My Happily Ever After

My Happily Ever After

By Holly Roberts

My ultimate PR dream job is really divided into two different aspects: event planning and crisis management. However, while there are two different outlets, there is really only one company: Disney.

I began working for Disney during the spring of 2006 as a Disney College Program Intern. This is crucial to beginning a career with Disney because many of their professional internships and various other positions list being a college program intern as a requirement.

I immediately fell in love with the company and the location. Even though I was far from Oklahoma, I immediately identified Cinderella’s castle as my home away from home!

As previously mentioned, I have two dream jobs within the Disney company. The first one is to be a Disney wedding planner. Many of my internships since my stay in Orlando have begun to prepare for this role. In fact, I have been able to help plan events for Frontier City and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I am confidant that these experiences have helped prepare for this portion of my dream career.

The next department within Disney that holds particular meaning to me is that of crisis management. After I took a course in crisis management from Dr. Shari Veil here at OU, I developed a definite desire to pursue a career in that area. I plan to expand upon this desire and return for graduate school in a few years with an emphasis in this area.

While Disney is an extremely difficult company to join straight of college, I am confidant that dreams come true and anything is possible with faith, trust and a little bit of pixie dust!

Music makes world go round

Good music and concerts have always been a huge part of my life. I love discovering independent up-and-coming bands and watching them grow and flourish. Therefore, my dream job in PR is be the director of publicity and/or promotions for a large record label so I could work with these bands and help give them the credit and resources they deserve.

Last summer I worked in the marketing department of TriStar/Screen Gems at Sony Pictures Entertainment, and my supervisor was the director of promotions for these studios. Watching her work and working closely with showed me what is required for a job like this in this competitive, fast-paced and exciting industry. This job requires creativity, organization, time/stress management, and good networking. In order to reach out to other companies for promotional partnerships, the person needs to be extremely professional and personable.

Also, for a position like this, the person needs to be very dedicated to their work. When a big premiere (or in the case of the music industry, a record release) is coming up, long hours at work are definitely required. Since I love music so much, I would enjoy being involved in it in my daily life, and these long hours would not phase me.

The main thing I learned this summer about getting ahead in fields like the movie or music industry, is that it is all about experience and who you know. Luckily, I have a job at a successful marketing agency in Los Angeles, called The Regan Group , so I will start gaining these valuable contacts and experience quickly.

As we all scatter in search of our dream PR jobs, good luck to everyone! Keep in touch; if all goes according to plan, maybe in a few years I could get you backstage passes to your favorite band’s concert… or at least send you a free cd.

Research brings knowledge and devotion to organization

When Debra Krittenbrink, the executive director of Bridges (then ILSY), first came to speak to our class in January, I would venture to say 98 percent (if not more) of us had not heard of this organization, or any other organization like it. Being completely unaware and ignorant about the functions and goals of this organization meant I had a great deal to learn! So, to get started, just as the PR ‘RACE’ model suggests, I began with research.

My group, High 5 Public Relations, began with primary research by interviewing Debra. From this initial interview, we gained a lot of background knowledge about the organization. It began in 1996 with a high school counselor giving homeless students school supplies from the trunk of her car. Since then, it has made substantial positive growth. In 2004, it became a United Way agency which led to greater credibility and funds. Then, in 2005 the Norman Rotary Clubs joined with the Norman Housing Authority to raise $100,000 to build a new facility for the organization. As part of our secondary research, we conducted a media audit, and we found that this large monetary donation brought a lot of media attention to Bridges, with the majority of stories appearing in The Norman Transcript. We also learned from our initial interview that Bridges now serves almost 200 students annually.

After we gathered this background information, we conducted surveys and a focus group. The surveys gave us quantitative information about how many people were aware of Bridges. (Only about 16 percent of those polled had heard of the organization in February). The focus group provided us with qualitative information about what the public though of the current name (ILSY) and what could be done to improve this name. Some of the most unanimous things discovered in the focus group was that the word ‘youth’ should be replaced with ‘students’ and that the title of the organization should be an actual word. High 5 PR used this valuable information to successfully conduct our campaign.

I have come a very long way from not knowing anything whatsoever about organizations that assist homeless students in January. After learning everything that Bridges offers and seeing the success stories in its students, I not only did my assigned work because I had to for class, I truly have a heart for this organization now. I would definitely be interested in volunteering at a place like this in the future.

I heart New York

I heart New York
Carrie Musch

When I was a senior in high school, I expressed an interest in public relations. My dad introduced me to the director of communications at a local hospital. I shadowed her for a day and became infatuated with the field. My interest in public relations was confirmed.

After interning at the hospital for two summers, I became interested in media relations. A hospital is an excellent opportunity to become exposed to media relations because there is so much activity. Media outlets are constantly looking to hospitals for news stories and the latest health and technology information. It is something I have become passionate about and hope to make a career out of it.

During my junior year, I decided I was going to pursue a PR internship in New York because of my love for the city and because it is the PR capital of the world. I secured an internship with Fleishman-Hillard’s Healthcare group. While there, I gained invaluable PR agency experience and a deeper appreciation for the city. I knew that I would return when I graduated from OU in May.

I will be moving to New York May 19. When I do, I will be that much closer to combining two of my dreams – a career in media relations and a life in New York. I hope to follow in the footsteps of another OU alumni, Jake Basden, who is a media relations guru and recently won PR Week’s Young PR Professional of the Year. I don’t know which firm I’ll work for (there are so many choices – Ogilvy and DeVries and Manning Selvage & Lee! Oh, my!), but I’m excited!

Living the Dream

Living the Dream
By Tabitha Brown
May 1, 2008


My ultimate dream job is in brand development and management. Over the past four years I have had the opportunity to work in several capacities where the main goal and focus of whatever project it may be was to be giving back to the community. In all companies and corporations the community’s view of that organization is very important. One way to improve the view is to increase or know how to acknowledge the community service members of the company as well as the company participates in.

In my college career I have also been able to work for the Oklahoma RedHawks and OU’s athletics department. I have always had a passion for sports and working in them. The internships I obtained and participated in validated that passion. In these I was taught how to combine brand development and management with athletics, thus creating the perfect field for me.

My dream job is to be the Director of Brand Development and Management of either a professional sports team or a major university. In this position I would oversee the licensing division, community relations division and the marketing division. Because this is a dream job, I acknowledge it is not a position I would obtain directly out of college. To become closer to my goal, I would like to begin my career by working for either IMG or CLC. Both of these companies would place me in a position to gain the necessary skills and experience I need to move to the next step.

A large portion of public relations is developing the brand and view of a company. It would be ideal to use the skills I learned in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication to further the brands of any company for which I become a part.

Non-profits Find Ownership

Non-profits Find Ownership
By Tabitha Brown
May 1, 2008

Bridges, a United Way sponsored organization, is located in Norman, Oklahoma where roughly 100,000 people reside. Because it is such a localized not for profit organization, much of the research High 5 Public Relations conducted was primary. Although there was some secondary research conducted as well. Bridges is a very unique organization with no other association like it. Of the organizations found that were somewhat similar, many of them were in Canada or the UK. Bridges is definitely one of a kind.

Norman is a town full of young people with an ever changing young population. With over 25,000 college students coming in and out of Norman every four years because of OU, the number of solicited volunteers is constantly changing for many non-profit organizations.

Bridges, however, seeks out the assistance of young professionals, people who are already in a career in the Norman area. Prior to the organization being named Bridges, it was called Independent Living Services for Youth (ILSY). It was found that those individuals who lived in Norman and knew of the organization were very enthusiastic about it. I believe a woman at the Norman Next meeting I attended put it best when she said, “Those of us who have made Norman our home really hold ILSY very dear to our hearts.”

In all of the primary research conducted it was discovered the name was not conducive to the organization and its purposes. Therefore, a name change would be necessary. It was also discovered that, although the organization’s name would help, the awareness of the group needed to increase as well if more volunteers were going to donate their time and money. The research validated the many of the thoughts the organization already had.

Today's PR

Today’s PR
By Tabitha Brown
May 1, 2008

Public Relations has slowly evolved over the past century to become something that encompasses all things related to a person, product or brand and its audiences. Thomas Jefferson said the term “public relations” in a speech in 1807. This, however, was not the same public relations we see today, he did not even intend for it to be. What he was speaking of was something completely different. There are many organizations and web sites dedicated to public relations and its purposes.
Public Relations Society of America, or PRSA, is one of those organizations. There is even a student spin off of this organization called PRSSA. These groups keep people who are in the public relations field connected and up to date on public relations issues.
There are also several other online resources for the field of PR. One website, named Public Relations Specialists gives a synopsis of what the field is and what a specialist in this field would be doing.
There is the PR Newswire which has several news articles regarding public relations and its practices. Another resource for many PR articles and current issues in the field is PR Week Magazine. This is not just an online resource but also has a printed version.
One resource, Online PR, gives information not just about PR, but specifically PR that is online and it is dedicated to the profession and gives advice toward how to be better in the online capacities of public relations. Public relations is a field that is constantly changing and these resources help individuals keep up with that change.

Out in the Real World

Out to the Real World

When I came to the University of Oklahoma in 2003, I started out as a business major, thinking that was the right major. My dad owned a business and he wanted me to get into when the time was right. Things changed first with me when I decided that public relations interested me more. Then my dad got of the business so timing was right for me.

I am glad that I changed my major to public relations. It has helped me build the fundamentals that I can use in any aspect of life. I have made friends through this major, had dedicated professors and experience through internships.

As I get ready to walk into the real world, I know what my “dream job” would be, but it is hard getting it right out of college. I would like to go into Entertainment PR specifically music industrial. I say it is hard but I think the hardest part would be moving so far away either to California or New York. There are many options out there I do not have enough experience. I feel that when I find the right job for me I will be prepared to take on the responsible because Gaylord College has given me the tools and knowledge of what it takes to work in public relations.

Come On Down!

Come On Down!

By Christie Gunn

Those who know me the best can say without a doubt what my dream job is; I often talk about how great it would be. Of course, the job I am referring to is being a game show host. I can think of nothing more fun than giving away money to my fellow trivia-fanatics.

Whether it is Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Cash Cab or Double Dare, I will watch it. I am non-discriminating game show fan. I think game shows have it all: competition, suspense, victory. And I would love to be part of it.

Not to mention, the job itself would be pretty nice. The host’s only true responsibility, other than reading off the teleprompter, is to chat with the contestants throughout the show. I think I could handle that. Plus, the game show host always seems like the smartest person in the room, because he or she as all the answers while contestants have to guess.

Though it may not be the most obvious application for a PR degree, I feel that what I have learned at OU has prepared me for the intricacies of the game-show-host profession. I can put my public relations skills to use when dealing with the media, speaking in front of groups or even writing copy for the broadcast.

While I realize not everyone is on the edge of his or her seat as the music plays in Final Jeopardy, I would love to be the person with all the answers telling people to "help control the pet population; have your pet spayed or neutered."

Many Yearbooks Incorporate Technology

Many Yearbooks Incorporate Technology

By Christie Gunn

Upon conducting research into college yearbook market trends for their client Sooner yearbook, Innovative PR, a public relations capstone group, found that many yearbooks are incorporating DVDs and CD-ROMs to combat poor sales.

College yearbook sales are dwindling across the country leaving many yearbooks to fight to stay in production. Yearbooks’ biggest competitors are social-networking Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace. These social networks can offer personalized, interactive content and provide instant gratification whereas printed yearbooks are static and generalized to the entire student body. In addition, students must pay for yearbooks in advance and wait months to receive them, unlike social networking sites that update instantly.

In order to keep up with growth in technological competition, several yearbooks have adopted supplemental pieces such as DVDs and CD-ROMs. The University of Texas’s Cactus yearbook comes with a DVD that includes content from the student newspaper and television station. In 1997, Marquette University canceled production of its yearbook entirely in favor of a CD-ROM version. The new format will include audio recordings from each senior to accompany their picture, video slide shows of campus events, footage of commencement and even music from local bands. “The editors say the digital publication will do things that yearbooks have never been able to do before.”

Other yearbook advisers like Ms. Widmer at Northwest Missouri State see the risks of solely using electronic formats for yearbooks. She said, “In 30 years you're not going to be able to do anything with [a DVD or CD-ROM yearbook] except use it as a coaster.” Librarians at Marquette echoed the sentiment, pointing out that electronic yearbooks may fail to accomplish a yearbook’s basic mission of preserving memories and records for the future.

Innovative PR will distribute surveys to continue researching if students at the University of Oklahoma would like to see their yearbook incorporate more technology, such as a supplemental DVD or CD-ROM.

Life After OU

Life After OU

by Linden Chalfant

When I started at The University of Oklahoma in August 2004, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. Business always seemed like a great major, but little did I know, there were so many other options out there. I stumbled upon public relations because one of my friends decided on that and she explained to me what broad career possibilities this major allowed. I started thinking about it and every company needs a wonderful image to back their product. Whether I wanted to work for a PR firm, or simply do public relations for a certain company, it looked like there would be tons of possibilities after graduation.
Leaving OU, I am so glad that I chose this major because through it I have met dedicated professors, made wonderful friends, and gained hands-on experience through internships. Public relations is interesting because its fundamentals are applicable to every aspect of life.
Now that graduation is rapidly approaching, I have narrowed down this vast array of possibilities that I once imagined. Upon graduation, I will be doing risk analysis for an insurance company in Dallas, Texas. This opportunity allows me to use analytical skills, writing skills, and it provides a foundation where my career will be built and maintained upon relationship management with clients. Although I am not going into public relations specifically, I feel like my education through the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication has prepared me immensely for the real world!

Oh The Places You'll Go...

Oh the places you’ll go…
By Sally Swafford

I think it’s safe to say that the last semester of my college career has been anything but calm. I’ve not only had 15 hours of school, but I’ve been planning a wedding and have participated in Sooner Scandals. But don’t feel sorry for me because it’s been an absolute blast!

As for what the future holds, I have no clue. I am graduating in May with six hours remaining. I am taking advantage of a class offered by Gaylord to travel to London for three weeks. What a way to go out, right?

Post London, I will stay in Norman to work for an oil company and save money for my future marital status. I am moving to Austin, Texas in August and will find a job there (any job there) doing God knows what.

My dream job in the public relations field is to work in the Arts. There is a particular children’s art museum in Austin, which would suit my passions best. Not only would I be working in the field of journalism but also I would be around children, whom I love.

If I don’t get a job in the Arts while in Texas, I may look for a job at an art museum when my future husband and I come back to the Oklahoma City area in two years. In particular, I would love to be the media liaison at an art museum. Working with the different mediums of journalism would be very fun for me.

Also, anything with event planning would be good for me as well. After planning my own wedding, it seems interesting and exciting to plan someone else’s. I would love to surround myself with creative people.

To my classmates: Good luck in all your endeavors and hopefully after graduation we will see each other again!