From Small Town to Big Apple

by: Ross Powell

Jake Basden, Media Relations Supervisor at Edelman (New York), graduated in May of 2006 from our very own Gaylord College of Journalism where he earned a bachelors in Public Relations. Since that time he has made quite the wake in the Big Apple.

Growing up in the small town of Stigler, Oklahoma, Basden learned a lot about public relations such as being transparent, friendly as well as gaining confidence. Basden kicked off his PR career significantly earlier than most when he decided to write People magazine at the age of 11.

"I began working in public relations at the age of 11 when I wrote a letter to the editor in chief of People Magazine explaining my outrage in the number of teen pregnancies occurring in my hometown," Basden recalls. "I never heard back."

During his tenure at OU Basden blazed quite a trail serving as advertising account executive for the Oklahoma Daily as a freshman, being exremely involved in Campus Activities Council, and working four years at the OU Alumni Association. Basden says that all of this involvement prepared him to become a quality PR professional but working for the OU Alumni Association better prepared him for line in agency PR than all others.

"My mentor, Tripp Hall, taught me how to deal with a variety of people in a range of situations," said Basden. "I catch myself doing things like Tripp every day."

The summer prior to his junior year at OU, Basden caught his big break when offered an internship at Ogilvy Public Relations in New York where he had much success and returned to work for Ogilvy the next summer as well.

His senior year, Basden was a seasoned enough PR practitioner he worked as a freelance publicist for Lollie's Beauty Bar, Tammy Cain's Carlisle boutique, and an author. Basden also booked segments/stories with local news organizations such as News 9, the Daily Oklahoman, Norman Living magazine, and even some regional radio stations.

"It was great earning supplemental income while doing something I love," said Basden.

After graduation in May of 2006, Basden packed up for New York where full time job awaited him at Ogilvy. Basden worked at Ogilvy for two years before being named by PR Week magazine as Young PR professional of the year (2008). Basden recalls that being the most memorable day of his career.

Shortly after receiving this honor, Basden was offered a position at Edelman (New York) where he is currently working.

A day in the life of Jake Basden is best described as extremely fast pace. Basden's day starts at 7 where he catches up on the news, prepares for client meetings, sends out pitches to national morning shows, takes part in conferences calls and works with fellow teammates until around noon. Basden runs across the street to grab a sandwich (to-go) before racing back to his desk to continue working because there is too much work to be done. After lunch he returns calls, finishes up presentations, contacting reporters, preparing briefs for his clients and trying to set up interviews. After work Basden races off to a Broadway show with a reporter and client, making it home around 11. His day ends around midnight only to wake up and do it all over again.

Basden's best piece of advice to give to a student studying public relations is to get as much real experience in public relations as possible.

"People will judge you by your personality and enthusiasm, but at the end of the day they need to know that you can do the work," Basden said. "Everything counts."

Not Your Ordinary PR Professional

By: Alex Marcus

Francisco Escobar is no ordinary PR professional. An economics and French graduate from Rice University, Escobar has become founder and president of Dallas based JFE International Consultants, Inc.

Using his business background for 22 years, Escobar worked for a high-tech global Fortune 500 company, mostly in finance and procurement. In 2003, Escobar knew it was time to move on.

“For the past seven years, I have worked side-by-side with a consultant who taught me many of the skills required to initiate and sustain a successful independent practice,” Escobar said.

As his relatively newfound company’s only employee, no day is typical. Escobar’s responsibilities all reside in him, including but not limited to billable consulting work, marketing, accounting, public relations, proposal preparation, new business development, and continuing education. In addition to running his own business, Escobar serves as advisor and consultant to the Council of Public Relations Firms.

How can one man handle all those tasks you might wonder? Self- motivation. For Escobar it is nice and convenient working out of his home, however it can sometimes be quite difficult.

“My "job" is so inter-mingled with my personal daily life, that unless I'm traveling on business, it is difficult to draw the line between the two,” Escobar said. “Every day requires self-motivation for the most important tasks at hand.”

Escobar has shown extreme self-motivation throughout his life. After graduating from Rice University, Escobar went on to obtain his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Business. While in school, Escobar was very involved on campus, frequently attended athletics events and participated in intramural sports. Escobar said college taught him how to live on his own and be responsible for his own decisions.

Aside from responsibility, Escobar said that when entering the “real world” it is important to remain positive and enthusiastic. “You are not entitled to anything until you prove yourself. Don't expect the world to give you anything. Everything happens for a reason and you have to be willing to adapt, change and grow,” Escobar said.

As for advice, Escobar said it is important to have mentors and mentors should have lots of experience and be passionate about their work. By enjoying their work so much and being very focused, they can point new graduates in the direction of success.

Photo provided by Francisco Escobar

Secure. Promote. Create. Execute. Host.

Pictured is the Oklahoma City All Sports Staff. From left: Jordan Satarawala, Brittany Hussain, Tim Brassfield, Megan McGuire, and David Forester.

By: Kati O'Kelley

Megan McGuire graduated in 2008 with a bachelors degree in Public Relations from Oklahoma State University. During her college years, she served as a public relations representative for OSU's Greek organizations, Orange Peel, campus communication services at OSU, and Varsity Review. She also served as an intern for the Oklahoma Film and Music Office and was a lab instructor and teacher's assistant for media classes at OSU. Megan decided to get into public relations because she loved to write but didn't want to be an English major. She loved how PR mixed journalism and writing.

Today, Megan serves as the Manager, Events and Public Relations Specialist for the Oklahoma City All Sports Association. Oklahoma City All Sports Association is a non-profit corporation that creates, pursues, promotes, hosts, executes and secures quality athletic competitions in the state of Oklahoma. Megan has been at Oklahoma City All Sports since August of 2008 and has loved the diversity of her job. Megan does many different jobs such as shopping for center pieces for tables at events and sponsor gift baskets, writing news releases, interviewing potential interns, getting logistics such as police set up for events, and working with different sports mangers from across the country. Some of the events that Oklahoma City All Sports is putting on this year are: the All-College Basketball Classic, Sooner State Games, NCAA Women's College World Series, 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball 1st and 2nd Round, Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship, Big 12 Softball and the State Games. At least $30,000,000 in new money is brought to Oklahoma City every year as a result of these events.

In the future Megan plans on staying with Oklahoma City All Sports until she feels the need to move on. Megan says that in the future she would love to keep working at non-profits and would like to work for a company that helps people.

Megan's advice to future PR practitioners is, "Any position is what you make it. If you don't like what you are doing, change it. Don't think that what you do, no matter how small it may seem to you, goes unnoticed. And always keep your PR Style book with you!"

"If you don't tell your story, someone else will"

By:Alison Lambert

Brad Lambert, Senior Associate at Harris, DeVille & Associates, Inc., specializes in issues management and strategic communications planning. He is one of the media and communications trainers, having conducted more than 20 media training sessions for clients across the U.S. in 2007 alone. Further responsibilities include media and governmental relations, public opinion analysis, media and crisis communications training and litigation public relations. He does considerable writing about politics public issues, with expertise in environmental justice.
Brad is a 1991 cum laude graduate of Louisiana State University with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 1997, he earned a Master’s of Public Administration degree, also from LSU. He has also served as an adjunct instructor at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication. Before joining HDA in 1992, Brad wrote about sports for Baton Rouge’s only daily newspaper, The Advocate. A normal day in the office for Brad involves reviewing news sites, blogs, and checking my Google News alerts to see if any clients are “in the news.” In giving graduating college advice, Brad says “learn how to write well and develop good personal and communications skills. Be flexible and open to opportunities. His perspective on getting a job in the real world today with the current economy is going to be difficult. “The struggles of major media companies and resulting layoffs complicate the situation for new graduates of communications programs,” said Lambert. In order to take on the public relations world, Brad suggests making several contacts in college. Also, try to get as much work experience that you can get, even if that means taking unpaid positions and/or internships. Learning how to write well and being informed of current events is something that companies always look for. Learning as much as you can about social media never hurts because some practitioners do not understand how to utilize the web sites and it will make you look valuable. Brad ended the interview with one of this favorite quotes he uses when training media clients.
"No matter how many outlets are out there, one of the basic principles of PR still applies: If you don't tell your story, someone else will."
Chris Ender, Senior VP of Communications, CBS

“Fresh. New. Professional.”

“Fresh. New. Professional.”

By Kacie James

Emily Shipley graduated from the University of Oklahoma in May 2009, earning a bachelors in journalism and mass communications and a minor in political science. She recently found a job as the finance and fundraising coordinator at Sagac Public Affairs. Previously, she worked for Senator Tom Coburn in Washington, DC, the Norman Chamber of Commerce and for Capitol Gains lobbying firm in Oklahoma City.

Although Emily has a prestigious background, she explains her experience finding a job as “BRUTAL.” She claims she was looking for a job for almost three months. Through this process she realized how important it is to practice interviewing and to not only know and realize your strengths, but to be confident in them. She says “Finding a job isn't easy, and sometimes taking an interview for a job you don't necessarily want is okay. Practicing the interview is important. Always read the job description and think about how it can challenge you, how you can better the company and also how the job will help you with your future.”

Emily believes writing skills are essential. She also expressed that understanding how to edit properly using AP style and general grammar are vital. She admitted that even though research can be time consuming, it truly is the basis of any project or campaign. Her advice to the upcoming graduating students is to utilize your professors while still in school. She says, “They are the professionals you will seek out for advice in the future. Since public relations can be very broad, try to choose any area or subject you care about and figure out how public relations is related to that area. Then you will find your nitch and find a job. Good Luck.”

Getting our country out of "the Big Sort."

Trying to make the country better and get us out of "the Big Sort."

by Kasey Hendrix

Bill Bishop isn’t a typical person or professional. He focuses on the importance of community and spreading the word about what our country can do to be better as a whole and in doing so release focus from the self to the community. That is very unusual these days, but that is just what Mr. Bishop does. He is originally from Kentucky but recently moved to Austin with his wife, Julie to co-edit their Internet news page The Daily Yonder.  He is most known for co-authoring the book The Big Sort that consisted of data and theory about how the United States’ population is segregating itself not by race, gender or monetary status, but by the different ways of life.

            His theory, picked up by politicians such as Bill Clinton, also states that because of this self-segregation, our politics are being polarized as well. If we are surrounding ourselves with only like-minded people, then we can never be tolerant or understanding of those outside that realm. He spoke about driving into one neighborhood with all eco-friendly homes and how it was a clearly democratic neighborhood, and then turning in a neighborhood right by the other and seeing houses with white columns and polished yards, clearly republican. He says that this type of separation is causing problems because we place ourselves in a position to where we never have to compromise and where we expect that much out of our country’s leaders, but cannot do it ourselves.  One of his biggest hopes is that this can change because of the great divide that is becoming apparent in our country, but it would be a long road to get there.  

Picture retrieved from Kelly Owen Stein files

Making a “Splash” in Public Relations: Splash PR

By: Sarah Jacober

Splash PR is a public relations agency located in Nashville, TN. It struck my interest because I hope to work for in the music industry in the public relations department. Vanessa Parker-Davis started the public relations agency in 2003.

Misty Hurt is a publicist at Splash PR. After having various internships, Misty found her place at Splash PR after she graduated from Belmont University in 2004 with a degree in Music Business Administration. She has been at Splash PR since it started and previously worked at Capitol Records Nashville as an intern where she worked closely with Vanessa. Misty was already making a breakthrough into the country music industry when she was still attending Belmont University; she definitely got an early start and believes internships and making contacts are extremely important.

Misty works with bands from day to day dealing with their touring and press for the country music industry. Misty is also the Office Manager at Splash PR. It is very difficult to break into the country music industry in Nashville and Misty has proven to do exactly the opposite. She has begun to make a name for herself and has become very successful at the young age of 27 years old. Her job is definitely my dream job and it is definitely inspirational that she has obtained this job at such a young age. Misty really enjoys her job and working for Splash PR.

Splash PR represents country superstars Jeremy McComb, Emerson Drive, John Michael Montgomery, Andy Griggs, Angela Kaset, Little Texas, Greg Hanna, Keith Moody, and Laura Bryna. Splash PR is continuing to grow all over Nashville and continues to be successful.

Photo courtesy of Splash PR

From Feeding Children to Midnight Streaks

"From Feeding Children to Midnight Streaks"
by Rebekah Husted

Kristin Richter, the public relations manager at City Arts Center in Oklahoma City, has been busy the past six years, traveling the globe, receiving one of the PR industry's highest honors for young professionals, organizing events in multiple cities and building her own family while she was at it.

Richter graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Journalism in December, 2003. She was first drawn to public relations by her father, but then, she said, "I tried one class and I loved it!"

As associate director of public relations with Feed the Children, and at only 25 years old, Richter was named to PR News' "15 to Watch" in 2006. Richter considers this to be her biggest professional achievement.

"I won this award when I was 25 years old and had been in the business for less than three years," Richter said. "It was an amazing experience!"

While at Feed the Children, Richter also had her most memorable professional experience when she traveled with the organization's director to Africa. She conducted her first press conference - ever - in Nairobi, Kenya.

"Mind you, I had never hosted a press conference before," Richter said. "I think that was the first moment that I really took a step back and took a deep breath and realized what I had just done. The sense of accomplishment was amazing!"

Now, Richter works closer to home. Her days usually begin at 6:30 a.m., when she checks her e-mail before even getting out of bed. At work, her activities range from processing invoices and keeping up with media placements to updating Facebook, Twitter and Myspace and meeting with co-workers to plan upcoming events, such as the Center's annual Midnight Streak. Her official day ends at 5 p.m. when she picks up her young son, but she continues to check her e-mail and put out fires while at home.

Richter has several suggestions for young professionals just beginning their PR careers. First, she says, "never stop learning."

"Never become complacent with your knowledge. Adapt to the social changes within your profession as you will be extremely valuable if you do. Don't let things slip past you. Always keep up with what is going on in your profession."

On a more personal level, though, Richter emphasizes the importance of not letting the "real world" intimidate you.

"It is easy to be intimidated and want to crawl into a hole because you have no idea what you are doing. Ask TONS of questions! Find a mentor and ask them everything that you can think of! Be aggressive - show your employer that you are eager to work for them."

Finally, Richter suggests, "find a job that will allow you to travel and see the world. You won't regret it."

"Plus," she concludes, "it will create a ton of interesting stories that you can tell your children someday!"

Public Relations Outside of the "Box" Talent Agency

By Tiffany Cunningham

The Box Talent team has a love of music and Kym Johnston is one of the innovators of entertainment planning within the agency. Kym is the Vice President of Operations at Box Talent Agency, which has set the standard for the entertainment industry in Oklahoma. The services of Box Talent include booking concerts for Toby Keith and The Doobie Brothers to planning thousands of proms, weddings, backyard parties and hundreds of other special events. The company’s success is apparent but the down to earth operations of the agency keep the innovation and imagination alive among the agents and the clients whom the agent’s work with.

Kym began in this business by chance after attending the University of Maryland and moving from the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area in the summer of 2000. She began to work for David Box, the C.E.O. of Box Talent, in 2001 and books bands all over Oklahoma and surrounding states. She met David a couple times previously before he hired her. She started as an HR/office manager and within five months she started booking bands.

“I started with some small clubs around the OKC and Norman area,” Kym said. “Before long I was handling big accounts like the Bricktown Brewery and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill.”

One of the most important experiences to finding out what you want to do after college is internship experience Kym expressed. There are many benefits to an internship and one is getting hands on experience and figuring out which jobs work for you.

“A lot of young people today think that event planning and booking bands is so glamorous,” Kym said. “Once our interns come in and see the “behind the scenes” day to day routine, their eyes are truly opened to the reality of this business.”

Another suggestion Kym had to offer to students graduating college and embarking into a professional career was to network. It is never too early to establish networking relationships. Many college students have an outlet through student organizations, sororities, fraternities, internships, jobs and professors to start building their own network. Networking is something Kym strongly believes in. Trying to stay as active as possible in meeting new people will only be a personal reward in a time of need.

Kym’s day in the life at Box Talent currently consist of agency meetings, getting interns their designated assignments with other agents and coordinating an all day concert at the Bricktown Brewery on October 24 to celebrate the brewery’s 17^th anniversary.

“Its non stop from the time I walk in the door till its time to go home,” Kym said. “Everyday brings new challenges and we are always looking for new business opportunities. It’s a great industry we work in, we help people plan FUN… what could be better than that?”

Kym is a unique individual who took a chance in the entertainment industry and has excelled as one of Oklahoma’s top special events coordinator and recognized citizens who brings fun to the entire state.

 Picture provided by boxtalent.com

 

 

Public Relations at Nextep

Public Relations at Nextep

By Melissa Chasteen

Breanna Honeycutt is the Manager of Public Relations at Nextep, a premier Professional Employer Services firm that provides services for small to mid-sized companies, including payroll administration, benefits administration, HR consulting and risk management. This is her first job in the public relations field and she has been working for the company for four years. While some may dislike their job, Breanna feels “blessed” to have hers.

“I believe that we help small businesses succeed in Oklahoma,” said Breanna. “Being able to represent and promote that idea is easy for me because I believe in it.”

Breanna graduated in 2002 from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an emphasis in advertising and a minor in Spanish. While most people think having an internship should be a top priority, Breanna believes that all of her jobs helped her become the employee she is today.

“I had several jobs in college and one internship my senior year as the project coordinator at a company called Project Under 21,” said Breanna. “Although it is crucial that you have an internship, I gained amazing skills and knowledge at all of my other jobs as well. Whether you’re interning at a major corporation or serving food at a restaurant, all forms of working provide knowledge that you’ll find valuable once you graduate college.”

Breanna’s job consists of various tasks, each one just as important as the other.

“On any given day you can find me working on our website, attending Chamber/business events, fielding cold calls in to the office and working with our marketing and sales people to generate leads,” said Breanna. “I rarely make one duty more important than another; I give 110% to all aspects of my job.”

When asked what the major challenges to her job were, Breanna was quick to respond.

“With the changes in the economy over the last year there have been some added challenges to my job,” she said. “Smaller companies especially are more inclined to do the services themselves.”

In terms of advice, Breanna was very “passionate” in her response.

“Find a career/product you are passionate about. Passion—true passion—is what separates the mediocre from the outstanding, and people feed off your passion. Everyone wants to be part of something, so while people may not always like what you represent, they will admire your passion,” said Breanna.

Photo provided by nextep.com