truth whose job is to hide the truth about an organization. This is a common misconception, according to Ken Plowman, former Capitol Hill Press Secretary and Chief of Public Affairs in Iraq.
'The great irony is that if you lie to the media you will get caught and lose credibility,' Plowman said. 'You have to be as transparent as you can be.'
Public relations tries to make any situation a win win situation for both the public and the organization. According to Plowman, trying to be transparent helps the organization a great deal.
'Public relations are the advocates of the organization they work for, but also the conscience of that organization,' Plowman said.
Who will make a great public relations professional?
Creativity, initiative, and decision making skills are vital for success in public relations. You will often be given difficult situations to solve, and be pressured to find a lasting solution. Many times, there is no specific formula or rulebook for success. You need to be able to gauge situations and people, and then distribute information and policies in the most effective way possible.
Since communication is such a huge part of public relations, outgoing and confident people tend to do well in this field. Your work will be to fulfill the needs of multiple groups, which needs are often different or even opposing. Enthusiasm can make a huge difference in motivating others and finding appropriate compromises.
You must also be ready to work on a fluctuating schedule. If a company is unveiling a new product, you may be working long hours to prepare news releases, contacting media outlets, and doing many other things. If there is some kind of crisis, a company needs public relations people to immediately begin working to manage the crisis, to essentially save the company.
Examples of Issues PR Employees Handle
Imperial Sugar, a sugar plant in Georgia, provides nine percent of America’s sugar. The factory sits on over 800,000 square feet of land, and among its main customers are Walmart and General Mills. It is the main employer in it's town. In 2008 a terrible plant explosion injured 42 of its employees and killing 13. Not only that, but the accident caused millions of dollars in damage. How can this company possibly stay afloat? The public was angry, and so were policy makers. On top of that, profits dropped dramatically and employees were justifiably concerned.
The company, Imperial Sugar, did stay afloat, thanks to some excellent work by public relations professionals. Public relations professional’s job is to build rapport with employees, customers, investors, voters, and the general public. Their jobs range from writing news releases, working with media outlets, managing crisis communications, developing an organization’s image, and overseeing communication within an organization.
* Area of Study
