I read a blog post today on Journalistics where the writer discussed his feelings on the APR (Accreditation in Public Relations). There has been an ongoing debate in the public relations (PR) industry about the value of the APR program, and it made me think about the value of a PR education as a whole.
I must preface this by telling you that I am currently working toward a master’s degree in PR and corporate communication at NYU – so I definitely see value in higher education. I chose to pursue this because my undergraduate degree is not in PR, and I assumed that further education would be the best way for me to understand my new profession. While I’ve been lucky enough to have a full-time job in PR while attending classes, I now realize that my education would not have been nearly as helpful without on-the-job experience to supplement it.
Listening to a professor tell you how to interact with the media or compile a strategic communications plan is one thing, but it’s not as relatable as doing it yourself. I find that it’s just as valuable to learn on the job from your coworkers as it is to learn in a classroom. At Articulate, Laura Grimmer has developed “The Articulate Way” program, which encourages employees to work together and rely on one another to expand their knowledge base and grow their careers.
I learn new things from my coworkers every day and I believe that this knowledge can’t be learned through a classroom or accreditation alone. While I can’t say that I’m for or against the APR program, I think that whatever higher degrees or accreditation we pursue in PR has to be supplemented with daily interaction on the job.
By Ashleigh Egan
