|
|
Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! |
|
Why use PR
Written by: John DurningArticle Overview: In simple terms, we think of PR as communications management. It creates awareness, educates and influences public opinion, promotes and protects reputations and encourages organisations to communicate.
![]() |
Free Download - Tips for dealing with the media By John Durning |
Why use PR
PR – the rationale
On the door of our office, we have a poster which sums up pretty well – albeit in a colourful manner – what public relations is.
“A man takes a girl out for a romantic evening. At the end of it, he tells her that he is the world’s best lover - that’s advertising. If he tells her she needs a lover and he’s the best man for the job, that’s marketing.
But if, before he can say a word, she tells him that she’s heard he is a great lover - then that’s public relations.”
You get the general idea.
In simple terms, we think of PR as communications management. It creates awareness, educates and influences public opinion, promotes and protects reputations and encourages organisations to communicate.
Public relations is almost always a key element in any communication mix - and if it’s not, it should be! PR is now a communication form in its own right.
While public relations can be applied to all sorts of individuals and groups, the activities generally fall into the following broad areas:
• Media Relations
• Government Relations
• Financial and Investor Relations
• Internal Communication and Employee Relations
• Community Relations and Social Responsibility
Within those categories, there are a whole range of activities which can be applied from crisis management at one end of the spectrum to event staging at the other (perhaps not so different, after all).
I’ve been in PR now for 20 years and have noticed attitudes to the profession have changed dramatically, especially in the past three or so years. More and more business people are recognising a need for PR to help them communicate either with their own staff, the media, their ‘stakeholders’. This is the age of transparency.
And how we, as PR practitioners, do business has changed. The scattergun approach is no good today. Clients need a sustained, measured, targeted programme if they want to get results. It may involve a specific aspect of your business or a strategic plan for the whole entity.
- John Durning, Durning Public Relations, PR & Media Adviser, Christchurch, New Zealand; ph 64-3- 365 2579; email john@durning.co.nz
Article Tags:
|
About the Author: John Durning RSS for John's articles - Visit John's website DURNING PR PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIA ADVISERS Durning PR was established in 1985 by John Durning, a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand. John Durning, FPRINZ, APR, managing director. Double PR industry award winner. Two decades plus in communications, having been a newspaper journalist for 10 years, including five years with The Press before establishing Durning Public Relations in 1985. A member by examination of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand. Specialty areas: commercial, sport, industrial, finance sector, tourism, property. Click here to visit John's website Putting together a press release Golden Rules for Crisis Management Power of the press release Communications Audit who hears your message Grammer Tips |
Related Forum Posts
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Four Secrets to Earning Income as an Author
Bootstrapping Your Start Up Business.
Coaching Tip: Identify Your Core Values
Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.



