Public Relations- What is the real meaning?

 So many people ask me all the time about my major and concentration. What exactly do I do? What is the difference between a publicist and a public relations person? Is a PR person the same thing as a promoter? The questions are on going. So today I set out to answer these questions.

What is Public Relations?

There are many ways to answer this. According to PRSA (Public Relations Society of America), public relations is defined as a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics. The dictionary defines Public relations as the business of inducing the public to have understanding for and goodwill toward a person, firm, or institution. 

Public Relations involves keeping the public abreast to a particular person or organizations. As a PR person or representative my goal would be to make sure the public knows the person or company that I am representing and sees them in the best light possible. A publicist deals with legalities and press, which I also aspire to do. That is the only difference between the two. To be a true expert my opinion and my opinion only is that you have to master both. 

What is the definition of a promoter?

The dictionary defines a promoter as a person who actively supports or favors a cause or person. 

A promoter handles the projects that the person or company has in the works. They are the messenger. They deal with the projects and not necessarily the person creating them. Unlike a PR person or publicist, a promoter may never meet the artist or the CEO of the company that they are promoting, the publicist and PR person on the other hand are involved daily. 

I love helping people and I also love writing. I always felt Public relations was a perfect career for me  because I could do both.