Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing the flow of information between an individual or an organization and the public.

Public relations may include an organization or individual gaining exposure to their audiences using topics of public interest and news items that do not require direct payment.

The aim of public relations by a company often is to persuade the public, investors, partners, employees, and other stakeholders to maintain a certain point of view about it, its leadership, products, or of political decisions.

Common activities include speaking at conferences, winning industry awards, working with the press, and employee communication.

Specific public relations disciplines include: Financial public relations communicating financial results and business strategy. Consumer/lifestyle public relations gaining publicity for a particular product or service. Crisis communication responding in a crisis. Internal communications communicating within the company itself. Government relations engaging government departments to influence public policy.

Within each discipline, typical activities include publicity events, speaking opportunities, press releases, newsletters, blogs, social media, press kits and outbound communication to members of the press. Video and audio news releases (VNRs and ANRs) are often produced and distributed to TV outlets in hopes they will be used as regular program content.

In the FMCG space when you can align your PR strategies with digital, experiential and promotions, advertising, pointof-sale, in one synergistic force, the exponential returns we get on campaigns are phenomenal, says Lloyd.

For example, when Pringles wanted to launch the new flavorpacked Extreme range, we collectively developed an integrated campaign titled Express Yourself The campaign integrated across digital (consumers giving their most Extreme expression),experiential activations at bars, nightclubs and campuses, heavily supported by Public Relations, Point-of-sale and social media. The campaign was one of the most successful launches globally from a PR, experiential and social media perspective.

A press release, news release, media release, press statement or video release is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something ostensibly newsworthy.

Typically, they are mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to assignment editors at newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television stations, or television networks.

The use of press releases is common in the field of public relations (PR). Typically, the aim is to attract favorable media attention to the PR professional's client and/or provide publicity for products or events marketed by those clients.

A press release provides reporters with an information subsidy containing the basics needed to develop a news story. Press releases can announce a range of news items, such as scheduled events, personal promotions, awards, new products and services, sales and other financial data, accomplishments, etc. They are often used in generating a feature story or are sent for the purpose of announcing news conferences, upcoming events or a change in corporation.

PR job comprises a variety of activities from crisis communications to fund raising. PR professionals use many tools besides press conferences and news releases.

What is publicity? Generation of news about a person, product, service that appears in print/electronic/digital media. Why do companies employ this?

Marketing purposes or to enhance the firms reputation.

How should publicity be to be picked up by the media? Newsworthy Opportunities include new product introductions, awards, company sales and earnings, major new contracts, mergers and speeches by company executives.

The planning and staging of events to generate publicity is called press agentry. For print media PR person deals with editors and feature writers. For broadcast media, deals with program directors or news editors.

Most important PR tasks for any corporation is crisis management. When corporations have no plans for coping with crisis, the resulting press coverage can be disastrous.

Develop a dialogue between the company and the community. Best done by having company officers, management and employees contribute to the communitys social and economic development. Charitable fundraising drives, cultural or recreational activities and so on.

Dealing with elected officials, regulatory and legislative bodies and various community groups Public affairs.

Lobbying refers to informing Government officials and persuading them to support administrative action or legislation in the interests of some client.

Company officials have to speak at stock holder meetings, conferences or conventions, PR professionals often engage in speechwriting. PR people may sometimes represent their employers at special events, press conferences , they too should be articulate public speakers.

PR person may be responsible for soliciting money for a non profit organization or for a cause the company deems worthwhile. Charitable organizations, Labour unions, professional societies and other groups rely on membership fees or contributions.

PR person must communicate to potential contributors the goals of the organization and may integrate promotional tie-ins to publicize the drive.

Companys communication materials such as news releases, booklets, leaflets, pamphlets, brochures, manuals, letters, bulletin boards etc.

Sports Marketing Entertainment Festivals, Fairs and Annual events Causes Arts and Culture

Used to communicate a name, presence or even the philosophy of a company within business circles. These ads do not provide information about a particular product but rather communicate information about the company as a whole.

Covers the areas of

Non Product Advertising PR Advertising , Institutional Advertising, Corporate Identity Advertising and Recruitment Advertising.

To direct a controlled PR message to one of its important publics, a company uses PR advertising. When cos sponsor art events, programs on television or charitable activities, they frequently place public relations ads in other media to promote the programs and their sponsorship and create public goodwill.

Aimed at increasing awareness of the company and enhancing its image. Purposes served To report company accomplishments, position the company competitively in the market, reflect a change in corporate personality, shoot up stock prices, improve employee morale or avoid communications problems with agents, dealers, suppliers or customers.

A variation in Institutional advertising.

Companies use it communicate their views on issues that affect their business (to protect their position in the market place),to promote their philosophy, or to make political or social statement.

Used to build a foundation for future sales, umbrella campaigns to simultaneously communicate messages about the products and the company.

Companies take great pride in their logos and corporate signatures. The graphic designs that identify these are valuable assets and companies take great pains to protect them. What does a company do when it changes its name,logos,trademarks as and when it merges with another company?????

In Europe a corporate name change implies that a bankrupt business is starting over with a new identity. Productivity Products International changed its name to Stepstone.Inc, it faced an interesting dilemma. So rather than announcing its new name in the print media , Stepstone used direct mail targeted at customers, prospects, investors and the press. The Campaign was a success.

To attract new employees. Placed mainly by the HR department.