Letter to Cousin

Dear Kelli,

I know you have asked me many times what public relations is and I have simply answered that it is relations with the public, but I have decided to explain to you what it is exactly that I am studying in school. In official terms public relations is defined as a leadership and management function that helps achieve organizational objectives, define philosophy, and facilitate organizational change. Professionals in the public relations field help others establish and maintain effective relationships with third parties. However, the very nature of public relations is constantly changing and adapting to the needs of society which make it difficult to create a standardized definition.

Public relations may sound like a new term or a new position that has been created within the cooperate world, but public relations has been used for thousands of years in one form or another. Plato was a rhetorician, the forerunner to modern-day public relations, who wrote speeches for important government officials and helped to form public opinion over Greek matters. The Crusades, the actions of Martin Luther, and the quest of the conquistadores seeking El Dorado have all been examples of ancient public relations.

Public relations involves a wide range of disciplines that include research, fund-raising, multicultural affairs, issue management, media relations, community relations, employee relations, publicity, and promotion. A public relations professional has to be urgent, flexible and an analytical problem solver. The position demands a lot out of one person. A professional must be good in writing and editing press releases, planning special events, and public speaking. Communication is the foundation of public relations so a professional must be able to communicate a message to all kinds of people in every type of media effectively.

This is the profession I want to go into and that is why I am studying it. It is a profession that demands a wide knowledge of how to communicate effectively and I believe I can learn how to do that. The job may be high pressure, but I believe it is something that I can handle. It is a profession that allows you to work hard and reward you by letting you see the fruits of your labor.

 

Sincerely,

Courtney