What is the difference between publicity and public relations?
Publicity and public relations are two terms frequently used by business organizations. Many people tend to believe these terms imply the same thing but this is not the case.
The lesson provides the difference between publicity and public relations in a tabular form for easier understanding. Let’s find out more about the topic.
What Is Publicity?
Publicity refers to the way information is presented to the larger public through media. It is simply in the form of news, event information, and write-ups.
The main aim of publicity is to create awareness and credibility to the people regarding brands, products, and companies.
It has nothing to do with company sales and it can also be conveyed through non-paid communication. The company has no control over publicity.
What Is Public Relations?
Public relation refers to a strategic process carried out to manage relationship and communication to enhance goodwill and shared understanding between the company and the public
Public refers to those interested individuals or groups to the company and they can help the company achieve its objective.
The main aim of public relations is to convey information to a certain audience regarding the company but to not to gain public attention.
Comparison Chart: Publicity Vs Public Relations
| Basic Terms | Publicity | Public Relation |
| Meaning | Refers to gaining visibility to the eyes of the public | Refers to a strategic process aimed at developing a good image and understanding of the company |
| Objective | To draw the attention of the media to provide updates on the products, services, and brand | To draw the attention of the targeted audience to increase sales of the company |
| Nature | Company has no control | Company has total control |
| Type of Communication | Unpaid | Paid |
| Carried out by | Media | Company |
| Main intention | Create awareness | Create attention |
Core Differences between Publicity and Public Relations
- Publicity is carried out by the media on their own hence the company has no control whereas public relations is carried out by the company since they have total control
- The main intention of publicity is to create awareness whereas public relations is to draw attention.
- Publicity cannot be controlled by the company whereas public relation can easily be controlled by the company
- The main objective of publicity is to inform and create awareness whereas public relations is to increase the sales of the company.
- Publicity shows both positives and negatives of the company whereas public relation shows the positivity of the company
- Publicity refers to presenting news to the public to create awareness whereas public relation refers to managing the image of the company in the eyes of the public
Comparison Video
Summary
The core difference between publicity and public relations is that publicity aims to create awareness whereas public relations refers to managing the image of the company.