kristina

This chapter, even though it’s just an introduction to the profession of PR, made me excited to learn more about the field.  It cleared up the confusion I had between advertising, marketing, and public relations.  I found it interesting that the profession of PR was the 12th most stressful job on the Forbe’s list one year.  Another interesting fact was that the profession of public relations used to be looked down on and not a respectable career.

I never thought about it being very stressful, but obviously it is.  Learning the dynamic model of the public relations process was valuable to know what all goes into public relations.  The research, planning, communication, and evaluation all affect one another and each of the 4 steps is important and needed in the process.  The role of values in public relations is also an important key in the process, which I’m glad to hear is the case.  I’ve always heard that PR/advertising is just manipulative and deceiving, so it was great to read that there are values in the public relations department, and to choose the organization that you want to work with wisely to make sure you agree with how they will communicate with the public so that you don’t have to jeopardize your values as a person.

I’m Kristina Fulton.  This is my junior year at Clemson University, but only my second year attending the school.  I transfered here for my sophomore year.  My first year of university was completed at the American University of Paris in France.  The reason I went there was because I was already living in France, so it was the school close to home.  I’ll come back to this later, but a few basics first.

I was born in France, and lived there for two years, and then moved back to the States where my family moved around quite a bit.  We finally made one last move back to France.  I went to an international school for the last two years of high school, and graduated with two other people.  So, I can always say that I graduated in the top three of my class!  Then, I went off to Paris to study communication.  

I have an older brother, who is a recent Princeton graduate with a physics degree (to say the least, I’m extremely proud of him).  I also have a little seven pound yorkshire terrier, named Tinka Tot (Tinka for short).  She’s amazing.  

Now, my parents are back in Greenville, and I’m here studying communication with a minor in French.  Hopefully I’ll land a job in PR in the future.

My definition of PR would be promoting a goal or a certain product of a company or getting a company’s name out in the world using any means possible.  I see the industry as very cut-throat and hard to break in to.  It’s also very hard, because you have to do just the right kind of promotion at just the right time for it to be noticed.  I agree with the definitions that say it is a “strategic management” and an “ongoing conversation between the entity and the public resulting in influence or change.”  That is a very good picture of what PR is, I think.  But, I don’t think PR can be put in a box, because each strategy will be a bit different for each entity and will look a little different for each entity.  You have to find what works best with what you are trying to promote.

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