What are the employment opportunities in Public Relations?

Public Relations is no different than any other industry - there are jobs for the people who are really, really looking to get in. Public Relations opportunities exist in consultancies, semi-state organisations, multi-national companies, SMEs, charitable and voluntary organisations, political lobbying consultancies and event management companies (to name but a few).

There is no waiting list of positions to be filled (but there is none in accountancy, advertising or journalism either) but there are good job prospects for someone with training and initiative who is prepared to work hard. Job prospects at the moment are quite buoyant - the industry is recruiting at a normal pace (i.e. there is no evidence of a slow-down). There will always be a bright future for PR people as every company/organisation/charity needs to communicate.

What are the employment opportunities in Journalism?

The climate in journalism is good. There are journalism opportunities for well trained and highly motivated people. Nowadays, journalists are mainly employed under contracts of employment - and there is huge growth in the freelance sector.

There has been an explosion of outlets for journalistic skills in recent years - local media is expanding rapidly, local radio has provided numerous opportunities and there are newsletters and the online media to consider as well.

There will always be a need for well trained journalists, reporters, sub-editors, stringers, colour writers, opinion piece writers etc.

What are the employment opportunities in Event Management?

The climate for Event Management has never been better. Some event management specialists work in-house, others combine PR and event management, and many operate solely as event managers.

You will find event management consultancies in every county in Ireland. It is a specialisation which has rapidly become a nationwide phenomenon.

What are the employment opportunities in Television Presenting?

The expansion of digital TV stations will provide new audiences, more advertising outlets and great employment prospects for qualified applicants. The Diploma in TV Presenting teaches you how to prepare for and interview candidates. It offers attendees an opportunity to learn about the industry, including the technical aspects, makeup and clothing, interview techniques and stress management. Students complete an outdoor shoot and a studio interview and receive a showreel at the end of the course. This is the only Diploma in TV Presenting in the country – and that gives you a distinct advantage over other applicants.

Do you offer work placement on your courses?

We do not offer work placements on any of our courses. Work placement is more common on full-time courses of study. All of our courses are part-time (either evenings or Saturday mornings) to accommodate our many students who work full-time.

How well recognised is the Academy and its courses?

We have been teaching Academy and other courses since our foundation in 1992. Our courses are well established and geared specifically to industry needs.

HETAC (the Higher Education and Training Awards Council) validates our graduate Higher Diploma in Arts in Public Relations and Journalism courses and ICM (the Institute of Commercial Management) UK validate our Diploma in Event Management and Diploma in Television Presenting courses. Each of these bodies is long-established, highly reputable and internationally known.

The Academy has experts in public relations and journalism, who advise on all of our courses. In addition, each of our 84 lecturers contributes recommendations and suggestions on an ongoing basis, as do our 30 online tutors.

How long is the Academy established?

Founded in 1992, the Irish Academy of Public Relations is an independent educational foundation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence. The Academy specialises in teaching public relations courses at foundation, certificate and post-graduate diploma levels. Our sister college, The Irish Academy, specialises in courses in Journalism.

Teaching centres are at universities in Dublin, Cork and Galway. Courses are also taught in colleges throughout the country, and by e-mail throughout the world.

The Irish Academy of Public Relations is the largest private provider of PR education in Ireland.

I've heard that I can enter the TAP Awards and win over €2,000 if I am studying PR with the Academy. Is that true?

It is. The Academy introduced the TAP Awards (Theory and Practice) in 2003. Each PR student of the Academy’s H. Dip PR course submits a fundraising proposal for a nominated charity. Five are short listed to present to a prestigious panel of judges. From this shortlist, the overall winner is chosen. The winner receives the TAP Trophy, a cheque for €2,000 and 60 hours PR consultancy with the charity.

Are the TAP Awards open to all PR students?

No. The awards are open ONLY to students studying public relations with the Academy. Students studying with other colleges are not eligible to enter.

What type of people study public relations?

This is an impossible question to answer. Public relations is a subject which appeals to a broad sweep of people. Usually, our students range in age from 20s to 50s. Their backgrounds are very mixed - on the 2003 course, for example, we had a paediatrician, an archaeologist and a Senator. We also had secretaries, nurses, hotel workers, teachers, civil servants, managers - in fact, just about everyone. Once you meet the entry standard (in terms of age and educational qualification) you are free to join the course.

What type of people study journalism?

Another impossible question to answer. Most study journalism in order to become journalists/reporters. Some people study journalism because they have an expertise in a particular field and they want to write occasional articles about it. Others want to improve their writing skills for contributions they make to their company newsletters. The mix in age groups is as broad as it is on the public relations courses, from 20 to 50 (roughly), with mixed backgrounds. In 2007 we had freelance journalists, teachers, civil servants and PAs, as well as an IT consultant, bar tender, software tester, DTP specialist, tote assistant, cinema staff, caterer, pricing specialist, manager, legal secretary, fire safety consultant and sales assistant.

What type of people study Event Management?

If there was only one type of person, it would be so easy to answer this question. Event Management generally attracts people who are good organisers. People who get a buzz from being involved in every facet of organising an event from counting the chairs to meeting the celebrities.

Event management often involves working with media – setting up photo-calls, arranging interviews etc. – so it attracts people who have a lively interest in public relations, but do not want to work exclusively in that field.

Finally, event management also attracts people who have been organising events and functions for some years, but now want a recognised qualification in the area
 

What type of people study Television Presenting?

TV presenting attracts (broadly) two types of people. There are those who are either already in the media industry (print or radio journalists, researchers, radio presenters) who want to broaden their skills and use their journalistic abilities on television. There are also people who want a career in television. These are from diverse backgrounds (not related to media at all). Some are already professionally qualified and want to marry their professional skills with television opportunities (chefs and cookery programmes for example). Others are seeking their first real career opportunity.

Is it true that the Academy has European and International links?

Yes it is. In fact, the Academy, through our director, is the only college in the country which holds active membership of the four bodies most relevant to public relations and journalism practitioners and students:
the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII),
the European Federation of Public Relations Practitioners (CERP),
the International Public Relations Association (IPRA),
and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Through its membership of each of these bodies, the Academy makes available to students a European and international perspective on public relations and journalism, and access to best practice and gold papers issued by these professional associations.

Can I use initials after my name immediately after graduating?

The Academy is the only college in the country which grants an immediate, lifelong designation to its graduates. On graduation, Post-Graduate and Diploma holders are entitled to use the designation MIAPR (for PR and Event Management graduates) and MIA (for Diploma Journalism graduates).

Is Ellen Gunning the same woman who wrote the book that I will be studying?

Yes she is. The Academy's Director, Ellen Gunning, is author of "Public Relations - A practical approach," first published by Gill & Macmillan in April 2003. Her book is the core text on all public relations courses throughout the country. The second edition of this text was published in 2007.

Does Ellen Gunning lecture on any of the courses?

Yes she does. Ellen enjoys meeting the students and makes a point of delivering some lectures to students on all of the Academy's courses.

Is Ellen Gunning the chairwoman of IPRA in Ireland?

Yes she is. She was unanimously elected chairperson for Ireland of IPRA, the International Public Relations Association for a two-year term of office in January 2006. She is currently serving her second term until January 2010.

There are so many PR courses to choose from - which one should I take?

Each course is designed to suit a different need, so we have answered questions on each course individually. Scroll down and have a look.

Who should study the Introduction to Public Relations course?

The Introduction to Public Relations is perfect for someone who wants to get a feeling for what public relations is all about. It is suitable for people who handle public relations on a local voluntary basis for community or charity. The Introduction course is suited to someone who is presently a voluntary PRO for a local charity, residents association, summer project etc. and wants to get a better idea of how to master the PR techniques (and press release writing) which will generate favourable coverage for that organisation. The course is taught in colleges throughout the country, and is also available by online courses.

Who should study the Certificate in Public Relations & PR Writing?

The Certificate course is perfect for someone who is working in a small organisation, who sees the potential PR opportunities for the company, and wants to enhance their role within the firm by adding PR to their brief. It is also suitable for those working in a related area - customer service, human resources, marketing, advertising etc. - who want to develop a better understanding of what public relations is all about. The course is also suitable for anyone contemplating the post-graduate course of study, but who is unsure about what exactly the discipline involves.

Who should study the Diploma in Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing?

This Diploma is geared to people who are looking for a career in MarComms - marketing communications. Open to students over 17 years of age, the course is intensive. It is studied on Saturday mornings each week at UCC for one year and involves five examinations and a project. The Diploma gears graduates to careers in which the three core skills - public relations, advertising and marketing are combined in one position.

Who should study the Diploma in Event Management?

The Diploma in Event Management is geared to people who are looking for a career in event management. Open to students over 17 years of age, the diploma is fast-paced. and will suit people with good organisational skills. Over 3-4 months, in addition to your exams, you will actually design (and outline the management of) an event, and you will present / pitch your proposal to an independent adjudicator.

Who should study the Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Relations?

The Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Relations is suitable for anyone with a primary degree (not necessarily in the communications area) who wishes to build on that degree by achieving a H. Dip in PR. The course gives graduates the necessary academic knowledge and practical skills to enable them to secure employment in PR at management level. (Participants on this course qualify for entry to the Annual TAP Awards).

I'm not sure which Journalism course I should be studying - help?

Each course is designed to suit a different need, so we have answered questions on each course individually. Scroll down and have a look.

Who should study the Practical Journalistic Writing Skills course?

The Practical Journalistic Writing Skills course is perfect for someone who wants to get a feeling for what journalism is all about. It is suitable for someone who wants to write for the local parish bulletin, or might be already writing for the bulletin but wants to improve their knowledge and skills. The course is taught in colleges throughout the country, and is also available by online courses.

Who should study the Certificate in Journalism and Print Production?

The Certificate course is geared to someone who wants for find out what journalism is all about. It is suitable for someone who currently writes on an ad-hoc basis. It is also relevant to those with responsibility for compiling, editing and publishing newsletters. The Certificate course focuses on how to write news well, and how to put together a newsletter (a growing area of employment for journalists).

Who should study the Higher Diploma in Journalism course?

The post-graduate Diploma in Journalism (H. Dip Journ) is perfect for anyone with a primary degree (not necessarily in the communications area) who wishes to build on that degree by achieving a H. Dip in Journalism. The course gives graduates the necessary academic knowledge and practical skills to enable them to secure employment in the media.

Who should study the Grammar for Journalists course?

If you are a journalist working within the industry, writing for a living, you need a good standard of English. This course explains the basics of grammar, highlights common errors and shows how sentences are constructed. It equips you with the ability to amend any poor writing and understand the reason for the amendment.

Who should study grammar for sub-editors.

If you are subbing for a living, you will appreciate the need for an understanding of grammar, syntax and sentence construction. Your job, as a sub, involves spotting and correcting the errors of others – to do that, you need a good understanding of grammar. This course equips you to make those amendments, understand why they are being made, and spot common grammatical errors which might otherwise ‘slip through’.