From the day that i decided to study PR i had one single question: How can PR Practitioners don't need a degree in public relations? To become a lawyer you have to study law so why don't people who decide to enter the PR Industry don't have the need to study public relations? Especially now where the industry in booming?
Is it because Public Relations is all about character and the gift to persuade people? Before deciding to study Public Relations many people were telling me that public relations is 80% character and 20% knowledge. But can you coin the term "professional" to a PR Practitioner who hasn't studied or public relations?
Everyone agrees that education plays a key part in establishing any profession. So why don't professional bodies, organizations and businesses enforce and impose the need of education and training to all PR practitioners?
The CIPR Code of Conduct encourages " professional training and development among members of the profession". But let us not forget that only 8000 PR Practitioners have become members which means only 1/3 of the PR Practitioners in the U.K.
Of course education and constant training is important in order to keep up the pace with our fast-moving society. Technology, politics, economy and society are constantly evolving and it is inevitable for the PR profession not to be affected by these changes. So, is education and training a way to be up to date with this constant changing world that we live in? If education is the solution for better practice of the profession should'nt it be obligatory?
Kirsty O'Connor, a Leeds Metropolitan PR student, expressed her own personal opinion on the subject by sending PRWeek's magazine a letter entitled " Forget English grads and hire PR students". In her letter she supports PR Degrees by adding that those who decide to enter the industry and haven't got a degree in PR, usually quit. Is it because a PR degree might prepare the student of what he or she, might be facing in the future?
5 comments:
I think you don't need to study PR like for law or medecine because there is no much theory to learn about PR: it's much more about practice! I don't think you absolutely need to study how works the media sphere or how to be creative, some must think it's better to practice it in the work industry... But personally I think our MA in Westminster is defintely a bonus compared to those who want to work in PR but just haven't thought of all things our teachers highlight to us and all the practice they help us to do;-)...
PR is not (directly) about life or death and there is no fixed steps to become a good PR practitioners。 Personally i do think a bubbly character, a pretty face, a good speaker give bonus to one's PR career.
i agree with natalie and ran (i liked the 'pretty face' comment). I think that only when you start working in PR you can fully understand it; that is why case studies and examples of previous pr campaigns, we analyze in class, are so useful to us!
I think in order to name PR as a true profession, a degree is required.
Before studying MA in Uni of Westminster, I have to confess that I had no idea about the history as well as such theories as ethics. It is quite surprising when lots of people nowadays working in PR but they do not consider what is right, what is wrong. I mean PR may not kill someone like a stupid doctor does but it can tempt many people to do the wrong things. Let's say terrorism.
I believe you need education to help you practice PR, though you need to have basic qualities before you choose to enhance them.
We are learning the workings of the PR industry and its ethics. I know there is only so much you can teach in class, the rest will be learned on the job but atleast what you learn in class will benefit you!
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