Skip to main content

Public Relations Outcomes & Career Options

Public relations specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. They design media releases to shape public perception of their organization and to increase awareness of its work and goals. Public relations specialists, also called communications specialists and media specialists, handle an organization’s communication with the public, including consumers, investors, reporters, and other media specialists. In government, public relations specialists may be called press secretaries. In this setting, workers keep the public informed about the activities of government officials and agencies. Public relations specialists are different from advertisers in that they get their stories covered by media instead of purchasing ad space in publications and on television.

Educational Qualifications

Public relations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, communications, English, or business. Through such programs, students produce a portfolio of work that demonstrates their ability to prospective employers. Public relations managers plan and direct the creation of material that will maintain or enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.

Job Outlook

Employment of public relations specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The growing use of social media also is expected to increase employment for public relations specialists. These media outlets will create more work for public relations specialists as they try to appeal to consumers and the general public in new ways. Public relations specialists will be needed to help their clients use these new types of social media effectively. Employment of public relations and fundraising managers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Entering Salary

Sources:

Academic program information adapted from:
La Sierra University. (2016-2017). Undergraduate Academic Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.lasierra.edu/bulletin

Career information adapted from:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Public Relations and Fundraising Managers,  on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/public-relations-managers.htm (visited May 20, 2016).

Contact and Location

communication@lasierra.edu
(951) 785-2666
Gladwyn Hall, Room 113

Go to Top