Your guide to PR focused WhatsApp channels in India

Founded by Sandeep Rao and Srishty Chawla in 2014, the founders says the group has 35,000+ members across 85 One Source groups including 3,500-odd CXOs across brand and consultancy, 4,000+ journalists across Indian and global media house.

Srishty Chawla, co-founder & Co-CEO, with One Source says, "During the 2016 Mumbai floods when the city came to a grinding halt, the community really came together to show up for members who were stuck at various places due to water logging, offering pick and drops; the admin team and several long-time members even opened up their homes to fellow-members for food & water and a place to stay, and issuing advisories about water loggings and flood warnings, rains, journalist outreach, and much more. 

The real test of any community is during adversity and One Source really came together to show the strength and magic of what a community is capable of, thereby strengthening the community."

Chawla adds, "Whether it is coming together to extend help during the Mumbai floods, or requesting for medical help for individual situations, or even blood donations and pet adoptions, as well as breaking news of everything from election results to providing real-time updates on everything from Budget to cricket matches to traffic advisories, One Source has disseminated information that has helped people be successful at their jobs, and even saved lives in some instances. 

And the way people often show up to participate and help is entirely unexpected and at times, pleasantly overwhelming; it always manages to repose our faith in humanity."

IPRF, one of the most active and extensive WhatsApp groups for PR began in 2007 as a Yahoo Group.

Founder, Vikram Kharvi, says, "Over time, as digital platforms evolved, we transitioned to Google Groups and later expanded to Facebook (25K Members) and LinkedIn Groups (19K Members). Around 2012, we introduced WhatsApp groups, which significantly transformed the way members interact, enabling real-time, dynamic conversations that foster deeper engagement.

The WhatsApp groups of IPRF have truly become a lifeline for PR professionals across India. 

For instance, when there was uncertainty about industry practices during the pandemic, the groups facilitated real-time discussions to clarify doubts and share best practices. Similarly, when a young professional faced a challenge with a media house or client, the group stepped in to provide advice, and in some cases, collectively advocated for solutions."

Deepak Kapoor, founder, The Commune and deputy general manager - corporate brand & communications, Godrej Industries Group shares that 'The Commune' is a dedicated forum for professionals in the advertising, media, and marketing communications industries. It has members from cities across India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chandigarh.

An interesting aspect of The Commune is the Industry Roast. As Kapoor puts its, " This roast brings together leaders from advertising, marketing, digital, journalism, media planning & buying, and PR to playfully critique each other’s professions (not individuals), guided by a stand-up comic serving as the roast master"

Take a look.

PRCC's model is different from other PR WhatsApp channels. Its admin, Shashank Bharadwaj says, "Unlike other PR groups, we do not encourage media contact sharing or regular media updates. Instead, we focus on meaningful contributions that add value to the profession and the community."

With 400 members in Bangalore and Chennai, PRCCs approach is to focus on, "City-specific groups that bring together in-house and agency professionals from the same region. Members have found mentors, connected with agency peers, and collaborated on media stories—whether it’s trend pieces, industry-specific insights, or planning synergistic campaigns.

Since members of the city-wise groups regularly meet on a monthly basis, they develop trust and rapport over time. These face-to-face interactions have fostered a sense of community and have allowed professional bonds to grow stronger, making it easier for members to rely on each other for advice, collaboration, or business leads."

With 3000 members, active specifically in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, PR Rangers launched on the eve of Covid pandemic.

Deepayan Roy, its founder and admin says, "PRangers has grown into more than just a WhatsApp group—it’s a support system for the PR and media community. We receive numerous testimonials from members who find the group interactive and engaging. Our Friday Forum is a highlight where we showcase members’ creative work and amplify it across our social media channels, making everyone feel seen, heard, and celebrated."

Roy adds, "During the peak of COVID-19 and even now, PRangers has been a crucial platform for disseminating important news, especially when we’ve lost colleagues in the media. We ensure sensitive information is shared responsibly, urging members to respect privacy. By onboarding journalists, HR we’ve bridged gaps by helping them connect with PR professionals and access job opportunities, making a real impact."

As it happens with many WhatsApp groups, Roy is now exploring holding their, "First physical meet-up in Bengaluru to take the connections formed online into the real world."

Media Connect, with about 4000 members nationally is a group with industry-specific professionals including PR agency professionals, corporate communications experts, and Journalists.

Amit Pandey, group admin and Sr. script writer, at Cosmos Maya India Pvt Ltd says, "In these professions, it's common for the right information to either reach the right person too late or, at times, not reach them at all. Through Media Connect, we ensure that the right information reaches the right person at the right time, benefiting everyone professionally."