Originally published February 2013. Meetup groups referenced below may have wound down, moved online, or reconstituted under different names. For the modern PR-networking equivalent — associations, conferences, and the industry map — see the PR Careers Guide.
Public relations is a field where staying current matters more than in most industries. New platforms, new measurement, new pressure on the ROI story. The best PR pros keep multiple fingers on the pulse of the field — and one of the highest-signal ways to do that is in-person peer contact. Five meetup groups that have historically served that purpose:
1. Advertising, Fashion, Media — Public Relations Networking
Success in PR requires a creative, innovative approach to problem-solving. This New York City Creatives meetup group is built to keep that muscle active. The focus is broad general PR, but the room mixes professionals from advertising, marketing, fashion, and new media — the cross-industry contact is where the inspiration lives.
Where: New York City. The industry's networking hub, with practitioners at every level of the market.
2. Creative Connections
Also creativity-focused, Creative Connections brings people from across business disciplines together to discuss ideas, strategies, and forward planning. Sometimes casual, sometimes formal. Consistently useful for the operator who wants exposure outside the New York and San Francisco echo chambers.
Where: Littleton, Colorado. No big-city noise, sharper focus on peer exchange.
3. Social Media Marketing and Monitoring Engagement Group
West Coast anchor. The Social Media Marketing and Monitoring Engagement group draws writers, journalists, and PR and communications managers into the same room in the Bay Area. Broad exposure to the whole discipline, with a specific tilt toward the digital measurement side.
Where: San Francisco, California. Meetups year-round.
4. Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations Group
Whether the goal is stronger PR execution or full-stack marketing lift, this NYC group brings the operators together on a regular cadence. Ample opportunity to plug in around Manhattan's schedule.
Where: New York City. Multiple locations, regular cadence.
5. American Marketing Association — Tampa Chapter
Formal association rather than pure meetup, but positioned to educate members and open doors. The Tampa AMA chapter runs a business-minded room with a real PR and marketing focus. Every member is a potential partner or referral source.
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