The PR industry in Nigeria is gradually getting saturated with the influx of more practitioners which may come off as a good thing but the question is do these guys have the professional expertise to represent a brand? Nike Fagbule, a PR expert with vast experience in the PR world run through some of the basics of becoming a professional PR personnel or setting up a PR agency.



Who is a PR personnel?

A PR personnel is in charge of a talent’s Image, perception and media relations. In practical words, a PR personnel is that one person who cares about a talent’s public image whether in the media or in people’s minds.



What does it take to be professional PR personnel?

Public relations is about managing a client’s reputation, to start with, one need to have a basic knowledge of the client been represented, the media, and the PR industry as a whole especially what it takes to be inducted into the Nigerian PR Institute.



What are the primary duties of PR personnel to a brand/personality?

Without been too academic, the major duty of a PR personnel is to use all forms of media and communication to build, maintain and manage the reputation clients; communicating key messages using third parties to select target audience, depending on the intended aim. Third party endorsement could be Newspapers, TV, Social media influencers, Blogs or whichever platforms that serves direct contact to the targeted audience.

Finally but also key is publicity monitoring. Sometimes, things don’t work, monitoring helps retracing back to the drawing board, and that way one can start from the scratch using Research, which could be through focus group sessions or questionnaires



What’s the need of engaging the services of professional PR personnel as to just putting out releases by oneself or manager?

PR goes beyond putting out press releases and being seen, it is about one’s reputation hence the necessity of engaging professional PR services. Some brands/artistes have contacts to the required platforms and might undermine the importance of using a publicist but a public relations expert already knows the potential crisis and is trained to be proactive in dealing with crisis which many of these brands or artistes can’t handle.



What distinguishes a professional PR from just any literate fellow that can construct a few sentences (aside the professional title)?

PR is not about writing press releases, it goes beyond that. It is also creative thinking, thinking up strategies. In whatever field one finds himself/herself, there are more people in that industry and the number of media houses, blogs and social media influencers are limited. Thinking up strategies and plans to enable one’s client stand out is the primary duty of a PR person as oppose to just sending out releases about new ventures.



What are the skills needed in becoming a professional PR personnel?

Good writing skills, being able to work without supervision, and ability to managing PR crisis spontaneously. Other research and evaluation skills can be acquired.



What are the best practices in winning a client over?

Different clients want different things. Understanding a brand and the brand direction would allow for easy pitching. A lot of clients are flattered when you understand what they are going. Having a good track record is also important.



Are there any necessary associations/groups or body to join?

NIPR and PRCAN

source: http://tushmagazine.com.ng/basics-professional-pr-nigeria/

cc

seun, lalasticala, mynd44

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super cute write-up

ok what should I do with this?

thanks

veekid:

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super cute write-up

Good Morning OP,
I kinda like your write-up. However, this does not totally represent what PR stand for. It is more about that.
The PR professional must be first and foremost be a skilled writer and speaker who knows a little about everything.
Some courses in PR include
Issues and Crises Management
Image building and perception
media relations
corporate communications
media management and monitoring etc

When u sit down for an interview and theinterviewer greets u by your Facebook nameGood day " Mr dopest freshest Real Nigga"Brother just pack your CV and run..

Actually PR is a million-dollar industry, ask around. Brands and organizations pay huge amount to get good optics

matbas1:
PR nonsense

Morning and thanks for your observation, the write-up is just the basics of professional PR, I agree with you PR is much more.

gmhc:
Good Morning OP,
I kinda like your write-up. However, this does not totally represent what PR stand for. It is more about that.
The PR professional must be first and foremost be a skilled writer and speaker who knows a little about everything.
Some courses in PR include
Issues and Crises Management
Image building and perception
media relations
corporate communications
media management and monitoring etc

You should first of all tell people the meaning of the abbreviation PR then continue with your story

Ok

Make your home/ office look classy and beautiful. Check my signature for pictures

Nice one Bro

the corporate world know the meaning of PR, is just like asking for the meaning of CEO in the corporate world

lamalang:
You should first of all tell people the meaning of the abbreviation PR then continue with your story

I'm have all the qualities listed above. Thing is people haven't seen it yet.

Good effort

Thank you OP for the write up. I must point out that Public Relations goes beyond what you out up.

It is simply about building, maintaining and sustaining mutually beneficial relationship between an organization or a brand and its publics or stakeholders.

It is based on truth, not falsehood or propaganda.

To add to this. As a PR professional, you have to take note of these-

''You can not build a good image out of a rotten wood''. This means PR is not about Falsehood. For a PR service to be effective, the person or brand you are building has to be of good quality. PR services is not advertising.

''Reputation takes a long time to build and takes a second to fall like pack of cards''.

PR is about reputation building and good reputation is the selling point of any person or organization.

magazineguy:
the corporate world know the meaning of PR, is just like asking for the meaning of CEO in the corporate world

You'll be shocked man. The level of incompetence in the corporate world is astonishing. I can confidently tell you that over 70% of your so-called clients don't know what PR really is.

gmhc:
Good Morning OP,
I kinda like your write-up. However, this does not totally represent what PR stand for. It is more about that.
The PR professional must be first and foremost be a skilled writer and speaker who knows a little about everything.
Some courses in PR include
Issues and Crises Management
Image building and perception
media relations
corporate communications
media management and monitoring etc

as a fresh graduate, how did I start a career in PR?

Joavid:


as a fresh graduate, how did I start a career in PR?

*"how can I"....that is where you begin!

magazineguy:
the corporate world know the meaning of PR, is just like asking for the meaning of CEO in the corporate world

Ma guy dat's nt d answer to the question, What is the meaning of the abbreviation PR?

PR = Public Relations.

Satisfied?

deparagon:


Ma guy dat's nt d answer to the question, What is the meaning of the abbreviation PR?

I hear the word PR every day and in public service, it is another way of saying bribe. You'll hear stuff like, we need to pay PR to facilitate the movement of the file.

magazineguy:
PR = Public Relations.

Satisfied?

why was it so difficult for you to acknowledge an observation cuz I also observed it in your initial post but I ignored it

you are educating millions of ghost readers and should be detailed

Enyimbamercedes:
I hear the word PR every day and in public service, it is another way of saying bribe. You'll hear stuff like, we need to pay PR to facilitate the movement of the file.

yah ! Pr can also double as personal assistance who may help you to by cut protocols and link you with the boss faster than it wouldn't take
.

magazineguy:

Are there any necessary associations/groups or body to join?

NIPR and PRCAN

This is an easy-to-read writeup. However, PR is a course that is taught in schools today, its not a vocation you stumble upon. Moreover, the law states that you cannot practice PR in Nigeria without being a member of the NIPR. This means even if you study PR in school, you need NIPR certification to practice for profit in Nigeria. You can't get the certification without learning the basics and then some.
From my research, Prcan is not established by any law and so Nigerian law does not recognize them. It is illegal to operate as a government agency set up by law. Please be properly guided.

Don't be ignorant man. PRCAN is recognized by law. PRCAN is for owners of businesses and organizations.

Rainmaker69:


This is an easy-to-read writeup. However, PR is a course that is taught in schools today, its not a vocation you stumble upon. Moreover, the law states that you cannot practice PR in Nigeria without being a member of the NIPR. This means even if you study PR in school, you need NIPR certification to practice for profit in Nigeria. You can't get the certification without learning the basics and then some.
From my research, Prcan is not established by any law and so Nigerian law does not recognize them. It is illegal to operate as a government agency set up by law. Please be properly guided.

dabraska:
Don't be ignorant man. PRCAN is recognized by law. PRCAN is for owners of businesses and organizations.

Don't be ignorant man. Perhaps you are confused by my grammar. Prcan is a limited by guarantee company with rc no 692594. It is not established by law, although as a registered company, it is recognized by law. Since it is not established by law, they don't have the powers they currently claim to possess.

Maybe you can tell us what law establishes Prcan? Please state the Act. NIPR is created by an Act- prcan is not.
To further dispel your ignorance, prcan is just a registered company. My brother, you should get your facts straight. I have mine.
These are the discrepancies some of us in the industry are complaining about. Be well guided.

Relax bro, you trying so hard to prove your point. Perhaps you are one of those guys who practice PR as an agency without going through the right authorities. PRCAN was created based on a bye-law from NIPR. If NIPR recognises PRCAN, what's your excuse not to?

Good luck in getting clients as a PR agency without being under PRCAN.

Rainmaker69:

Don't be ignorant man. Perhaps you are confused by my grammar. Prcan is a limited by guarantee company with rc no 692594. It is not established by law, although as a registered company, it is recognized by law. Since it is not established by law, they don't have the powers they currently claim to possess.

Maybe you can tell us what law establishes Prcan? Please state the Act. NIPR is created by an Act- prcan is not.
To further dispel your ignorance, prcan is just a registered company. My brother, you should get your facts straight. I have mine.
These are the discrepancies some of us in the industry are complaining about. Be well guided.