Is your goal to pursue a career in public relations? If so, there are many options to choose from. Every organization in today’s society participates in some form of public relations. The public relations professionals for these organizations perform varied tasks. They send news releases to journalists, create strong relationships with journalists and other members of the mass media and conduct in-depth research on existing and future clients. The duties of a public relations professional may already be information you are aware of. Wondering which kind of public relations you will partake in after graduation? In this blog post, we will examine the job of a public relations professional involved with the sports and entertainment industries.
If you are a sports lover, you may want to look for a job in sports public relations. The good news is that there will likely be a high demand for careers in this field because of the growth of media outlets. These specialists organize information which moves between the various sports teams and the press. How do you think the public received information on the NCAA March Madness Tournament? You got it—public relations professionals exploit sports news. Creating public interest about specific sports events, promoting teams by getting the word out and helping with fan volume in the stadiums and arenas are all tasks a PR professional would perform working in sports.
Now that you understand what you will do in this field, you probably want to know specifics like work schedule, right? Even though the job may be filled with excitement, you will have to work hard to be successful. As a PR professional in the sports industry, a seven-day work week is very common during the team’s regular season. If you end up working for a large university or professional organization, the PR staff may be sizeable. On the other hand if you work for a smaller program, there is a chance you may be the only PR person.
Another popular field of public relations which should be considered is entertainment public relations. It is estimated that the growth of employment of the public relations industry between 2010 and 2020 is around 23 percent. Along with the sports industry, entertainment should provide a decent number of jobs for those seeking an adrenaline-pumping career. This type of PR requires an individual who is competitive by nature, deals well under a high-stress environment and is able to fill the needs of the clients they may encounter. If this field sounds appealing to you, be prepared to write blog posts, news releases and emails on a regular basis. In order to achieve greatness, outstanding written and verbal communication skills are a must. If you feel like you are a socially awkward person, this may not be the career path for you. Excellent people skills will build the relationships you need with clients and the media.
Public relations is not all about publicity. In the entertainment industry, people work in communications as well. The jobs in publicity typically revolve around forming news about a specific group or individual. Those working in communication construct messages directed to the public. What does that mean exactly? Well, let’s say our former Weber State University and current National Basketball Association (NBA) star, Damian Lillard, has a “bad news” day. These communicators work to relieve the negativity that Lillard might be taking during this period.
Generally, we all go to school to find a job where we will make money right. How much does a public relations specialist make? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual wage for this occupation was $54,940 in 2013. The top 10 percent made just over $100,000. The bottom 10 percent made around $30,000. Several factors can determine how much money you will make in this field. Location, experience and company type all play a role in what salary is given.
If you are not interested in sports or entertainment, you are not without options. As mentioned before, every organization in almost any industry needs public relations. Without PR, companies would not be able to communicate effectively with their publics. Apologies, organization of events and key information regarding changes would not be possible without public relations. Pick an industry and let your communication skills lead you to success.
Sources:
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall01/latimer/
http://www.workinentertainment.com/blog/the-skills-needed-for-entertainment-public-relations-jobs/
http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/public-relations-specialist/salary
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