My Passion for PR

Public relations is an interesting field. Many people have a hard time defining what we do, as it encompasses so many areas: media relations, event planning, internal corporate communication, writing, and strategic planning, to name a few. There are a lot of reasons to choose public relations as a career, including the excitement and variety of the job. I share in liking this field for these reasons, but my reasons for loving this field are close to my heart.

Ever since I was little, writing has been my passion. As soon as I could hold a book in my own hands I became a bookworm, and before I could write every letter in the alphabet I was already writing stories. Nothing fascinates me more than sharing stories through vivid experiences, real or not. There is a lot to be learned about our selves and others through every type of storytelling medium, including everything that can be read, heard or watched. Through classroom and internship experiences, I have discovered how to apply my passion for writing and storytelling to communicating the stories of organizations. Whether pitching a non-profit’s story of helping children with hair loss or writing about an alliance’s new, exciting research, storytelling is the part of public relations that I live for.

Another reason I feel so dedicated to the realm of public relations is how it has changed me for the better. Never really the social butterfly, I have always been shy of strangers and have had a hard time making friends. However, through diving into this world of communication and networking, I have learned how to cope with my shyness. I can enjoy a crowded event by walking up to a professional or student and striking up a conversation. I’ve met a lot of dedicated students at PRSSA meetings and fascinating practitioners at conferences. In my personal life, I’ve learned to make more friends wherever I go.

Through a career in public relations, I can continue to enjoy my passion for storytelling and conquer my shyness while telling clients’ stories and contributing to a network of dedicated and fun-loving professionals.

Tell me: Why do you enjoy public relations, or the field you are in?

PRSSA National Conference in Detroit: Happy 40th, PRSSA!

Wow, what a weekend! After a stressful week of midterms, I found myself glad to be traveling to Detroit, Mich., for the National PRSSA Conference. Detroit is an interesting town full of beautiful, gothic buildings. Not the bustling city I expected, but an interesting place to visit, complete with Greek Town and vibrant city culture.

University of Oregon Executive Board in Detroit

The conference was full of helpful and interesting sessions and keynote speakers, including PR pioneer Ofield Dukes and Craig Newmark from Craigslist.org. There were many sessions available regarding various of topics including ethics, global PR, entertainment PR, PR for healthcare, sports PR, fund-raising PR, social media, event planning, and corporate versus agency PR. The conference also included a PRSA/PRSSA social where students and professionals mingled at the GM Renaissance Center Wintergarden.

My favorite sessions were on ethics, social media, and corporate versus agency PR. The ethics session, led by several professionals including John Bailey, was interesting because it addressed many ethical issues practitioners may come across when doing work for clients. We learned about a whisper campaign, which involves the spreading of bad publicity in an attempt to bring down a competitor or promote one’s own product without taking credit for disseminating the information.

The social media session was memorable because speaker Jud Branam created an acronym to tie his points together, POST: People, Objectives, Strategy and technology. He made several interesting points that ring true, including the fact that the emphasis lies in what the company can do for the online community.

Lori Billingsley, a professional working with the Coca-Cola Company, enlightened us on the differences in working for a corporation and working for an agency. She recommended starting at an agency to acquire a wealth of experience with a variety of clients before going to a corporation and applying that broad knowledge.

Conferences are an excellent opportunity to advance professional knowledge and get excited for a career in PR. I had a lot of fun bonding with this year’s executive board and meeting so many other students and professionals. To any students looking to get more involved in PR, I highly recommend joining PRSSA and attending conferences whenever you can.