Advice from a PR Professional

Influences from the Past

Four years ago as I considered what my ideal career path would be, I remember looking back to my conversations with our family friend Julie, a Public Relations professional at CBS San Francisco. These conversations have impacted my life and helped with my decision to enter the world of Public Relations. I recently got in contact with Julie to fill her in on my time at the University of Oklahoma and learn more about her life in San Francisco.

History of Success

Julie Pearson graduated at the University of Texas and has now been a public relations professional for 35 years. Pearson and her family of four moved to California after her husband found a job, and for the last 22 years she has worked at CBS Broadcasting in San Francisco. What she loves most about her job is the large number of people she gets to meet and the opportunities it provides her.

“Working at CBS, or rather in the Public Relations field in general, has introduced me to so many interesting people,” Pearson said. “Not only do I come in contact with so many people, but I actually form relationships with them that will last a lifetime.”

Advice

Pearson was enthusiastic to give me advice for my career as I told her I would be graduating shortly. She emphasized my need for networking and keeping in contact with everyone I meet, and explained the many opportunities made available to her through networking.

“You never know what the smallest conversations with new people can do for you,” Pearson said. “It’s extremely important to keep in touch with someone after you first meet. A simple e-mail can make all the difference.”

Additional links:

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/

http://www.cbscorporation.com/corp_careers.php?id=268

http://www.blogger.com/PRBlog

http://publicrelationsblogger.com/

http://www.pr-squared.com/

Photo: Courtesy of Julie Pearson

The Value of PR in Today's U.S. Army: Hughes "Gets It"

The Value of PR in Today's U.S. Army: Hughes "Gets It"

An assertive bastion with the obligation of keeping the U.S. Army and the American people informed is the role each Army Public Affairs specialist must assume. Public Affairs fulfills the establishment of confidence in America's Army and its readiness to conduct operations in peacetime, conflict, and war.

By Ryan N. DeGiacomo

This is the oath and commitment Mark Hughes takes everyday as he serves the U.S. Army and the American people as the public affairs specialist for the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (MCAAP). Hughes works as public affairs specialist on the Department of Defense’s largest explosive storage facility. Spanning 45,000 acres in southeastern Oklahoma, MCAAP is a major ammunition storage site for all branches of the Armed Forces.

Education has played a vital role in Hughes professional endeavors. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a specialization in journalism in 1976 from Northeastern State University located in Tahlequah, Okla. Hughes continued his education at the U.S. Marine Corps Command & Staff College in Quantico, Va. He also took courses and earned certifications in public affairs from the University of Oklahoma. Hughes then attended the Senior Public Affairs Officers School and the Defense Information School while stationed at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Ind.

Hughes has been in the PR field as an Army Public Affairs Officer for 34 years. His media experience goes back to his Marine Corps Career from 1976 to 1996. Retiring from the Marines as a lieutenant colonel in 1996, Hughes has dealt with national and international media in these crises and exercises: Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Panama, Honduras, Okinawa, Germany, Somalia.

Since his time at MCAAP, Hughes has been in constant correspondence with national and international media. From February 2002 until March 2003, MCAAP was the recipient of news media around the world such as “Nightline” (ABC-TV), The Associated Press, and the BBC once the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan and Iraq. As the sole public affairs specialist on the installation, Hughes coordinated each media visit and escorted media throughout the plant.

When asked how he perceives the value of public relations in his organization, Hughes had an interesting and thought-provoking response. Hughes says he thinks the value of PR in any organization is vital to the organization’s success.

“The real question, however, is what does the leadership think about the value of public relations in its organization? A PR practitioner can only be as valuable as the leadership will let him or her be. To that end, public relations practitioners have to be able to define value," Hughes said, "which is why it is essential for them to be able to measure the worthiness of what they do and their ability to contribute to the bottom line.”

Hughes says after years of experience in the field, he “gets it” when it comes to the function and value of public relations in the U.S. Army.

In his professional career, Hughes has had many articles published in various government publications. In 1992, Hughes wrote “Words at War: Reflections of a Marine Corps Public Affairs Officer,” which was published in the official U.S. Army magazine, Soldiers. Hughes encourages any PR majors to consider a career with the federal government in public affairs.

Image courtesy of U.S. Army Public Affairs Web site.

"Never make the same mistake twice"

March 9, 2010

"Never make the same mistake twice"

By: Katlin Francis

Jason Bodin is the Sports Information Director for the University of Oklahoma Department of Athletics. Bodin works closely with Men's Tennis as the media contact.

Relatively new to the industry, Bodin spent the last two years, post graduation, working with public relations. Prior to his current public relations employment, Bodin tried marketing. After attaining a Bachelors degree in Public Relations from OU with a minor in Classics, Bodin began working for Oil and Gas Company as a Lease Buyer.

However, Bodin was not fulfilled in his field as a Lease Buyer. He "realized even though it paid well it was not want I wanted to do." Looking for a new career, Bodin interned at OU for two years and is currently working as a graduate assistant. Bodin likes the career trajectory with OU athletics and sees a future of growth in this industry.

Despite Bodin's current successful career, he was not always satisfied with his work. After learning a few lessons the hard way, Bodin advises PR majors to know their strengths. PR majors should not be "afraid to ask questions." When in doubt always follow the associated press stylebook guidelines.

The top knowledge and skills needed for a PR professional are "1. Writing (press releases are key to the industry, if you cannot write PR is not for you) 2. Be able to communicate to a wide variety of people. 3. Networking"

Bodin learns from every situation and lives by the motto, "don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake... learn from it and never make the same mistake twice."

Photo courtesy of Jason Bodin

Houston reports presence of real-life "Wonder Woman"

Cher Weldon, The Lee Group - Partner, Director of Operations, Account Manager

Laid-back, yet professional. Flexible, yet always on time. Balanced, yet works 24/7. Sophisticated, but country.

By Christa Stewart

These are things that make up the ideal public relations and communications professional, and Cher Weldon of The Lee Group embodies exactly those attributes. The Lee Group takes pride in working by the mantra, "why not?" So does Cher. Ms. Weldon has accomplished much in her 12 years in the advertising and public relations industry by treating possibilities as probabilities and using her impeccable wisdom to differentiate between the two.

Cher earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from the University of West Florida. Her professional career originally began with The Lee Group, working primarily in account service and print production management. In between early morning status meetings and late night press checks, she rode outdoor locations for the areas largest financial institution, concepted weekly television and radio spots for a large furniture and appliance retailer and developed grassroots public relations and marketing strategies for local and regional accounts.

Then, as part of an experimental phase, Cher spent a short time as a financial analyst for the Pepsi-Cola Company.  However, her passion for advertising brought her back to the advertising and public relations industry…and back to The Lee Group.  Cher’s experience ranges from executive management and new business development to strategic planning and tactical implementation.  Her research, planning, negotiating and production skills span across all print and broadcast mediums.  As partner and account supervisor at The Lee Group, she ensures that all clients are consistently captivated with The Lee Group’s creative and communication services.

After more than 30 years, The Lee Group attributes their success to a grounded commitment to service excellence, sound marketing and communication strategies and unparalleled creativity. With offices in Houston and Beaumont, they have partnered with companies of all sizes and within diverse industries. Through their work with more than 900 banks and credit unions across the country (including the 1^st Bank Oklahoma), The Lee Group has developed an expertise in the financial services industry that is second to none.  

In 2009, The Lee Group garnered five Gold Addys, six Silver Addys, three Bronze Addys and two Judges Awards at the local AAF competition, the first of a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF).  At the district level (includes the four-state area of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas), The Lee Group was honored with a bronze Addy Award.  The AAF Awards Competition is the creative industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence.  The Addy Awards celebrate the finest and most innovative work in advertising, public relations and marketing communications.

Cher has “worn many hats” over the years and encourages young professionals to seek out and accept every opportunity presented early in their career.  “Demonstrate your commitment, take initiative, hone your personal relationship marketing skills and NETWORK, NETWORK, NEWTORK.”

She also recommends keeping up with industry publications and Web sites.

For instance, check out Jesse Ferrell's book, "How You Leave Them Feeling: Your Ultimate Key to Personal & Professional Success," on which Cher worked as a contributing editor. 

Cher’s hobbies and pastimes include reading, horseback riding, traveling and listening to country music.   She enjoys spending my time with people who are always aspiring to increase their quality of life.

Also, feel free to find Cher on LinkedIn to make sure you are staying connected and building your professional network. 

Photograph courtesy of The Lee Group. 

Do Something You Love

Do Something You Love

By Melissa Chasteen

I started working when I was 16, doing everything from folding clothes at Abercrombie Kids to performing ultra sounds on patients at a hand rehabilitation clinic. Of all of the random jobs I’ve held, the most beneficial and the one that has provided me with the most useful knowledge has been my internship. I have a passion for music and I’m an avid movie watcher, so when searching for an internship I was hoping to find one where I could not only use my knowledge from Public Relations classes, but knowledge of the film and music industry as well.

I interned at the Oklahoma Film & Music Office this past summer, and for the first time I was able to utilize the skills I gained from my PR classes and apply them to my work tasks. Some of my responsibilities included writing press releases that went on the homepage of the Web site, editing the weekly newsletter and posting articles from various film industry trade papers on the press page. My primary responsibility was researching artists that were going to be performing concerts in Oklahoma and writing about them on the Web site.

The most exciting part of the internship was the external groups associated with the company. The film The Killer Inside Me was wrapping up its filming in Guthrie and workers from the set would constantly call with questions pertaining to Oklahoma lifestyle and a scene was even filmed outside of the office. Also, workers from the TNT's show Saving Grace (which is supposed to be set in Oklahoma) always called with questions about Oklahoma (how we dressed, what was the most practiced religion in the state.) I would research these inquiries and in the process I was able to learn a lot of interesting information about our state!

In regards to advice I have for excelling in your work, the underlying theme is to be FAMILIAR.

· Be familiar with the area surrounding your workplace. One aspect of being an intern is that you’re inevitably the “gopher.” Knowing the restaurants and stores around your office minimizes confusion when trying to fetch various things for your employer.
· Be familiar with various computer software and the Internet. This is a given, but your job will be a lot easier if you can easily navigate through the Internet and if you understand programs like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
· Be familiar with everyone in your office. Networking is vital when wanting to further your career, and having good relationships with co-workers lets you hear about other career opportunities that you may not have known about otherwise.

Photo from personal collection