Specific job titles and responsibilities range from one institution to another. Some of the most common titles in public relations include public affairs assistants, media coordinators, communications officers, public affairs managers and public relations consultants. Even though persons in a PR career are the face of the organization to clients and the public at large, they have to rely on the input of other members of staff in order to ensure that their message is accurate, logical, consistent and well informed. Having an organization wide PR week can help highlight the important role that public affairs plays in protecting the institution's brand and how other department's cooperation is important to the achievement of this goal.
So what are the different types of PR jobs? Public affairs assistants provide administrative backing to a public affairs manager or officer in the public affairs department. The assistant public affairs position is an entry level PR career and is held by persons who would want to get some experience before they can progress higher up the ladder. The assistant will carry out research for their public affairs manager before a key meeting, help coordinate media events and develop the material to be releases to the press after the public affairs manager or officer's approval.
The media coordinator is another of the more common PR jobs. Unlike the public affairs assistant who handles many different aspects of public affairs, the media coordinator is solely charged with media matters. They work to get the company's positive media coverage like getting corporate social responsibility events covered by the press. They have to have good working relationships with key persons in the different media houses that their target market would be likely to read or tune in to.
Though sometimes considered a non-PR career, the marketing manager does carry out public affairs responsibilities to a certain extent. Their core mandate of promoting the business goods and services also requires them to portray the brand in positive light in their interaction with clients and the public. The educational requirements for the marketing manager are slightly different from that of other PR jobs. They must have at least an undergraduate degree in business administration or marketing even though a public relations or communications degree is often acceptable.
One of the more senior PR careers one can go for is that of communications director. Their role is to prepare company correspondence to clients, oversee the organization of public affairs events and provide input in the drafting of speeches to be read by senior executives such as the CEO. The communications director must have excellent writing and speaking skills.
Then there is the public relations consultant who will work with a client organization on a project by project basis. They help design the public relations strategy and procedures for the firm and provide advice on the best approach to take to handle different crises. The public relations consultant will also be the one to liaise with the press.
Where possible, an organization's PR week should highlight to other members of staff the role of these different positions and how they help protect or shore up the company's bottom line. If you are a PR professional and are looking for the best PR careers, visit PRCrossing.com today and register for a free trial to take advantage of the opportunities in the PR industry.
