My internships have been very enjoyable. I have had to go beyond and really come out of my comfort zone in order to produce the work needed. I am doing a combination of three internships. I work with Pink Alliance, which a PR firm that Savina Billups my classmate has started. I also intern at 90.5 on the Love Lounge show, and lastly I am the Florida A&M liaison for Aaron Arnold an alum of Journalism school. I typically work every day. Tuesday and Thursday I am at 90.5 planning out the show and helping with production. I probably work anywhere from 2-3 hours every day trying to get a deadline met.
I am enjoying my internship. I am very fascinated by the entertainment industry, having these internships allows me the opportunity to experience that world. This week I accomplished a project for Aaron Arnold. He wanted to participate in our “Grads Are Back” Colloquium during Homecoming. Aaron is a great speaker he is also a recipient of the 40 under 40 awards. I emailed Professor Ritchie and lobbied on behalf of Mr. Arnold. The end result was Professor Ritchie contacting him to be a part of the panel. The only thing I would probably try to change about my internships is the chance to do more writing. I know that as a PR practitioner we have to constantly write, I wish that I could get more experience in that area.
I have gained a client for Pink Alliance. That was one of my original goals when I became an intern for the company. I have brought on Aaron Arnold and I am also in the works of trying to plan a press junket for student media at FAMU, for the 40 under 40 awards. I think that I am meeting my initial goals that I set out to do with all of my many projects. I really am thankful for the opportunity that I have with all the projects because like I said previously it is really giving me the opportunity to do some kind of work in the industry that I’m interested in.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Ron Sachs' Presentation
I found Mr. Sachs’ presentation to be thought provoking and an inspiration for all. He not only touched on our professional life he dove into the overall life of a graduating senior. My first impression of him was that he was a very thorough man. He knew his stuff and was great at capturing his audience and holding on to their attention. One of his key points that really stuck out to me was his Ron’s Rules. He told us to 1. Respect ourselves, 2. Utilize Our Tools and, 3. Maintain Integrity. Although his tools seemed basic, they were relevant to the future of all of us in class.
I wanted Mr. Sachs’ to talk more about what services they offer at his company. When I reviewed his website I was interested in the client list that they had and the innovative ideas that they came up with. His overall presentation was amazing I think if we had more time to ask him questions it would have made the experience better. However, Mr. Sachs managed his time very well and I was also intrigued by his public speaking skills. He was able to communicate to us on a father, friend, mentor level all at once.
Mr. Sachs’ gave us a plethora of skills we should maintain in the working world. One that I really liked was when he told us not to be clock watchers. He said that a person that comes in right on time and leaves right on time is not impressive. Punctuality was something that he continuously talked about. I do believe that my generation does not pay attention to time because we simply don’t care but that is something that can set us apart and give us that leg up within the company. I am applying this to my internship when it comes to deadlines. I know that by doing this it will make me stand out and it shows that I have initiative and that I want to make myself known.
I wanted Mr. Sachs’ to talk more about what services they offer at his company. When I reviewed his website I was interested in the client list that they had and the innovative ideas that they came up with. His overall presentation was amazing I think if we had more time to ask him questions it would have made the experience better. However, Mr. Sachs managed his time very well and I was also intrigued by his public speaking skills. He was able to communicate to us on a father, friend, mentor level all at once.
Mr. Sachs’ gave us a plethora of skills we should maintain in the working world. One that I really liked was when he told us not to be clock watchers. He said that a person that comes in right on time and leaves right on time is not impressive. Punctuality was something that he continuously talked about. I do believe that my generation does not pay attention to time because we simply don’t care but that is something that can set us apart and give us that leg up within the company. I am applying this to my internship when it comes to deadlines. I know that by doing this it will make me stand out and it shows that I have initiative and that I want to make myself known.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Am I Likeable??
I found this article to be very interesting. The topic of likeability was something I never really thought about in reference to “corporate America.” I am a firm believer that kindness will get you a lot further than “unlikeable behavior.” Bruna Martinuzzi discusses the importance of having a genuine likeable attitude in the work environment to show how far you can go if you are liked by your peers. I feel that this is an excellent article for young professionals to read because it helps them to realize that by having a more humble and likeable attitude you can progress within an organization.
Likeability has worked in my favor a lot! One specific example comes to mind when I think about my last internship. When I began my internship I had a manager who I really got along with. We achieved all the goals that we had for the semester and even managed to top the previous year numbers. She left the company and I was assigned a new manager. My relationship with her was strained to say the least. The relationship got to the point where she was trying her hardest to set me up to be fired. Because of my likeability and my reputation with everyone else in the office including my general manager I was able to keep my job and on board for another semester.
Out of the four elements that have been listed I would say that “empathy,” would have to be the one I would have to work on. Sometimes I can come off as a person that is not caring. After, reading this article I do realize that being empathetic can increase your likeability. Before reading this article I viewed myself as a very likeable person. After reading I see that there are areas that I need to work on in order to increase my likeliness within an organization.
Likeability has worked in my favor a lot! One specific example comes to mind when I think about my last internship. When I began my internship I had a manager who I really got along with. We achieved all the goals that we had for the semester and even managed to top the previous year numbers. She left the company and I was assigned a new manager. My relationship with her was strained to say the least. The relationship got to the point where she was trying her hardest to set me up to be fired. Because of my likeability and my reputation with everyone else in the office including my general manager I was able to keep my job and on board for another semester.
Out of the four elements that have been listed I would say that “empathy,” would have to be the one I would have to work on. Sometimes I can come off as a person that is not caring. After, reading this article I do realize that being empathetic can increase your likeability. Before reading this article I viewed myself as a very likeable person. After reading I see that there are areas that I need to work on in order to increase my likeliness within an organization.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Building MY Brand
The Art of Self Promotion is the central theme throughout this article. Sherrie Bakshi explains that it is important to build your brand internally and externally within a company. By volunteering, writing articles, speaking engagements, being active in PRSA and many more activities, you can make yourself an invaluable resource according to Bakshi. She also goes on to explain that it is important to market your skills. Make it known what you are capable of, so that your knowledge is always needed. This will give you the leverage you may need within a company.
Bakshi mentions that volunteering with a non-profit organization can be a great way to share your expertise. Last year I was able to participate in ER for PR. This is an event that is sponsored by PRSA. At the event PR practitioners were giving a free consultation session with various non- profit organizations. Not only was it a “good deed,” but it gave us the opportunity to share our expertise While working on my internship with Pink Alliance I think it would be fun and rewarding if we planned an event that immolated ER for PR. Maybe we could reach out to the local community and find an organization that is in serious need of PR help. Then we could put together a SWOT analysis for the organization and help them think of new and creative ideas to boost awareness.
More and more I am starting to realize the importance of Building My Brand. Blogging, websites, published articles, planning events and much more are extremely important. I think while building your brand you must also remember to protect your brand. The internet is such a powerful thing. I think we as young practitioners have to realize that our business and personal lives are starting to fuse due to social media. What you put on the internet stays on the internet. That however can work to our advantage by staying relevant and thorough we can have a successful career. While on my internship I plan to produce quality work and I also plan to stay innovative and current.
Bakshi mentions that volunteering with a non-profit organization can be a great way to share your expertise. Last year I was able to participate in ER for PR. This is an event that is sponsored by PRSA. At the event PR practitioners were giving a free consultation session with various non- profit organizations. Not only was it a “good deed,” but it gave us the opportunity to share our expertise While working on my internship with Pink Alliance I think it would be fun and rewarding if we planned an event that immolated ER for PR. Maybe we could reach out to the local community and find an organization that is in serious need of PR help. Then we could put together a SWOT analysis for the organization and help them think of new and creative ideas to boost awareness.
More and more I am starting to realize the importance of Building My Brand. Blogging, websites, published articles, planning events and much more are extremely important. I think while building your brand you must also remember to protect your brand. The internet is such a powerful thing. I think we as young practitioners have to realize that our business and personal lives are starting to fuse due to social media. What you put on the internet stays on the internet. That however can work to our advantage by staying relevant and thorough we can have a successful career. While on my internship I plan to produce quality work and I also plan to stay innovative and current.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Me as an Intern
My internship experience this semester is really geared towards the entertainment world. Working with Pink Alliance Pr has been really exciting. Our first meeting was jammed pack with information about our upcoming projects. Florida A&M University's Homecoming is our next big project. Pink Alliance along with Ethnicity Models will be hosting a model search at the Moon. One thing that I know we have to do is consider our publics target them so that we have a great turn out. The attendance for last year was around 200 people, which is great but it can be better. We are going to utilize all media outlets to insure that we have better numbers.
My strategic thought process is something that I can bring to this company. I do consider this to be one of my talents. So many times we as practitioners get focused on the day to day and not what we can do to set us apart and give us that competitive edge. I know that I can try to get more clients for the company. Reaching out to contacts that I may have so that the company can build its portfolio.
I would definitely like to develop my own project while working for this company. I want to be able to bring on a client and have Pink Alliance help them to have a successful event. I also plan to use this internship as a way for me to become a better writer. Working with Pink Alliance also offers me the opportunity to gain contacts with people who are working in the entertainment field.
My strategic thought process is something that I can bring to this company. I do consider this to be one of my talents. So many times we as practitioners get focused on the day to day and not what we can do to set us apart and give us that competitive edge. I know that I can try to get more clients for the company. Reaching out to contacts that I may have so that the company can build its portfolio.
I would definitely like to develop my own project while working for this company. I want to be able to bring on a client and have Pink Alliance help them to have a successful event. I also plan to use this internship as a way for me to become a better writer. Working with Pink Alliance also offers me the opportunity to gain contacts with people who are working in the entertainment field.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
My Last Summer of Freedom
LSAT, job, and school were how my summer was spent. It wasn't how I wanted to spend my last summer of freedom, but I needed to get those things accomplished. I viewed this summer as an opportunity for growth. I really needed to get my life and career goals in order.I took the time to think about how am I going to prepare myself for this competitive field. At the end of the summer I was however able to take a week vacation with my family to Puerto Rico.
Being that this is my graduating semester I do not have that many classes. I am taking 11 hours. I have PR Campaigns, PR Practicum, African American Legacy, Basic Photography, and Colloquium. I feel that these classes will help me become more of a strategic practitioner. PR has become more of a multimedia career, having a class like photography I feel will help to give me more of a competitive edge when applying for a job. I want to do very well in my last semester, I am applying for law school and I need to have the best grades possible in my last semesters.
This fall is going to be busy. I am putting together a campaign book for my friends promotional company, I am applying to law school, I am involved in Hatchett Pre- Law Society, not to mention school. I am trying to involve myself in a plethora of activities so that I can have experience to add to my resume. I know that the more experience you have the better your opportunities are. I am going to utilize all my resources. So in the end surrendering my last semester has it benefits.
Being that this is my graduating semester I do not have that many classes. I am taking 11 hours. I have PR Campaigns, PR Practicum, African American Legacy, Basic Photography, and Colloquium. I feel that these classes will help me become more of a strategic practitioner. PR has become more of a multimedia career, having a class like photography I feel will help to give me more of a competitive edge when applying for a job. I want to do very well in my last semester, I am applying for law school and I need to have the best grades possible in my last semesters.
This fall is going to be busy. I am putting together a campaign book for my friends promotional company, I am applying to law school, I am involved in Hatchett Pre- Law Society, not to mention school. I am trying to involve myself in a plethora of activities so that I can have experience to add to my resume. I know that the more experience you have the better your opportunities are. I am going to utilize all my resources. So in the end surrendering my last semester has it benefits.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Internships
Every PR student should have at least one internship while in school. Experience is key, it helps you to get that leg up on someone who is competing for that same position.
This semester instead of just choosing one, I will be involved in three internships. I will be working on a radio show at 90.5. I will also be working with Pink Alliance which is a public relations company that is strictly just for woman. Lastly, I will be working on a speaking engagement for Aaron Arnold at FSU.
The reason I chose to do this is because I want to get the feel for different areas to decide what best suits me.
My past internships were campus based I wanted to venture out and be able to work on projects that allowed me to do more than just Florida A&M University projects. Working for Kaplan test prep I spent the bulk of my time on FAMU's campus. The internship was a good opportunity for me to learn office politics and organizational behavior. I do however, wished that I had the opportunity and freedom to do more innovative campaigns.
At 90.5 I will be helping to plan the segment "The Love Lounge," the show is a relationship advice segment that deals with “love,“ topics that young people face. We plan out the questions that we are going to ask the day before. We also come up with key points that we want our listeners to hear. By doing this we insure that we get a wide range of callers. It's really interesting to see the calls and feedback that we get from them. Brinton Flowers who is over the show really helps with the input of the show, he always wants to make sure that what we talk about is epic. The show comes on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:10-7:00 p.m.
Pink Alliance is a woman ran PR firm. Focusing on the entertainment aspect of PR. Entertainment PR is something that I have always found intriguing. Being behind the scenes of a big production is exciting. On this internship we will have meetings at least twice a week. At the meetings we will discuss the different accounts that we will be working on. Whether it's a press junket or a news release that needs to get put out we will discuss and issue out responsibilities. I expect this internship to be fun and informative. I also expect to grow as a writer and a communicator. Working with these girls to build the name of this company will be a lot of hard work but I’m sure that it will be worth it.
Lastly, I will be planning a speaking engagement for Aaron Arnold. Aaron Arnold is the founder of Music is My Business. He is also a FAMU alum as well as a Journalism school alum. Aaron came to speak at our colloquium about two years ago. When he came I was impressed by his drive and commitment to his passion. By planning this speaking engagement I expect to gain some connections with the Florida State campus. I also expect to gain more insight from Mr. Arnold.
On all my internships I would like to implement social media, transparent communication, and effective strategies. I want to come in and see the problem that they may have and become the solution. I also want to learn more and more about the fascinating aspects of media.
This semester instead of just choosing one, I will be involved in three internships. I will be working on a radio show at 90.5. I will also be working with Pink Alliance which is a public relations company that is strictly just for woman. Lastly, I will be working on a speaking engagement for Aaron Arnold at FSU.
The reason I chose to do this is because I want to get the feel for different areas to decide what best suits me.
My past internships were campus based I wanted to venture out and be able to work on projects that allowed me to do more than just Florida A&M University projects. Working for Kaplan test prep I spent the bulk of my time on FAMU's campus. The internship was a good opportunity for me to learn office politics and organizational behavior. I do however, wished that I had the opportunity and freedom to do more innovative campaigns.
At 90.5 I will be helping to plan the segment "The Love Lounge," the show is a relationship advice segment that deals with “love,“ topics that young people face. We plan out the questions that we are going to ask the day before. We also come up with key points that we want our listeners to hear. By doing this we insure that we get a wide range of callers. It's really interesting to see the calls and feedback that we get from them. Brinton Flowers who is over the show really helps with the input of the show, he always wants to make sure that what we talk about is epic. The show comes on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:10-7:00 p.m.
Pink Alliance is a woman ran PR firm. Focusing on the entertainment aspect of PR. Entertainment PR is something that I have always found intriguing. Being behind the scenes of a big production is exciting. On this internship we will have meetings at least twice a week. At the meetings we will discuss the different accounts that we will be working on. Whether it's a press junket or a news release that needs to get put out we will discuss and issue out responsibilities. I expect this internship to be fun and informative. I also expect to grow as a writer and a communicator. Working with these girls to build the name of this company will be a lot of hard work but I’m sure that it will be worth it.
Lastly, I will be planning a speaking engagement for Aaron Arnold. Aaron Arnold is the founder of Music is My Business. He is also a FAMU alum as well as a Journalism school alum. Aaron came to speak at our colloquium about two years ago. When he came I was impressed by his drive and commitment to his passion. By planning this speaking engagement I expect to gain some connections with the Florida State campus. I also expect to gain more insight from Mr. Arnold.
On all my internships I would like to implement social media, transparent communication, and effective strategies. I want to come in and see the problem that they may have and become the solution. I also want to learn more and more about the fascinating aspects of media.
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