Hacks & Flacks

A podcast about our jobs

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"Did Google just kill PR agenicies" or "Online News Releases"? NO

There has been a big hubbub about the recent changes at Google and what they mean for PR agencies. Hypothetically speaking, here is what it all means.

[matthurst]

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It’s been said that Public Relations has a “PR problem”; while the majority of people aren’t sure exactly what a PR does, almost all of them seem to have a negative impression of my profession. So when people ask about my career and I tell them I work in communications and marketing, their natural follow-up is usually “what does that mean?” Contrary to one popular misconception working in PR is not synonymous with the “Press Release”, which is just one tactic in the arsenal of a Public Relations professional. In fact working in PR has so many connotations that the PRSA led a rebranding effort in attempt to help redefine our work, or at least clarify what we do in the most transparent way.

Most would call my work in Public Relations, although depending on who you ask, you might get a different answer; in grad school we called it Public Communications, which helps distinguish our responsibilities are not limited to working with the press. If only my colleagues knew that calling myself a PR rep was the best shorthand for all the work our profession does: everything from researching public opinion, to crafting marketing strategy and crisis communications plans, to writing press releases and blog posts, to media relations and publicity which our profession is best known for.

Read more on The Flack's blog at MatthewHurst.com

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What does PR mean?  NYTime's Stuart Elliot details the latest efforts to redefine what Public Relations means...

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an oldie but a goodie

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