This is my last blog and will be an overall reflection on how I have viewed the role of PR at LunchBox List. During my placement I came to understand some of the issues associated with PR at small to medium sized enterprises (SME) and while conducting research on this area for my report I discovered that many SME’s view and conduct PR in much the same way.
At LunchBox List there is no set position designed specifically for PR and I found this difficult at first because this made it hard to distinguish if what I was doing was actually PR or not. This is similar in many SME’s because PR is often grouped with marketing and worked within the daily managerial functions of the business rather than being a discipline of it’s own. So I ended up completing tasks that were not specifically PR but that needed to be completed to achieve the objectives of the organisation. A lesson I guess for those of us who may end up working in an SME. Everyone is required to chip in and pick up the pieces whether the task is within our specialty or not.
Another thing I noticed is that LunchBox List spends so much time providing a promotional platform for other woman that they don’t really promote themselves and the achievements that they are making to the community and to assisting WA woman with the growth of their careers. And often the tasks required to actually run SME's take priority over PR activities so the opportunities available through promotion are not always effectively utilised. But I also realised that PR is not only about media releases and press kits. It extends much deeper than that and other PR activities are just as important.
While I did not undertake my placement in a PR department, I am extremely grateful for the experience and have learnt more than I could ever have imagined. I think working in an SME has given me a unique perspective about PR and I have really enjoyed being part of a small and dedicated team. Thankyou to Emma, Wiggy and Amy at LunchBox List!
3 comments:
Hi Tana
I had a similar issue working for a marketing consultancy firm meant that I didn't initially consider many of my activities specificially PR related. While working on my final report, I had the chance to look back and analyse the work I have completed, and some of the work I considered to be marketing, was also PR or advertising work. Although I don't specialise in advertising, I can't just drop the project and deny the client. I feel my marketing background and degree helped me achieve tasks that I would normally have considered beyond my expertise because it acts as an umbrella term and knowledge basics in order to complete my role.
I also noticed SME's have a difficult time dedicating time and resources to promoting their own activities and acheivements, which is something I will certainly be placing in my final report recommendations.
Sounds like you enjoyed your placement and learned alot, best of luck for the future!
Hey Tana,
I can definitely relate to your problems distinguishing whether the work untaken was specifically PR. I did my placement at a small Perth-based company which is pretty new, so does not have a separate PR department yet. So I was doing quite a mixture of activities during my placement. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one!
I agree with what you said about PR not just being media releases and press kits. I learnt that many activities in a SME are related to PR, even though they may not have an official PR department. I also enjoyed working in such a close-knit environment, where everyone just took on whichever tasks they needed to.
Good luck for your final report!
Hey guys - and hello Tana! I can empathise too - my placement has involved drifting between departments to see all the different PR activities that take place throughout the entire organisation. Although - I've seen it as a really good opportunity to see things from an independent, consultative point of view, which is pretty exciting! I've tackled the report by assessing the stakeholders to the organisating and what activities relate to each group, in case that can help at all? In doing so, I also hope to justify the existance of a dedicated PR role within the agency and the benefits it can reap. I hope the rest of your prac placements went well and you got a lot from them! Sarah
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