What they do
Public relations officers are responsible for an organisation's communication with the general public, clients and other stakeholders. In many cases, they are also responsible for an organisation's internal communication strategies. Public relations officers use a range of tools including press releases, speeches, newsletters, in-house magazines and pamphlets. They may also represent their employer at news conferences and in interviews with journalists. Some public relations officers will also be involved in developing an organisation's crisis plan and will be responsible for keeping staff, shareholders, the media and the public informed in the event of a crisis.
Working conditions
Public relations officers may work in-house with one organisation, or as consultants, managing communication for a number of clients. In either case they will usually work in an office environment. They usually work regular hours, however, they may be required to work evenings and on weekends, sometimes at short notice, especially in times of crisis for their employer.
Tools and technologies
Public relations officers work mostly with computers and other office equipment such as telephones, photocopiers and fax machines. They may use special desktop publishing software when designing pamphlets and brochures. In order to stay up-to-date with news and current affairs they will usually read at least one daily newspaper.
How do I become one?
Education and training
To become a public relations professional, you usually need to study a degree in public relations, or a related field such as marketing, advertising or communication and media studies.
All universities in Western Australian offer relevant courses. Contact the universities you are interested in for more information.