Understanding the term "Public Relation" is a derivative of the two words : "public" and "relations". The word " Public " denotes group of individuals with common characteristics, applications and expectations. Also, the word public refers to a group of people who share a particular interest or who are involved in the same activity.

With the fore knowledge of public, the term "Relation" implies good rapport and understanding between two or more persons or things. Different relationship exist between individuals, government and it'd subjects.

WHAT IS PUBLIC RELATION

According to the British Institute of Public Relation : "public Relations is the deliberate, planned, and sustained efforts to establish and maintain mutual understanding between an organisation and its publics".
Public Relation is a process by which organisations establish and maintain good contacts with key constituent based on good attitudes and performances.

Functions of Public Relation

Public relation as a course of study has a special functions which are emphasized below :

Information: public relation functions to provide timely and accurate information to the media and public at large. The main objective of this information is to separate rumour from fact.
The main objective of having a PR department in an organisation is to create awareness of an organisation's policy and programmes.

The second core functions of public relation is the persuasive measures.
Persuasion :This aspect of PR is creating an initiative information with the mindset of shaping and reinforcing latent behaviour of publics about an organisation.
This aspect simple denotes that the organisation's policy is provided to ensures that publics understanding is achieved and knowing what's really affecting the publics and what the public need from the organisation.

Others functions is to maintain two-way communication between the organisation and its publics to ensure mutual relationships and good rapport with the media.

PUBLIC RELATION with its Allied Disciplines
This allied disciplines are sometimes taken for PR functions since they both deals with human aspects of an organisation.

Advertising : This is a way by which an organisation's promotional message are disseminated via the massmedia(print, electronic and social media sharing)

publicity: This are tactics adopted to reach the target audience such as street dancing , road shows and distribution of product samples.

Marketing: marketing deals with getting products sold to the highest numbers of customer profitability which ensures that product are transferred from production stage to the final stage.

Advertising :This is a way by which an organisation promotional message are disseminated to the massmedia usually by an identified and paid sponsor.

Propaganda: The scope of manipulating people into accepting their behaviour and idea, cause or belief by the propagandist.

Journalism: The practice of writing. Recording and editing news worthy events to the general public via it's suitable medium.


NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC RELATION (NIPR)
Decree 16 of 1990(now Act of Parliament) was mandated to promote excellence and professionalism in the profession in the country.
What are the mission of NIPR
They provide opportunities for members to meet and exchange opinions and ideas
To enhance the best practice of PR as a profession

Its objectives

They publish journals, books and practice papers and guidelines

They conduct research. Collect and disseminate information on the practice of public relation

They focused to established, prescribe and ensure the observance of high standard of the professional and ethical practice.

They promote and develop public relation practice in Nigeria

They endures in the quality and quantity of public relation textbook


The roles of public relation

Now that the objective of NIPR have been clearly stated. What comes next Is the role of Public Relation

This roles can be categorized into the following ;

-The expert prescriber
-The problem-solving process facilitor
-communication process facilitator
-The communication technicians

SERVICE OF PR TO AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
One of the task assigned to the department is the maintenance of effective two-way communication system among various constituents of the institutions both within and outside.

PR objective given to an Educational institution

- providing information to different publics about the policy and activities of the institution
- publicising the image of the institution.
- It enhance the performance of an institution meets its vision and mission
- Managing and ensuring effective dissemination of information
- organising activities and programmes in a bid to contribute to educational advancement in the society.

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONs AND EXAMINATION BODIES

PR also functions with an examination bodies like: Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Examination Council (NECO), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), e.t.c
The following objectives are common to their PR department
- promoting the vision and mission of the agencies.
- implementing the agencies policies within and outside the organisations.
- Establishing and maintaining a mutual relationship between the agencies and their internal and external publics.
- Maintaining two-way communication process.
- Managing the agencies reputation.
- Managing staff and crises within the agencies
- sensitizing the public on agencies activities.

PUBLIC RELATION TOOLS
Public relation has different tools to work with in relating with its publics. Conventional tools used by PR are:
- press release
- press conference
- publications
- Speech
- Press facility tour
- Sponsorship
- Special events
- Advertising - Publicity - marketing - Meeting - Exhibition. etc

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES UNDER PUBLIC RELATION
- Publicist - Copywriter - PR specialist - Spokesperson -Brand Ambassador
- Relations Administrator
-Content Manager - Content Strategist
- Director of Public Affairs
- Director of Public Relations
Editor - Lobbyist -Manager
Manager - Digital and Social Media
Managing Editor - Communications Coordinator
-Communications Director - Communications Editor - Communications Representative -Communications Specialist
Manager -Digital and Social Media
- Media and Communications Manager
- Media Coordinator - Media Director
- Media Relations Manage - New Media Coordinator .

O'level subject combination to study Public relation

WAEC subject combination (requirements) for Public relation
You are expected to have at least 5 credits on the required WAEC subject combination needed to study Public Relations in any Nigeria universities. This subject combination is also applicable to other O’level exams such as NECO AND GCE. The O level requirement, that is, the required WAEC subject combination for Public Relations are:
1. English Language
2. Mathematics
3. Economics plus any other two subjects.
4. A trade subject

Top 5 best PR companies in Nigeria
01. Absolute PR
02. Brooks and Blake
03. Alder Consulting
04. Sesema
05. Quadrant MSL Group

With the above clarification, this shows that PR is a professional course studied in all tertiary institutions.

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