PR - Public Relations

Public Relations is a form of unpaid promotion.

PR tries to put a positive spin on events surounding the firm and can do this by:

writing and preparing press releases that are sent to newspapers and magazines informing them of upcoming events (perhaps the launch of a new product - The Angus Burger?)

Prepare and hand out company literature for potential customers to read and be influenced by.

Another job for PR is to try and respond to critics but in a good, positive way. To put a spin on it. For example if a company is caught out employing workers in Thailand who are getting poorly paid, the PR Dept will be on the case trying to argue that compared to other Thai workers they actually get a decent wage.

PR people arrange Press Conferences where the media can speak to people involved in the product or organisation for free. Think about Movie Stars publicising their latest blockbuster.

PR can also try to improve their image by arranging and organising donations to charrrrrriiitttteeeeeee (as Smashie and Nicey would say). So they look good and caring etc.

PR can invite in visitors or stakeholders in for a tour to try and develop good relations with them. Or even with the local community. Schools do this all the time! Getting parents in to see the new facilities or to show off some new initiative and show off how good we are!!!


One of the most famous faux pas by PR people was the blunder by Jo Moore who worked for the Labour Government. As the 9/11 attacks were going on she decided that "Today would be a good day to bury bad news". She knew the world's media had only one story to write so she tried to sneak her bad story out (I think it was to do with job losses) but unluckily for her, her email was leaked to the press. Jo Moore had to resign.