How to Stay Connected in the World of Public Relations
By Kelsey Littleton, Account Supervisor
During school you learned the importance of networking, and you’ve most likely used those skills to land yourself a job, but now what? Do you stop networking? Have you met everyone you need to know? Of course not! Networking is a lifelong activity that will help you in every stage of your career and now that you’re out in the real world, you have even more networking opportunities. Think of this blog post as a club and organization fair, but for public relations professionals like yourself.
Below is a list of different public relations organizations that a successful public relations professional would be smart to know about.
Public Relations Society of America
PRSA is the foremost public relations organization in America. If you are currently a member of its student association, PRSSA, get ready to step into the big leagues! As a member of PRSA, you have the opportunity to network with more than 30,000 public relations professionals. PRSA operates across the country to provide a network of mentors and advisors for working PR professionals. PRSA is also responsible for providing professionals with an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), which allows people to stay up to date on best practices in the public relations world.
International Public Relations Association
We’re going global with this one! The IPRA is PRSA on a global scale. If you are interested in public relations outside of the United States, this is the organization for you to get involved with. Its goal is to promote ethics in public relations practice, a skill that we all need to have in order to be effective and trustworthy communicators. Being a member of IPRA gives you the opportunity to network globally, participate in PR thought leadership, and attend global PR conferences.
International Association of Business Communicators
Keep your passport on-hand! The IABC is an association that supports thousands of business communicators around the globe. As a member, you have access to “innovative thinking, shared best practices, in-depth learning and career guidance.” In terms of networking, they have an online social network called “The Hub” where communication professionals can ask questions and receive advice. This is vital because public relations is always changing, and we as young communicators need to be ready for everything.
Association for Women in Communications
Ladies, this one is for us! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 61.3% of public relations practitioners are women – although some speculate that number is higher – and yet men still dominate leadership positions. That needs to change, and that is why the Association for Women in Communications is here! The AWC is dedicated to helping women reach their potential in the communications industry. Members have access to a career center, networking opportunities at the chapter and national levels, and webinars on topics specifically for female communicators, such as how to negotiate a salary.
National Black Public Relations Society
It’s no secret that public relations is a fairly homogeneous group of practitioners, but every day we work toward building a more diverse profession. That being said, there is still a lot that needs to change. According to a Harvard Business Review report the industry is only 8.3% African American, and that is why the National Black Public Relations Society is so vital. The NBPRS works to advocate for and empower Black communicators. The NBPRS offers an abundance of support to Black PR professionals from job opportunities and internships, mentoring and “peer-to-peer support” and a chance to learn how to advance your public relations career.
Hispanic Public Relations Association
As mentioned previously, the public relations industry is a fairly homogeneous group with practitioners who are a majority white. However, there is a place for everyone in PR and the Hispanic Public Relations Associations works to “serve as the voice for professionals working in the Hispanic communications field nationwide” and “empower its members through support, resources and education.” The HPRA offers networking opportunities between its members, as well as opportunities to learn best practices from PR industry leaders in the Hispanic market.
PR practitioners, never be afraid to dream big! The Page Society is where you can find the best and brightest public relations professionals, like Boston University’s very own Dr. Dustin Supa, Gary Sheffer, Dr. Donald K. Wright, and Raymond Kotcher. The Page Society’s purpose is to “unite the world’s best communicators to transform business for the better.” This organization is incredibly exclusive, only allowing top executives and academics to join, but don’t we all want to be the best communicators possible?
Going out into the world of public relations as a young graduate can be scary, but joining an organization like the ones above can help you stay connected, meet new people going through the same things as you, and teach you how to excel in the field of public relations.