By Austin Lacy
What is public relations? We hear about it all the time, but what really is it? Before I came to college I had heard the term, but wasn’t really sure what it was. Reputation, image and publicity were all words that I associated with the term, but these were all assumptions, I knew nothing concrete. Officially, public relations is defined as a strategic communications process that mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.
Knowing the true definition, which is not the only definition, of PR was enough for me. I knew that this was an avenue that I wanted pursue. Why did I make this decision?
In order to understand why I chose to pursue a degree in public relations a little back-story on myself is in order. I came into college 100 percent sure what I wanted to do with my life. I had known ever since I was a little boy that I wanted to be a sports broadcaster. I wanted to be on TV and talk about my biggest passion. Only to realize I didn’t. I realized quickly, by quickly I mean two semesters and a year of my college career wasted, that I did not want to go through with the process. I didn’t want to move away. I didn’t want to start at some low-level television station or some low-level professional sports team. Of course it would be awesome to have a job like that but I quickly figured out those jobs come few and far between. Awesome? Yes. Realistic? Probably not. I decided to choose a different path, and after hours of research and countless conversations with my advisers and parents I decided on public relations as my new major.
Why did I do this when I didn’t even know what PR was a year and a half ago? The answer is simple: flexibility.
The world of PR is endless. Want to work in a corporate communications role for a Fortune 500 business? Then choose PR. Want to work in Government? Then choose PR. Want to work for a professional sports team as a media relations specialist? Then choose PR. The list goes on and on and on. The world of a PR practitioner is endless. In my opinion, there is no other major that could allow you to work in so many different avenues like PR can. Not sure what you want to do with your life? Then choose PR. You won’t be disappointed.
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