NEW YORK — The PR Council has launched a new educational program and career portal designed for college students and 2020 graduates interested in public relations agency careers, who are facing immense obstacles due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Starting in early June, the free certificate program will offer webinars led by agency leaders covering subjects including strategic planning, applying data, social media strategy, crisis communications and medical writing among others. Lessons on commonly used tech platforms and PR measurement are also planned.

The program has already gotten the support of 21 agencies, including the likes of Edelman, Weber Shandwick and BCW as well as independents such as March, PAN and Fahlgren Mortine.

The PRC is reaching out to students through career development centers and PR, marketing and journalism professors at universities across the country. In effort to reach students from diverse backgrounds, the PRC will be putting an emphasis on working with historically black colleges and universities; industry leaders with diverse backgrounds have committed to recruit and mentor as well.

The career portal will allow job seekers to upload their resumes and specify areas and locations of interest. Member agencies will have access to this information when hiring resumes.

“Our member firms are dedicated to being a resource for the next generation of agency superstars, which is especially critical at this time," said BCW global president Jim Joseph, who chairs the PRC board. “Our goal is to keep them inspired about a career in the agency world and help them be even better prepared to join our workforces when businesses begin to recover.”

Students and new grads interested in participating in the program can register here or contact [email protected] for more information.