Representing an organization to stakeholder groups is another function of public relations. Preparing documents, written and electronic, is another function of public relations. And marketing communications (MarCom) are messages and related … Representing a company or individual to the media is one of the more well-known functions of public relations. Eryn Travis has over 15 years of freelance-writing experience. For example, you'll want to give employees and prospective employees a positive image of the business, and make it seem relevant, successful and important, so people want to work for you. “Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing the flow of information between an organization and its publics. Many of us have done research at one time in our lives. She has written for "Aviation News Today" and was the managing producer and host for the cable TV news show of the same name. Effective public relations functions can also promote your organization, help communicate during a crisis or defend its reputation from attacks people make on it in the media. Public relations functions are designed to help build trust and credibility with groups that are important to your organization. A crisis communication plan developed by a public relations team typically includes determining specific logistics for expected reporters, the designation of an official spokesperson for the crisis, the development of targeted messages for internal and external audiences and training for company leadership on how to handle tough or hostile questions. Establishing, monitoring or growing an organization's or individual's online presence is another function of public relations. When relationships became the primary focus for public relations activities, spin (i.e., intentionally making something appear better than it is) became counterproductive to long-term public relations … It may have been for a class in school, or perhaps it was for a job we held at one time. Stakeholders are any persons or groups who have an interest in or could be affected by an organization's objectives or actions, such as the company's employees, lenders and government agencies. They help raise awareness about your organization as well as give it a chance to define, control and distribute its message to those both inside and outside your company. Content may also be written for another member of the company, such as a letter to employees from the CEO. The primary function of PR is to build a beneficial relationship with the public. Public Relations Research. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Public Relations Specialists, Lumen Learning: The Purpose of Public Relations, Public Relations Society of America: About Public Relations, American Physical Society: The Importance of Public Relations. The formal practice of what is now commonly referred to as “public relations” dates to the early 20th century. Specific tasks may include creating or updating Facebook pages, tweeting information and keeping an eye on what others are saying in cyberspace about an organization. Public relations agencies don’t buy ads, they don’t write stories for reporters, and they don’t focus on attractive paid promotions. The main role of public relations is to promote the brand by … She has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Maryland and is finishing up a master's degree in communication studies from West Chester University. Depending on the organization, spokesperson duties may also be handled by the public relations department. Media representation also includes monitoring and measuring news coverage of the organization or individual. Examples of content developed by a public relations department include company newsletters, blogs, speeches and annual reports. While media representation is a part of crisis communication, preparing a crisis communication plan and training leadership and employees on its components is handled by a public relations department. Often, a public relations department will work with another department to ensure a project fits with an overall company message. Protecting a company from a threat to its reputation is another public relations function. Media management includes developing and distributing both written and video news releases, pitching stories to journalists and responding to reporter inquiries.