All about PR = Public Relations

[heyitsme]

Does anybody know of a good place to look for PR jobs in the LA area? I'm having a bit of a hard time coming across any. I have about 2 years experience working for a top entertainment PR firm, (where I also delt with fashion), but I would like to gear more towards strictly fashion pr.

 

[attia]

hey, i've been doing work experience in PR all summer (2 months and a week) and i can tell you it was everything and nothing i expected at the same time.

i'm only 16 and its unusual that i got the summer internship with the little experience in work that i have. im quite lucky in that respect. especially in london, competition is fierce and sometimes you have to rely on specialised experience you have regardless of whether it's in the industry you hope to enter (hope that makes sense)...

i absolutely LOVED sitting in on meetings, helping organising the events, assisting with mailings, making press releases, sometimes writing press releases. there's always something going on, it's very creative whilst being structured at the same time, but i think that depends on the agency you work for. the only thing i'd say is that sometimes you have to work from the bottom, unless you form your own pr company. the directors have the most interesting - yet hectic jobs. hope that helps

 

[attia]

oh and p.s, i'm not being paid for my work exp. but i see it as though the experience is invaluable..i mean they pay for my travel and food during the 'learning experience'... kinda reminds me of the ema scheme in the uk..

if you live in the UK and your parents earn <30k a year, you can get up to £30 a week for continuing your studies after 16. which i think is pretty cool. type EMA (stands for education maintenance allowance) into google and i think its the first one that comes up. would def. help contribute towards travel food textbooks etc. tc xx

 

[clutch22]

Does anybody know of a good place to look for PR jobs in the LA area? I'm having a bit of a hard time coming across any. I have about 2 years experience working for a top entertainment PR firm, (where I also delt with fashion), but I would like to gear more towards strictly fashion pr.

Here are some places you could try:
Eileen Koch
Pierce Mattie
People's Revolution
SSPR
SKS
Paine
ID

 

[omgitschristine]

For those who work in Public Relations, specifically fashion PR, would you mind describing what you do on a typical day? Also, where do you work and what is your job title?

Thanks.

 

[clutch22]

I don't work in Fashion PR...yet...but I do Consumer PR for some pretty big companies.

Every day is different, but here are some of the things I'm working on today:
· Gave an internal presentation about fashion blogs, who they are, why they matter and how PR should approach them (mentioned tFS like 10 times!)
· Drafting press release for announcement next week
· Developing media outreach plan--who to tell about the announcement and how to tell them
· Drafting media tour proposal to take place in NYC before the holidays--where we'll fly our client to NY to meet with broadcast and print media
· Wrapping up holiday gift guide inclusions with long lead magazines(3-month lead time...all monthly mags like Lucky, Vogue, Maxim, etc)
· Tracking coverage on all clients, flagging anything urgent/relevant
· Developing visual reports to showcase PR results to clients

 

[ShuggaStiletto]

Do PR/Ad. agencies require or prefer a certain major or track of study in their prospective employees? I'd like to study general creative arts (maybe concentrate in either art history or graphic design) and possibly minor in writing & communication, not sure what the background for PR/Ad. should be though. I feel like connections and having your foot in the door through internships may be the way to go...

 

[Cicciolina]

From what I've seen no, not really. It's not like accounting, where you need to do an accounting major to be an accountant (at least that's the case in Australia - ie study law to be a lawyer, med to become a doctor, etc - vocational degrees).

My cousin works in PR and she told me to not study PR or marketing in uni - one of her colleagues studied Liberal Arts, the other studied Accounting, and they're both doing the same job as her (and to add to that, she actually did study PR!) I think with PR they look for other skills and characteristics, rather than what major you did And yes, definitely internships and building contacts really helps.

 

[Sharper2002]

I'm thinking of majoring in PR in grad school, although I know there are many people who would argue that it is not necessary. For those in PR, do you think I can benefit from majoring in a public relations program? I currently work in political advertising as a project manager and I'm looking to switch.

 

[kellness]

From everyone i've talked to i've heard the same, not really necessary. Most look toward experience in the workplace rather than grad school. I guess it could depend though in what type of PR you want to get into.

 

[valcee]

PR is something you can pick up on the job. You don't need to STUDY PR to get into PR. You can study advertising, marketing, journalism or even something non-related like Political Science, Business Administration. PR agencies look for diversity.

Besides, you can't really study PR. PR is made up of social skills(you know whether you got it or not),a creative imagination(you need that to create various story angles for your client),patience(you need that when explaining to a client who manufactures toys why they will never be featured in a wine and dine publication), a good grasp of MS Office(a requirement in most jobs), helps if you know a bit of Photoshop but not a must,aware of all the latest trends in consumer behaviour and last but not least concise writing skills. Journos hate long winded press releases, better be as succint as you can and put additional information in fact sheets or backgrounders.

 

[Sharper2002]

Thanks for the answers. I guess I'm just really at a dead-end in what I want to do and I really would like to do PR, but I'd have to just get my big break.

 

[BetteT]

It seems to me that working in political advertising would give you a lot of skills that a PR firm might want. It's not that much different in what they do ... except PR includes getting the word out through more than advertising ... it's getting mentions in magazines, creating buzz, getting the product out to where it will be noticed by the public, events, etc. It's the same goal ... and the sucessful people in both feilds can write well, have a handle on the pulse of the target audience and can find creative approaches to creating a demand for their clients' products. Not a big stretch ... I wouldn't think.

 

[Sharper2002]

Thanks BetteT. There is a lot of PR involved in political advertising, I agree; however, I work in the print production side, so there just isn't any writing involved for me.

 

[BetteT]

Here's a thought .... if you can't make the jump to a PR firm yet, can you find a way to transfer or move towards a department in your own company, that gets you closer to the writers, where you can learn more about what goes on?

 

[Sharper2002]

I fear that won't be the case for me. I'm at a really small company, so I'm about as high up as I'll ever go now. So if I wanted to break into PR, I'd have to start over at another company.

 

[love.cat]

As part of an assignment i have to propose an event which has a justification, budget etc. I want to create an event that brings together a group of people, photographers, designers, models, buyers etc that wouldn't usually mix as creativity usually happens- unintentionally - almost like warhols factories- but without the drugs and nastyness. At the event i will prehaps showcase young designers work on a catwalk and also have photographers prints for sale. However obviously to an event of this sort the guests would be invited, drinks would be free so where would the profit lie? Anyother ideas etc would be amazing Thanks

 

[Lee Lee]

Fashion PR

Does anyone know who did the PR for Net-a-Porter.com when they first started out in 2000 ? I know now they have an in house team. Failing that can someone recommend a PR company to for a new online fashion boutique. Any help or advice would be appreciated

 

[Yellowstar09]

Another interesting thread that I am subscribing too.

 

[MsBeej]

Being a PR manager for small brand... Duties??

I'm asking this question again because no one answered post #38...

Ok, currently I'm a freelance stylist but I'm looking to get into PR, preferably in house. There's a situation that might come up for me to do PR for a small accessories brand (or atleast interview with a strong recommendation).

I know a few PR managers on a friendly level, and as a stylist I interact with quite a few... but what do they really do all day? It seems as though the ones who work for smaller brands just lend out samples to stylists, but what else do they do?

I'm thinking coming from a background in styling & college degree, albeit unrelated, I should be able to do this job. I understand product placement, etc. Also, the place I want to work has such a small office- 5 people!

I would really appreciate if anyone has any info on what other job duties a PR manager who essentially lends out samples also does!