From the Blog

Textbooks might not sound like the most glamourous thing in the world to read, but they can be very, very useful when you’re new to a job or industry.

Our first ever Absolute Beginner Zoe has been reading lots of different texts since she joined us on an apprenticeship programme and she’s compiled her top five…enjoy!

As an apprentice in the early stages of my PR career, I’m constantly looking for books to help improve my skills and qualities and gain a better understanding of the PR world.

I know I’m not the only one who is on the lookout for a bit of extra help in the PR industry, so I decided to share my top 5 PR books that have personally helped improve my knowledge around PR.

20 Rules of PR AKA - How to get it right and not f**k it up – The PR Master Coach

The PR Master Coach, also known as Sam Brown, has been in the PR industry for over two decades and is now an independent Creative and Campaign Director and PR Coach creating and running campaigns for PR agencies across the globe.

This small but informative book is a must read. I would recommend 20 Rules of PR to anyone who is new to the industry or wanting an insight into the life of PR.

The witty style of writing Sam uses, as well as the flow and her years of experience she describes within the book really sheds a light into the reality of PR, including very helpful tips and tricks throughout.

As well as publishing 20 Rules of PR, The PR Master Coach also offers more training, coaching and PR super-tips which can be found on their website theprmastercoach.com

Planning and Managing Public Relations Campaigns: A Strategic Approach (PR in Practice)

The fifth edition of Planning and Managing Public Relations Campaigns, Anne Gregory presents a 12-point plan for strategic planning and addresses the need for detailed planning, providing case studies throughout to display examples of the best practice.

It’s organised as a series of chapters, ordered in an easy-to-read way: planning, research, stakeholders, strategy, timescale, resources and planning.

Unlike previous editions of Planning and Managing Public Relations Campaigns, A Strategic Approach can be read all the way through, providing the framework and skills to navigate planning and developing strategic communication strategies.

I would recommend Planning and Managing Public Relations Campaigns: A Strategic Approach to anyone who needs assistance or guidance on planning and organisation.

Who Moved My Cheese: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

The book itself is an entire metaphor for what you want in life. The story of four characters who live in a maze, looking for cheese to make them happy is a metaphor for what you want to have in life, for example, a good job, relationship, money or health.

Dr Spencer Johnson has written in such a style that it is easy to forget that you are actually learning as it covers the concepts of dealing with change and striving to gain what you want in life and for your future.

The metaphor within the book can be used in such a variety of situations be that inside or outside of the workplace.

In my opinion, Who Moved My Cheese has made me excited and ready to get out there to find my own cheese.

Exposure: Insider Secrets to Make Your Business a go-to Authority for Journalists

For me, Exposure is a go-to for tips and tricks on the world of media releases and getting through to journalists. Felicity Cowie, former BBC News and Panorama journalist, has laid out Exposure in easy-to-read checklists, headings, tables and summaries to make it easier for the reader to gain the specific knowledge they need for the PR industry.

As well as teaching you the end-to-end process of receiving and gaining media coverage, Felicity also writes about what not to do when communicating with a journalist. In my opinion, the negatives are a great insight, and a little something extra rather than just being told what you should do.

Not just does the book give a great understanding of media relations, Felicity has added templates and scripts as a guide and example of how to gain as much media coverage possible.

This is such a great guidance for anyone starting into a role in PR wanting to learn how to gain media coverage as much as possible.

The PR Masterclass: How to Develop a Public Relations Strategy That Works

The PR Masterclass was written by former newspaper, magazine and digital journalist Alex Singleton, who is now a prominent PR trainer and consultant. With his many years of experience, Alex Singleton describes how to develop and pitch effective newsworthy materials.

The PR Masterclass deals more with the practical than the theoretical PR knowledge which is often taught in PR and Marketing university courses. In my opinion, reading about the practical approach to PR has been a clearer understanding for me as I can take the information and put it straight in to my work.

The PR Masterclass contains many case studies as an example of a good piece of media material, which makes the book more interesting and realistic. The PR Masterclass is a must have for PR professionals.

As well as books to gain PR knowledge, there are also many other resources such as webinars and training sessions. I personally really enjoy the PRCA training sessions and webinars as they offer a range of topics to gain an understanding of the world of PR.

So, get out there, read some books, gain that extra knowledge and become a PR Queen/King!