PR as Seen on TV: Is it All it's Cracked Up to Be?

The Expectation

Public relations as portrayed in the media has some wildly different ideas about what it means to be a professional in the field. My first introduction to public relations was — like any teenage girl — through my favorite movie, Valentine’s Day. One of the characters, Kara, is the publicist for a big-time football player — which seems like a dream career. However, after focusing on her work life, it quite literally seems like the job is all-consuming. The shot pans to her office, where she’s running on her treadmill, with her laptop open, phone in hand, and a stack of press releases on her desk. Throughout the movie, she is constantly running around putting out fires and even claims she has no time for a love life of any sort. And honestly, at 16, I was sold on the hustle and bustle of a public relations lifestyle. 

One evening freshman year, as I sat down with my roommates to watch Sex and the City, I was intrigued by the stark contrast that one of the main characters, Samantha, was painted in. Throughout the six seasons of the show, Samantha develops and runs her own PR firm. But this time, she’s never running around with two phones, yelling at an agent. Instead, she attends and throws lavish parties, always excusing her lifestyle choices under the guise of networking, and the contacts always come naturally to her. Always seen with her two assistants, wearing designer clothes, and traveling abroad, she portrays the “perfect” job. 

The Reality

But where does the actual field of PR fit into all of this? In my experience, it’s somewhere perfectly in the middle. While most of us probably won’t take networking as far as attending cocktail hour with our high-profile clients at a rooftop bar in New York City (although that might be the dream), much of PR is truly not necessarily about what you know, but about who you know. Attending networking events, mixers, and throwing yourself into any outside opportunities that arise can help to build a network of potential clients or future job opportunities. Samantha also drives home the point that it's important to work for what you believe in and in a place that supports you. To her, it was self-employment and high-end clients. But for any other PR pro, it can mean working for a company that stands by your morals through workplace standards and clientele or pursuing connections and careers in the specific industry you want to work in. As for Kara, while your career shouldn’t put you out of any outside life (it is the PR, not the ER!), there are some long days, quick turnarounds, and stressful situations. Learning how to successfully manage your time, delegate tasks, and step out of your work when needed can alleviate any stress that comes with those chaotic days. 

In the vast world of public relations, there are a variety of career options to pursue that best fits one’s skills, passions, and morals. While popular media often show only the extreme sides of the profession, PR as a field most typically highlights a well-rounded and ever-changing day-to-day demand. With the right connections and skill sets, any PR pro can be a little bit Samantha and a little bit Kara.

Lauren Brasher is a junior at Grand Valley State University studying Advertising and Public Relations, with a minor in Digital Studies and Writing. She currently serves as VP of Professional Development on the PRSSA E-Board and is on the PRSSA Outreach Committee. Next semester, she will be a part of GrandPR as an Account Executive. In the future, Lauren hopes to get more involved with both organizations and keep learning about the world of PR!