This Isn't Scandal. What's Public Relations?
You may have heard of the term publicist or Public Relations (PR) before, but you’re not 100% sure what it entails. Don’t be alarmed because the majority of people don’t know. I bet the closest image you have of a publicist is Olivia Pope and Scandal. Right? Gladiators Unite! I'm sure you've guessed it by now, but I'm a hardcore Scandal Fan. Well that’s not quite what publicists do. Olivia is just a small glimpse into the world of Public Relations. She's a great example of a Crisis PR Specialist. We'll dive into that with a future blog post. This is the number one question that I’m always asked.
Publicists are not Magicians. Here's what we do:
What's Public Relations?
Let me start with the definition of Public Relations. I'm going to the official source. According to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), public relations is defined as the following:
Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics." - PRSA
What the definition basically means is the professional maintenance (via a public relations strategy) of a favorable public image by a brand. People typically associate PR with celebrities, but that's just one area of Public Relations. Entrepreneurs should have a PR plan in place as well, since they have a public they are targeting. A Public is basically the audience your are catering to with your product or service.
What's a Publicist?
A Publicist is responsible for the management of an individual’s or organization’s brand. It’s her responsibility to implement a strategy that will aid in maintenance of a favorable public image between the brand its audiences.
A publicist is not your assistant, but we do a ton of #PR related tasks.
What does a Publicist do?
I’m glad you asked! A publicist may perform the following activities, but are not limited to:
draft press releases
put together an EPK (an electronic press kit)
pitch their client to the media- Top reason a publicist is hired!
schedule interviews
oversee their client's image (work with a fashion stylist if needed)
scan the media for any mentions, both positive and negative
manage any social media activity
set up photo or video shoots
help write speeches, media alerts, biographies, newsletters, blogs etc.,
plan events
plan press junkets
make sure all branding is cohesive
manage any crisis
manage media training
So I hope this provides more inside in the magic that Publicists create!
