Public relations (PR) plays a critical role in the success of businesses and organizations. It helps define an entity’s brand, promote its messaging, and anticipate (as well as minimize) the impact of any unfavorable publicity.
Distinguishing between PR and advertising is important; they are not the same. PR involves earned media, which is media that results from providing journalists with information through pitches, interviews, press releases, and other such avenues, whereas advertising is paid media. The two can be used together, but they are not synonymous.