If you walk into a public relations firm, not only will you see people typing away on computers and talking to clients, you’ll also hear an entirely new vocabulary. Before you start a career at a PR firm, make sure you know these terms.
Publicist: a person responsible for publicizing a product, person or company
PR Timeline: a set list of plans and monthly pitches
Boilerplate: a brief description of the company, usually found at the end of a press release
Pitch: a suggested story idea sent to journalists, and it can include photos and ends with a call-to-action
Press Release: an announcement about your client, usually an opening or event
Media Alert: a one-page announcement of an upcoming event sharing details such as the who, what, where and when
Lead Time: time an editor needs prior to story publish date
Short lead time: days to couple of weeks
Long lead time: three to six months
Media Kit: a package that includes a publication’s editorial calendar, ad rate and circulation
UVM: unique visitors a month for a website
Press Clip: when a client is featured in a publication