Barcelona Principles? What is that?
When I first heard about the Barcelona Principles, I automatically thought of the Cheetah Girls dancing down the streets of Spain singing, “You gotta strut like you mean it, free your mind!”[1] It turns out that the reason these guidelines are titled ‘Barcelona Principles’ is because they were created by PR professionals who were meeting in Barcelona. These professionals from 33 different countries were all there for a summit hosted by the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication in 2010. In the end, they left with seven principles that still serve as the framework for effective communication campaign measurement today. PR industry professionals have since updated these principles in both 2015 and 2020. Essentially, the Barcelona Principles are all about setting goals, focusing on outcomes instead of outputs, moving…
Marketing vs. PR: What’s the Difference?
If you’re anything like me, you have probably wondered what makes PR different, especially when it comes to other marketing communications fields like journalism, advertising, and marketing. As a marketing major with a public relations minor, I am only just now learning the difference. In fact, before I took on my PR minor, I had interviewed a woman who works in public affairs for a project that was supposed to be centered around a career in my area of study. (Mind you, my area of study was just in marketing at the time.) I mistakenly thought that working in public relations was in the same boat as working in marketing, and while it technically is, these two fields are still very different especially when it comes to their end goals…
The Official PRSSA Podcast
I don’t know about you, but I love listening to podcasts when I’m driving. So, if you are anything like me, you’re going to love what I have to say next. The Public Relations Student Society of America has a podcast. I repeat: The Public Relations Student Society of America has a podcast! We already knew that PRSSA had it all, but seriously, this organization REALLY has it all! The podcast is called PRSSA Podcasts, and the episodes are categorized by topic. For example, they have a series of episodes called, “PR with the Pros” where they interview high profile PR professionals about their experiences in PR. PRSSA Podcasts also has another series of episodes called, “Student Stories” that spotlight PR students from around the globe. I applaud the makers…
PR Major vs. PR Minor @ KSU
Kennesaw State University (KSU) offers a public relations major program and a public relations minor program. The question is: which program of study is right for you? Let’s break it down. The public relations major at KSU is a 120-credit hour program (including general education credit hours). A student pursuing a B.S. in public relations will take 18-credit hours of lower division courses that cover topics such as researching, writing, public speaking, visual design, ethics and an introductory course that correlates with the students major (for me, this course was Intro to Mass Communications). Once the lower division courses are completed, the student will have the opportunity to be admitted into the School of Communication and Media, where they will take the classes necessary to complete their degree. The upper…
Networking, Networking, Networking
How many times have you been in a PRSSA meeting or a PR class and have heard the term “networking”? Most likely, all of you reading this blog post have been told that networking is like the master key into the world of communications. Networking is complicated and can sometimes be intimidating. Most people don’t know where to start when it comes to networking. Here’s the thing; you can’t be afraid of it. You can’t be afraid of the cold calls, out of the blue emails, or the “Hey, random question for you.” Just by putting yourself out there, you are extending your olive branch into the world of communication. I’ll tell you all a funny story. I have worked restaurant jobs while in college, and many customers like to…
What Can I Do with a PR Degree?
So, you’re thinking of majoring in public relations, but don’t know what careers it entails? Public Relations has many different avenues to explore from. The most common public relations career you will hear is a Public Relations Specialist. Here are five most common careers that public relations degree prepares you for besides PR Specialist. Public Relations Manager This is a mid-level management job for someone with 6-8 years of experience with PR. Some of their job duties include creating and maintain an appropriate and acceptable public image for their client by communicating programs and accomplishments. PR Managers also are equipped with fielding media questions and release information to address negative publicity and handle emergency crisis. Median Salary: $112,828 Social Media Specialist This role is designed to communicate with he public through…
What is Public Relations?
So, you’re a public relations major, but don’t know how to explain what PR is? A lot of people may not understand what the meaning of public relations is, or what the job entails. According to the PRSA website, the definition of public relations is, “Public relations helps an organization, and its publics adapt mutually to each other. It is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” To put it in more simple terms, you could say it PR refers to managing how others see or feel about a person, brand, or company. PR focuses on maintaining a positive image with handling media requests and inquires. So, I know what PR is, but what skills do I need to have? The most important…