What is the main difference between advertising and public relations?

The primary distinction between advertising and public relations lies in the nature of how each discipline communicates messages to the audience. Advertising is characterized by paid promotional messages designed to reach a specific audience through various media channels, such as television, radio, print, and online platforms. This approach allows organizations to have full control over the content, timing, and placement of their messages. In contrast, public relations emphasizes earning media coverage and building relationships with key stakeholders, utilizing strategies to cultivate a positive image and manage communication with the public. This often involves engaging with journalists and influencers to share stories that represent the organization authentically, which is less about direct payment and more about the credibility and organic reach that comes from earned media exposure. By focusing on earned media, public relations strives to create a favorable public perception without direct costs associated with ad placements, making the two practices quite distinct in method and intention.