Image courtesy of Kara Robinson
2009-2010 and 2010-2011 National Committees: Back Row: Kion Sanders, Michael Wilson, Patrick Hernandez, Janelle Huelsman, Jemalyn Chavez, Jason Sears; Second Row: Mary Rose Macaranas, Rachel Sprung, Jenna Huskinson, Danielle Dupree, Adam Aisner, Kimberly Ciesla, Therese Kuster; Front Row: Brandi Boatner, Rebecca Timms, Nick Lucido

PRSSA 2010-2011 National Committee Elected

National Conference Industry News

The Capital Connection: People, Press and Politics

Join your fellow PRSSA members from across the country at our nation’s capital Oct. 15–19 for the PRSSA 2010 National Conference, “The Capital Connection: People, Press and Politics.”

National Conference is a weekend of networking, professional development, Chapter leadership training and career preparation for you, planned by students at American University, Howard University and the University of Maryland.

Networking

At Conference, you can get to know more than 1,000 young professionals who share your interest in public relations at various sessions, the Washington D.C. themed opening social and the inaugural ball awards dinner.

Interested in meeting professionals? You will have ample opportunity while at the PRSA International Conference general sessions, which more than 1,500 professionals attend. You can also introduce yourself to session presenters or register early to get a spot in the speed networking session... [more]

The Inconvenient Truth About Press Releases

You just wrote an immaculate press release about a local charity event that is sure to capture an audience. Your internship supervisor instructed you to distribute it to every reporter on your media list, regardless of what he or she writes about. What do you do?

Freelance journalist Lora Kolodny reported that only 15 to 25 percent of press releases she receives in response to a query are helpful to her... [more]

Why you should still pay attention to traditional media

Despite the ever-increasing popularity of social media in public relations, students should keep in mind that traditional media can still be valuable assets.

As we enter a new decade, we stand at the crossroads between traditional media and new media. The days of “snail mail,” traditional newspapers and the evening news have slowly begun to fade as we are bombarded with e-mails, text messages and tweets several times each day... [more]

National Assembly PRSSA News

PRSSA members compete in the annual Day-of Competition

The Day-of Competition, a highlight of the PRSSA National Assembly, brought excitement and experience to this year’s participants.

This year’s Day-of Competition, sponsored by The CW Network, gave students experience in planning and pitching a campaign to a client. The competition was the first event of this year’s National Assembly and many of the students who registered for it were really excited... [more]

PR students find each other to be their greatest resource at Assembly

Students who met for the PRSSA National Assembly this past March had one thing in common: an enthusiasm for public relations.

National Assembly is a great opportunity for networking, leadership training and participating in PRSSA’s government, said Jeneen Garcia, director of education for PRSSA. Although some public relations students are attached to their smart phone and Twitter accounts, Garcia said that personal interaction at the Assembly is perhaps the best reason for students to attend... [more]

Taking part in the Business Case for Public Relations™

If students ask their roommates, family members or friends what they think public relations practitioners do, they will hear many different responses. Some people think public relations is event planning, while others think it is a form of marketing. Most often, however, they will hear, “I don’t know.”

More important than the confusion family and friends face is the lack of understanding executives have for the profession. Public relations efforts are not always tied to business outcomes, so clients may not fully understand the extent of a campaign... [more]

PRSSA Affiliate program offers more students great opportunities

When PRSA formed the Public Relations Student Society of America in 1967, its founders hoped to foster generations of future public relations practitioners by providing professional development training, educational resources and mentoring opportunities to college students.

PRSSA now offers many of these opportunities and resources to 10,000 members at Chapters at more than 300 universities nationwide... [more]

Diversity/Ethics Career Development

Multicultural becomes the new mainstream in communications

With the United States’ population experiencing significant growth in cultural and linguistic diversity, the need to make a concerted effort to address and integrate diverse communities has never been more crucial and evident.

This demographic shift is fueled by large and growing Hispanic (15 percent), African-American (13 percent) and Asian-American (5 percent) populations (U.S. Census Bureau, 2007)... [more]

Increasing diversity in your PRSSA Chapter

As aspiring public relations professionals, understanding and accepting diversity is key to a successful future as we bridge the gap between organizations and their multicultural publics. Here are ways to increase diversity within your PRSSA Chapter... [more]

Today’s Job Outlook: How Bad Is It?

It’s that time of year again. Graduation is approaching, and stress and anxiety levels are rising. The pressure to find that first job can be overwhelming. It’s hard to escape all the talk of these “tough economic times” and high unemployment rates, which doesn’t exactly help your self-confidence. Competition is stiff, and you need to be at your best.

But is the job outlook for public relations graduates really that bleak? Is this year going to be significantly worse than other years for new graduates?.. [more]

Search Engine Optimization: A great tool for promoting your presence online

Bloggers can strengthen their networks, increase their exposure and strategically improve their credibility by considering search engine optimization (SEO)... [more]

Editorials

Post-graduation: Senioritis has no place in the workplace

Students will find new obstacles to overcome after graduation — a new schedule being perhaps the toughest. Finding balance is key to remaining an engaged employee.

Adjusting to a new kind of schedule is one of the toughest challenges to overcome after graduation... [more]

Ask the Professional: What advice would you give to recent graduates/new professionals on balancing life and work, maintaining your passion for public relations and climbing the ladder of success?”

Finding that balance.

Work/life balance looks a lot better today than when I started in the profession. Boomers were following in their parents’ footsteps of “job first.”

Fortunately, even most Boomers today realize that work/life balance is possible without reneging on the job... [more]

Starting Strong: Getting the most out of your career from the beginning

PRSSA 2010-2011 National Committee Elected

The Inconvenient Truth About Press Releases

The Capital Connection: People, Press and Politics

Why you should still pay attention to traditional media

Corporate vs. Agency: Where does your personality fall?

The relationship between public relations and marketing

PRSSA members compete in the annual Day-of Competition

PR students find each other to be their greatest resource at Assembly

Keynote: Katherine McClane discusses some of the best and worst examples of public relations

Incoming national professional adviser brings years of PR experience to committee

Networking at the PRSSA National Assembly

Taking part in the Business Case for Public Relations™

PRSSA Affiliate program offers more students great opportunities

UGA PRSSA sponsors 2nd annual PR workout

Passing the baton: Making a smooth transition to a new Chapter executive board

Attendee learns more about public relations and himself at PRSSA National Conference

Four lessons for four years

Multicultural becomes the new mainstream in communications

Increasing diversity in your PRSSA Chapter

Corporate Social Responsibility: The new agenda for young PR professionals

Today’s Job Outlook: How Bad Is It?

Search Engine Optimization: A great tool for promoting your presence online

Making the switch from PRSSA to PRSA: Five benefits of dropping the extra “S”

Reverse mentoring: Gen Y teaches other generations how to use social media in public relations

Dotting your I’s and crossing your T’s: Everything you need to know about letters of recommendation

Taking the world by storm: Job search tips for the new PR graduate

Post-graduation: Senioritis has no place in the workplace

Ask the Professional: What advice would you give to recent graduates/new professionals on balancing life and work, maintaining your passion for public relations and climbing the ladder of success?”

AP Style: Learn it, know it, love it

Making the best impression first: Interviewing advice to live by (Or at least, to interview by...)

Building trust with key publics essential for communications

FORUM Staff:

Patrick Hernandez
Editor-in-Chief

Assistant Editors
Hilarie Laukat

Section Editors:
Dusin Cammack
Caitlin McCain
Courtney Smith

Faculty Advisors:
Susan B. Walton M.A.; APR
Lau

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