“Tech PR – The Importance of Communicating Modern Technology”
By: Hailey McCloskey
In the age of Big Tech giants like Google, Amazon, Apple, and many more, the way we communicate with one another has become revolutionized. Technology is fast, easily accessible, and provides unlimited opportunities for users. As a result, tech PR has emerged as a popular career path for communications majors across the country. The chance to contribute to cutting-edge advancements in tech is an opportunity like no other. However, communicating complex technical information to the public is no easy feat.
Tech PR is vastly different from other areas of PR. The two main reasons being: tech is fast, and tech is big. Each day, new tech startups and Big Tech corporations are emerging with revolutionary technology. Simultaneously, government oversight for tech is tightening each day, stimulating constant talk around “busting big business.” For public relations professionals, staying on top of the trends – and most importantly, ahead of the news cycle – is crucial to ensure your client’s success.
As everyone knows (probably from teaching your parents how to use emojis), technology is difficult for a vast majority of the population to understand. Not everyone is tech-savvy. That’s where PR experts come in. Say, for example, your client is launching a new product. When writing a press release to announce the launch, the general public does not need to sift through all the harsh technical jargon about the product. People want to know what makes the product unique, how user-friendly it is, and when they can get one in their hands. PR professionals are experts in streamlining that information, ensuring the public hears everything they need to know concisely. As technology advances and becomes even more complicated, the ability to effectively translate technical information will become all the more vital in tech PR.
Tech PR doesn’t solely apply to the public, however. It’s also necessary when dealing with government entities. Congress has conducted several Senate Judiciary Hearings to investigate the privacy policies and data collection practices of various Big Tech companies. From a PR perspective, events like these would fall under issues or crisis management, a necessary evil when working communications.
While tech PR can be complicated, it can also be rewarding. It allows you to invent, to create, and above all else: have fun. For all you know, you could be in charge of the PR for the next Amazon Alexa, the next iPhone, or Google Drive. The opportunities are endless, and you never know when the next “big thing” is right around the corner.
In the age of the Coronavirus pandemic, we’ve become increasingly reliant on technology’s ability to keep us connected. Whether you are a student, an employee, or a CEO, technology played a vital role in your day-to-day life this year. Over the past ten months or so, we’ve all seen the power of technology firsthand. A majority of companies will likely integrate WFH (working from home) into their culture long after the pandemic ends. Technology will be playing a very important role in our lives for years to come.
So, whether you are a seasoned PR professional or a recent college graduate trying to find your footing, perhaps you should try your hand in technology PR. The ability to communicate effectively is a timeless skill that follows us everywhere, and technology is the new frontier.