Ketchum Washington D.C. Field Trip Recap

My older sister warned me that when you begin making friends at college, besides asking what your name is, they initially ask what your major is.  My reply?  A Communication Interest major.  About 8 out of 10 times people stare at me with a blank face and either asks what is that or what can you do with that major in life.  Two extremely tough questions for freshmen to answer.  Fortunately after joining PRSSA, engaging in their activities and listening to speakers, I began to realize that public relations is an excellent career path for Communication majors. But what exactly is PR?  It’s not necessarily what PR is, but more of what PR can be.  PRSSA’s recent trip to Washington D.C. told me exactly that.

Entering Ketchum PR Agency in Washington D.C., we were given the opportunity to sit down with three experienced and knowledgeable individuals who currently work at Ketchum—and enjoy what they do every single day.  Chartése Day first discussed the health care side of PR and works with companies such as AstraZeneca.  Alli Sherman talked about how she formed her interest in Ketchum’s Consumer Health branch, and she works with brands such as Clorox.  Both stressed how important social media is, and how they are currently trying to “integrate” all forms of social media as one.  Some key parts of any type of PR are protecting the brand, preparing the client for potential issues, and being proactive and educated when new clients approach the agency.

Nick Ragone, the Managing Director of Ketchum's D.C. Office also advised us as students looking for a career in PR to create a positive “online footprint.

1. -       Have a professional look to your Facebook page
2. -       Make sure your resume contains links to your blogs, sites, etc.
3. -       Have Twitter followers who reflect who you are
4. -       Publish as much as you can and make yourself known online

The day continued, and we had the chance to sit down with Senator Carper and his Communication staff including Emily Spain and Ian Koski. It was truly an honor to meet Senator Carper and learn from his advice.   He left us with four key pieces of advice.

• 1.   Do what is right
• 2.    Treat other as you want to be treated
• 3.    Focus on excellence and achievement
• 4.    Never give up

I believe that these wise words stuck with each and every one of us.  Emily and Ian talked to us about what their agendas consist of: updating web sites, press release, meet & greets, conferences, and, of course, social media.  They brainstorm new ideas and ways to incorporate social media into their daily work while continually adhering to government ethics rules. They talked about the importance of establishing good relationships with the press and local newspapers and how they go about getting their latest news out to the public. 

Overall, the day was an amazing opportunity that has helped me answer the question of what PR can be.

Written by: Natalie Hines.

“Night with the Pros": Demystifying a Career Path

For a moment, if reading this from the perspective of an upper classman, revisit your freshman year and envision some of the anxieties it is possible you felt as an inexperienced freshman in terms of choosing the “right” major, “right” classes, and dreaming of a career that was both attainable and rewarding. According to Dr. Fritz Grupe, founder of MyMajors.com, “it is little wonder 50 percent of [college students] who do declare a major, change majors — with many doing so two and three times during their college years” (as qtd. in Ronan). If you are currently a freshman, like I am, then certainly these concerns have occurred to you once or twice in the last few months.

On that note, having only experienced what feels like a brief moment of college life over these couple of months, perhaps the greatest piece of advice I’ve received thus far came from a professor who encouraged his undergraduate students to seek meaning and knowledge in the courses they took, not to choose classes destined to land them a job and a sizeable salary. As much as I intend to avoid “preaching to the choir” (I am clearly not as skilled at avoiding using clichéd phrases in certain blog posts), I think it is fair to say that many of you involved in the Public Relations Student Society of America here at UD, and in the public relations concentration in general understand that it will take time and hard work before landing a so-called “dream job”.

This concept is not meant to seem cynical, but to accredit all of us getting involved in PR, we won’t mind beginning with an entry-level job that may not be extremely lucrative if it means we get a shot at working in a field that makes us happy.

I say this because, until recently, I was worried that I would not figure out what it is I wanted to do in terms of a career. Then, after getting involved with PRSSA-UD, I found what feels to me like a family of other students who share the same goals and interests. The organization has been such a huge help for me in terms of discovering what the field of public relations is all about, and has been very comforting in giving me the sense that my future holds a space for a potential career in this field.

More specifically, on November 10, PRSSA-UD hosted “Night with the Pros”, an event that has really encouraged me to join the field. Three very honest and down-to-earth speakers, Katie Wilson, Lisa Quinn, and Alex Schnabel, gave students a fantastic insight into the world of PR and what their jobs entail on a regular basis. Their generosity in sharing personal stories and advice, as well as their willingness to speak with us afterwards, was really gratifying, and I feel lucky to have heard them speak. Listening to these young professionals helped me begin to understand that the field of PR travels in many different directions, and that it is possible to hone in on a specific skill or interest and still find the area of PR that makes sense to you. All of the speakers acknowledged, as well, that your first job may not be your permanent one, but it is a great way to get “a foot in the door”. Ultimately, I learned from them that your job should make you happy, and should be something you love to do.  Financial stress may be present early on, but with enough hard work and dedication, the job of your dreams will find its way to you. 

Article Cited: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10154383/ns/business-personal_finance/t/college-freshmen-face-major-dilemma/

Written by: Sara Penchina.

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous: #Twitter style

Who is the one celebrity that you love and would do anything to meet? We all have one. Unfortunately, you’ll likely never get to meet your dream celeb in person, but Twitter is quickly helping you connect to your favorite stars.

When you follow these celebrities, you get a glimpse into their life -- what they are doing every day, what new TV shows, movies, or events they have coming up, and just advice they have learned over the years. Following celebrities on Twitter can be a gratifying feeling for those of us who would love to meet a celebrity but know that it is a one in a million chance. Knowing that you are getting a play-by-play of your favorite celebrity’s day is the closest thing to meeting the real live person. It makes you feel like you do have some connection with them because you are getting constant updates from the celebrities themselves. There is also the occasional time that you will get a real interaction with a celebrity if they answer your tweets.

Some celebs announce big news to their Twitter followers before even announcing it to the press. For example, when Kim Kardashian got engaged this year, she told her followers first. Kim tweeted, “It’s true... Kris and I are engaged!” Her sister Khloe Kardashian tweeted, “I can't believe I was able to keep this a secret but now I can scream all I want about it! Kim is engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!”

Twitter also allows for other celebrities to react to celebrity news. This summer Beyonce announced that she and Jay-Z were expecting their first child together. Once the news broke, the Twitter community reacted to it. Beyonce’s former Destinys Child bandmate Michelle Williams tweeted “OVERJOYED! a friend never tells! :).” Chris Brown tweeted “Congrats on the baby B and Jay.” Usher tweeted, “Woke up to the news that BEYONCE IS PREGNANT! So happy for her!!! Congrats B and Jay-Z!!!” and Kim Kardashian tweeted “I’m sooo happy for Beyonce & Jay Z!!!! Be’s preggo!!! Congrats!”

While Twitter allows us to hear from celebrities about their lives and exciting news they have to share, it also allows for us to hear about their reaction to sad events that go on. When Amy Winehouse passed away suddenly this year the Twitter community reacted to her death by sharing comments about her incredible talent that the world lost. Demi Lovato tweeted, “Amy Winehouse.. So sad. Unfortunately the world lost an incredibly talented woman to such a powerful disease... addiction. #RIP” Jessica Alba tweeted, “So sad about Amy Winehouse -she was so talented. Really tragic.” Demi Moore tweeted, “Truly sad news about Amy Winehouse. My heart goes out to her family. May her troubled soul find peace.” Rihanna tweeted, “Dear God have mercy!!! I am SICK about this right now! #DearAmy”

In true para-social interaction fashion, Twitter allows us to feel as though we’re part of celebrity’s life. Who needs E! news when you have Twitter?!

Written by Caroline Davis.

A Blog on Blogging

Just a few months ago, if someone would have recommended I start reading a certain blog or perhaps start my own, I would have thought they were crazy. ‘Blog’ in my mind corresponded the days of Xanga when my friends and I would write endless posts about everything that happened during our day and thought that everyone was interested in reading what was essentially a public journal. I did not want to go back to that. However, over the summer I was exposed to a whole new world of blogging that forever changed my idea of all that the blog world has to offer.

It all started with a little free time that the summer offered and my newfound interest in health and fitness. With some exploration, I came across the world of healthy living bloggers; people dedicated to living a healthy life of exercise and good nutrition (with the occasional, necessary indulgence) and publishing daily posts on how they keep up with such a lifestyle. I immediately became hooked on several of these blogs and soon enough had a Google Reader filled with new exercises, healthy food and workout inspiration! But in just a short time, my Google Reader began to fill up with all different genres of the blogs available on the Internet.

My discovery of healthy living blogs led to the realization that a vast collection of categories exists in the blog world. For basically any interest whether it be books, television, fashion or even public relations, there is a blog out there for you. This not only means that you can find a blog based on any of your interests, but you can also start your very own blog about whatever you wish! Any capable and interested writer has they ability to create a blog literally at their fingertips. Moreover, some of the greatest information I’ve heard from PR professionals is that “good writing is hard to find these days.” A blog can not only be a new pastime, but also serve as an easily accessible writing portfolio to potential internships or employers. As students looking to pursue a career in public relations or communications in general, we are always looking for ways to network ourselves and find a way to stand out.

PRSSA E-board President, Abby Stollar and Meetings Director, Janie Sikes set great examples with their personal blogs. Abby’s PR and Political Commentary and Janie’s i carry it in my heart have been more than just a hobby – their blogs have brought them both many opportunities. Abby admits that blogging is one of the best things she has ever done professionally and has opened the door to many other writing opportunities such as guest posts for other blogs including the Barnes and Noble National blog! Abby and Janie both agree that a blog is also a great place to provide your resume and a portfolio of other relevant and skilled writing samples. According to Janie, having a blog helps you hone your writing skills. The only way to improve is to practice and a blog is a perfect way to do just that. Blogging is also another form of social media, a hot commodity in public relations. Blogging makes you more accessible and allows others to network with you. With an ‘about me’ section, others can easily contact you.

I personally have not yet started my blog but it has been something on my mind lately. While I plan on creating a blog, I’m trying to figure out the voice I plan to express and what I want the focus at the heart of my blog to be. So get out there, explore the blog world, and find your blogger voice too!

Happy blogging!

Written by Jamie Lawlor.