What Are the Different Types of Public Relations Jobs?

The field of public relations offers a lot of exciting opportunities for recent grads who are interested in learning about media relations and enthusiastic about helping companies promote their brands. If you’re considering a career in public relations, you might be wondering about the different types of PR jobs and trying to get a sense of which one is right for you.

Here are some of the most common roles within public relations.

Publicist

A publicist is typically the role people think of when they think of a PR professional. Based either an agency or on an in-house team, publicists work directly with clients to help develop and execute their brand strategy. They are also responsible for coming up with publicity campaigns and identifying the best ways for clients to promote their brands to the press and to their customers. Many publicists also work with celebrities to promote their personal brands and professional projects.

Copywriter

Another role that can be part of an agency or in-house team, a copywriter is responsible for writing publicity and marketing materials on behalf of clients. This can include everything from press releases to blog posts and is usually done in accordance with a public relations strategy created by the PR team. In addition to writing different types of copy, copywriters are also responsible for maintaining a consistent brand voice and identity across multiple channels at the same time.

PR specialist

Acting as the first point of contact for media outlets, a PR specialist is responsible for generating positive press coverage for clients by developing relationships with journalists and coming up with relevant story pitches. In order for these pitches to be successful, they have to serve two functions: 1) They need to resonate with journalists by being newsworthy items and 2) They need to represent the client in a positive light.

Social media manager

A social media manager is another potential role on a public relations team. This position can be based either at an agency (working on multiple client accounts) or an in-house team (managing the social channels of a particular company). Working to promote the brand on various social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the social media manager is responsible for creating engaging content, interacting with the brand’s community and measuring the success of various campaigns.

Spokesperson

Acting as the face of the brand, the spokesperson is responsible for making statements on behalf of the company. This role is generally part of an in-house communications or PR team and is tasked with handling interview requests, making TV appearances and responding to any criticism the company might face.

The world of PR offers many great opportunities for those interested in developing exceptional communication skills and helping companies to build and maintain their public images. The best way to know which of these opportunities is right for you is by taking on an internship and getting some hands-on experience.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as the Top 10 Things You Should Look For in a Company and find answers to common interview questions such as What Are Your Strengths?