![]() By Gabrielle Woodard When someone falls in love with his or her career path they could go on for weeks about what it means to them and where they hope to be in ten years. When listening to someone who is passionate about what they do, whatever that may be, you find they exude excitement, dedication and a deeper understanding about the work they are doing. So the bigger question is how does one find their passion and how does one then exploit it? Taking Risks So if someone's passion is public relations, he or she should dive into every PR opportunity they can find. This includes the ones they may not be so interested in. This can lead to a broader portfolio and the understanding of a topic they don't care for. A short stint in a disliked sector will help a person narrow their career path. Applying what is taught in class to real work will create a passion for learning, in hopes to improve one's work product. Where to Begin College is the perfect opportunity to jump into a student organization and experiment. Unsure if you really like your major? Join the student organization that pertains closest to your major. Often times hearing someone who is excited about what they're learning will either excite you as well or make you realize that isn't the path for you. Joining PRSSA made me realize I really enjoy what I am learning and can see myself excelling in the field. Another option is to apply your skills to an organization you're already in. Maybe your organization needs some better public relations, so brainstorm what kind of plan you would create for them. My Passion Your direction in public relations may be hidden in the small things you enjoy in your free time. Do you enjoy watch endless hours of E! Entertainment? Then maybe entertainment PR is for you. Do you cringe when athletes mumble or represent themselves badly on camera? Then sports may be your avenue. I know many people who discovered a love for nonprofit public relations in their love of helping people. I found my passion for political PR in my slight obsession with JFK. Finding something you enjoy in your free time and guiding a career path around that will help you to enjoy and find passion in whatever job you may choose even if it isn't public relations. What makes you passionate about public relations?
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![]() by Erin Zaranec Halfway through my public relations coursework, I have learned more about my field and myself than I would have thought possible. Taking courses in JMC is unlike taking courses for another other program – a lot of our courses are group-based, project-based and very interactive. It can be a little overwhelming at first, but by year two everything starts to fall into place. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way. 1. Group work may be your enemy, but make your group your best friends. As a public relations major, it is rare (almost impossible) to go a semester without a group project. Whether you’re in Audience, Analysis and Research, Case Studies, Campaigns or Bateman, JMC is a very group-focused program. While group projects may make you roll your eyes, one lesson I have learned through my various JMC groups is to make your group members your best friends. Entering PR Case Studies (a semester-long group project), I knew no one in my group and was dreading the endless hours working in a group setting, but now my group and I are still great friends. Take the time to get to know your group members outside of the academic pressure of your project – grab some coffee and spend your first meeting just getting to know each other. A happy group makes for a higher grade. 2. Public relations isn’t all about the glitz and glam. Most public relations majors would be lying if they said it wouldn’t be at least a little fun to do Hollywood PR. You know the type. Think Bill Cosby’s rape accusations, Justin Bieber getting arrested or being a publicist for the Queen herself: Beyoncé Knowles. While this may be fast-paced, star-studded and glamorous, there’s a whole other world of PR out there that is worthy of attention as well. Public relations has a great need and influence in the world of politics, nonprofits and social issues. Remember seeing that red and pink ‘equal’ logo on your friends’ Facebook pages? That was a PR effort of the Human Rights Campaign to advocate for marriage equality. So, while even I have to admit working for Beyoncé would be amazing, don’t think that the public relations is meant to cover up celebrity scandals and promote concert tours. Public relations can (and has) change the world. 3. When your professors say to use them as a resource - they mean it. Don’t be the student who is easy for professors to forget. Franklin Hall is filled with professors who are not only extremely intelligent but have great professional experiences as well. We have professors who have worked with government agencies, record labels, public relations agencies, mainstream media and more. When your professors say to use them a resource – they mean it. Even if that means sitting down with a professor whose career interests you, take the initiative to do so. 4. Write your way into your future career. As a public relations major, there is no escaping the importance of writing. Press releases, public service announcements and full-length articles will become the backbone of your portfolio and skill set. Being able to write, and write well, is not only a desired trait – but a necessary one. I got my experience working for the Kent Stater and KSUBuzz, but there are plenty of other ways to add strong writing to your portfolio. Almost every professional who has spoken to PRSSA Kent has stressed the importance of being able to write a great piece. Pay attention in journalism-based courses and make sure your writing is the best it can be. 5. Enhance your personal brand - get involved on campus! One of the best ways to network and create a great resume is to get involved on campus. Find organizations that spark your interests and stay active in those memberships. Don’t just add a line to your resume by being a ‘member’ – be able to describe your accomplishments and leadership roles in those organizations. Not only is this a great way to build your network, campus involvement can also spark great conversations during interviews. Make it a point to join at least one professional organization and one ‘fun’ organization during your time at Kent. Not only will you enhance your professional skills but spend downtime doing what you love. by Stephanie Martoccia
Urban Outfitters is at it again: Production of offensive items is becoming part of its brand image, and the public is not happy. The newest controversial item released by Urban Outfitters is a tapestry that strikingly resembles Holocaust concentration camp uniforms; it is grey and white stripped with pink triangles. The upside-down pink triangle was used on uniforms worn by gay prisoners at the camps. This tapestry immediately caught the attention of the Anti-Defamation League, an organization that champions the fight against anti-Semitism, and it wrote a letter to the CEO of Urban Outfitters asking the company to remove the offensive item from its inventory. Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said, “Whether intentional or not, this gray and white stripped pattern and pink triangle combination is deeply offensive and should not be mainstreamed into popular culture.” This is not the first time ADL has had issues with items produced by Urban Outfitters. In 2012, UO released a shirt with a representation of the yellow Star of David, but when ADL confronted Urban Outfitters, the company stated the shirt was never intended for sale. Why would any company waste time and money to design and produce an item it never intended to sell? Although Urban Outfitters has not released a statement on this item yet, can we assume that their statement will be truthful? Or will it only be a matter of time until ADL is pushed aside and another public is struck with offense? What does a history of producing offensive products mean for Urban Outfitters’ brand image? The designers at UO are either targeting intellectuals to see if they catch the context of their items or targeting the ignorant who just see the aesthetic of their designs. They are obviously seeking inspiration from historic events, but the line between appropriate and offensive seems to be hazy. We may never know the company’s true intentions because whenever UO is questioned, the spokesperson plays dumb. It is shocking that Urban Outfitters still has a strong customer base due to its multiple public relations fails. UO needs to be aware that its publics are not just ‘hipsters,’ and its items can’t merely rely on freedom of expression. by Meghan Caprez
Last night, I attended “Real Talk: Uncut & Uncensored,” a discussion about issues in diversity in student media hosted by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Student Voice Team. If you haven’t heard about it, the Student Voice Team is a group of JMC students who are champions for diversity; they want to help solve issues in diversity as well as increase inclusion both in the classroom and outside it. After identifying a need for students to be heard, the team worked with both student media and student organization leaders to create “Real Talk.” At the event, students discussed the problems they had with the language student media was using to describe certain organizations and events on campus, the mixed messages they received about getting involved and more. While the discussion mostly focused on student media, I learned a lot about what PRSSA Kent can do as an organization to increase inclusion and be more welcoming to students from all walks of life. We definitely aren’t perfect, but we’re working on it. With the help of some of our members and the Student Voice Team, we identified some places PRSSA can improve in terms of inclusion. Diverse Speakers PRSSA is making a conscious effort to bring in a more diverse group of speakers this semester and next fall. We want to make sure our members not only feel connected to each other but also feel connected to the professionals in the public relations industry; there are many different kinds of people who do PR, and we want to make sure each of those kinds is represented at our meetings. Smaller E-Board This year, our team of officers grew to an all-time high of 16 individuals, most of whom are straight, white females. We’ve discovered that a group of leaders this large who all appear to look and think alike is not inclusive, and it may seem to promote cliques. The PRSSA Kent e-board is currently working on adjusting the bylaws to decrease the number of officer positions while increasing the opportunities for members to get more involved. Membership Recruitment PRSSA has changed and is changing the way it recruits new members. Following our parent organization’s (PRSA) guidelines, we have added new portions to our membership application to better understand the diverse group of people we serve at Kent State. Additionally, we are working with the Student Voice Team to organize a student involvement fair specifically for those who feel underrepresented in both student media and student organizations in JMC. We want everyone who is interested in public relations to be a part of our organization, no matter what they identify as in terms of race, gender, sexuality, etc. If you have any other ideas or issues in PRSSA you would like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected]. We want to make PRSSA the most welcoming environment it can be for everyone, and with your help, we can be. by Anna Lemmon If you have been following the news this month, you know that Brimfield Police Department’s former chief, David Oliver, has been the talk of the town (and state, and beyond). Former Chief Oliver was an Internet sensation, claiming fame from a police department Facebook page with more than 177,000 followers, as well as a popular Twitter page. Through humor and daily rants, the pages gained national and international attention, but both are now gone. Last spring, Oliver was even a featured speaker at the YouToo Social Media Conference, hosted by Kent State University. He was well liked by the attendees, being quoted on Twitter and having students rush forward to have photos taken with him. He spoke about his Internet fame, the book he published and his life as the chief. After a great session with Oliver, it came as a shock when he made news this month for completely different reasons. It started when Oliver was suspended from his department for two weeks January 12, based on “gender inequality” claims. Oliver made one of his famous Facebook statuses as a response, reading: “My elected folks are some of the best I have ever worked with. Had they not enforced the policy and disciplined me, the system would be worthless. No one is above the rules. I am a big believer in taking responsibility and punishment; I expect it from my subordinates and will certainly adhere to my own expectations.” However, a few days later, he announced his resignation, citing medical issues. The post said: “I need some peace and quiet, in order to heal mentally and physically. I have battled this disorder [PTSD] for now for nine years.” The next day, the Akron Beacon Journal’s cover story featured a policewoman who made the gender inequality claims against Oliver.
The article went into detail of claims made against Oliver, ranging from sexual harassment to bullying the entire department. Anonymous officers came forward supporting witnesses of the reported incidents. Trustees and others involved with the department have come forward about the former chief—and not in his defense. More than a week later, Oliver remains silent. Now, as an aspiring public relations professional, imagine that this is the type of situation you have to deal with on the job. In just weeks, a local celebrity’s entire image has been destroyed. What could he have done differently? What could he be doing now? Is there anything he could say to try to save his reputation? Is silence working, or does it imply some level of guilt? These are the things you must consider as a PR pro. Rule number one in public relations is transparency. Oliver needs to be honest about the situation and, just as importantly, sincere. If an apology is needed, he needs to make it sooner rather than later. If there is anything he would like to clear up, he needs to avoid his usual comedic tone and instead show compassion for the victim[s] and remorse for the issues at hand. At this point, there’s no saying how much loyalty is left for Oliver and what he could do to gain it back. However, transparency and addressing the situation sincerely have historically worked better than silence or denial. Taking responsibility and not being a “mope,” as Oliver fondly coined, has the chance to leave people with a better impression—take it from the PR pros. |
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