Happy Second Meeting Y’all!

Thank you to everyone who made an appearance at our meeting Monday night. For those who couldn’t make it, that’s why I’m here! Stay tuned for updates and announcements on what went down.

Don’t forget to update your voter registration to your Athens address so you are able to vote in this November’s upcoming election! If you missed out on updating, you can still do so with our fellow PRSSA bae Sam Miller!

We had students sit in at our meeting from the Leipzig program in Germany. If you are interested in getting involved with the Leipzig program you can speak to Dr. Stewart for more information. “Get excited, get involved, and go to Leipzig.”

If you are interested in getting involved with the Scripps Innovation Challenge’s public relations committee, you can email Sarah Kelly, sk851013@ohio.edu, for more information.

It’s not too late to join the Mentor/Mentee program! Email Libby Bradford with any questions eb395612@ohio.edu.

If you are also interested in joining the Professional Mentor program and you want more information on that you can email Emily Barber with any questions, eb365312@ohio.edu

Don’t Forget! PRSSA member dues of $80 are due to Sammie Fisher by October 10^th.

ImPRessions dues are included in PRSSA dues so if you are not signed up for ImPRessions yet, I definitely recommend doing so! Their email is ouimpressions@gmail.com

If you didn’t give Jacob Sherer a shoutout for being PRSSA member spotlight, there is still time! Tweet him at @JSherer13

AND NOW THE MOMENT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

You never think that you can love Ohio University more than you already do until you hear a fellow bobcat and alum speak. At this past Monday’s PRSSA meeting we were lucky enough to hear the words of Liz Fiorino, Ohio University 2009 Scripps graduate.

Liz Fiorino is the Regional Marketing Director at Covelli Enterprises, AKA Panera Bread!

Since graduation Liz has worked for MARC USA. A main client she dealt with was the Rite Aid Corporation where she worked on the account management team.

Currently at Panera Liz deals with just about everything including business development, media planning, and creative direction.

Liz deals a lot with community partnerships and cause marketing throughout the year on many products, an example being the Books on the Bus Partnership.

Involvement in the Panera 2.0 Launch has also been a big part of Liz’s job. Through this, she has been responsible for improving customer experiences through the use of technology. Liz was able to work hands on with the launch of the Panera Bread loyalty card.

BOBCAT TO BOBCAT:

• Get involved
• Read a lot
• Know what is happening in the industry
• Early adopter
• Get help with resume and tweak it often
• Keep a portfolio of work
• Make connections
• Do a lot of internships
• Be an enthusiastic learner
• Enjoy your time in Athens and make the most of it!

Contact Info:

liz.fiorino@covelli.com

This meeting recap is brought to you by Rosie Haren! Rosie is a senior Strategic Communication major. She is also the VP of Social Affairs for Scripps PRSSA. Follow her on Twitter @RosieHaren.

The time has come. Many of us are beginning our last lap of college and it’s terrifying. I’m absolutely one of those panicked people. Time is flying by in the blink of an eye and there’s nothing we can do to stop it, so instead our best bet is to embrace it. But how? How do we take one of the most emotional and anxious years of our lives and make the best of it?

Throughout the year I will be posting blogs containing advice from graduates on how to handle the emotional hurricane that is our senior year of college. So get ready for some tears and some laughs as you read these wisdom-filled tidbits from a few of your favorite past Scripps kids…

“Strat comm is one of the most versatile degrees you can have. Don’t be afraid to look outside what we know of as a traditional SM/communications/marketing/PR job. You are qualified for so much more than that.”

“I know students hear about this all the time, but they don’t take it seriously…at least I didn’t….YOUR GPA DOES NOT MATTER. I got caught up in the pride of having a piece of paper say ‘Magna Cum Laude’ when it literally means nothing. Take that time to skip class once in awhile and go to Strouds or stay out late with your friends instead of spending an extra two hours perfecting a report. It doesn’t matter.”

Kelsey Miller is the Economic Development Specialist for the City of Delaware in Delaware, Ohio. She served as VP of Internal Affairs on Scripps PRSSA’s executive board and Senior Director of ImPRessions before graduating in May 2016.

“Surround yourself with good people”

 “You never know who in your network could help you land your first job. When I graduated I was nannying for a family while looking for a job. The mom ended up referring me to a position in her company, which is where I’m working now. You never know who will be able to help you out.”

Marisa Fiore is the Marketing Coordinator at BSI Group in Hendon, Virginia. She used to serve as the Communications Director for ImPRessions before graduating in December 2015.

“The golden rule that we all know is networking. Take opportunities to take networking trips or go to regional events with COPRSA to get to know other professionals. Get to know them as friends and really learn about their post grad life. See what different post grad lives are like – based on city, nightlife, activities, working environments – and figure out what you like. It’s more than just industry. 

Also when you’re job-hunting make sure you’re looking at jobs that will let you advance and take on opportunity. It’s hard not to jump at the first job offer, and every opportunity looks like it will provide advancement, but look closely and take something that will.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself in your first job. Though you could be the newest and youngest member, know that you have value and an opinion that matters. Bobcats are smart, so show them your smarts. ;)”

“Give yourself time before accepting a job. It’s ok not to have a job at graduation. I repeat, IT’S OK NOT TO HAVE A JOB AT GRADUATION. As PR students, we get burnt out and overworked during our four years, so enjoy having a break even if it’s only two weeks! You need it! You have the rest of your life to have a job and work.” 

Melaina Lewis is a Communications Specialist for the Food Marketing Institute in Washington, DC and previously worked as a Digital and Social Media Specialist for Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. She served as the Director of ImPRessions before graduating in May 2015.

So there you have it, people. Infinite wisdom straight from the brains of three Scripps PRSSA success stories. Senior year isn’t easy, but it’s also known to be the most rewarding. Connect with Kelsey, Marisa and Melaina on social media to keep building that oh so important network that everyone keeps talking about!

Stay tuned for part 2 of this blog series and remember to do what you love and love what you do!

Jennica Lurie is a senior Journalism-Strategic Communication major. She is also the VP of PR for Scripps PRSSA. If you would like to learn more about getting involved with writing for the PRSSA blog or PR Success email her at jl390412@ohio.edu. Follow her on Twitter @jennicalurie.

‘Twas LIT. These two words pretty much sum up our first meeting of the 2016-2017 school year, thanks to Aaron Brown and all of our wonderful members, new and old! DON’T FORGET THAT WE DON’T HAVE A MEETING NEXT WEEK DUE TO LABOR DAY!! Below I’ve listed some information for you in case you missed out on this week’s meeting or just need a refresher!

Announcements:

Get Involved

Follow our hashtag during or after meetings #ScrippsPRSSA. You won’t regret it!

Join a committee! It’s a wonderful way to get involved and gain experience. Here are your options:

• Diversity and Inclusion
  • Contact: Erica Stonehill (es485712@ohio.edu)
• PR & Social Media
  • Contact: Jennica Lurie (jl390412@ohio.edu) and Taylor Dilley (td495813@ohio.edu)
• Events
  • Contact: Rosie Haren (rh718814@ohio.edu)

PRSSA is hosting a game night! Join all the coolest PR Stars for a night of fun and competition at 8:30pm. The event will be held at 70 Stewart St. Apt C (Rosie and Libby’s house). Can’t wait to see you there!

Join the PR team for the Scripps Innovation Challenge! It’s great experience! Contact Sarah Kelly for details and questions (sk851013@ohio.edu)

Join the mentor/mentee program both within the chapter and with our professional advisers! You won’t regret it.

PRSSA National Conference in Indianapolis is coming up! It will be held October 21-25.

• Info sessions will be held September 6 and 7 at 7pm in Bentley 120. Come one, come all!

DUES DUES DUES DUES

Pay them by October 10^th and you’ll be in for a whole lot of benefits that will make you jump for joy! Here are the benefits:

• Networking trips
• Scholarships and awards
• Regional and national events
• PR Bootcamp
• Internship database
• Mentor/Mentee programs
• Executive Board

PRSSA Office

Our NEW office dedicated to all things PRSSA is located in Baker 318. Come say hi!!

Today’s speaker was Aaron Brown, Senior Vice President at Fahlgren Mortine in Columbus!

Aaron talked mostly about being tenacious in the marketing and communications field. Here are his tips for acting tenaciously:

• Demonstrate curiosity
• Take notes
• Connect dots
• Anticipate engagement
• Take risks
• Work a plan

Here are the outcomes of acting tenaciously:

• Gain eye contact
• Earn more opportunity
• Influence decisions
• Ability to make better choices

Stay in touch with Aaron Brown by following him on Twitter @abrownFM and connecting with him on LinkedIn. He swears by hiring Scripps kids because we’re obviously the best!

Peace, love and see you Monday, September 12th in the Friends of the Libraries room!

First of all, congratulations on attending the best college EVER. There is something indescribable about Ohio University and Athens, OH that you don’t understand until you’re walking across these red bricks. But the next great choice you made was stopping by the PRSSA and ImPRessions booth at the Involvement Fair, or attending one of our info sessions; whatever brought you to our organization. You’re doing great so far, but there’s one last decision you have to make: whether to stick with our organization and really get involved, or cut it from the long list of things you tried out. I’m here to hopefully sway you toward the former.
            You won’t really begin taking classes specific to your major until spring of sophomore or fall of junior year. PRSSA and ImPRessions give you the opportunity to get hands-on experience and learn more about the field of public relations. When interviewing for internships, I talk more about my experience with this organization than I do about a class I’ve taken. It builds the foundation of your love for the work you’ll do for the rest of your life; and if you find out you aren’t passionate about it, you can change your mind without panicking.

If you haven’t already, you will soon learn of the magic that is the Bobcat family. Ohio University alumni will bend over backward for fellow bobcats. That same practice extends throughout PRSSA, but it isn’t just limited to OU. You can meet people from all different chapters willing to help you find an internship or a job, all because you’re a member of the same organization. Add that comradery to the Bobcat Blood, and you can basically get the job or internship of your dreams.

            We are so much more than a Monday-meeting group. Sure, you can show up each week, listen to the speaker and go home at night, no problem. But there is so much you will miss. Aside from the obviously beneficial networking trips, committees and national events, there are twice as many bonding experiences to bring you closer to the chapter and each other. Mentor/mentee events and socials introduce you to new people, and before you know it you’re studying for exams and going to the dining hall together. I met my absolute best friends at those Monday meetings, but our experiences extend much further.

I could talk until I’m blue in the face about why you should be a part of PRSSA and give your heart and soul to this organization, but blog posts are meant to be relatively short. So if you take anything away from this, let it be the experience, professional connections and friendships you will gain from our chapter. You’ve made great decisions up to this point, so why not keep it going?

Erica Stonehill is a senior Strategic Communication major. She is also the Vice President of Scripps PRSSA. Follow her on Twitter @estonehill13.

Another summer has come and gone. As I sit back and reflect, I notice that it was a summer full of growth, both personally and professionally. I completed an internship in Cleveland, Ohio, working as a public relations intern for a one-of-a-kind company. My internship was with a family-owned and operated business called Bearded Buch that specializes in Kombucha. I’ve said my goodbyes, cleared my desk and perfected my resume, but now what?

I could express my newfound love for Kombucha, or joke about lunch breaks turned shopping trips, but the truth is I gained real-world experience within the past four months and I think that’s worth sharing.

I’ll start by saying that internships are tricky and the application process is exhausting. I applied anywhere and everywhere. I even applied for internships I knew I had no shot of getting. I wanted to be ambitious because I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. After some time, I finally had a company reach out to me. This company was Bearded Buch. I spoke with the owner through email, then phone and finally in person. Everything felt right. I knew I wanted to be a part of this company somehow, even if it was just as an intern.

Little did I realize this internship was anything, but normal. On the first day, I was given the username and password to all social media accounts. I was the new voice of Bearded Buch and it felt great. As time passed, I learned how to differentiate my own voice from that of the company’s. I was no longer a 21-year-old girl, rambling about nonsense in less than 140 characters. Instead, I was an educated professional responding to complaints and suggestions from consumers. I didn’t always know what I was doing and there were times when I had to ask questions, but that’s when I learned the most.

I learned how to speak up and share my ideas. I learned how to give and take constructive criticism. I learned how to be professional in every sense of the word. But most importantly, I learned what is and isn’t interesting to me within the field of public relations, and that feels good.

If I can give any piece of advice to others, it would be to take chances. Be ambitious in your search. Don’t settle. Take yourself seriously. You’re just as important as the person sitting in the cubicle next to you. Ask questions, offer ideas and be passionate about your work.

Within the past four months, I learned all of these important lessons and I look forward to applying them to my life in the future.

Libby Bradford is a senior Strategic Communication major. She is also the VP of Member Relations for Scripps PRSSA. Look out for her friendly face at the first PRSSA meeting of this school year and follow her on Twitter @LibbyBradford.

Have you stumbled into a relationship with a PR nerd? Lucky you! As a PR nerd myself, I have recognized a few ways that most of my PR pals love differently. Follow these insights to help understand your favorite PeRson!

A card or text with proper grammar gets our hearts going.

 As public relations professionals, we agonize over little details, particularly grammar. If you text us in AP style, we will keep you forever. Do you consistently use the wrong your/you’re? Well… it’s been fun.

For bonus points: try puns!

We swoon over preplanned dates.

The only thing we love more than you is our planner. Our days are booked from the time we wake up to the time we sleep. Don’t be surprised if you see “drink water” marked in our planners for 3pm. So if you plan a date in advance, we will be eternally grateful. However, we are used to a little craziness and multitasking now and then!

 Social media skills are a bonus.

Social media is another way to keep up with trends, promote our personal brand and share our last awesome date spot! However, it’s not just about the #wcw or #mcm, it’s about the number of impressions we can analyze after your crafty post.

Coffee is an acceptable gift. Always.

We may feel invincible, but take away our fuel (aka coffee), and we are nothing. Coffee is loved, cherished, and definitely an acceptable gift. For extra points make sure to know our regular order or favorite coffee spot!

We have analyzed your personal brand.

You may not know that you have a personal brand, but you do! We understand your favorite things and core personality traits. It’s our job to understand people. Did a PR nerd get you the perfect birthday present? This is why.

While PR nerds are a diverse and wild bunch, these points will hopefully give a good starting place to understand how and why many of us love differently! For more insight into your favorite PR pal, check their resume! You’ll be surprised how much a color choice and font can reveal! Or maybe only we think about that…

Sammie Fisher is a junior Strategic Communication major. She is also the VP of Finance for Scripps PRSSA. Follow her on Twitter @sammiefisher3.

It’s entirely possible that you will receive a phone call one day offering a job you can’t turn down. Luckily, I can help you make a smooth transition. Let’s get down to it!

1. Make a moving list

Get out your sticky notes and color coded planner, it’s time to organize. Moving across the country seems like a huge task, but when you break it down, it can be much simpler. Some tasks you don’t want to forget on your list are packing, finding housing in your new location, budgeting your move and transportation for the relocation.

2. Find a good coffee shop and pizza place

Nothing makes home feel more home-y than warm coffee in the morning and pizza for dinner (probably on the floor, because you haven’t put together your tables yet). Yelp and friends that are in the area can guide you, but I will tell you one thing: if you are moving to the West Coast, make sure you find a Philz near you. It’s the best coffee I’ve ever had.

3. Be aware of your new time zone

Watching your favorite shows on television, scheduling phone dates with friends and setting up business meetings can all be ruined by one thing. Time zones are tricky, especially if you live in a state like Arizona, Indiana or Tennessee, which all have funky time zones. Be sure to be respectful of your new time zone and others’ sleep patterns when scheduling things!

4. Don’t lose contact with your network

This is vital. Make sure that your network in your old location stays strong. Social media makes this easy, but going even further than that ensures that you will stay close in a special way. Ensuring that you have phone and Skype dates, send each other funny photos you find online and in general staying up to date is key. Your old network and friends won’t disappear if you don’t let them.

5. Build a new network

While your old network is important, building a new one will enhance your experience in your new location. Try to find alumni events hosted by your university for an instant conversation starter. There also might be location specific events, such as Internapalooza. Internapalooza was an event held for Bay Area interns with many companies recruiting like Google, eBay, Dropbox and more. You should also begin to network within your own company. No matter how tired or busy you are, taking an hour to attend the after work event can seriously help. Even better, taking 15 minutes to get coffee with a colleague builds a relationship that you can rely on, on a daily basis.

6. Have a “local moment”

At some point in your new home, you’ll have a “local moment.” Mine happened when I was at a popular tourist attraction in San Francisco. A family of tourists asked me if I knew anything about the area we were in, and since I had been there three times I was able to tell them about the area and some fun facts they might not necessarily have picked up on their own. Once you have a “local moment,” you’ll carry yourself down new streets with much more confidence.

Overall, it’s important to make the most of every life change. Moving can be difficult, especially moving cross country. If you follow these tips you’ll be on the right track to a successful transition!

Gentry Bennett is a senior Strategic Communication major with a Social Media certificate and Outdoor Recreation specialization. She is also the President of Scripps PRSSA. Follow her on Twitter @Gen__andTonic.

“Once you put it online, it’s there forever…”

“Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your boss to see…”

We are relentlessly taught by mentors, professors, advisers and professionals to be careful of what we say online. Every tweet, snapchat, Facebook post and blog we publish is available for (almost) anyone to see. Which means we have to scrutinize everything we say for fear of one person misinterpreting our words, right?

I don’t think so.

Employers want to hire people who know how to act professionally – that’s a given. But they also want to hire people with personality. Would you rather share a cubicle with someone who has no decorations or someone who displays their love of the Cleveland Cavaliers through LeBron sticky notes and Kyrie pens? You’d probably choose the latter, unless you’re a Steph Curry fan – although getting a message accompanied by LeBron’s face could provide a great foundation for witty office banter.

Just as you decorate your workspace to reflect what you’re like in real life, your online personality should do the same. In fields such as PR and advertising, where creative thinking is of high value, it’s okay – and even admired – to act a little quirky. The sense of humor you show on social media could also be the talent that helps you write outstanding copy for your first assignment.

If you’re still wary about what you post, keep these things in mind:

Be respectful with the content you share. Into politics? That’s great! But instead of voicing your opinion by retweeting a potentially offensive political cartoon, share a link to an article that uses examples and facts to get your point across. It’s awesome to talk about your passions on social media – just do it in a way that is courteous to other viewpoints.

Think of your audience. Your Instagram followers would love to see a picture from your karaoke night, but that same post might look a little funny on LinkedIn. Different types of posts work with different audiences. Keep this in mind when deciding what to share.

Consider where you want to work. Do you see yourself at an edgy, forward-thinking company? Or do you prefer a more structured, traditional setting? The tone of your online personality should match your IRL lifestyle.

There are many fine lines when it comes to social media, but those lines are taking new shapes every day. Whether you’re online or in the real world, let your personality show!

Emily Barber is a senior studying Journalism-Strategic Communication. She is also the VP of External Relations for Scripps PRSSA. Follow her on Twitter @emilybarbershop.

Attending last year’s PRSSA National Conference is one of the best decisions I’ve made—second only to my choice to come to OU, of course. As if learning more in 5 days than I could in a semester of class, and networking with countless PR pros and PRSSA members from across the country wasn’t enough, I also grew to love my fellow Scripps members as family and had the opportunity to explore a new city.

Yes the cost may seem daunting to “broke college kids” like us, but the benefits far outweigh the price. Besides, we shouldn’t put a price on furthering our careers. In case you haven’t heard those of us who went last year talk about it enough, here are 4 reasons you should join us in Indianapolis for this year’s National Conference.

1. The ride there is almost more fun than the conference itself.

Last year, we travelled the 14-hours to Atlanta, GA, in a 12-person van driven by none other than then-President Jess Carnprobst. Stuffed to the brim with luggage, snacks and excited girls, the van was full of laughter and Justin Bieber songs the entire time. Do you feel apprehensive because you don’t know everyone in the van? After about an hour, I promise you will be just like family. The ride gives you plenty of time to get to know one another and create hilarious lasting memories (London, KY anyone?)

2. Just about everyone in the entire hotel is a PRSSA member, and they’re eager to meet you.

I’ve always felt the most at home on OU’s campus because there are thousands of young people just like myself milling around. At PRSSANC, that feeling is always stronger because everyone is a PR nerd just like me. The moment we walked into the hotel, we were welcomed by members from Arkansas. Throughout your time in Indianapolis you will meet many young professionals. Don’t forget to connect on LinkedIn and Twitter—you may need them someday.

3. With plenty of diverse sessions, you’re sure to find what interests you.

Whether you come to the conference knowing exactly what you’d like to do in the future or you’re still working to find what’s right, the sessions will help you begin to figure it out. They give you opportunities to learn about the various sectors of PR from super successful professionals. The sessions cover the basics like the perfect pitch, expert media relations and they go even more into depth on crisis communications and the future of social media. Take a look at the program here (http://prssa.prsa.org/events/Conference/Program/).

4. You will be buzzing full of creative ideas and inspiration after.

Hearing speaker after speaker offering up new insights, asking your own in-depth questions, really taking the time to consider your future and discussing these unique ideas with fellow members will leave you refreshed and ready to take on the rest of your schooling and time in PRSSA. There is much to be said about new and refreshing takes on old ideas. While classes teach us, PRSSANC and PRSSA meetings allow us to shape our future careers.

PRSSA National Conference provides you with inspiring insights from PRos, a network of PRSSA members across the country, new best friends and countless incredible memories that will last a lifetime.

Do I have you convinced? Register here (http://prssa.prsa.org/events/Conference/Register/) by Friday September 16. Still not sure? Feel free to email me or any Eboard member for more details.

Taylor Dilley is a junior studying Journalism-Strategic Communication. She is also the VP of Social Media for Scripps PRSSA. Follow her on Twitter @Taylor_Dilley.

Well Bobcats, we’re one month into summer ‘16 and some of us are itching to add valuable skills and experiences to our resumes. For those people who have public relations related internships, resume builders may not be too hard to come by. For those who do not, it is more important than ever to build your skill set and keep learning and growing while there is no pressure of a full course load breathing down our necks. Here are five surefire ways to build your resume and add pieces to your portfolio this summer.

Blog for PRSSA and ImPRessions and write for PR Success

You’ve heard this time and time again ladies and gentleman, but you can never be too good at writing. Nobody is perfect and even the best writers in the world are always looking to improve. That being said, we have a few wonderful outlets that allow you to go through the process of coming up with a topic and writing a blog or article, but with much less pressure. Scripps PRSSA and ImPRessions would love for any and all OU students who are looking for writing experience to blog for our websites and write for PR Success, our newsletter! In this case, an executive board member will read your blog or article, edit it and give you tips to improve in the future before publishing it. How cool would it be to say that you were a contributing writer for a newsletter that is seen by members and alumni of PRSSA all over the nation!? This opportunity will also help you build experience writing for an eclectic audience.

Create and write your own blogs

I would urge any and everyone to make their own blog site at some point during their college career. There is nothing more exciting than getting to write about whatever topics you choose, designing your website so it looks the way you want it to and promoting yourself on social media. It’s really such a rush! This is also a place where you can add writing samples and your resume. You won’t regret it and you’ll only have to write as much or as often as you’d like. Here’s the perfect chance to show your creativity.

Learn how to use the social media tools available for free online

Hootsuite, Tweetdeck and Google Analytics are just a few of many free online tools that help with social media organization, branding and analyzing. These hard skills are extremely valuable when looking for a job or internship in the future. Gain some experience working with these types of programs while you have the time so that you can speak to this skill set during interviews later on down the road.

Shadow a professional for a day

While contacting a professional to ask if you can shadow them for a day or throughout the summer may sound a little intimidating, it is a sure way to gain insight into an industry or type of company you may be interested in. Scripps alumni are always looking to help Bobcats! All it takes is a few emails and I guarantee you, someone will be more than willing to take you under their wing.

Find a job PR related or not

Having a summer job of any kind is a resume booster! Future employers like to know that you work well with others and know how to keep up in a fast paced environment regardless of what it is that you are doing. You can learn soft skills from any job such as communication, organization, time management, working on teams, etc. Another big upside of having a summer job is that, if you leave on good terms, your boss will allow you to use them as a reference for employers to call down the line and they’ll be happy to put in a good word for you!
Not finding a summer internship can be extremely frustrating, but there are more ways to keep learning and expanding your knowledge completely on your own! If you ever want to learn more about writing opportunities for Scripps PRSSA, please don’t hesitate to reach out to an executive board member. Make this summer about the beach, the sun and turning yourself into a PR Star! Ready, set, LEARN!

Jennica Lurie is a senior studying Journalism-Strategic Communication. She is also the VP of PR for Scripps PRSSA. If you would like to learn more about getting involved with writing for the PRSSA blog or PR Success email her at jl390412@ohio.edu. Follow her on Twitter @jennicalurie.