Acknowledgement

I would like to express my sincere acknowledgement in the support and help of

my professor, Mr. Sudhir K Rinten for the wise ideas throughout the project.

It also gives me immense pleasure to acknowledge my roommate, Vasavi Dhir,

whose support and co-operation truly helped the progression and smoothness

of my project.

I would also like to acknowledge and extend my heartfelt gratitude to

classmate and friend, Abhishek Chaudhary. The project would be nothing

without his enthusiasm and encouragement.

Last but not the least, a heartfelt thanks to my family for their guidance and

contribution and help from time to time during the project.

Thank You!

Certificate

This is to certify that Ridhima Shukla, of BA (H) Journalism V Sem, a student

of Maharaja Agrasen College, from Delhi University has done her semester

project.

Date: 7th November 2011.

Mr. Sudhir K Rinten

Maharaja Agrasen College.

Table of Content

Title

1. Introduction

2. Past Review

3. Objectives

4. Need for PR

5. Tools of PR

6. Planning Process

7. Strategy for PR

8. Data Collection-LinOpinion

9. PR Strategy of LinOpinion

10. Data Interpretation

11. Campaigns

12. Finding

13. Conclusion

14. Limitations

15. Bibliography

Introduction

The Project focuses on Public Relations, its planning and strategies for a

campaign and those theory aspects which are very essential for understanding

the art of PR very well.

Also it includes the PR campaign of only one company i.e. LinOpinion which

has a very good PR campaign.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Public Relations as a term was first formally used by ‘Thomas Jefferson’ in the

year 1807, while drafting his seventh address to the congress delegates when

he scratched out the words “State Of Thought” and wrote “Public Relations”

instead.

In India, the term of course gained importance later through the Public

Relations Society of India (PRSI) in 1958.

Public Relations are a planned and sustained activity to help an institution

create a social climate favourable for its growth.  It is based on the fundamental

belief that the survival of any enterprise, public or private depends today on the

sensitive response to changes in public opinion. Public Relations include

activities of persons or organizations intended to promote understanding of and

good will toward themselves or their products or services.

The main goal of a public relations department is to enhance a company’s

reputation.

The International Public Relations Association defines Public Relations as

“Public Relations is the art and social science of analysing trends, predicting

their consequences, counselling organization leaders

and implementing planned programmes of action which will serve both the

organization’s and the public interest.” 

Public relation is a two way process.  On the one hand it seeks to interpret an

organization to society while on the other it keeps the organization informed

about the expectation of the society.  Fundamentally public relation is a means

by which an organization improves its operating environment.

The business world of today is extremely competitive. Companies need to have

an edge that makes them stand out from the crowd, something that makes them

more appealing and interesting to both the public and the media. The public are

the buyers of the product and the media are responsible for selling it.

Definitions of PR by some renowned people:

Frank Jefkins: Public Relations means what it says- relations with the

public. It is practically a self-defining term. It aims to create and maintain

confidence. It is a system of communication to create goodwill. It produces

that intangible quality or asset-goodwill, and earns credit for achievements.

K.R.Balan: ‘The discipline which brings out the rewards in generating

“mutual understanding” and the risks involved in misunderstanding between

individuals, groups, governments and nations in this restless world the shape

and content of which tend to be rapidly changing.’

Past Review

Public relations (PR) (according to Wikipedia) is the actions of a corporation,

store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and

the public, the community, employees, customers, etc.

Given the impact and growth of all things social the means, methods and

knowledge about Public Relations are being transformed and yet most PR

professionals have yet to recognize the need for transformation.

Looking at the essence of the two words, public relations, and comparing it to

current PR practices one must wonder where and when PR lost its way.

There are some PR practices that are timeless. And there are some things PR

people have done for years that are just as effective today. Here are some

aspects of PR that will/should ever go away:

Press releases

Traditional media relations - there is a big place for traditional media

relations. Furthermore, the Internet doesn’t mark the end of print media.

Many believed the advent of radio would kill newspapers too, but they're

still around.

Soliciting feedback from publics -- Two-way communications is and will

always be a "must- have" in PR work

Research -- whoever can figure out the best way to measure ROI of

specific PR activities will make a great deal of money.

Nevertheless, the traditional media will have to adapt to the changing nature of

information sharing, and they are already doing so. Hence, different forms of

media are used because we different content from each one.

When radio came out people were certain that newspapers would go away. The

rapidity of radio news seemed to negate the need for newspapers who were

reporting the news a day after it happened. Yet, newspapers survived. Then

along came TV, and with its speculation that it would replace radio and

newspapers. Still, radio and newspapers escaped demise.

Finally, the Internet was born. Now users can read the news, listen to podcasts

and online radio and even watch videos and TV shows.

About a year ago, numerous blogs were discussing the ostensible "death" of

traditional PR. The dialogue centred on the idea that the competition and

pressure of online media technology, like blogs, pod casts and RSS feeds, was

slowly rendering this kind of PR obsolete.

Yet, the PR industry continues to see steady industry growth. The simple

answer is that, in the wake of online media technology and advertising, the

demand for traditional PR and the ability to handle, control, and drive a

message effectively is more important than ever.

The core of traditional PR is both the delivery and the creation of the message.

This means developing different story angles for different publications,

matching the message to the medium, and shaping the pitch to sell the story to

newspapers, trade publications, business magazines, syndicated columns,

online publications, radio, television, and more.

Relationships between media outlets and PR companies, i.e. contacts, are like

gold. These relationships, often built on decades of collaboration, are

something you can't replicate.

These technologies have impacted the way the message is disseminated, but

not the message itself, which remains as powerful and important as it has

always been. Online media hasn't replaced traditional PR; rather, it's allowed

the PR sector to grow in numerous ways and reach more audiences, not less.

Whereas in the past, PR professionals relied on printed guides for information

about media outlets, more and more of that information is being moved to

online databases that include thousands of reporters and media outlets.

The web site is an essential component for a business and an extension of the

PR and Marketing plan. Many web sites now include an online pressroom

where releases and pictures can be posted.

Traditional PR isn't in any danger of dying out from online media; rather, it

will adapt and use new channels offered by such outlets as blogs, pod casts,

and RSS feeds.

Traditional PR services and the value they present to vast numbers of

companies competing in the fierce online marketplace are growing increasingly

important.

No matter the medium, someone's always going have to craft the message,

create an effective strategy for how the message is received, and ensure the

message remains powerful as it evolves both online and off.

Objectives

The main objective of public relations is to establish good understanding

by sharing a common problem or interest with the public.

Mutual understanding can be established only by sharing a common interest,

by communication and relations.

However, the following are the broad objectives of public relations:

1. To promote mutual understanding.

2. To avoid the risk involved in misunderstanding.

3. To ascertain public opinion and understand public attitudes.

4. To influence people.

5. To change the behavior and attitude of the public.

6. To enhance the patronage from the various sections.

7. To help in fund raising.

8. To persuade individuals, groups etc.

9. To connect misconceptions and clarify on criticism of its policies and

practices.

10. To promote goodwill.

11. To create and maintain the image or reputation about the company.

12. To forestall attack by the competitors or opponents.

13. To undertake a public relations education program.

14. To help the public to love life and work for better or for worse

without conditions.

15. To improve internal staff relations.

16. To liaise, counsel and advise.

17. To provide information about the activities of the company to the

press and writers.

18. To sponsor dealer and distributor relations schemes.

19. To undertake programmes like sales training courses for retailers,

wholesalers.

20. To establish press relations, publicity articles preparation, press

release, photographs.

Need for public relations

The main goal of a public relations department is to enhance a company’s

reputation. Staff that work in public relations, or as it is commonly known, PR,

are skilled publicists. They are able to present a company or individual to the

world in the best light. The role of a public relations department can be seen as

a reputation protector.

Public relations provide a service for the company by helping to

give the public and the media a better understanding of how the

company works. Within a company, public relations can also come

under the title of public information or customer relations. These

departments assist customers if they have any problems with the

company. They are usually the most helpful departments, as they

exist to show the company at their best.

PR also helps the company to achieve its full potential. They

provide feedback to the company from the public. This usually

takes the form of research regarding what areas the public is most

happy and unhappy with.

What the public wants to hear is a good story. Good PR is the

telling of a good story. The better the story, the better the

acceptance by the public and the better the public relations. 

Public relations is just one part of marketing, as marketing is made

up of many things. The good news about PR is the cost and the

effectiveness when it's in front of your target market.

Good PR agencies write press releases, distribute them to targeted

media outlets, make follow-up calls, and often have established

good relationships with many journalists.

In short, it harnesses word of mouth marketing – what many consider to be the

holy grail of marketing. If you can get people to spread your message it’s

incredibly effective.

It’s also worth noting that being actively involved in public relations and

developing good relationships with journalists can be particularly beneficial in

problematic times. The press will always report on bad things so it can be

especially helpful to have a good relationship with them rather than no

relationship at all.

People see editorial coverage as having much greater credibility than

advertisements. People tend to trust and believe what they read and hear,

making a successful public relations campaign highly effective.

Tools of PR

When people think of PR campaigns they think of getting their company or

brand into the mainstream media, but in actual fact there are a number of

communication platforms which can be targeted:

Traditional Media – this involves newspapers, magazines, radio and

television. For many local businesses obtaining coverage in local

newspapers and radio is certainly attainable.

Internet – in today’s technological age many web-based companies are

developing PR campaigns for the internet. These campaigns focus on

targeting relevant online forums, blogs and social networking websites to

spread a message. Benefits are awareness and building links.

Events – holding an event, creating a publicity stunt, and speaking at

conferences or other occasions are all types of public relations.

Advertising- Advertising is publicity but not all publicity is advertising.

It is the business of selling goods, services and ideas by inducing people

to want them. It is drawing attention of public by big public

announcement to a commodity or service with the aim of selling it.

Propaganda- it describes the political application of publicity and

advertising, also on a large scale, to the end of selling an idea, cause, or

candidate or all three.

Campaigns- consist of concerted, single-purpose publicity programmes,

usually on a more or less elaborate scale, employing co-ordinated

publicity through a variety of media, aimed at a number of targets, but

focussed on specific objectives.

The talk show circuit. A PR spokesperson (or his/her client) "does the

circuit" by being interviewed on television and radio talk shows with

audiences that the client wishes to reach.

Books and other writings

Blogs

Direct communication- (carrying messages directly to constituents,

rather than through the mass media) with, e.g., newsletters – in print and

e-letters.

Collateral literature, traditionally in print and now predominantly as

web sites.

Speeches to constituent groups and professional organizations;

receptions; seminars, and other events; personal appearances.

A press release- can serve a number of purposes. It is usually used to

announce an event but can be used as a hand-out, can become a position

paper, or can be used to educate the media about a topic. In any case, it is

always important to have something in writing.

When asked what type of press releases had the best marketing results,

marketing managers agreed that promoting products and services was, by far,

the most effective way to spend PR dollars. In fact, over 77 percent of those

surveyed said new product press releases were the most effective

announcements their company put out during the past year. When asked which

ones were the least effective they reported that personnel (promotions, new

hires, etc.) releases provided the lowest return on investment for dollars spent.

Please see the chart below for other types of press releases that do well.

Figure 1. Top List of Press Releases By ROI

Public Relations

Activity

Percentage

Responding

New Product Releases             77%

Technical Byline

Articles            64%

Case Histories             39%

Tradeshow Press Kits             22%

Newsletters             20%

Editorial Tours             19%

Financial/Business

Publicity            15%

Newspaper Publicity              9%

Personnel Releases              4%

Other              3%

Source: Business Marketing Magazine

Planning Process for PR Campaign

Public relations is not merely a process of getting stories and pictures into

newspapers. It has to be properly planned, orderly executed, and a number of

details need careful attention. Public relations costs money, requires

manpower, needs expertise, and consumes time and resources. So it should be

well planned and executed in an orderly manner.

Campaigns are a significant part of the public relations profession and should

be carried out with meticulous planning and thorough management.

RESEARCH

No matter what kind of PR activity is involved, research will be at the core of

it. Depending on what you’re doing, different research methods can be used at

various times.

SITUATION ANALYSIS

The research carried out should clearly define the current situation with regard

to the campaign. Depending on what’s involved, this might include an

organisation’s current situation in the market, how it’s perceived by customers

or staff or how it’s fairing financially.

Publics

The next step is to decide who is the audience to be reached i.e. local, regional,

national, or international. And apart from geographical area, it should be

considered if any specialized audience or a section of the community or

professional people is also to be reached.

Message

After deciding the public the company has to decide what message they want

to pass through the campaign, what is it they want the people to know about

them or what they want to tell or inform the public about.

Strategy

A strategy is a long term planning or the methods that a company adopts to

make itself a successful company. For a PR campaign also strategies are

required to be formed to so that they can create an impact or impression in the

minds of the people; as well as they can build a fair and favorable image in the

market.

Tactics

Along with a good strategy a company also needs to use some very good

tactics for its campaign because there are competitors in the market and the

company has to stand on top of all of them.

Time Scale

The public has to decide the time scale in which they will complete the

campaign. They have to set a specific time. Also the decision about the

commencement of campaign, duration, repetition, etc. is to be made well in

time.

BUDGET

Allocating the budget is an essential part of a campaign so all costs should be

taken into consideration.

CRISIS ISSUES AND MANAGEMENT PLACE

Risk is an inevitable part of some PR campaigns, so being thoroughly prepared

in case a problem does occur is paramount.

Evaluation

After deciding upon the above things the publicist should evaluate the whole

process to check whether everything is properly being done or not or whether

they have to add anything else or not, etc.

Analysis

After the campaign there should be an analysis of the entire process so that

they will come to know whether the campaign was successful or not and if not

then where it went wrong. If any drawbacks are pointed out then again the

whole process is repeated from the point of identifying the publics.

Planning is good for public relations people, and it can contribute to the

success of public relations activities. But, it takes time and effort. It can be

tedious, and it's neither glamorous nor exciting

In simplest terms planning is figuring out the best way to accomplish whatever

you want to do or to get wherever you want to be. The basic concept is clear,

simple, and straight-forward.

A public relations plan helps maintain self-discipline as well as being an

excellent informational tool. 

Strategy for a PR Campaign

A successful public relations strategy is not one that results in exposure in a

couple of national newspapers. To be truly effective, consistency is required –

public relations should be an on-going process, week after week.

“Public Relations is a craft that requires passion. You may need PR, and you

may even have the people to conduct your public relations, marketing,

advertising campaigns but that’s not enough. To be truly effective, your PR

campaigns must be conducted with passionate consistency,” says Joe Nicassio,

author of Guerrilla PR Brand Manager

Some strategies include:

Always assess what your competitors are doing. If they are receiving a

significant amount of press coverage and you aren’t then why not? Once

one company becomes established in the minds of journalists when

writing about certain issues it often requires a PR agency to become

involved to change this.

Gaining media coverage is not the solution to seeing your sales explode.

It still follows the marketing law of targeting – exposure in a newspaper

that your typical customer doesn’t read won’t have much effect. 

Successfully communicating your message and receiving press coverage

requires two key skills.

1. The first is that you must have good basic writing and speaking

skills. The ability to quickly and eloquently get across what your

company does and why it’s different is particularly important in the

world of public relations.

2. Secondly, it’s no use having the first skill if you lack the creativity

to grab people’s attention in the first place. Public relations is the art

of communicating an interesting story. Combine creativity with

effective communication and media coverage is highly likely.

Strategic knowledge includes the ability of a practitioner to:

1. Manage the organization's response to issues

2. Develop goals and objectives for your department

Too often we tend to measure success in terms of the quality of the

communications products we produce (press release, events, etc.), but we

should strategically measure how these products helped us build mutually

beneficial relationships with our publics. Our strategic goals and

objectives help us measure this. We must remember "communication

products are not an end in themselves -- they are tools used in the pursuit

of desired relationships with key publics" 

Research knowledge involves the expertise necessary to:

1) Use research to segment publics

2) Conduct evaluation research

The PR worker must also be able to cope very well under pressure. He or

she must have the ability to cope with a barrage of questions from the

media and the public. 

Any first-rate publicist can carefully craft and execute a proper PR campaign

that will both generate a substantial amount of press exposure, and also help to

portray his or her client in a positive light.

Data Collection

LinOpinion is the public relations division of Lowe Lintas India, and one of the

country's leading PR firms. Established in 1994, LinOpinion is the exclusive

Indian partner for Golin Harris, one of the world's leading public relations

firms and a member of the IPG Group.

It employs over a hundred experienced communication professionals in six

offices across India.

LinOpinion currently partners over 75 prestigious Indian and multinational

companies as a brand image consultancy. it develops innovative brand

solutions and communication campaigns that project the goals and vision of a

client's organisation.

Some of the services offered include:

Media Intelligence: Image audits, media monitoring & analysis, and

measurement

Media Relations: Editorial media connect and strategic counsel

Crisis Management: Preparedness and media management

Corporate Training: Media training during normal and crisis situations

Value Added Services: Event management and creative services

Social Media: Connecting with online communities

LinOpinion’s strength lies in its talented PR professionals across India.

Vision- to set the gold standard in client service, corporate culture, and quality

solutions (conventional and new media)

Mission- LinOpinion is dedicated to delivering ‘smart communications’ to its

clients.

Network

LinOpinion is headquartered at Mumbai. Its network extends across Mumbai,

Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Chandigarh, Chennai, Lucknow,

Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kochi, and Jaipur.

Clients

It has a diverse client base varying from start ups to industry leaders, who turn

to the company for its unique approach centred on its specific needs.

Its clients retain a long standing relationship with it because of its professional

through the line communication; break through ideas leading to meaningful

results and our commitment to building trust with them.

PR Strategy

Its areas of expertise respond to the communication and business challenges

facing today’s companies.

Its approach to public relations is strategic. It identifies its target audiences and

then starts drawing up PR strategy to reach out to those audiences.

Its forte lies in the following areas-

Media Relations

The LinOpinion team understands how the media works and what kind of

information they can usefully turn into a story.

They undertake to train the client in tandem with a professional journalist so

that they are comfortable whether being interviewed for the print media, on

live TV or on radio.

It organises interviews, features and article placements for in depth coverage of

key issues.

Media Intellegence

LinOpinion offers various media intelligence services to enhance the PR

strategy.

Starting with a pre-strategy media positioning plan, it develops a blueprint as

per the client’s brief.

A thorough industry analysis in media coverage is done by their expert team.

Issues/Crisis Management

It helps to prepare for crisis as well as helps when disaster strikes. This means

it helps to prepare crisis manuals, intranet sites for key staff, media training for

key spokespeople as well as drafting media statements and advising on

communicating through crisis.

Corporate Training

Media Training:

The module covers the following areas:

Theoretical understanding of media and journalists

Hands on training for handling tv and press interviews

Counselling on message strategy and delivery in normal, hostile and

crisis situations.

Crisis Training:

This includes media training, crisis manual handbook, and preparation,

running crisis simulation exercises and setting up crisis teams and

systems with the company.

Advertising, Design and Creative

As a first ever for a PR agency, LinOpinion has set up a full-fledged in-house

creative and media team.

Clients use its services for devising brand logos, corporate identity programs,

tactical advertising campaigns, audio-visual films, brochures, direct mailers,

marketing kits, presentation templates and exhibition stalls.

Social Media

As traditional media migrates online, new influencers are being recognised in

bloggers and podcasters.

Expert in blending social communications strategies into multi-faceted

communications program, the LinOpinion team applies a research based

approach to identify the right mix of influencers and authentic means to engage

targets and drive word of mouth online.

Data Interpretation

PR Evaluation

LinOpinion uses various techniques to measure the effectiveness of PR

campaigns. Measurement techniques are customized as per the client’s

requirements with pre-decided key messages at the start of an activity as well a

mutually agreed deliverables.

Measurement techniques are

Perception audits

Planning v/s delivery

Key messages analyses-qualitative

Share of voice (SOV) analysis- competitive analyses

Cost benefit analysis (CBA)

Smart communications approach

LinOpinion helps both build and protect brands. It Helps organisations

project change.

It goes far beyond editorial media relations – it believes in delivering

sharp, high value ideas.

The smart communications approach brings together three Cs-: content,

contacts and creativity.

LINOpinion is a brand image consultancy. As an

organisation, Lintas has created IMAG or

Integrated Marketing Action Group, which looks

at providing a holistic service that can fulfil all

communication needs ranging from direct

marketing, rural communication, social

communication, event management and PR.

Strategic consulting is what most of LINOpinion's clients look for. While

media relations still is valued extremely high, the weightage is now shifting to

a more brand focussed approach. Lintas is known as a brand building agency

and LINOpinion shares the same philosophy.

CAMPAIGNS

It is Time

Hindustan Times

Challenge:

Hindustan Times, India’s 2nd largest English daily needed to regain relevance

and restore its emotional bond with its readers

Solution:

Redefining the role of a newspaper- from merely telling news to catalysing

change. LinOpinion defined ‘Social Inertia’ as the key obstacle that they as a

brand would seek to overcome through an important youth insight- that youth

believe change is needed in simple things all around us, and they want that

change now. This call for change was articulated in three simple words: ‘It is

time’.

Results:

In Delhi, Hindustan Times not only drew equal with, but surpassed TOI. In

Mumbai, a TOI dominated market; Hindustan Times grew faster than any other

newspaper. (In Mumbai, HT surpassed both TOI as well as DNA in terms of

readership preference post campaign In Delhi, HT closed the gap to TOI in

terms of awareness & readership and surpassed TOI in terms of readership

preference amongst dual readers post campaign.

(Mint Top of Mind Survey- Most Liked Ad, October ‘09 Mint Top of Mind

Survey- 100% scores on likeability, believability & enjoyment Campaign India

Pick of the Fortnight, September ‘09

Jaago Re

Tata Tea

Challenge:

Tea is a category that's traditionally grown market share with dedicated product

campaigns and positioning. Our challenge was to create a mother brand

positioning for Tata Tea. We needed to find an idea big enough to support and

grow a range of brands, and overcome competition from bigger brands. All this

was to be achieved with only one-third of the spends available to competition.

Solution:

It decided to make tea younger by connecting with young India. To do this, it

had to shift the standard category codes - from nurturing, bonding, and

rejuvenating to provoking and awakening. Don't just wake up. Awaken.

Results:

'Jaago Re', the mother brand campaign, resonates with consumers of all brands

within the portfolio. Campaign recognition was 86.3%, as against the

benchmark of 63. 4%. Brand association jumped to 98.8%, as against the

benchmark of 39.5%. Over 600,000 people registered to vote at jaagore.com, a

unique, non-profit initiative. Tata Tea overtook the competition without

spending on individual brands, with one-third the spends of competition.

For the brand’s Jaago Re campaign, which encouraged people to go out and

vote, it was not just advertising that played a role but also public opinion

created by a sustained and concerted PR effort.

Finding

Public Relation came into existence by the belief that if we do something good

for people then only the people will say well about the organization. Today's is

an age of competition. And to remain firm in the competition depends on how

efficiently the Organization manages its PR & projects the company's image.

Public Relation will not sell goods and Services but it is bound to create an

atmosphere which will make the free enterprise, a responsible enterprise.

Public Relations, in fact will prove to be the most effective tool for

communicating with the People who are still remote from industry for

convincing them that corporate objectives are ultimately in the interest of the

public.

Today’s business leaders need to understand the connection between PR and

organizational success. A seismic shift in the marketing landscape over the past

several years has pushed public relations to a new level of importance.

Reaching customers is a lot more complicated than it used to be when everyone

was watching TV or reading their regional daily newspaper.

The PR Mantra has now become pervasive. Neither an individual nor the

organisation & not even the government or a UN body can thrive or sustain in

this age without effectively strategizing PR

Conclusion

What we learn from this project is that Public relations include ongoing

activities to ensure the organization has a strong public image. It also includes

activities like helping the public to understand the organization and its

products.

Public relations are conducted through the media that is, newspapers,

television, magazines, etc. Publicity is mention in the media. Organizations

usually have little control over the message in the media, at least, not as much

as they do in advertising. Regarding publicity, reporters and writers decide

what will be said.

For effective Public Relations we should consider: What groups of

stakeholders do we want to appeal to and how? What impressions do you want

each of your stakeholders to have? What communications media do they see or

prefer the most? Consider advertising, collaborations, annual reports,

networking, TV, radio, newsletters, classifieds, displays/signs, posters, word of

mouth, direct mail, special events, brochures, neighbourhood newsletters, etc.

What media is most practical for you to use in terms of access and

affordability? What messages are most appealing to each stakeholder group?

Just as understanding the requirements of your market is important in selling a

product or service, understanding the needs of the relevant media is critical in a

successful public relations effort.

" The PR industry has turned from an individualistic approach to a more

collective one. It has certainly become more structured and organized, while

the media has become more receptive. Today PR agencies have turned into all-

encompassing media management services, where we now develop media

strategies, which are effectively picked up by various media, making it a matter

of complete teamwork."

Limitations

Disadvantages of Public Relations

Perhaps, the major disadvantage of PR is the potential for not completing

communication process. While PR messages can break through the clutter of

commercials, the receiver may not make the connection to the source. Many

firms’ PR efforts are never associated with their sponsors in the public mind.

Advertisements are often more eye catching than a small press release.

PR may also back-fire through miss-management and a lack of co-ordination

with the marketing department. When the marketing and PR department

operate independently, there is a danger of inconsistence communication,

redundancies in efforts and so on.

The challenge facing PR agencies today is getting into an enormous business

potential that exists in a dynamic market place like India.

The other challenges are retention of manpower and clients on a long-term

basis, devising innovative brand campaigns that go beyond media relations

and developing better measurement tools. As for opportunities, PR talent in

India is world class. With an increasing exposure to global brands, it is a

matter of time before we see Indians in significant positions in international

communication firms. Also, it is interesting to market Brand India to global

audiences.

Bibliography

WEBSITES VISITED

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_relations

http://www.frontpagepr.com/public_relations/

8_press_release_requirements.asp

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-public-relations.htm

http://www.linopinion.com/

Books -

Strategic Public Relations:-10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR

Manager's Guide to Excellence in Public Relations and

Communication Management