CLICK on the picture above to see how one practitioner merges both Public Relations and Marketing
The thing that I have noticed in public relations courses is the fact that there are indeed individuals and professionals that do not want to acknowledge the growing trend of the blending of both marketing and public relations. Some feel that public relations material from class should ONLY come from PR resources, but the fact of the matter is, we are in a profession that continues to evolve and change with time.
Some of the fundamental principles still are important, but what we do not want to do is close our eyes as a profession for the possibility to learn something new that could help improve our profession for the better. This continues to be a discussion involving public relations and marketing – who is under what discipline, who is responsible for what, and what are the different roles and labels businesses put under both. But the question is now.. is there really a difference between the two presently in 2010 going on 2011?
Todd Defren (author of PR Squared) shared how one professor at Arizona State removed his blog from her list because he was blending public relations and marketing together. Here is the link to the comments from this professor’s post on the subject from PR Squared. So, my question for this professor would be to ask what would sources that they deem appropriate for public relations – because public relations is influenced from many different professions and disciplines. From psychology to anthropology to sociology to business – public relations was built on the shoulders of giants and has evolved throughout the years. To imagine that public relations should be separated or not included in the same discussion as marketing is not thinking strategically in this day of age, especially with the emergence of new media and social media into communication and business practices.
Well, I have to say that Todd Defren is right on track. Marketing and public relations are indeed working together and becoming an integrated and more dynamic profession. Practitioners and other business professionals are seeing this happen before their eyes, but some of the gatekeepers in academia are not willing to compromise and make the necessary additions to their curriculum. If we were to have Marketing as a soda beverage, we shouldn’t be having Diet Marketing – Public relations has to be full on board and have regular Marketing! I say that public relations professionals need not just marketing classes and experience, but they need more business classes in general. We need to be able to work and understand business practices, communicate with other corporations, understand the logistics of business, and look at how public relations can help bridge some of these together with communication and new media practices. This is also important to note, especially since social media strategists are reporting to Marketing.
In summary, this is one professor that will continue to use PR Squared in her public relations and integrated marketing communications classes. Keep up the great work, Todd!
Hope you all are having a wonderful day.
Best Wishes,
Karen
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