10 Fun Facts About Public Relations You Probably Didn’t Know

PR is older than your grandmother. And probably more influential than your favorite celebrity.

You've been influenced by public relations today. I guarantee it. And you didn't even notice.

That viral story about a brand's incredible customer service? That perfectly timed celebrity endorsement? That "spontaneous" trend everyone's talking about? All carefully orchestrated PR moves designed to shape your perception without triggering your marketing radar.

Let's dive into the fascinating world of public relations that most companies miss but the most successful ones master. Fair warning: after reading this, you'll never consume media the same way again.

PR Has Ancient Roots

While you might think PR is a modern invention, it's actually one of humanity's oldest professions. Ancient clay tablets found in Iraq promoting agricultural techniques represent some of the earliest examples of strategic communication designed to influence public behavior.

Babylonian, Egyptian, and Persian rulers built massive monuments not just as architectural achievements but as strategic communication tools. Those pyramids? Early brand imagery reinforcing authority and identity.

Kings and emperors understood something many modern companies forget: controlling the narrative is power.

What they did with stone and clay, you can now do with content. The tools have changed, but the psychology hasn't.

PR Was Formalized by Freud's Nephew

Modern PR as we know it was largely shaped by Edward Bernays, who happened to be Sigmund Freud's nephew. Not a coincidence.

Bernays applied his uncle's psychological theories to influence public opinion at scale. He wrote the first PR textbook in 1923 and taught the first college course on the subject at New York University.

His most famous campaign? Convincing women to smoke cigarettes by positioning them as "Torches of Freedom" during women's suffrage. Problematic ethics aside, it worked brilliantly.

Bernays understood that effective persuasion isn't about telling people what to think. It's about connecting your message to what they already believe or desire.

This psychological foundation is why great PR feels natural rather than forced. It aligns with existing values instead of fighting against them.

PR Is Not Advertising

Here's a distinction that matters: PR and advertising differ fundamentally. Advertising buys space directly. PR earns coverage organically.

This difference explains why PR often delivers higher credibility. When a journalist covers your story, they're lending their publication's credibility to your message.

No wonder more than 70 percent of consumers prefer learning about products through editorial content rather than traditional advertising. We trust journalists more than marketers.

Advertising says, "We're great!" PR gets someone else to say, "They're great!" Which would you believe?

One Press Release Can Change Everything

The humble press release remains one of PR's most powerful tools. A single well-crafted announcement can trigger global coverage worth millions in equivalent advertising.

Remember when Tesla launched their Cybertruck? That deliberately shattered "bulletproof" window generated more media coverage than a $100 million ad campaign could have bought.

The best press releases don't just announce news. They create it.

They transform mundane business updates into compelling stories that journalists actually want to cover. They package information in ways that make a reporter's job easier while serving your narrative goals.

That's the art of PR. Not manipulation, but mutual benefit.

Social Media Transformed PR Forever

Social platforms haven't killed PR. They've made it more powerful and complex.

Before Twitter and Instagram, PR professionals relied almost exclusively on media gatekeepers. Now they can reach audiences directly while still leveraging traditional media.

This direct channel creates new opportunities but also new risks. A single tweet can launch a product or trigger a crisis.

Smart companies now integrate social media and traditional PR rather than treating them as separate functions. Your audience certainly doesn't separate them.

The most effective PR campaigns today create synergy between earned media (traditional PR), owned media (your content), and shared media (social platforms).

Crisis Management Is PR's Ultimate Test

When disaster strikes, PR becomes the difference between survival and collapse.

Johnson & Johnson's handling of the 1982 Tylenol poisoning crisis remains the gold standard. When seven people died after consuming cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules, the company immediately recalled 31 million bottles and introduced tamper-proof packaging.

Their transparent, decisive response not only saved the brand but eventually strengthened it.

Contrast this with BP's infamous "I'd like my life back" comment during the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Different approach, catastrophically different results.

The best crisis management happens before a crisis. Preparation, monitoring, and relationship-building create resilience that pays off when trouble hits.

The Greatest Stunts Were Actually PR Moves

Many cultural institutions we take for granted began as PR stunts.

The Guinness Book of World Records? Created to settle bar arguments and promote Guinness beer.

The Michelin Guide? Developed to encourage more driving (and tire purchases) by highlighting restaurants worth traveling to.

Even the tradition of engagement diamonds was largely created by De Beers' PR campaigns in the 1930s.

These weren't just clever marketing ideas. They were strategic PR initiatives designed to shift cultural perceptions and behaviors over the long term.

The most powerful PR doesn't feel like PR at all. It becomes part of the cultural fabric.

PR Pros See Media Differently

Professional PR practitioners don't consume news like regular people. They're constantly analyzing angles, hooks, and opportunities.

That trending topic? They're figuring out how to connect their client to it.

That feature article? They're noting which reporter might be perfect for their next pitch.

That competitor announcement? They're already crafting the response strategy.

This constant analysis becomes second nature. PR professionals develop an instinct for what will gain traction and what will fall flat.

The good news? These skills can be learned. The better news? They can now be augmented with AI.

PR Is a $100+ Billion Industry

Public relations has grown from a niche practice to a global industry worth over $107 billion annually. By 2027, it's expected to reach nearly $134 billion.

This growth reflects PR's expanding role and increasing value in a digital world where reputation and attention are currency.

Interestingly, PR professionals earn significantly more working directly for brands ($100,000 average) than at agencies ($80,000 average). Companies clearly value in-house expertise.

Despite this growth, many businesses still approach PR haphazardly, missing opportunities to shape perception strategically.

AI Is Revolutionizing PR Access

Historically, effective PR required either significant budgets for agencies or specialized in-house expertise. This created an uneven playing field where smaller businesses struggled to gain visibility.

AI is changing that equation dramatically.

Platforms like Pressmaster.ai now enable companies of all sizes to create professional-quality content tailored to their voice and industry. The technology handles the heavy lifting while preserving authenticity.

This democratization means smaller players can compete for attention alongside industry giants.

Think of it as having a PR team that works 24/7, never needs coffee breaks, and can instantly analyze what's working and what isn't.

Putting PR Secrets to Work

Understanding PR's history and power is fascinating, but how do you actually leverage these insights?

Start by thinking like a PR professional. Ask yourself: What's the story behind what we do? Why would someone else want to tell it? How does it connect to broader trends or values?

Next, create consistent, high-quality content that expresses your unique perspective. Remember that earned media starts with having something worth sharing.

Finally, distribute strategically. The best content means nothing if it doesn't reach the right audiences through channels they trust.

This process used to require massive resources. Now tools like Pressmaster.ai automate much of it while maintaining your authentic voice.

The platform helps you create thought leadership pieces and press releases tailored to your brand, distribute them to top-tier publications, and track performance in real time.

It even automatically converts your long-form content into platform-specific social media posts, ensuring consistency across channels without manual effort.

The Future of PR Is Accessible

PR was once the domain of the privileged few. Now it's available to anyone with a story worth telling.

This democratization doesn't diminish PR's power. If anything, it enhances it by bringing fresh voices and perspectives into the conversation.

You don't need ancient monuments or psychological manipulation to shape perception. You just need authentic stories strategically told.

Ready to put these PR secrets to work? Your audience is waiting to hear your story.

And unlike those ancient Babylonians, you won't need to carve it in stone. A good AI platform will do just fine.