Corporate Communication
Corporate communication refers to any communication operations that a company engages in, both internally and externally. Internally, as a corporate communications expert, you assist management in establishing communication bridges across departments. An internal magazine or newsletter, for example, informs employees on what is going on in each department and any impending special guests or events the business has planned. Externally, you can do anything from preparing yearly reports for investors to joining community working groups to help with public issues.
Public Relations
If you choose a public relations job, you will work closely with management to establish and maintain connections between the firm and the general public. This skill requires excellent communication skills, both in writing and in speaking. Building your business image through visible channels, such as employing journalists and editors to talk about your business based on the information you supply, is critical to creating these relations. Controlling the information that the public receives is also vital, especially if your firm is facing a crisis and false news or rumours might generate panic or damage the company’s reputation.
Overlap and Differences
It’s pretty uncommon for public relations experts to take on corporate communication responsibilities due to a lack of resources. Yet, for both internal and external communications, a good communicator is a vital resource. If you have corporate communications experience and no experience interacting with the media, it will be more challenging to fill a public relations position that demands media relations skills. Building a trusting connection with the media, like other relationships, takes time, and many businesses may prefer established partnerships when hiring for PR roles. Despite this, many communications and public relations professionals can successfully switch between the two professions.
Corporate Communications and Public Relations are two divisions that work closely together, with nearly identical target audiences and communications. Both are reliant on one another to position a company in the views of its stakeholders, clients, and customers.
Corporate Communications is primarily concerned with the written and, sometimes, oral communication required to keep all people up to date with the company’s vision, mission, and strategic goals. Based on who needs to know what, it requires both internal and external communication.
Corporate Communications uses a variety of channels to keep stakeholders informed about a company’s operations. External corporate communication mediums include websites, brochures, bulletins, stakeholder letters/messages, annual reports, and magazines, while internal communication platforms include emails, announcements, meeting minutes, and intranet.
All of the channels described above are utilized to distribute critical information about a company’s current and future intentions. Good businesses take corporate communications very seriously because they understand that their responsibility is to inform their stakeholders/shareholders about their intentions.
This is where Public Relations comes in. As the name implies, this division is responsible for disseminating information to the general public to place a company’s image in the general public’s eyes.
External communications created by Corporate Communications are used by Public Relations to promote a favourable image of an organization. It employs media such as press releases, social media, public events, and presentations to stimulate the interests of the public in a company’s products or services.
The Public Relations division often collaborates closely with Corporate Communications to discover external groups and develop relevant external communication messages and published materials.
To reach out to the audience and convey the company’s message, the Public Relations department works with media agencies and advertising agencies (however, Corporate Communications are mainly responsible for selecting an advertising agency).
It’s essential to keep in mind that for Corporate Communications and Public Relations to function well, they must collaborate closely and share information regularly. Any miscommunication between the two divisions might result in significant losses. As a result, many businesses combine the two divisions into one, under one manager/head, to guarantee that tasks are carried out smoothly.
