PR Pros: Gregory Rose of GHR Communications On The 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful…

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PR Pros: Gregory Rose of GHR Communications On The 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career As A Public Relations Pro

We tend to talk a lot about what we can do, and not what we can’t. Understanding the limitations to the campaigns you are going to implement can help set expectations for the client and yourself, which in the long run, can be a benefit to both of you.

Have you seen the show Flack? Ever think of pursuing a real-life career in PR? What does it take to succeed in PR? What are the different forms of Public Relations? Do you have to have a college degree in PR? How can you create a highly lucrative career in PR? In this interview series, called “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career As A Public Relations Pro” we are talking to successful publicists and Public Relations pros, who can share stories and insights from their experiences.

As a part of this series I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Gregory H. Rose.

Gregory H. Rose is the Founder and President of GHR Communications LLC, a full service public relations firm based in New York City. For over a decade, Greg has grown the brands of companies and individuals through social media and e-newsletter campaigns, making sure organizations receive the media attention they deserve for their accomplishments, and developing thought leadership opportunities.

Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Early on public policy and politics were a major interest of mine, and after finishing my masters degree at from Johns Hopkins University, I realized communications was my best natural skill and rolled with it. I began working for politicians, letting their constituents know what they were doing to improve their quality of life and what was going on in their respective legislatures. Later I did similar work for non-profits and a few political campaigns, while also having some clients on the side. Then, when the pandemic began, I was fortunate enough to keep the clients I had, add a few others, and eventually run my own business full time.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began at your company?

It’s amazing how even in an ever smaller world, there are people you still may not know. During the height of the pandemic, I did most of my networking on LinkedIn and met long time public advocate Miosotis Muñoz, who is now the Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Department of Immigrant Affairs. Despite running in the same circles and having many similar friends, we never had actually met. We immediately hit it off and have been supporting each other ever since, and recently found out that we’re also both Star Trek fans!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Things were going so well with a client that both of us forgot the original contract was only for a year, and it wasn’t until tax season we realized a new one had to be signed!

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

Kids2Dentist is a startup in Southern California that’s just about to open its first two offices in Visalia and Fresno. Both of these communities are in need of these services and it’s great to be leading the public relations for them as they work to improve health outcomes for these families.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

I’m a straight shooter and won’t pitch a reporter or an angle I know won’t work. Sometimes it’s not what they want to hear, but in the long run, people I speak to appreciate my honesty and it winds up getting both of us more hits.

I’m pretty consistent — meaning the plans I develop are well thought out and I believe they will be effective to meet our goals. Sometimes they won’t, but realizing everyone’s time is precious, it’s important to put thought into the plans you want to implement so when they work, or don’t, you can go back and determine why.

You can’t be good at my job without having a strong understanding of the media landscape and what makes for a good story. Having this understanding has allowed me to pitch reporters I’ve never met before, or to get long time contacts to write a story they originally didn’t want to.

Ok super. Thank you for all that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. For the benefit of our readers, can you help articulate what the different forms of PR are?

Public relations isn’t just about getting your name in the paper, being on a podcast, or growing the number of social media followers you have — it’s all of those things and more.

Sometimes it’s about how you are telling your story, but it’s just as important to think about how you are interacting with the public (your audience) and how you make them feel about your brand, no matter how they are interacting with it.

Where should a young person considering a career in PR start their education? Should they get a degree in communications? A degree in journalism? Can you explain what you mean?

If you want to grow as a public relations professional, enhance your writing skills. If you’re a strong writer, almost everything else you need to do can fall into place. Also, if you know you want to work in a specific space (politics, health, law), find a firm that specializes in it. Then later on, if you want to go in house somewhere it’s easier, or vice versa.

You are known as a master networker. Can you share some tips on great networking?

You, of course, have to join a networking group, but make sure the groups you join are right for you. Whether its similar interests, people who work in the same circles or executives who may need your expertise at some point, make sure you are developing strong relationships with the people you are seeing.

Lead generation is one of the most important aspects of any business. Can you share some of the strategies you use to generate good, qualified leads?

Public relations is unique to other industries because there are so many ways you can show your work. Whether it’s online, a one-pager you create, or connecting others in your network, eventually you build up enough of a proven background to make it easy for people to spread the word about you.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your opinion and experience, what are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career As A Public Relations Pro” and why. (Please share a story or example for each.)

1) Have a basic understanding of the product and industry you are working in. There have been many times where I was able to get my point across because I was speaking my client’s language and got approval for the idea I wanted to run with, because I explained it to them in their terms. This can also help with your pitch to reporters.

2) Know where your notes app is on your phone. Make a note of everything because you never know when an inspiration can hit!

3) Always be able to justify your idea. If you want an ad to run in a specific publication, use statistics to show why audiences clicked on a link, or who the readers are of that publication. This shows you’re thinking what’s best and proven for the company or the individual you represent.

4) Be your own version of your competitors. There’s a reason why public relations companies are hired, because clients want to compete, but you can’t all be doing the same thing. While there’s only so many outlets and reporters you can pitch to, or ways you can tell audiences what you’re about, be sure to do it in a way that makes it your own.

5) We tend to talk a lot about what we can do, and not what we can’t. Understanding the limitations to the campaigns you are going to implement can help set expectations for the client and yourself, which in the long run, can be a benefit to both of you.

Because of the role you play, you are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

There are organizations beginning to do this, both private and non-profit, but I would increase the number of news organizations. We need to have a better public discourse. Too much of what’s covered today is partisan and not in depth enough where audiences can really learn about what’s going on in their communities. This has led t a lack of informed dialogue the public needs, to inform their decisions in terms of who they vote for, what’s best for their families, and a host of other issues that can benefit our society.

This was really meaningful! Thank you so much for your time.


PR Pros: Gregory Rose of GHR Communications On The 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.