<p>I'm curious about public relations. I'm wondering, do PR recruits look for journalism majors? If I went to a journalism school with a PR emphasis, is that what they are looking for?</p>
<p>You could start with a wide range of majors, from English, to whatever. Think of PR as a sales position: knowing your product and the market.</p>
<p>Good writing, good people skills, general knowledge of the world, intelligence, character.</p>
<p>would going to a top journalism school with a PR emphasis be a good idea for this? Also maybe a marketing minor?</p>
<p>To stradmom’s excellent list I’d add creativity. </p>
<p>Journalism+ marketing would give you a good foundation.</p>
<p>Would going to a reputable j school help much?</p>
<p>Harvard’s career center has a nice description of what public relations employers look for:</p>
<p>[OCS-Students:</a> Career Areas / Marketing, Public Relations, and Advertising Overview](<a href=“http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students/careers/marketing.htm]OCS-Students:”>http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students/careers/marketing.htm)</p>
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<p>As a junior in college now, and a PR major - I’m a bit biased and think that it would be best to do the actual major of Public Relations. It gives you a wide range of case studies, writing courses, and experience courses. However the second best major you could get to begin with a PR job search would be a Journalism major. Whatever you do, make sure you join PRSSA once your in school, no matter what major you end up being, if you want to end up in PR. I think you would be fine as a Journalism major because so much of the profession is about AP Style. I would not recommend going into a business/sales/marketing related major, do that only as a minor, it is NOT going to have the same research principles and AP style intensive writing skills. </p>
<p>The track I’m personally doing is
Public Relations major, Music Business minor, because I want to do Publicity/Image Management within the Entertainment industries
Many of my peers are PR majors with minors in Political Science (lobbyists, speech writers, etc), Journalism, International Business, Corporate Communication, etc. </p>
<p>If I were you, and I really liked this Journalism school, I would go there, with a PR emphasis and do a minor that relates to what you are interested in. Going to a prestigious/reputable Journalism school may help networking wise but PR is one of those majors where it isn’t too much about what school you go to but what practical experience you have and internships…</p>
<p>Is PR the kind of career where you can make six figures? Also would a masters degree help much?</p>
<p>Corporate public relations jobs at large companies could pay that much. Visit the web site of a large company; go to the section where they post news releases or their ‘newsroom’ and poke around to see the kinds of work corp pr folks do.</p>
<p>Do you know if non profit public relations is a good field?</p>
<p>Non profits are often a good starting ground for recent grads interested in PR, the pay is low but the experience is worth a fortune. The reality is people migrate into PR from any number of majors. The earlier poster is correct, good people skills, writing ability, critical thinking/intelligence and an out-going personality are generally looked for in interviews. No shrinking violets or tongue tied students so practice, practice, practice. No first jobs will pay a ton of money. Internships with a PR groups are a plus on entry level PR resumes. Social media experience is a hot button right now.</p>
<p>are entry level jobs in non profit companies livable wages? Do you know how low they go?</p>
<p>A masters wouldn’t help too much unless you are in the field for a while - either for the purposes of advancing where you are or teaching, both which need prior job experience anyway…that’s at least what I’ve been advised by my professors.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, NEVER just major in English or Journalism and nothing else. Always have another discipline as a major… something more technical like communication, psychology or PR can be really beneficial and open a lot of doors.</p>
<p>uniman123 - the answer is yes, really good PR people make 6 figures…qualify that…in major cities.</p>