According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medium income for publicists across the United States was $51,960 as of May 2009. That’s a huge lump sum for a make over. However, publicists are not in the business of make up and hairstyling. The main job of a publicist is to manage and promote a client’s image. The publicist's primary day-to-day responsibilities are to manage his clients' schedules, arrange photo shoots and interviews, pitch stories to journalists that will shed the client in a positive light and draft and execute press releases. The most successful and well-known publicists start from the bottom but climb their way up. A great way to start your career as a publicist is to get an internship in college to gain real world experience of this exciting fast-paced career. Also, of course a publicist should have a background in journalism preferably public relations journalism. Excellent written and verbal communications is necessary as is an outgoing personality with a good sense of humor. The ability to build and maintain relationships is as important as having a great deal of patience. Being a publicist is a very exciting and on going task. Whether you are a publicist for a high profiled celebrity or a large company, this job can be very rewarding and promising.
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Erin Willis, Ph.D.Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis. Loves news. Loves food. Loves Pugs. And now, loves Memphis basketball. Go Tigers, Gooooo! Archives
April 2015
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