PR
Media Release Template With Examples
Copy this media release template, see the standard media release format explained, and use two worked examples for a business announcement and an event.
The public relations meaning, in short: public relations (PR) is how an organisation builds and protects its reputation and its relationships with the people who matter to it, such as customers, the media, staff, investors and the community. Unlike advertising, PR mostly earns attention rather than paying for it, through media coverage, events, community work and clear, honest communication, including when things go wrong.
What does public relations mean?
Public relations means managing how an organisation communicates with its publics: the groups whose opinions affect it. The goal is trust. A business that people trust gets more customers, better staff, easier approvals and more patience when something goes wrong.
You'll see many definitions, but most say the same thing: PR is planned, two-way communication that builds understanding between an organisation and the people it depends on.
What are the main types of public relations?
PR covers several kinds of work:
| Type | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Media relations | Working with journalists: media releases, pitches, interviews and responding to enquiries |
| Community relations | Sponsorships, local events and partnerships with community groups |
| Crisis communication | Planning for and responding to incidents that threaten reputation |
| Internal communication | Keeping staff informed and engaged |
| Corporate communication | Annual reports, announcements and stakeholder updates |
| Digital PR | Online coverage, mentions and links from news and industry sites |
What is a public relations firm?
A public relations firm (or PR agency) is a business that does PR for other organisations. A PR firm might write and send media releases, build relationships with journalists, prepare spokespeople for interviews, plan launches and events, monitor media coverage and help manage a crisis.
Some firms specialise in one industry or type of PR. Others, like Rock Solid Marketing, offer PR alongside marketing, so news, social media and the website tell the same story. Our public relations page explains what we do.
What does public relations mean in marketing?
In marketing, PR is the part that builds credibility. Advertising says "we're good"; PR gets someone else, such as a journalist, a community leader or a happy customer, to say it. That third-party voice is usually more believable.
PR and marketing overlap but aren't the same thing. Our article on PR vs marketing explains the difference and how they work together.
What does public relations mean in business?
For a business, PR is reputation management. It shapes what people think when they hear your name, and it affects whether they choose you, work for you or forgive you. Small businesses use PR to:
- Announce openings, expansions, new jobs and milestones
- Build a profile for the owner or key staff as local experts
- Support the community and be seen doing it
- Respond quickly and honestly when something goes wrong
What is the public relations industry like in Australia?
The public relations industry in Australia includes in-house communication teams, PR agencies, government media units and freelance consultants. Many practitioners come from journalism, which is why media releases follow news style. The Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) is the main professional body.
What we see when regional organisations use PR
In regional areas, PR is often more personal. Local journalists, councils and community groups know each other, and a business's reputation travels by word of mouth as much as through the news. We see regional businesses with genuinely good stories, such as new jobs, local sourcing or community support, that go untold because nobody thought of them as news.
Our PR team includes people with decades of experience in public relations and journalism. We write and send media releases (from $1,000 + GST), build relationships with media through our media relations work, and help organisations prepare for difficult moments with crisis communications. Our guide on how to write a press release is a good place to start if you'd like to try it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What is public relations in simple words?
Public relations is how an organisation looks after its reputation: how it talks to the media, customers, staff and community so that people understand and trust it.
What does a public relation officer do?
A PR officer writes media releases and statements, answers media enquiries, organises events and announcements, monitors coverage and advises leaders on how to communicate, especially in a crisis.
Is PR the same as advertising?
No. Advertising is paid space where you control the message. PR mostly earns attention, such as news coverage, where a journalist decides what's said. That makes PR less controllable but often more trusted.
Do small businesses need public relations?
Most benefit from some PR, even if it's only a few well-timed media releases a year and a plan for what to say if something goes wrong. It doesn't have to be expensive to be useful.
Can a PR firm guarantee media coverage?
No. Journalists and editors decide what runs. A good PR firm improves your chances with a strong story, good timing and the right contacts, but anyone promising coverage is overstating what they control.
Want to talk about your organisation's reputation? Contact Rock Solid Marketing and speak with our PR team.
