Defining Public Relations

Defining Public Relations

Keith Ducote

University of Phoenix

MKT 348

Instructor Jackie Perry

May 30, 2006

Defining Public Relations

Public relations, as a field, is a multibillion dollar business practiced by more than 200,000 professionals around the United States. The need for additional sufficient public relations has sparked an increasing growth in numbers and in respect within the past thirty years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, public relations will be one of the fastest growing fields between 1998 and 2008. This paper shall define public relations including my own definition of public relations and three additional definitions from different sources. Next I will briefly compare and contrast these definitions throughout the paper.

In thinking of a personal definition for public relations, I would proceed that public relations is the process of communication from an organization to the public. Surprisingly, public relations have been defined in many different ways. However, most seem to be similar. The following sentences will provide three additional definitions of public relations from various sources. According to (PRSA, 2006), The Public Relations Society of America defines public relations as "helping an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other." (Seitel, 2004) states that public relations "is a planned process to influence public opinion, through sound character and proper performance, based on mutually satisfactory two-way communication." (Managementhelp, 2006) alleges that public relations "is an ongoing activity to ensure the company has a strong public image. These activities include helping the public to understand the company and its products. Public relations are conducted through the media including newspapers, television, magazines, etc. Public relations is often considered as one of the primary activities included in promotions."

Looking back at the assorted list of definitions for public relations, one would suggest that, yes, public relations does have many widely differing definitions and some are lengthier than others. However, the brief definitions of public relations seem to describe or portray a better meaning. In comparing my definition of public relations to the other sources definition, I find that the only meaning similarly relative to mine is that of the Public Relations Society of America's definition. The comparison of likeness is that both of our definitions contain the words organization and public(s).