Media Relations Specialists

Competition among corporations continues to grow, as does the competition for funding between nonprofit organizations. In addition, individuals in the public eye, such as politicians and sports figures, continue to want expert advice on shaping their images. Also, the increasing use of social media will create new opportunities for media relations workers, especially in monitoring social media content in relation to their clients and creating and overseeing responses to social media postings. Thus, public relations (PR) will remain a fast-growing field, and media relations as a component of public relations will continue to grow. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for public relations specialists will grow by 6 percent, faster than the average for all careers, through 2033. More companies and individuals will need media relations specialists to help them use social media most effectively.

Competition for media relations positions will be stiff because, as with public relations, so many job seekers are enticed by the perceived glamour and appeal of the field. However, those who have combined a college education with a public relations internship and are fluent in one or more foreign languages, knowledgeable about social media, and have international experience will enjoy the best prospects.