What does 'public relations' focus on?

Public relations focuses on managing communication between an organization and its public. This encompasses a wide range of activities intended to build and maintain a positive image, foster mutually beneficial relationships, and address any issues or perceptions that may affect the organization’s reputation. PR professionals engage in various strategies such as writing press releases, organizing events, and facilitating media relations to ensure that the organization's messages are communicated effectively to its target audiences, including customers, stakeholders, and the general public.

The essence of public relations lies in its goal to create understanding and goodwill, making it distinct from other functions like internal communications, which focuses specifically on communication within the organization itself, or advertising campaigns, which are aimed at promoting products or services rather than managing overall reputation and relationships.