Careers For Those Who Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations

Public relations is a rapidly growing field. Public relation specialists are needed more than ever. Because there are so many different avenues to shape public perception now available because of technology. .

Earning an online Bachelor of Professional Studies in Public Relations can open the door to careers in virtually every industry. Graduates learn a variety of topics, including digital communication, crisis management and running a marketing campaign.

It’s a job that is in demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9 percent growth in the number of jobs in public relations by 2026. They also report a median salary for public relations specialists of $59,300 as of May 2017. Some of the top-paying jobs were working for government agencies.

In Pennsylvania, the salary is even higher, at an annual average of $60,380.

Social Media and Public Relations

In every job listed below, social media now plays a significant role.

Because customers use social media, businesses, politicians, sports figures, celebrities, government agencies and nonprofits also have created a presence on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

In all cases, a public relations specialist needs to understand both how social media works and the culture around each individual platform.

Corporate Communications

In these positions, a public relations professional oversees all the communications released by a company. This includes all news releases and public statements. It may also include internal communications sent by executives.

Government Agencies

Public relations specialists in government agencies often deal with requests from the media for documents and information that are open to the public. They also inform the public of activities by their government through news releases and social media postings.

Sports

Every major sports franchise and many in college as well have sports information offices and public relations managers. They can oversee everything from making announcements on player acquisitions to helping promote special ticket sales or game day events. They also work as a liaison between the media and players.

Political Campaigns

Public relations specialists play an important role in running campaigns for public office. They work with candidates on crafting the right message to get out to the public. They also deal with requests from the media and oversee all social media accounts.

Crisis Management

Some public relations experts deal with handling communications when things go wrong. That includes everything from product recalls by manufacturers to politicians getting caught in a scandal. This is a special branch of public relations that is often stressful. But it can also be very challenging and rewarding for those who can do it well.

Those represent just a few of the places a public relations expert can work. Organizations across all industries need public relations professionals. With the spread of social media into almost every facet of life, they are more valuable than ever.

Do you want to learn how to get started in a fast-paced Public Relations career? Visit our Bachelor of Professional Studies in Public Relations page to Start Your Journey! Or sign up for more information using the form below.