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Almost two thousand U.S. companies identify themselves as public relations agencies today. Many large ones are owned by, or are affiliated with, revenue for their parent corporation, the WPP Group, in 2011. Other PR firms are independent. These companies tend to be smaller than the conglomerate-owned ones and have just local or regional operations. New York–based Edelman, the largest independent PR agency, is an exception, boasting global operations and clients from around the world.

Many corporations, professional organizations, and nonprofit entities retain PR agencies to provide a range of services. Large organizations of all types—particularly in the manufacturing and service industries—often have their own in-house PR staffs as well. These departments handle numerous tasks, such as writing press releases, managing journalists’ requests for interviews with company personnel, and staging special events.