The Council of Public Relations Firms Joins Forces with PRSA’s Counselors Academy to Launch Industry Online Training Program

QuickStart Assists PR Firms in Training Junior-Level Employees and “Career-Changers”

NEW YORK (March 10, 2008) — The Council of Public Relations Firms and the Counselors Academy of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) launched today a new version of PR QuickStart, a popular and free Web-based training program for those who are new to the public relations industry.

PR QuickStart, originally launched in 2001, provides users with an overview of the fundamental skills required to work in public relations and what to expect while working at a public relations firm. The updated PR QuickStart is divided into three courses: 1) What Is Public Relations? 2) The Agency Life and 3) Media Relations. The site is replete with case histories, news articles, video and links to other industry resources, as well as tips and advice from public relations professionals at different levels.

“PR QuickStart is a great resource for those promising candidates who are looking to transition into public relations from other professions, as well as help the new talent acclimate quickly,” said Kathy Cripps, president of the Council of Public Relations Firms. “Individuals who use PR QuickStart before applying for a job at a public relations firm will be more informed about the skills and competencies required there.”

”Counselors Academy is pleased to be part of the revitalized PR QuickStart,” said Michelle Olson, APR, chair of PRSA Counselors Academy. “Agencies of all sizes are in need of tools to develop their staff, and QuickStart’s curriculum not only provides crucial information for new practitioners, but also can serve as a useful refresher for more veteran staff members.”
The need for training programs like PR QuickStart is supported by industry data. The U.S. Department of Labor expects “employment of public relations specialists to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2014.” Additionally, according to the Council’s 2007 fourth quarter Quick Survey, 80 percent of participating firms reported that they are hiring, and 83 percent of firms were projecting revenue growth in 2008.