What is public relations?

When I tell people that my major is public relations, most people respond with, "What's that?" At first, I didn't know either. This post will give a detailed explanation of what public relations (PR) is and what this career field entails.

According to my textbook, “Public Relations Strategies and Tactics,” public relations is "a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics." This definition has been approved and accepted by the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America).

The text also says, "[it] is the management function that identifies, establishes, and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the various publics on whom its successes or failure depends."

PR is the management of communication between an organization and its publics. As a PR major, one must posses these essential career skills: Writing, research ability, planning expertise, problem solving ability, business/economics competence, and expertise in social media.

I happen to have all of the above. That's why this major is perfect for me. The marketing minor is the icing on the cake. The two pair well together, like champagne and strawberries.

Did you know PR is a female-dominated industry? Females make up 70 percent of the public relations field, and they make good money too. PRWeek reports that the average vice president in corporate public relations makes $137,000 annually. That's with an undergrad degree.

The book also gives a few reasons why PR is a more attractive career field for women.

• Women find PR work a more flexible environment for juggling family responsibilities.
• Women earn higher salaries in PR than in comparable fields such as newspapers, radio, and television.
• A woman can start a public relations firm without a lot of capital or even work out of her home as an independent consultant.
• Women are perceived to have better listening and two-way communication skills than men.
• Women, because of college courses in the humanities and the liberal arts, are often considered better at such skills as writing, giving presentations, and organizing events. There is still that whole wage gap crap, though, so, unfortunately, women still only make about 80 cents for every dollar that a man makes. I'll leave that issue alone for now.

PR is like brand and image management. That's why it's imperative that public relations professionals have advanced speaking and writing skills. They must be able to effectively deliver a message about a business to the public. One wrong word or miscommunication can lead to the destruction of a brand. Ethics, values, and psychology also play a large role in PR, with it's first principle code of conduct being "Tell the Truth."

I'll be pursuing a career in public relations because it's a perfect match with my natural gifts and talents. It's a female-dominated career field without too many glass ceilings. There is the potential to meet many new people, learn about new and existing brands, and make plenty of money.

With my personality, degree, and internship experience, I will (just like 93 percent of PR graduates at Baldwin Wallace University) find an entry-level position in PR within three months of graduating. Then, hopefully, I'll be the first Ramona Smith, comparable to the next Samantha Jones from "Sex & the City." Ha!