Communications VS Public Relations

By Tracy Schaller – Strategic Brand & Communication Leader

People often think communications and public relations are the same thing or, worse, that they are “easy” to do. Until it is time to do the work.

The reality is comms and PR are related, but they are not the same. And professionals in this field know just how much strategy, precision, and emotional intelligence sit behind what the public sees.

Communications

Communication is about clarity, consistency, and connection. It focuses on crafting the right message for the right audience, whether internal or external. It is about making information accessible, understandable, and aligned with the organisation’s goals.

Communications involve:

• Internal newsletters, staff updates, and organisational messaging
• Translating complex information into simple, human-centred language
• Managing tone, voice, and consistency across platforms
• Ensuring employees understand the organisation’s mission, values, and direction
• Guiding leaders on messaging and visibility
• Storytelling across multiple channels

It is the backbone of how an organisation speaks and how it is understood.

Public Relations (PR)

Public relations, on the other hand, is about reputation, relationships, and perception.
PR focuses on how the public, media, stakeholders, and communities see the organization. It is strategic, initiative-taking, and often reactive when a crisis hits.

PR involves:

• Managing media relationships, interviews, and press briefings
• Protecting corporate reputation and building goodwill
• Crisis communication and strategic messaging under pressure
• Writing press releases, op-eds, speeches, and external statements
• Managing campaigns that shape public perception
• Engaging communities, partners, and external stakeholders

PR is the bridge between the organization and the outside world.

Why people underestimate the work.

From content creation to campaigns, from stakeholder engagement to crisis management, it looks simple because skilled comms and PR professionals make it seamless.

But behind the scenes is a level of coordination, insight, planning, and people management that many do not see.

• It is writing one message 10 different ways for ten different audiences.
• It is protecting the brand while promoting it.