publicist n : someone who publicizes [syn: publicizer, publiciser]

English

Etymology

From publiciste.

Noun

1. A person whose job is to publicize information or events; a publicity agent
2. A journalist who focusses on politics

See also

• publisher

Translations

• French: agent de publicité or agent publicitaire

A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book or film. Publicists usually work at large companies handling multiple clients. See more at Publicity.

In the world of celebrities, unlike agents or managers, publicists typically take a flat monthly fee for servicing a client (whereas agents and managers tend to take a percentage of their client's gross income). Base rates in Hollywood in 2007 for mid to high-level publicists are reportedly in the $3,000 - $50,000 USD per month, per client.

An older meaning of the term is closer to pamphleteer: someone who circulates ideas by publishing them, perhaps in ephemeral forms.

Compare to

• Agency (agent)
• Management (manager)
• Promotion (promoter)

One of the publicist's main function is to generate press coverage on behalf of clients and to serve as the bridge between clients, their public and media outlets. A publicist writes press releases, manages campaigns and performs other public relations functions. An agency can range from a one-person shop to an operation consisting of thousands of individuals.

Some publicists specialise in representing 'ordinary' members of the public to achieve them the maximum possible fee for stories they wish to sell to newspapers, television stations and magazines.

See also

• Unit publicist

External links

• Cellphones at sixty paces: Can anyone stop the publicist plague?

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