A public relations specialist is an individual who works for a company handling and organizing many functions that build and maintain strong relationships with the public. A public relations specialist may be given other titles such as communication specialist, press secretary, information officer, PR person, or media specialist, but their primary duty is to handle public communication for the company or organization they work for.

Businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and hospitals all rely on public relations specialists to maintain positive relationships with communities, investors, public interest groups, the media, their employees, and the general public. Examples of tasks that a public relations specialist is responsible for include managing community and media functions, consumer relations, and conflict resolution. One very specific role of a public relations specialist is the creation of press releases and the development of media relationships to make information about a company or organization public.

Depending on the company or organization, a public relations specialist may be required to work on site, off site, or travel. Hours can also vary depending on the working environment, especially when an emergency or crisis is possible. For example, high-profile companies may come into negative light for any number of reasons and they rely on their public relations specialists to perform “damage control” quickly and efficiently.

Experience and education requirements vary depending on the nature of the business or organization. The education required of public relations specialists may include a degree in public relations, communication, journalism, or advertising. Further skill sets include the ability to understand the public and relate to the public’s role in the success of a given business or concept. There are several professional organizations for public relations specialists, including the Public Relations Society of America, whose membership requirements may also vary.

In addition to working for a specific company, many public relations specialists may choose to operate their own business as a consultant or freelance public relations specialist for several companies or organizations.