Why Every PR Student Should Have a Blog

Writing skills and strong work samples are a must in the post-grad job search. The easiest way for a PR student to earn those skills now? Start blogging.

I started my own blog, Creativity in Doses, in 2009. And boy, has it come a long way since then. Blogging has taught me important lessons in writing, editing, marketing, business tactics and brand management. As a result, I can personally vouch for these four reasons why every PR student should have a blog.

Become an expert
Did you know that once a journalist has written three articles on the same subject, he or she can be considered an expert on the topic? Blogging can do the same for PR students. Start a blog in a niche you’re passionate about, be it fashion, food, sports or something completely different, and you’ll be on your way to establishing yourself as an expert in that area.

Find your voice
Finding your voice — your real one, not the scholarly essay-like one — is one of the most important things you can do as a college student. That’s the voice that you’ll use when writing pitches, new releases, even memos to your boss. Blogging on a regular basis can help expedite that process. Once you’ve found your voice, you’ll be able to begin learning how to tailor that to different clients and projects.

Demonstrate your writing skills
It’s a well-known fact that employers want to hire good writers. Even if you’re not one now, starting a blog and having peers read your work will allow you to practice sentence fluency, word choice and grammar. You’ll not only grow as a writer, but you’ll also end up with plenty of writing samples to pull from.

Develop your personal brand
Blogging gives you a platform to put your own thoughts and ideas out there, which is so much more crucial to your personal brand than simply retweeting what everyone else is saying. Think about what you want to be known for on the web and stay consistent.

Want to learn more about blogging? Come to our Blogging 101 Writing Workshop on Wednesday, October 15.

Blogging 101

DSC_0093Hannah Osborn, Public Relations Director, is a senior pursuing a double major in public relations and magazine journalism. She manages all UO PRSSA social and digital media platforms. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahmarieoz.

4 Free Tools to Help You Get Ahead

Whether you need help managing a busy life full of classes, work and extracurriculars or are looking for a little extra something to put on your resume, here are four free tools to add to your repertoire. 

Asana
This app allows you to organize both personal and group tasks, ensuring that nothing will slip under the radar again. Asana is perfect for communicating to-dos within your club or organization. Assign tasks to others, set due dates and get reminded via email when something is coming up, and organize it all by project.

Canva
This online program makes it easy to design graphics for blog posts, presentations, social media, posters and more. Canva offers many well-designed templates to use as a starting point as well as fonts, graphics, and color schemes to help you make an image your own. We all know getting familiar with the Adobe Suites is highly valuable. However, Canva can help you get right to creating graphics without the learning curve or cost associated with Adobe programs.

Connected
LinkedIn’s newest app helps you maintain the relationships in your network. It keeps updates within your network front and center so you can stay on top of what’s happening. All it takes to keep in touch is a few minutes swiping through Connected’s interface, stopping to congratulate work anniversaries, new jobs and promotions. It will even send you reminders about meetings as well as information about the individuals attending.

Code Academy
This interactive program makes learning how to code simple. Although it’s likely you’ve heard of Code Academy, chances are you haven’t taken the time to utilize the program. Being able to code is a skill that can set you apart from the rest of the job market. Take advantage of this resource by setting aside an hour a week to go through the lessons. You’ll be a coding whiz in no time!

Which of these free tools are you most excited to begin using?

DSC_0093Hannah Osborn, Public Relations Director, is a senior pursuing a double major in public relations and magazine journalism. She manages all UO PRSSA social and digital media platforms. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahmarieoz.

How to Prepare for a New Term

As exciting as a new school year may seem in the weeks leading up to it, that can quickly fade to resentment without the proper preparation. Use these tips to manage your assignments and commitments while making the most out of your year:

Get organized. Whether you love old-school paper and pen or swear by your iPhone calendar app, make sure to have a plan in place before showing up to the first day of class. A planner with plenty of room to write or a multi-functioning app such as Fantastical is key.

Start early. Keep track of important due dates right from the beginning. Professors generally give out due dates with the class syllabus (which is often available on Blackboard before the first day of class). Take advantage of this by outlining your calendar early. That way you’ll know ahead of time when you can take on extra responsibilities or have time to plan something with friends.

Freshen up your online presence. Between sunny vacations and demanding internships, it can be easy to let your social media accounts go dormant during the summer. Take the week before school to bring them up-to-date. Add that summer job or internship to your LinkedIn profile, send out a few professional tweets, and remove the bikini pic from your Facebook profile. Now you’re all set to begin networking with professors, peers and professionals.

Join a new campus organization. Make this the year you go above and beyond by getting involved on campus. Before you head back to school, do some research on the organizations you can join. Whether that’s applying to be part of Allen Hall Public Relations, attending the first PRSSA meeting, or lending your skills to a campus cause, be sure to try something new. You’ll never know what passion or career path you may discover until you do.

How are you preparing for the new term?

DSC_0093Hannah Osborn, Public Relations Director, is a senior pursuing a double major in public relations and magazine journalism. She manages all UO PRSSA social and digital media platforms. Follow her on Twitter at @hannahmarieoz.

Classes You Should Take Before You Graduate

The public relations major sequence is rooted in skills such as critical thinking, strategic writing, business management and creativity. At the School of Journalism and Communications, we take classes, which cover the multiple facets of public relations. Here are three different areas you should consider taking courses in before you graduate.

Digital Arts: If you are interested in design, you should consider the introduction into digital arts sequence, ARTD 250, 251 and 252, which covers print media, time-based and interactive digital arts. You will learn multimedia design by using Final Cut Pro X, InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. If you want to pursue a minor in multimedia, you will need to take four classes in addition to the three mentioned above.

Literature: Literature classes are required for all journalism students – take advantage of the courses that directly correlate with writing skills. For example, ENG 380 Film Media & History or ENG 381 Film, Media & Culture focus on the intersections between cinema and media texts with a topic of the professor’s choice, such as global environment changes or the LGBTQ community. These courses will teach you to think critically about the relationship between human perception, media, and world issues. Comparative literature classes are also useful for fine-tuning skills such as close reading and analyzing passages.

Business: An understanding of business management is important for anyone considering public relations as a profession. The introduction to business class, BA 101, can further your knowledge of the subject. You might consider the business minor, which consists of six courses. Business is a foundation for public relations and if you’re accustomed to business operations then you will be better able to assist in the decision-making processes of any company you will represent.

Overall, public relations is a highly competitive career path. To standout to employers, you need to be well rounded, so, take classes that spark your interest and inspire you to think critically and creatively.

Have you taken any of these classes? Which courses did you benefit from? Which courses would you add to the list?

SachaSacha Anderson, external relations committee member, is a senior at the University of Oregon studying public relations. Sacha hopes to pursue a career in entertainment PR. You can reach Sacha at sachaa@uoregon.edu.

How to Follow Up After Agency Tours

An extensive personal network is a valuable tool for any budding public relations professional, and agency tours are a great way to build these relationships. UO PRSSA recently visited three agencies in Seattle: Edelman, Weber Shandwick and Porter Novelli. Here are a few tips on how to follow up after agency tours to build your personal network:

Connect with the professionals on social media. Reach out to the professionals you spoke to and request a connection on LinkedIn. Personalize each request by mentioning something that specific person said. Also, follow the professionals on Twitter, tweet a thank you and engage with their tweets.

Send a thank you email. Did any particular people stand out? Thank them for their time and note an aspect of the agency that you enjoyed. If any conversations or tips reminded you of an article, include the article in the email. Be specific but concise, and keep the email under two paragraphs. Aim to send the email within a week of the agency tour. Also, don’t send a resume unless you were asked to – you don’t want to be pushy, you want to show your gratitude.

Want to go the extra mile? Send a handwritten thank you card instead. Be sure to send your card as soon as possible. Like the email, the handwritten thank you note should be personalized.

Cultivate a sustainable relationship. Don’t send one email and never reach out again. Check in every six months or so by sharing a relevant article or engaging on LinkedIn. But remember, networking is about mutuality. Don’t reach out to people to get something out of them – try to make every relationship mutually beneficial.

These tips also work for informational interviews! The key is to stay personal, engaged and courteous. Networking is about cultivating relationships; you have to give value to receive value.

What’s your take on networking? Share your tips for following up after agency tours in the comments below.

Kaitlyn Chock is a PRSSA project manager for the 2013-14 school year.  You can contact Kaitlyn at kchock@uoregon.edu.

10 Interview Tips

So you have finally landed the interview. Now what? Here are 10 tips to help you overcome anxiety and land any internship or job with ease:

1. Come prepared. Do your research about the company or the person interviewing you. When they ask you why you want to work for them, you can talk about work they have done for clients or campaigns that inspired you. Also, bring a pen, paper and a copy your resume.

2. Know your resume like the back of your hand. Chances are, your interviewer is not going to read through your entire resume before the interview. They will be glancing over it throughout your conversation and asking you to speak more directly about experience that intrigues them. Practice elaborating on key points on your resume the night before your interview.

3. Come with three great questions. When your interviewer asks you if you have any questions at the end of your interview, you have a chance to ask more about what really interests you about their company. Try to avoid sticking to questions about the internship position itself.

4. Arrive early, but not too early. Try to walk into the lobby about five minutes early.

5. Map out your route the night before. Know how to get to the company that you’re interviewing at and how long it will take to get there.

6. Prepare an interesting elevator pitch. If you only had 30 seconds to tell someone about yourself, would you just parrot information that they could get from your resume? Be creative but strategic.

7. Dress to impress, but keep company culture in mind. Even if the company you are interviewing at is casual, you should show in your attire that you take the interview seriously. Typically for a casual company, you don’t have to wear your nicest suit or heels. Find one formal piece, such as a blazer, and balance all of your less formal items around it.

8. Be confidant. You have to believe in your abilities before anyone else will.

9. Smile. Show that you want the job and that you are happy to be there. An interview is really just a conversation between professionals – not a hostage interrogation session.

10. Say thank you. Write a hand-written card thanking your interviewer for considering you for the position the day after your interview. It shows that you’re detail oriented and makes you stand out.

AmeleaBioPhotoAmelea Renshaw is the 2013-2014 University of Oregon PRSSA operations director. She is currently a junior double majoring in advertising and public relations. You can contact Amelea at amelea@uoregon.edu and follow her on Twitter at @amelearenshaw.

Getting Involved With the SOJC

Getting involved with the School Of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) is one of the most important things you can do as an undergraduate. Joining clubs and organizations in the SOJC will not only build your resume but also give you experience in your areas of interest.

You’re probably thinking, “How do I decide which club is right for me?” I struggled with the same question when I first got involved. Here are a few tips that helped me find the right organizations:

  1. Go to the advising office: The advising office is a great place to start when trying to find where to get involved. The advisors can provide you with a list of clubs and organizations you can join.  Keep in mind that some publications, as well as Duck TV, have Ad and PR sections for students to get involved with.
  2. Make a list: It helps to make a list of the clubs you are interested in so you can focus on finding out more information about them. This can also aid you in the process of deciding if the club is right for you.
  3. Contact the club/organization: After looking up information about the club or organization, reach out to someone involved with the club and ask questions you may have.
  4. Apply: Once you decide on a club that fits your interest, find out when applications are due. Don’t be afraid to apply to more then one club. It isn’t guaranteed you will get in.
  5. Join early: It’s a good idea to join clubs as soon as possible. Your interest will most likely change throughout your time at UO, but gaining experience in different areas of journalism will help you in the long run. Starting early will also give you more opportunities to try out different clubs and identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Finding the right club and organization for you can be a time consuming task, but in the end it is well worth the effort and will help you start your professional career in your field of interest. So, get out there and get involved.

Austin Zerbach is a senior majoring in public relations. Austin plans to pursue a career in event management post graduation. You can contact Austin at austinz@uoregon.edu.

How to have a productive summer as a PR student

Summer is just around the corner. You know what that means? It’s time to start making those summer vacation plans. Summer is also a good time to advance your skills and take advantage of networking connections and opportunities. Whether you are working at home, backpacking through Europe, or interning for a public relations firm, here are some simple tips from PR professionals on how to have a productive summer as a PR major.

1. Write, write, and write

Writing is arguably the most important skill a PR professional can have. It is important to keep writing skills polished, even when school is not in session. Try starting a blog about your summer adventures, writing in a journal, or creating something as a portfolio piece.

2. Learn a new skill

Without the stress of deadlines and assignments that come with being in school, summer makes the perfect opportunity to learn something new. There are plenty of fun skills that you could learn or improve on this coming summer. Photoshop, Final Cut Pro X, and photography can all make valuable additions to your skills toolbox. Personally, I am hoping to improve my InDesign skills this summer.

3. Volunteer.

Volunteering is a great way to get involved and start networking. These experiences can reveal jobs, expand professional networks, help make new friends, provide career experience, and teach valuable skills- all while working for a greater cause.

 4. Schedule Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are a great way to learn applicable information firsthand within a specific field. You might also find out about career paths you were unaware of before, and it can provide great tips on how to fix up your résumé and land an interview.

5. Get an Internship

Last, but not least, having an internship over the summer can lead to exciting things. Not only do internships give you an edge in the PR job market, they also provide valuable experience, networking opportunities, and could potentially transition into a full time job.

These are just a few tips on how to have a productive summer as a PR major. Don’t be afraid to go above and beyond this list! Try new things, learn something new about yourself, and most importantly This is an exciting time in our lives and the future holds many opportunities and possibilities, especially in the increasing prosperity of the public relations field. How are you planning to have a productive summer?

Photo Credit: martinak15 via Compfight cc

Post by Claire Ion, PRSSA member for the 2012-2013 school year. You can contact Claire through our blog editor: cgisler@uoregon.edu!

How to Survive the Gateway Series

Post by Audree Nethercott, University of Oregon PRSSA Member.

Congratulations to the students who recently (and successfully) made it through Gateway I and II. The UO SOJC Gateway to Media series can be a few of the most rewarding classes you will take in college or it can be the longest two terms of your life.

It wasn’t too long ago that I was staying up until 4 a.m. in Agate Hall editing the “ums” and “buts” out of my audio to meet the 90-second project requirement. For many students, the Gateway series consists of long, lonely nights in computer labs and shamelessly asking everyone you know to participate in multimedia projects. Need some help? Here are a few ways to avoid the Gateway gloom.

1. Go to every class
Sounds obvious, right? Some students think that the lectures can be skipped occasionally. Wrong. Every single class is extremely important to your success in the series. By skipping class, you risk missing a quiz or class project, which can both affect your final grade, as well as your development of essential skills.

2. Attend the workshops
The workshops are where you learn the basics of Final Cut X and InDesign step by step. In my opinion, these workshops are more valuable than any other aspect of the class. Your instructor will guide you through mini projects that teach you the details of each program, resulting in higher quality work.

3. Use the Gateway instructors as resources
The Gateway instructors are there to help you. If week three has rolled around and your interviewee hasn’t replied back to your email, it is probably an indicator to move on to something else; this is a great opportunity to use your instructors as resources for alternate options. Visit them in office hours. They will give you ideas for a new topic and refer you to interesting people in the area. As an added bonus, you will have a chance to hear their amazing experiences, such as Dan Morrison’s stories of being embedded in Afghanistan.

4. Have a backup audio recorder
Sometimes your technology fails during an interview. Most interview subjects are busy and won’t be able to reschedule to another time. To avoid this problem, always have a backup recording device. It can be an audio recorder from the J-Cage or your iPhone.

5. Do not procrastinate
This is an obvious one, but a few graduates have told me they graduated with two degrees; the first a Bachelors of Arts and the second a “Bachelors of Procrastination.” Creative work is not something that should be rushed through the night before a deadline. Pulling an all-nighter will negatively impact your work and your grade. Plus, your instructor can tell the difference between work that is well-done and work that is rushed through.

The Gateway to Media series is supposed to teach you what is expected in the world of journalism, not inhibit your excitement for the journalism industry. Follow these tips and stay organized. It might surprise you how fun the classes really are, if you take the time to do them right.

Photo Credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via Compfight cc

Five Ways for PR Students to Get Involved

Post by Aimee Gregg, University of Oregon PRSSA member. Photo by Callie Gisler.

University of Oregon students have countless avenues to get involved on campus; unfortunately, there is no way to take advantage of every opportunity, which can make the decision of what organization to get involved in overwhelming. A good way to get the most out of your time is to find activities that allow you to combine your professional goals with your campus involvement. Here are five ways for public relations students to get involved on campus:

1.) PRSSA
Though we are somewhat biased, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) will provide you with the opportunity to network with fellow public relations students and professionals, and learn more about all facets of public relations through professional guest lecturers.

2.) AHPR
Allen Hall Public Relations (AHPR) is an entirely student-run professional public relations firm that takes on real clients. It helps public relations students network with each other, as well as with small businesses and nonprofits in the area. It also gives students valuable hands-on experience, while maintaining high professional standards. The work that students produce is the perfect addition to any portfolio.

3.) Marketing or advertising groups
Both marketing and advertising are closely related with public relations. Learning more about these professional areas is a great way to expand your skills set to become a more marketable professional. You might also uncover an entirely new interest or passion. Examples of marketing and advertising groups on the University of Oregon campus include American Marketing Association, Allen Hall Advertising, Ad Society and more.

4.) Campus publications
Many campus publications including Flux, The Daily Emerald and Ethos have public relations related positions that are fantastic practical experience. Attaining writing, marketing, multimedia and other journalism-related positions in these publications can be a great way to broaden your skills set and diversify your portfolio.

5.) Volunteer your public relations services
Sometimes the best way to get involved on campus is to find an activity that you are passionate about, even if it is unrelated to your professional objectives. You can obtain public relations experience by helping your club or activity gain exposure on campus. This is a mutually beneficial option. You develop your public relations skills, while serving the needs of other students on campus.

Campus involvement is key to getting the most out of your four years here. These are just a few options; however, there are more than 180 student programs at the University of Oregon. Browse through all the student groups at orgsync.uoregon.edu to find the perfect fit for your interests.