The advent of Web 2.0 applications such as social networking websites, wikis and blogs is creating new opportunities to gain valuable insights into the realities of careers in marketing and communications.

Ron Culp, an industry veteran who is managing director and a partner with PR and communications firm Ketchum, writes a blog aimed specifically at millennials - young people in either their first marketing job or on the lookout to enter the industry.

Culpwrit features his own experiences of the industry and posts from others working in the communications sector.

It also features a section where readers can pose their own questions about the realities of a marketing job.

Mr Culp said he hoped the site will give young people the chance to ask the questions they were always afraid to ask.

"My hope is that Culpwrit will be a key resource for the things young people really want and need to know," he commented.

According to the Department of Labor, public relations and communications specialists can be involved in media, consumer and government relations, political campaigns, interest group representation and investor relations.

In 2006, the profession employed around 243,000 people. The increasing importance of communications and PR in modern business is expected to fuel 18% growth in industry jobs by 2016.