Defining Public Relations

In an ever changing world that is fast paced and sometimes almost impossible to keep up with, one could only imagine definitions of words or how people interpret them change. Depending on where you are from, how you were raised, how you interpret things and just your environment in general, sometimes words have different meanings to different people. Public relations are an example that is ever changing and is able to be defined in more than one way. Within this paper one can learn of different definitions as well as being able to compare and contrast those definitions.

Definition 1

From an online search looking for a definition of public relations, Wikipedia said the following, "Public relations (PR) is the art of managing communication between an organization and its key publics to build, manage and sustain a positive image. In other (non-PR) words, "public relations" is a PR euphemism for some kinds of (what used to be called) propaganda. The term "public relations" is itself a piece of propaganda about such kinds of propaganda." The explanation of public relations also went on to say that it "is the art and science of managing communication between an organization and its key public constituents to build, manage, and sustain its positive image."

Definition 2

A random search led me to a website that is a business community which said, "The aim of Public Relations is to establish two-way communication, provide knowledge and create mutual understanding between an organization and its public on whom its failure or success depends." Being able to understand and communicate not only to the people but to or about the organization is important too. The site went on to say, "Lack of communication within different groups, lack of information about events, organizations or people leads to misunderstanding between organization and its various public. Creation of friendly environment, establishment of understanding, provision of information is what Public Relations is all about." The most interesting fact that was stated within this article was that even though definitions may be different anyone can make a solid conclusion about public relations:

Ð'* It is managerial function;

Ð'* It is based on two-way communication;

Ð'* It is planned;

Ð'* It is deliberate;

Ð'* It is based on organizational policies and performance;

Ð'* And most important is that PR's activities are based on public interest.

Definition 3

From a marketing perspective a definition found through answers.com said this about public relations, "Form of communication that is primarily directed toward gaining public understanding and acceptance. It tends to deal with issues rather than specifically with products or services. Public relations uses publicity that does not necessitate payment in a wide variety of media and is often placed as news or items of public interest. Because public relations communications are placed in this manner, they offer a legitimacy that advertising does not have, since advertising is publicity that is paid for. The practice of PR is used to build rapport with the various publics a company, individual, or organization may have (i.e., employees, customers, stockholders, voters, competitors, or the general population). Publicity releases, employee-training seminars, and house organs are examples of instruments used in public relations. Financial public relations, a specialized branch of the profession, is concerned with corporate annual reports, stockholder communications, and the disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission."

Personal Definition

Just from doing research about this topic of public relations I can draw my own personal definition. After all, there are so many and they all seem to be right! As I see it and my own personal definition of public relations it is the concept of an organization telling the public about something. Whether that something be a product, news, someone etc, the basic idea is about spreading knowledge or making someone aware of. In other words, being an in-between for an organization and public to communicate ideas and or opinions.