The Path to Public Relations Success

Working 12-hour days from the road or pouring over donor contact lists, Ashley Hahn does it all. Hahn is a public relations professional who specializes in politics. She received a degree in political science from the University of Central Oklahoma <http://www.uco.edu/> began as an intern on a local political race and never looked back. Hahn served as the Grass Roots Coordinator for Governor Mary Fallin’s gubernatorial race <http://www.maryfallin.org/>. Her work on the campaign led to a position running the Oklahoma governor’s non-profit, Friends of the Mansion: <http://www.ok.gov/governor/Mansion.html>. Most recently, Hahn has worked at the Oklahoma Department of Education’s Communications Department. She specializes in scheduling and planning events for the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Janet Barresi: <http://www.janetbarresi.com/>.

I worked with Hahn on the Oklahoma public school superintendent’s conference, Innovation, over the summer of 2011: <http://sde.state.ok.us/services/conference/Innovation/default.html>. The conference required a large amount of fundraising and organization. The event took place at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City and featured over 2,000 attendees. The window for planning the conference was very short, and Hahn (with a few staffers including myself) did an excellent job putting it together (often working in excess of 12 hours per day).

Hahn is part of a reorganized communications department that operates much like an independent public relations firm. In addition to traditional public relations work, the group attempts to create its own media for distribution. According to Hahn, however, planning events is now small task: “The most challenging part of my job is definitely pulling everything together in organizing events. You have a lot of moving parts, and it’s very stressful attempting to lock them all down to execute the actual event.” However, Hahn encourages involvement early for eager public relations professionals, “The best advice I can give is to get involved early. Seek out internships and build up your experience. The more you can competently do, the less stressful your life will be when you get a great public relations job!”

Evan Handy

Kinsey Crocker, Realizing the Potential of Public Relations

Kinsey Crocker, Realizing the Potential of Public Relations

by: Katylee Strange

Photo from: www.anglinpublicrelations.com

Kinsey Crocker is an Account Executive for a public relations agency in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma called Anglin Public Relations Inc. Crocker is one of the few people who happened into the profession of public relations. Like many students Crocker started off in college at the University of Central Oklahoma not knowing exactly what she wanted to do. Crocker said, “I looked into degrees in science, in art and communication. I pretty much looked into everything.” She ended up deciding to get her degree in Corporate Communication because she realized the job potential the degree had. Crocker got an internship with Anglin PR her senior year of college and has been working there ever since. “The internship is the first time I got in depth with public relations and just fell in love with it because it was so diverse,” said Crocker. The diversity of public relations and the agency style work is what grabbed Crocker’s attention because it allowed her to do so many things and be involved with the many things she was interested in. Crocker has been at the agency for six years. She started off as an intern and continually got promoted from an account specialist to account coordinator to account executive. As an account executive, Crocker said she is the primary contact on a lot of different accounts. “I hold meeting with clients and help determine their goals. I also work through the four step process and helping them do research and determine what the should be doing, creating plans, implementing plans and evaluating plans and writing proposals for potential clients,” said Crocker. Anglin PR Inc. works with a variety of clients including University of Oklahoma’s Engineering College, Homeless Alliance, and Oklahoma City Home and Garden Show to name a few. One specialty area the company works are with companies that have big ideas and want to solve problems for the community and for the state.

Not only is Crocker a productive member of Anglin PR Inc she is also an active member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). “I’ve been going to meetings since my internship, so for six years. Currently I am a board member at large and in January I will be the Secretary.” Crocker says some of the benefits of being involved in PRSA is that it helps public relations professionals meet a lot of different people and helps with networking. Being involved can also build a name for yourself and can even help get clients. And finally it can help keep up with industry trends. Being a public relations professional, Crocker says the ability to write and write well is essential. Also key skills are experience, because it is proof that the students know what they are doing and having basic knowledge of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Some advice Crocker would give to future PR professionals is to, “get internships and as much experience as you can while in school.”

Fashion PR: 5 Steps to Land Your First PR Internship

By: Alison Lambert

Today, I was surfing the Internet and checking out current trends for an interesting topic to write on. As I was perusing the many fashion sites I have saved under my top favorites, I thought about fashion PR and its emerging trends and landed upon my topic. Alltop is a website where you can go to find the most current PR blogs on any topics. From Alltop, I went into a fashion site called PR Couture. It has information from fashion PR and online trends to finding the right fashion agency for you. The website provides top fashion PR must-reads with links to blogs and online fashion media. Some are Fashionably Marketing, The Fashion Feed, and Fashionista. Those who are interested in fashion PR and want to know more can listen to PR Couture Radio.
The one guest article that caught my eye written by Vianka McConville, a recent University of Florida grad with a B.S. in Public Relations. The article "Fashion PR Intern Series: 5 Steps To Land Your First PR Internship," Vianka talks about how she obtains and utilized internships, which ultimately lead her into her career in the fashion world. She spent her freshman year at the University of Florida taking classes to decide her career path. After realizing she wanted to practice PR, she had four internships in three years. She worked with two small agencies, a credit union and a student-run firm, leaning invaluable lessons that made her more marketable. Through the experience she gained at her internships, Vianka was able to get a job in fashion PR when she graduated. Through the article, Vianka (pictured above at work) gives five “words of wisdom” on how she successfully acquired a fashion PR internship.
1. Build a portfolio: The hardest part of completing internships is landing the first one. Many agencies expect you to already have experience. Ironic, since that is why people are applying for the internship…to gain experience. Be proactive and publish pieces in the student or city newspaper, local magazines, credible blogs and newsletters. If those outlets are not available, create your own blog or newspaper.
2. Personalize your search: Ask friends, family, professors, mentors, teacher’s assistants, co-workers and everyone else you may know about opportunities. It is always better to have a personal email address, phone number or accurate salutation for your cover letter than to send out a rough resume. You never know who might know someone who knows someone who is looking.
3. Find the right fit: Have a vision for your career and find companies that fall in line with your goals. Look for internships that will prepare you to work at your dream company. If you are lucky enough to live in the city where your dream company is, don’t wait for an available internship. Instead, introduce yourself to the company in question, and don’t be afraid to let your passion (and knowledge) shine through in your cover letter. Also, get the names of former interns and invite them to coffee. It does not hurt to get an opinion from someone who has already had former experience.
4. Learn to love the interview: Calm your nerves and do your homework on the company. Find out the name and background of the CEO, know about how many people are on staff, how much the firm bills in a year, mission, vision, goals, and its clients. Researching these facts will help you make a personal connection during the interview. In addition, coming prepared with a few questions of your own or anecdotes will help you to interview the agency at the same time that the employee is interviewing you.
5. Don’t let the “U” word turn you away-Unpaid: Yes, working for nothing can be overwhelming, and if you are like most, you will have another job to pay the college bills. But the experience will be worth it. Plus, you will have a greater understanding and appreciation for journalism and reporters. The temporary monetary sacrifice led to higher pay and other rewards at future positions. Consider it.
Work it- Once you earn the internship, share your opinions. Don’t be afraid to apply what you learn in class or to ask questions, doing so shows that you are paying attention. Most employers will notice when you thinking critically. It shows your intelligence, dedication and eagerness to learn. By looking for problem solving opportunities or taking on responsibility, you leave a good impression on your supervisor and solidify yourself as a valuable employee and team player. Plus, if you do these, you might get hired on full time in the end!

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

Interning is the Key

Don't Be Afraid to Go Outside the Box

By Jason Bodin

My college experience at the University of Oklahoma has been one of a kind. I began my collegiate career as a public relations major, but I didn’t even know what a public relations practitioner was or did.

Since my freshman year I worked for an oil and gas company as a landman and lease buyer. Even though many of my professors and peers had explained to me the importance of internships I never considered quitting my job to begin my career in public relations. However, I searched for answers as to why I wanted to be in public relations and found them during my second semester of sophomore year. That semester I was enrolled in Kenny Mossman’s sports pr course.

After excelling in his course he asked me if I was interested in joining his staff as an intern. Like many I was skeptical of quitting my high-paying job for a non-paying internship. In the end I knew I needed to get my feet wet in public relations. I interviewed with the department staff and eventually got the job. Since joining the staff I have learned a world of information and have found my niche in public relations. Hopefully the information I learned will help many of you realize how important it is to intern early and often.

(1) Don’t be scared to quit your job and begin interning in public relations.

I have had to work throughout college and the thought of making little-to-no money is a scary thought, but it pays off in the long run. For the first semester of my internship I worked 30 hours a week for free, but after working hard I began making minimum wage. Even though it isn’t close to what I made when working in the oil and gas field I look at it as an investment for my future and so should you.

(2) Even though your internship may be non-paying give it your all.

Most internships are non-paying and most people slack-off because of it. Had I not worked my butt off I wouldn’t have been put in the position to make money. Also, these are the people that control your life, to a degree. If you work hard an employer is more likely to reference you for a high-profile job in the future. Make the most of every opportunity and it will payoff.

(3) Make the most of your dollar.

You pay a lot of money for your degree so make sure you’re getting your moneys worth. Use Gaylord college resources to get an internship. I found an internship by using the resources I had, my professor. I know there are a number of internships posted by Dr. C and a number of other professors.

Photo Courtesy of Mitch Heckart

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

Internships, Talent, and a little luck.

Internships, Talent, and a little Luck

by Chelsea Moore

Sometimes, a job is so specified, that it is often hard to understand how to get your foot in the door. When your goal is specified, it becomes easier and more difficult at the same time. It often seems like who you know becomes more important than your raw talent, especially in the area of communications. Talent will show its face over time, but opportunities often lie in your contacts. The trick is to make these contacts that will benefit you. 

I chose to interview a professional that I respect in the industry of event planning. USRowing is a non-profit organization now located in Princeton, New Jersey that is near and dear to my heart. They focus on providing "opportunities to achieve excellence in rowing in the United States." I have been rowing since 2005 and am currently on OU's varsity rowing program, so I have always kept my eye on this organization since 2005. Elizabeth Webb is the Events Coordinator at USRowing answered some of my questions regarding her position and how she got there. 

She went to college for sports management at the University of Texas (but we won't judge...). She explained to me that she landed an internship at USRowing for event planning when they were still located in Indianapolis. So, Heather Spencer's advice she has given over and over about the importance of internships is definitely validated. 

"This internship helped me make up my mind that event planning was where I wanted to go." said Elizabeth. She was familiar with rowing before she landed this great internship. She "rowed with Austin Rowing Club," and has "rowed for about 12 years" now. 

When USRowing relocated to New Jersey, the current events manager decided not to make the move. Elizabeth said, "I was contacted by the Events Manager... and she encouraged me to pursue the position." 

So, because of her internship, she got the job that she wanted. This says a lot to me because I have tried to get the exact internship Elizabeth landed every summer since 2007. I will continue to try to get the internship even though New Jersey is far away. She encouraged me to apply for the internship, but gave me the reality of the organization. 

"The hard part is that we are a very small organization with less than 10 full time employees." She said that "even if your are a fabulous intern... there is no guarantee [of a job]."

I suppose this is the real world of internships and the job market, especially recently. But she is proof that opportunities only come to those who put themselves out there. You've got nothing to lose by exposing yourself to new job experience. 

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!