A Definition of Public Relations

Since this blog covers public relations for businesses, let’s start by defining the term.

My Definition of PR: Listening to and influencing defined audiences to protect your organization’s reputation and motivate members of those audiences to act or think in a particular way.

Simpler Definition: Actively listening and reaching key people with impressions that positively affect their perception of your organization.

Even Simpler Definition: Building relationships.

There are more scholarly definitions out there:

“Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.” – Public Relations Society of America

“In their service to clients, public relations firms play a vital role in encouraging public discourse. The professionalism and objectivity of our firms helps clients engage in that discourse, and clients turn to us for our counsel and assistance to vigorously pursue their organizational goals in educating or persuading audiences that matter most to them.” – Council of Public Relations Firms

“PR is, really, communication management, but it’s not neccessarily to sustain a positive image at all times.” – Rana Rizvi, PR Student, Texas

“PR is the business of reputation” – Tim Banks, Infomob, UK via SMS Text News

You could write a book about the nuances of defining PR, marketing, employee communications, investor relations, etc. Don’t have time for a book right now, so I’ll just use this definition as a starting point for Common Sense PR.

I look forward to taking my definitions out for a test drive, and seeing what you have to say about how businesses (and individuals) communicate. As with most things written or said, I suspect the shorter, simpler definition is the one that says it best.

What’s your definition of PR?