Is PR still fun?

Salma Ali, senior account executive at Clarion: “I work on B2B/retail trade accounts, so what people may traditionally view as ‘fun’ may not be my day-to-day work. However, I’m a strong believer that anything can be fun if you make the most of available opportunities.

“A post-pandemic workplace and the current PR landscape is all I have ever known. So, maybe people who have been in the industry much longer than I have would disagree but, I’m having a pretty great time. I’ve had the chance to attend countless street celebrations for retailers and big name brands, I have been invited to awards and experienced industry events and most importantly, had the chance to meet inspirational figures across the industry. 

"A lot of these opportunities happened because I’ve put myself forward for it, or sought out. This is so important to do, especially at a junior level, so you can make your workday more exciting."

Laura Oakley, senior PR and social manager at M&S Food: “I have friends who are doctors, in sales, recruiters, work for the council and transponsters (something to do with coding - no idea) but very rarely do they say they like their job, let alone love.

“PR is strategic, creative, stupidly busy and thankless at times but I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way. In no other job could I be writing customer statements on cyber incidents one hour, getting Percy Pig to take a penalty against Colin the Caterpillar in another and making shoppers and journalists go wild for something as simple, yet so British, as a strawberry sandwich.

“Not every job creates and shapes popular culture, influences the nation and also importantly keeps bad news away when we need it the most. So yes. PR is still fun. And if it isn’t then you’re at the wrong place.”

Olamide Akinolugbade, senior account manager at Wimbart: “Absolutely. We get the tea before the world even starts debating, and in many cases, we help stir those debates. I try to stick to the good ones, but it’s still thrilling to be in the room where narratives are born. PR feels to me like abstract art: you can’t see it or touch it, but you can feel it everywhere, shaping perceptions, nudging opinions, changing how people see the world.

“One day, blue can be declared white, and the next, everyone’s happily calling it pink. That’s the power of narrative. I especially enjoy it in African tech, understanding the terrain my clients play in, spotting where the sector is headed, and sparking conversations.

“Sure, the tactics can feel repetitive. I might churn out three press releases in a week for instance, but each one is with a different narrative and agenda. The core of PR never gets old; it’s always a fresh intellectual puzzle.So yes, PR is still very much fun. Every day brings a new story to tell, a new conversation to shape, and a new opportunity to influence the way people think.”

Harvey Choat, MD at Nexus PR: “Different sectors are naturally more fun than others. But fun as a word de-professionalises the discipline. It’s a highly effective communication method that earns and protects future demand. Have fun doing everything, but the question ‘is PR fun’ reflects the major perception issue facing the sector, ‘it’s just a bit of fun’ doesn’t cut it with serious CMOs, CEOs or brands. It’s an unhelpful reputational stain. For the record, have fun doing it but the discipline shouldn’t be undermined.”

Elena Williamson, account manager at Aduro Communications: "With the PR industry changing shape, the definition of fun is also morphing. Previous fun may have looked like launch parties with guest lists the length of your arm that you’d read about in tomorrow’s paper. In today’s landscape, the enjoyment comes from navigating a multi-media industry and making that long-lasting connection with consumers.

"PR today is fragmented and faster paced, making it increasingly demanding and more difficult than ever to cut through the noise. Audiences are selective, newsrooms are lean, and brand reputation can shift overnight. Success now requires sharper thinking, quicker reflexes, a social-led approach and a genuine understanding of culture. Aduro is a consumer agency where we select our clients based on who we want to work really hard for, and fun lies in our brand-led work where we see teams turn a seed of an idea into brilliant cultural moments. The challenge is real, but so is the reward.

"Yes there are pressures, we need to keep room for strategy, measurement and management, but that’s part of the appeal. It remains an industry where no two days are the same, creativity is central, and storytelling is our greatest tool. PR is more energising than ever."