Top 10 things I’ve learnt in
‘Intro to Public Relations’

The times are a' changing…
 With the now fast growing media
landscape, it is of vital importance to be
aware of the emerging media site and all of
its both positive and negative characteristics.
 During the class ‘Intro to Public Relations’
several things became clear to me….
 …. Here’s my 10 most important thoughts!

#1 Blogging is the way to go
 I started feeling like my grandmother when
the many different social media were
introduced to me.
 “I’m never gonna use Twitter… Facebook is
what I do, and I’d like to keep it that way!”
 Well… have to admit that I realized the
importance of communicating through social
media – it simply is an effective way of
staying up to date!

#2 Written and oral
communication
 I’ve always been aware of how vital these two
qualities are… but especially after doing my
PR practitioner interview, it became clear to
me, that if you’re not capable of expressing
yourself in a logic and correct way, there is
really no reason for you to go into the world
of PR. Period.
 The Associated Style Book is a helpful tool!

#3 PR is not only about
funny events
 I always thought that being a PR practitioner
would only be about arranging cool events
with even cooler famous people.
 BUT, I certainly realized that it takes a whole
lot more than just creativity and the urge to
be event maker in order to call yourself a
successful PR practitioner.

#4 PR persons are out in
public
 In many jobs you can go to work, do your
thing and go home as the same anonymous
person as you’ve always been…
 …In the world of PR you can’t!
 PR professionals are visibly out in the field
both in terms of the close relationship with
clients, blogging and the role as an event
maker.

#5 Unpredictable life
 If you want to have a career in the field of
PR, be prepared for the unexpected.
 Not only does a PR professional has to be up
to date… he/she also has to feel the problem
or crisis before it has even occurred!

#6 Tangible results
 Strategic PR people produce tangible results
in any well-planned, executed and tracked
campaign.
 It’s not just about making themselves
visible, but more a question of leaving
physical outcomes with the audience.

#7 PR professionals are
problem solvers
 I never knew to what extent PR practitioners
had to be capable of solving a crisis or even
more important, how they should hold the
ability of solving a crisis before it has even
occurred.
 They can’t just sit around and wait for things
to happen – they have to feel and cope with it
before it becomes a public dilemma.

#8 Don’t sell your soul
 Sleaze and falsehood do occur in the business of
PR!
 Eventually you will bump into people who
rationalizes bad behavior, lies to the
press, creates fake grassroots organizations or
attacks the integrity of people with legitimate
issues against your employer or client.
 What I learned was, that you don’t have to sell
your soul to be an effective corporate, political or
marketing communications specialist.

#9 Yes, sometimes it will be
boring
 Even though no day is alike in the world of
PR, you still should prepare yourself for
numerous days with routine research, note
taking at meetings, proof-reading someone
else's material etc.
 A day in a PR persons life can be just as
unvarying as a day for a factory worker.

#10 If you have a dream…
 …follow it!!
 The world of PR can be cruel and competitive.
 I have learned to own my passion and not to
let anyone deter my future goals and dreams!