I am just beginning my career in public relations but a common problem I’ve already discovered is when I tell people what I do they always ask me to explain what exactly I do. While I don’t mind explaining every once in awhile, it would be nice if more of the general public actually knew what PR is. In an effort to understand why so many people view PR as a gray area, I decided to do a little research.

I found an interesting article declaring an upcoming “International PR Day” in India.  While the article is long past its shelf life, the topic itself is interesting - a day dedicated to bringing attention to the underappreciated efforts of PR professionals - what a concept!

So I thought, why not check and see if there is a similar holiday in the United States? A quick search of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) website determined that there is no such holiday in the United States (aside from regional days). What I did find was an article testifying to the fact that China also celebrates a similar holiday.

I can’t help but wonder if the U.S. celebrated an official (or even unofficial) holiday recognizing PR pros across the country, would more people outside the industry begin to recoginize what an integral role PR plays in the overall success of so many businesses? Who knows…but it’d make me happy if they did.  

International PR, International PR Day, PRSA, Public Relations Society of America

As part of his Africa, Join the Journey campaign, President Clinton’s social media team has enlisted viral videos, blogging, email newsletters and online pledge forms to spread the word about The Clinton Foundation’s work in Africa. President Clinton utilizes the blog as a platform for himself and others involved with the Clinton Foundation’s programs in Africa to relate their experiences to the Web site’s visitors. The topics of the posts vary from a group of children Clinton recently met on a soccer field in Zambia to Amy Lockwood, the Foundation’s HIV/AIDS Pediatrics Program Director, sharing a touching story about one of the many HIV positive children she has met. Through the blog, the people “on the ground” so to speak, are able to add color to the Join the Journey campaign by sharing their first hand experiences and convey a distinct message of hope and progress to readers.   More than 600 people left comments on President Clinton’s most recent post. Talk about an effective, cheap marketing plan…what a great way to spread the word about the positive changes taking place in Africa while at the same time showing the world how desperate the continent’s situation really is. Very touching and inspiring for this bloggerista.

Africa, Amy Lockwood, Join the Journey, PR Campaigns, President Clinton, The Clinton Foundation