The T-Shaped Advantage in Public Relations
By Amy Shanler
August 2026
My first post-college job was in public relations for a conference company. While media relations was part of my role, I also placed advertisements, proofread marketing materials, and created the company’s first conference newspaper (called a show daily).
Two years later, I moved to a high-tech public relations firm where I honed my skills in media and analyst relations, client communication, and thought leadership. From there, it was back to in-house roles where I was the go-to expert because of my depth of knowledge and credibility – the classic “I” shaped professional.
I also carried forward my early professional foundations in integrated communication. This was my differentiator. As I evolved in my career, my value stemmed from a broader understanding of how and where my work connected to other communication and marketing functions. That combination of deep expertise with a broader view of integrated communication is what defines a “T-shaped” professional.
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Amy Shanler
Amy Shanler is a professor of the practice of public relations at Boston University College of Communication. She brings knowledge gained from her 30+-year career into the classroom to teach students about strategic communication, crisis communication, media relations and contemporary public relations.
