BME students positive about careers in public relations
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations has released new research today revealing that BME students are more willing to consider a potential future career in public relations than the general student population.
The report entitled ‘Future Perspectives’ explains students’ attitudes towards the public relations profession and found that BME students are more likely than the total student population to consider a career in public relations. They also have a slightly greater level of familiarity with the profession and expressed a more positive view of a career in public relations.
Overall the survey showed that seven out of every ten 16-18 year old students were unfamiliar with what a career in public relations would involve, and only 7% of all of those surveyed are considering PR as a potential career.
The report will help to inform the CIPR’s strategy on careers and diversity, working in partnership with the Diversity Working Group to increase awareness of the public relations industry amongst young adults. Initiatives already in place include CIPR organised university careers sessions, a CIPR and DWG co-produced career resource pack for students and a CIPR presence at school career days through a working partnership with educational organisation EBSI.
View report (PDF format, opens in new window)
The positivity expressed by BME students considering a career in public relations is a refreshing finding from this report. It highlights an opportunity to increase diversity within our sector if this talent is nurtured and encouraged into employment. The report also highlights several other challenges we face, in particular how socio-economic background and region can affect a student’s perception of a career in public relations. We look forward to working with students and young adults on a number of different projects to improve their understanding and knowledge of what our profession is all about.
Young adults in education are very reluctant to choose public relations as a career because they simply do not know enough about the profession. To ensure that we are encouraging the best talent into our thriving industry those of us within the profession must ensure that students, parents and teachers have an improved understanding of the true meaning of public relations, and the value it can offer to our society.
We are looking forward to working with the CIPR. We hope to share the expertise of CIPR members within our work related learning programmes for 14 – 19 year old students which will add another exciting dimension to these young people’s knowledge about work related learning.
Notes to editors
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).