What is the difference between news, public relations, and advertising?

News, public relations, and advertising are all types of communication that are used to inform and persuade an audience. However, they all have different goals and are used in different ways. News is often referred to as journalism and is used to report factual information. News sources typically have to adhere to certain ethical standards in order to remain objective and unbiased in their reporting. The primary goal of news is to inform the public about events or topics of interest. Public relations, or PR, is the practice of managing the spread of information between an organization and its publics—people who may be affected by the organization’s activities or decisions. The goal of PR is to shape public perception and create a positive reputation for the organization. PR professionals will craft media messages and distribute them through various channels. Advertising is a form of communication used to promote or sell a product, service, or idea. Advertising is typically used to create an emotional response in an audience in order to persuade them to take action. The goal of advertising is to increase sales for a product or service. Unlike news and PR, advertising has no obligation to remain impartial or objective.

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