This new course gives you a chance to specialise in public relations while studying in London, the hub of Europe's PR industry. The pathway covers all key aspects of public relations practice. These include concrete skills, such as the abilities to run a press conference, to create high quality written work for a range of audiences, and to construct a website. Just as importantly, you will gain an understanding of how to set up, run and evaluate a PR campaign. The course also gives you lots of experience in giving presentations.
Alongside your studies of PR practice you will also gain an up-to-date, critical understanding of the PR industry.
All the teaching staff on the PR pathway have many years' experience in different parts of the PR industry. We also benefit from having the UK's PR industry on our doorstep: throughout the course you will hear from and meet a range of PR practitioners working within different fields in London and beyond.
The inclusion of PR within our long-established BA Media Studies programme reflects our belief that would-be PR practitioners will benefit from a good understanding of the media and the way in which journalists work. To this end you will study a range of journalistic techniques and media theory alongside the specific PR modules.
Year One
During the first year we will introduce some basic, practical skills, including techniques for handling the media. You will produce a portfolio of written work including press releases, leaflets and internal communications material. Together with your fellow students you will set up and run a press conference. You will also design an individual website with the aim of using it as a PR tool.
At the same time, you will look at the PR industry and the role it plays in social, in political and economic life and its relationship to the media. Your lectures and seminars may cover everything from celebrity and consumer PR through to the controversial role played by political spin doctors, the role propaganda plays in contemporary wars, and considering who has the upper hand: journalists or PR people.
Year Two
During the first half of the academic year you will focus on PR campaigns. You will undertake a case-study of a real-life PR campaign, and, responding to brief, develop and present your ideas for your own PR campaign. You will also prepare a portfolio of desk-top-publishing quality material.
During the second half of the year you will have the opportunity to take a module in Corporate Communications. This will enable you to devise and present an effective communication strategy, while applying a range of analytical techniques to evaluate the communication programmes of major players in the global marketplace.
Year Three
You will undertake a final public relations project which will involve planning and implementing a PR campaign. You will also take a final module in which you will look at some of the current issues in PR, bringing you up to date with the latest thinking as you prepare to enter the industry.
Contact: Trish Evans, Course Leader in Public Relations.
Email:
evanstr@westminster.ac.uk