Is PR dead? U.S. News & World Report Doesn’t Think So.

For those who believe that public relations is a soon-to-be obsolete profession, think again.  U.S News & World Report unveiled this week its “America’s Best Careers 2010” listing, and guess what made it into the top 50?  You got it – public relations. In fact, U.S. News states that employment of public-relations specialists is expected to increase by more than 66,000 jobs, or 24 percent, between 2008 and 2018.  Not bad for an industry that has seen its fair share of challenges this year – the increasing shift towards social media, a continued decrease in traditional media outlets, and having to manage the warp-speed dissemination of information across the world. Oh, and don’t forget about the ongoing battle to educate clients and executives on the need to even have a solid strategy in place with savvy PR pros to execute on it, as many don’t think it’s necessary until the floor drops out from underneath them.

So, to all you PR professionals out there, here’s to the bright, successful 2010 that the folks at U.S. News are convinced you’ll have.  We hope it rings true.

By Lauren Howe, RDW Group

President Elect, Publicity Club of New England