Diploma in Public Relations (PR)
*Core Subjects/Syllabus*
*Semester 1: Foundations of Public Relations*
1. *Introduction to Public Relations*
- Role of PR in organizations (corporate, government, non-profit).
- History and evolution of PR (traditional vs. digital).
- Key PR theories (Grundig’s models, two-way communication).
2. *PR Writing and Content Creation*
- Press releases, media pitches, newsletters, and speeches.
- Writing for digital platforms (blogs, social media, websites).
- Editing and proofreading techniques.
3. *Media Relations*
- Building relationships with journalists, influencers, and bloggers.
- Media pitching and press conference management.
- Monitoring media coverage (tools like Meltwater, Cision).
4. *Ethics in Public Relations*
- PRSA Code of Ethics and CIPR guidelines.
- Managing conflicts of interest and transparency.
- Case studies on ethical dilemmas (e.g., crisis cover-ups).
5. *Digital PR and Social Media Management*
- Social media strategies for brand storytelling (LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram).
- Online reputation management (ORM).
- SEO basics for PR content.
*Semester 2: Advanced PR Strategies*
6. *Crisis Communication*
- Crisis planning and risk assessment.
- Crafting crisis messages (apology statements, FAQs).
- Case studies: BP oil spill, United Airlines PR disasters.
7. *Corporate Communication*
- Internal communication (employee engagement, newsletters).
- Investor relations and annual reports.
- CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) campaigns.
8. *Event Management*
- Planning press launches, product launches, and charity events.
- Budgeting, vendor coordination, and logistics.
- Measuring event success (ROI, media coverage).
9. *PR Campaign Planning*
- Research and SWOT analysis for campaign design.
- Setting SMART objectives and KPIs.
- Campaign execution and evaluation (A/B testing, surveys).
10. *PR Law and Compliance*
- Defamation, copyright, and privacy laws.
- FTC guidelines for endorsements and influencer marketing.
- Compliance with data protection regulations (GDPR, CCPA).
*Semester 3: Specializations and Practical Training*
11. *International PR and Global Communication*
- Cross-cultural communication challenges.
- Managing PR for multinational brands.
- Case studies: Coca-Cola, UNICEF global campaigns.
12. *Branding and Reputation Management*
- Brand positioning and identity development.
- Rebuilding damaged reputations (e.g., rebranding strategies).
- Celebrity and personal branding.
13. *Stakeholder Engagement*
- Mapping stakeholders (employees, customers, regulators).
- Advocacy and lobbying strategies.
- Community relations and public affairs.
14. *Emerging Trends in PR*
- AI in PR (chatbots, sentiment analysis tools).
- Virtual reality (VR) for immersive storytelling.
- Influencer partnerships and micro-influencer strategies.
15. *Internship/Capstone Project*
- Internship with PR agencies, corporate communications teams, or NGOs.
- Final project: Designing and executing a PR campaign for a real client.
*Elective Subjects *
- *Political Communication and Lobbying*
- *Non-profit and NGO Communication*
- *Healthcare PR*
- *Entertainment and Sports PR*
- *Sustainability Communication*
*Assessment Methods*
- *Written exams*: Theory on PR ethics, law, and strategies.
- *Practical assignments*: Drafting press releases, social media calendars.
- *Campaign projects*: Group work on PR campaigns with peer reviews.
- *Presentations*: Pitching campaigns to simulated clients.
- *Internship evaluation* and capstone project defence