Marketing and Advertising, what's the best choice?

WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARKETING AND ADVERTISING?

• i was wondering whats the difference between marketing, advertising and communications. i would like to do something like make commercials and behind the scenes for a broadcast ...show more

• Answer:

  First thing to figure out is why you are torn. Every profession assumes that you want to work hard at it, whether elementary education or a business career. Until you know what you want, don't go forward. Talk to people and see if the 9-to-5 of either is going to be fulfilling and challenging. The big broad areas of marketing in a company include product development, public relations, sales and advertising. All are designed to make the company sell and success. Consider the public relations part. These are people who the company authorizes and makes responsible to correspond with reporters about company activities and explain company positions. If you were trying to learn about the possible involvement of a company in a pollution allegation, you would ask the public relations department, who would give you an official statement with as little derogatory information as possible. They would paint the sunniest possible picture of the problem, that it has been taken care, nothing to worry about. PR for an organization is a very careful, buttoned-down business. You, as an inquisitive person, believe you haven't heard everything. You think someone or some organization is hiding something. You need a journalist (broadcast or otherwise) to ask questions and research everything to get the real story. That is journalism - finding out the truth, regardless of whether a company wants you to or not. Of course, you have an obligation to be truthful as a reporter and not just irresponsibly toss around allegations, or you could be sued for big bucks for libel or slander. It can be very exciting, but can be lots of drudgery, and people may become very hesitant to speak in front of you for fear of becoming a headline. Reporters/journalists need the ultimate network and need to trust that they can give background info without publicity.