All courses Public Relations (PR)

Public Relations Basics · Lesson 1 of 5

What Is Public Relations (PR)?

Public relations is the practice of managing how an organization is seen by the public, the media and other important groups.

1 Learn the concept

Public relations is the practice of managing how an organization is seen by the public, the media and other important groups. Unlike advertising, which you pay for directly, PR aims to earn attention and credibility through stories, relationships and reputation. This lesson explains the definition, the key types of PR and the terms you need to know for a successful campaign.

Paid advertising next to earned public relations coverageADVERTISING VERSUS PRADVERTISINGYou pay, you control the message andthe timing.PUBLIC RELATIONSYou earn coverage by being newsworthy.The media decides what to publish.Most businesses use both.
Advertising is paid and controlled. PR is earned and more credible, but you cannot control the result.

2 See it in action

  • Media relations: working with journalists and publications.
  • Reputation management: building and protecting a brand's image.
  • Community and event PR: engaging local audiences.
  • Key terms: press release, pitch, embargo and media kit.

Worked example

A newsworthy idea for a bakery

Not news: "We have new cupcakes."

News: "Local bakery donates 500 loaves to the food bank every Friday."

Why: it has a human angle, local impact and a number.

Check: ask whether a stranger would care about this.

3 Study an example

Example scenario

A local bakery sponsors a charity bake sale and tells the local newspaper. A story appears with a photo, bringing new customers who trust the coverage more than an ad.

4 Apply it and download

  1. Describe a business and one story it could tell.
  2. Say who would care about it.
  3. Choose the PR type that fits.

Worksheet Media pitch template and press list trackerOpen, print or save as PDF

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