Recognized for: Her consistent presence and participation at our meetings and her willingness to volunteer, Year: Senior Hometown: Lexington, VA Major(s)/Minor(s): SCOM with a concentration in PR, SMAD with a concentration in Journalism How has PRSSA impacted you: PRSSA has first and foremost given me a really fun group of people who are all trying to figure out the same things as me, and it's nice to go through it all together. I also really love the agency visits- you never realize how many jobs and different industries there are in PR until you go talk to people actually doing them. What was your favorite PRSSA event: National conference has been my favorite event so far- it was a tiring, blur of a week, but it was great to meet other chapters and hear from industry professionals. I was already friends with most people who went, but now we all know each other so much better, we had a lot of fun. What is your dream job: I am not sure what your dream job is yet- originally, it was a radio broadcaster, but now, my dream job is whatever lets me try a lot of different things- layout designer, public relations account manager, feature writer, video editor, book critic, news anchor (radio or tv), social media expert. Who knows? What is a fun fact about you: I love bios on bands and musicians. Books, documentaries, etc.!
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JMU PRSSA had the pleasure of being invited to a dinner and networking event on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Public Relations Council of Shenandoah Valley 20th Anniversary Celebration. This group of local professionals wanted to invite JMU students who shared their like-minded interests: public relations. Eight of us attended, but little did we know we were in for a real (fancy) treat: pianist playing softly in the background, three course meal including filet mignon, and a speech by local celebrity Bob Corso, a news anchor for WHSV TV-3. Ooh la la! Corso spoke about some of the changes that have occurred in network news throughout his 27-years working in television. He mentioned that when news anchors or reporters used to announce they were switching to a career in public relations, the TV crew would think they’d “gone to the better side,” with more pay and less irregular hours. This earned many titters from the crowd, as they all seemed to find the idea of public relations equating normal hours and proper work-life balance to be a hilarious joke. But hey, the ‘never knowing what you’ll do next’ is part of the charm, right? The biggest change in media consumption, though, is of course the rise of social media. Corso spoke to how the instant gratification of the news cycle has changed the way reporters deliver their stories. There is a delicate balance between trying to break a story as fast as possible without reporting on it too soon, and risking inaccuracy. When someone wants to learn about what is happening in Harrisonburg (or the world), they check Twitter before turning on Channel 3. This has made news networks using social media, in addition to traditional formatting, an incontrovertible necessity. I couldn’t help but think about my own media consumption habits as Corso spoke, and realized I fall entirely within this generational change. I watch all of my TV from platforms like Netflix and Hulu (in fact, I don’t even have cable anymore). I get all of my news from an email subscription service, The Skimm, which sends bite-sized and easy-to-comprehend top news stories into my inbox every morning. I even have transferred any magazine subscriptions I once carried over to their digital iPad editions. I, and I’m sure the rest of my PRSSA friends, am basically the embodiment of the changes (and, for him, challenges) he describes seeing in today’s always-plugged-in world. We essentially are the genesis of the changing market that we will one day need to appeal to. So while we all ate a fabulous meal and listened to a Harrisonburg legend, we also got the opportunity to think about the ever-changing landscape of media, content creation and distribution and, of course, the dynamic role of public relations. So thank you to the PRC for extending this invitation to JMU PRSSA, and for Bob Corso for shedding some wisdom on what it means to be a news anchor in the Internet age. By Katie McCombie
1. “Shine your own shoes and iron your own shirt.” – Scott Williamson, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications for Coca-Cola; and #PRSSANC Keynote Speaker Give your best effort to any and every job you have - big or small. The work and effort you put into a job represents you, so sweat the details. During the PRSA General Session, Daniel Lubetzky, CEO and Founder of KIND, said, “If you’re not coming up with dumb ideas, you’re not actually stretching yourself.” 2. "Well-rounded backgrounds spark ideas." - Jason Sprenger, President, Founder and Owner of Game Changer Communications Get working now so you can get work later. If you haven't had an internship yet, we suggest you start looking now. There's no better way to learn than by immersing yourself in the work culture you desire to be in with professionals that have years of experience. Keep in mind what matters most during an internship is how you spend your time and exert your efforts. If you can't find an internship, find somewhere else you can exert your skills. For example, participate in studio media at JMU to enhance your writing skills. With experience comes growth, and with growth comes new skills you have to bring to the table when it comes time to apply for jobs. We met your competition at #PRSSANC and they're pretty impressive. So, ask yourself, "how am I going to stand out from everyone else?" 3. “Mentorship comes in all sizes, shapes and colors.” – Ron Culp, Director of Graduate PR and Advertising Program at DePaul University and Consultant; PRSA Gold Anvil Award Winner Find a mentor. Be a mentor. Nearly every speaker we heard from at #PRSSANC emphasized the value of mentorship. Mentors are generally more experienced in the field than you and will be there whenever you have questions or need advice. We talked to a few PRSA members at conference who explained that they utilize PRSA to find mentors at networking events in their area to learn about new trends and aspects of public relations they are not as familiar with. Along with having a mentor(s), it is important to pay it forward and mentor someone else to continue to advance the public relations career field. 4. "We have to go further than understanding. We have to care so much that it hurts." - Brian Easter, CEO of Nebo Agency Use public relations to tell great stories and make a positive impact on the world. It’s not enough to just think about content. You have to think about the customer’s entire experience. The story you tell is made up of your data. Use your position to stop viewing people as conversions, and to rather build a relationship. “Imagine if we just cared,” Easter said. To be a good public relations professional you have to go from understanding to empathy to compassion. 5. “You better love what you do - you have to wake up for the next fifty years of your life doing it." – Jim Cantore, Meteorologist at The Weather Companies Belief matters. You need to have a passion for your product. Without this passion, you won't have the motivation to work for your cause. #PRSSANC keynote speaker Scott Williamson, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications for Coca-Cola said, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth investing yourself in.” Williamson drinks his own product - as he claimed, "there is no greater proof of conviction than consumption." But he also takes it a step further to not eat anywhere that serves Pepsi products, because that would mean he supports his company's competitor. So, what keeps weatherman Jim Cantore excited for work every day? Thundersnow. (The video says it all). Search #PRSSANC on Twitter for more lessons from the 2015 conference. Follow JMU PRSSA on Twitter (@jmuprssa) and Instagram (@jmuprssa) to get a glimpse of our own experience at conference. By Rebecca Malzahn
Embarking on a new internship, not knowing anyone or what you’ll be doing can be extremely stressful. After months of writing and editing my resume and cover letter and e-mailing them to any and all PR firms I could find, I was finally offered not one, but two internships for the Summer of 2015. I decided to choose Marstudio Inc. as my first internship and I could not have found a better fit for my skill set. Although I am a communications major with a concentration in PR at JMU, my true calling lies in design so Marstudio was a perfect fit as a marketing and graphic design firm. My first steps into the office were intimidating, as I had only had a phone interview so I essentially went into the first day blind. After I found my supervisor and settled into my desk, I was given an employee manual that explained the duties and tasks that my supervisor was responsible for and that I would be helping with. She held a marketing assistant position, which included social media management, media monitoring, blog writing, and supervising all internal marketing initiatives. At the time, I had little idea what any of those meant as I had only taken JMU’s Introduction to PR class at that point. Looking back, I now know how helpful and essential these skills are for most PR professionals. By immersing myself in an internship, I am now able to see just how important what we learn in the classroom is in the real world. After a few days, my marketing assistant supervisor was able to see my talent and desire to help the design staff as well, so she asked the graphic designer to give me some pointers and to use me for any work she was willing to delegate. While the art director had me make multiple rounds of what may seem like minor edits, I felt incredibly legitimate as I worked on real-world design tasks for the company and its clients. By being proactive and expressing my desire for design within PR, I was able to incorporate what I love to do with my PR skills. After a few weeks, the Marstudio team welcomed me and the one other intern into their corporate culture by inviting us to their “Christmas in July” office outing to a Washington Nationals baseball game. While the game got rained out, it was a blast spending time with the other employees and making both social and professional connections. The first day of my internship may have felt like I was entering the great unknown, but each day got easier and it showed what a real PR job would be like one day. By Leah Jacobs
Recognized for: Brianna is being recognized for her great work volunteering with PRSSA for the Homecoming football game a couple weeks ago, and having a positive attitude while doing so! Year: Senior Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA Major/Minor(s): Communications Major, Public Relations concentration. Writing Rhetoric & Technical Communication Minor How has PRSSA impacted you: PRSSA is a great way for me to start getting to know other people in my major and network some more before I graduate. What was your favorite PRSSA event: (I just joined so I don’t know if I have a favorite!) What is your dream job: Event Planning for Disney. What is a fun fact about you: Last year I hiked some of the Inca Trail! When you first join a club or organization, there is always going to be some questioning in regards to what to expect. I joined PRSSA during the spring semester of my freshman year and I can’t quite put into words how glad I am that I did. As a freshman, I had not yet been accepted into the Communication Studies major program here at JMU. I had barely any experience with public relations, and I had no idea what it entailed. This organization has been incredibly beneficial and has provided me with important tips that I needed to know and more. Public Relations has always been a field I was interested in, however, with little to no experience I wasn’t sure where to turn to when it came to finding ways to improve my skills and enhance my knowledge outside of a classroom setting. The first meeting had been slightly overwhelming because I sat in a large room full of people who had a fair share of internships under their belts, knew how to write a press release and almost mastered the proper techniques to ensure a successful job interview, but I was excited to learn all that they had to offer. The welcoming group of people I had met were all more than happy to share what they knew and had been so encouraging when it came to helping each member grow and share their love of public relations. As cliché as it sounds, it really is difficult to pick just one of my favorite things about PRSSA. This organization has so much to offer and you really get out of it what you put into it. By Noelle Rutolo
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November 2017
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