As a former corporate executive, and now the owner of an award-winning PR/Marketing practice, I’m very uncomfortable when someone refers to me as a “publicist."
I consider myself a “Public Relations Professional.” Someone who helps companies tell their stories. Someone who creates effective communications strategies and objectives. And someone who works very hard at establishing “relations” with the media. To me, “publicist” has always had a certain connotation...a pushy, in-your-face Hollywood-type who will do just about anything to achieve “publicity” for clients (or themselves). (P.S.: I know I’m overly simplifying here; that’s why I said, “To me.”)
Our profession sometimes has – and perhaps always will have – an image problem. I can’t tell you how many times, when I’ve told people I’m a “Public Relations Professional,” I get a knowing wink, along with “Wow, that must be great! Going to all those parties, on yachts..."
It's for those reasons, among others, that I have a problem with being called a "publicist."
I don’t “get publicity” for my clients. I create strategies to position and explain their stories – if I think they have worthwhile stories – to their various publics. In so doing, I help them achieve higher visibility, enhanced reputation, and increased business.
Don’t get me wrong; there’s probably a real need for “publicists” in this world, especially for movie stars, entertainers, athletes, famous executives, writers on book-tours, etc. Just don’t call me one.
I’ve been doing this for a while, pretty successfully. Call me stubborn if you like (you’d be right sometimes!) But I just don’t feel comfortable being called a “publicist.”