Have you ever wondered what working in the public relations industry is like? If hired by a PR company, you might be assigned to different accounts that require you to work closely with businesses that need the sort of help only PR professionals can provide.
Your duties will involve attending creative meetings, pitching story ideas to media outlets, producing client press releases, providing crisis management, and more. But besides the job description, what really goes on at companies in the PR sector?
While it pays to conduct research to get a feel for what the industry is like, another way is to watch some PR-themed flicks on your favorite streaming platform. You can gain a bird’s eye glimpse at the inner workings of the industry by watching popular movies. While you must take any motion picture about any industry with a grain of salt, you can still learn something.
Continue reading to learn about three movies that look at what working in the industry is like. You may be surprised at what you find out.
- Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog is a dark comedy and satire of the U.S. political system. It’s the sort of movie plot where art imitates life. In the movie, the U.S. president faces a crisis. A few weeks before reelection, the Commander In Chief finds himself embroiled in a sex scandal.
The president’s advisor retains the services of a professional, played by Robert De Niro, who devises a strategy to divert attention from the scandal to something else. The distraction? De Niro’s character collaborates with a Hollywood producer, played by Dustin Hoffman, to fabricate a military conflict in Albania. The media take the bait hook, line, and sinker by concentrating on the “war” rather than the sex scandal.
While this is not to say the PR industry is about deception, this dark comedy nonetheless demonstrates the power the PR industry has in shaping public opinion and perception.
A tech PR company will use all the tools available to present clients in the best possible light, which can be especially useful in the event that crisis management is required.
- Jerry Maguire (1996)
Jerry Maguire is a movie that was well-received when it debuted in 1996 — and it’s still considered a classic. It had a great storyline, powerful performances, riveting scenes, and memorable punchlines — like “show me the money.” In the movie, a sports agent, played by Tom Cruise, gets canned after upsetting his boss. Cruise’s character decides to start a management firm of his own. His only client is an athlete played by Cuba Gooding Jr.
What can you learn about the PR industry by watching the movie? You can learn about the power of building and nurturing personal relationships with clients. PR professionals must be all in as it relates to delivering clients the best possible service.
- Our Brand is Crisis (2015)
Our Brand is Crisis is a satirical political drama. In the movie, a Bolivian presential candidate hires a management team to lend a helping hand. A strategist, played by Sandra Bullock, comes to the rescue to help the presential candidate. She also gets to stick it to her professional nemesis, who happens to be working on behalf of the opposition. When you watch this movie, you will see what it takes to promote a client’s strengths.
These are a few movies that’ll provide insight into what it’s like to work in the PR space. One thing’s certain — there’ll rarely be a dull moment if you work at a digital PR agency.
When you take some time to watch PR-related or PR-themed movies on a streaming platform, you’ll come to appreciate the benefits a digital PR firm can offer its clients. And as artificial intelligence continues to impact virtually every sector, more and more PR agencies are leveraging the power of AI to achieve the best results for their clients. If you want a job in the PR industry, it pays to consider joining a tech public relations agency that uses cutting-edge tools to deliver great results to clients.
There’s never been a better time to explore the possibility of pursuing a public relations career.
