WHAT IS PUBLIC RELATION?
All living beings have relationships of one kind or another and that includes companies, institutions as well as people. Relationships can be good, bad or indifferent, and may change from time to time. To build relations, we need to communicate and interact.
Communications is a means by which we give as well as receive information. Public Relations is the most effective communication tool that companies and people have to build and maintain relationships.
Public Relations as the term suggest, broadly mean relations with the public and involves a whole range of activities.
The word Public refers to an institution’s or a company’s employees and customers who are directly affected by its policies and actions. In PR language the plural “publics” is used to refer all the people a company has to interact with at some stage or other. Public Relations is communication on behalf of an organization to a number of publics ranging from customers to employees plus the media.
As the late founder PR – Edward L. Bernays says that “main elements of PR practically as old as society; informing people, persuading people or integrating with people”.
PR includes publicity (Stories in the mass media with significant news, value), news conferences, company sponsored events, open houses, plant tours, donations and other special events.
PR is often referred to as a new or young profession or business. This supposed newness is sometimes given as excuse for misunderstandings about PR. People who are new entrants to the world of PR are often confused by its breadth, and fail to recognize the very simple purpose of PR, which is to create understanding.
DEFINITIONS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
It is difficult to define PR. Most definitions are descriptions of the functions of PR rather than true definitions.
Institute of Public Relations – UK (IPR)
“Public Relations practice is the planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organization and its publics”.
PR IS ABOUT
Reputation
Perception
Credibility
Confidence
Harmony
PR IS
Two way communication
Giving information
Creating understanding
Building and maintaining relationships
Gathering goodwill.
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