Media Relations in the Public Relations Profession

Jill Harrison is the manager of Public Relations and Image Development at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber in downtown Oklahoma City. At a young age she has accomplished a successful career in the field of Public Relations. She is APR certified and she has received many awards in her field.

Jill Harrison, Manager of Public Relations and Image Development

Photo e-mailed to me by Jill Harrison

She received her degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Spanish from the University of Kansas. In April of her senior year she began to look for a job for after graduation. She sent out her resume and other information to potential employees looking for a job. She also sent information to her advisor. One day her advisor received an e-mail about a job and recommended Jill for it, and that is how she found her first job.

I asked Jill what they hardest part about her job is and she laughed and said it depends on the day.

“For the most part working in media relations I have had difficulty because reporters have become so busy with covering so many different stories,” said Harrison. “Even when you send them newsworthy stories they do not always have time to cover it. I know they are very busy with so many stories, but they tend to be very short with you and are difficult to work with.”

I asked Jill what she would recommend to future Public Relations professionals such as myself and she was very passionate about her answer. She strongly recommended the following things:

1. Show up
2. Be on time
3. Have a good attitude
4. Never say something isn't your job
5. Try
6. Ask Questions

Find tips on being a successful intern

“There are some things they are not able to teach you in school,” said Harrison. “These tips are all things you should know before going in to a job interview. Some things come from learning and experience, but there is nothing more important that good work ethic.”

Meeting with such a successful Public Relations professional such as Jill was such an amazing opportunity. I enjoyed getting to know her and she is definitely someone I would love to be my mentor as I enter the professional world.

A Woman of Many Talents!

By Rachel Forsyth

Keli Pirtle Tarp is a woman of many talents! Keli currently works as a public affairs coordinator for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In this position, Keli coordinates all of the programs and policies of NOAA and the five NOAA organizations in Norman: National Severe Storms Laboratory, Storm Prediction Center, NWS Norman Forecast Office, Radar Operations Center and Warning Decision Training Branch.

Keli has been in the public relations industry for 22 years and has her professional designation in the public relations field (APR). She graduated with her Bachelors in Journalism with an emphasis in public relations from Baylor University. Keli graduated with honors and minored in marketing and management. After graduating, this Baylor Bear worked at the director of adult marking and public information writer for the Navarro Community College in Corsicana, Tex. From there, Keli publicized and coordinated community relations for 10 grocery stores in Tyler, Tex. Her life then led her to Oklahoma to an organization she still stays actively involved with, the Norman Chamber of Commerce. In 1999, she became the NOAA public affairs coordinator. Keli is currently working towards her Master of Arts in Communication at the University of Oklahoma.

Keli feels that when working in the public relations field that “writing ability is very important.” A “pr professional should be able to write a variety of styles: straight news, features or broadcast, and should be familiar with Associated Press (AP) Style.

Advice Keli gives for public relations professionals is “they should be aware of emerging trends such as social media.” Keli adds that her “advice would be to get as much practical experience you can through internships and projects.” Keli’s job descriptions have changed throughout the years, as she has had to learn how to write video scripts for the first time. “It’s been fun and rewarding to have the opportunity to challenge myself to do something new,” Keli says. A woman of many talents, Keli’s had lots of job titles within the field of public relations. Thus, she feels that it’s important to “know yourself, figure out what you’re good at and what you’re not, and focus on those things.”

Keli Pirtle Tarp is a member of the board of directors for both the Oklahoma chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and the Norman chapter of the Children's Arts Network. Some of Keli’s events include the annual National Weather Festival and the upcoming May 3 Anniversary Event.