By: Kelly Hayes
Journalism students come to college to learn how to be a journalist and while we are taught that you get more experience and knowledge by internships and working in the real world. At the same time, in order to keep learning and expanding your horizons, you have to keep up with the Jones’. The best way to do that for a tech-savvy PR student: blogs. PR professionals and students create blogs as a way to represent who they are as a PR professional or PR student, after all we are told that we are our own brand. Here are some blogs/websites that I have found every PR student should keep tabs on.
1. PRSSA
The Public Relations Student Society of America is the PRSA for students. While PRSA is the networking hub for PR professionals, PRSSA is for students and their blog Progressions is a great tool for PR students to utilize. Articles about social media, press releases, multitasking, enhancing firm and chapter relations, it has it all. If you aren’t already a member of PRSSA I highly encourage you join, but I also highly encourage you use this PR tool to enhance your PR knowledge. http://progressions.prssa.org/
2. Mashable
Mashable was created by Pete Cashmore, who founded Mashable in 2005 as a blog focused on up-to-date news on social networks and digital trends. Mashable reports on “the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world.” If you’re into innovative PR then Mashable is the blog/website to follow. Digital innovation is the new PR trend that agencies are now being founded around. If you’re into innovation and social networking, Mashable is something you’d want to keep on your bookmarks tab. http://mashable.com/
3. NYC PR Girls
This one is my personal favorite. I check the NYC PR blog almost every day, read every post and tweet about their articles all the time. Adrianna and Meg, the founders of NYC PR Girls, are PR professionals in the Big Apple. M and A, their respective names on the site (just like Gossip Girl if any of you caught that), share their secrets about PR, fashion and entertainment. Articles ranging from press releases, social media, to media and client pitches. The two do add a fashion aspect to some of their articles but this blog is a great staple to read for every PR student. http://nycprgirls.com/
These three are only a small percentage of all the helpful blogs/websites out there. Other PR blogs/websites include PR Couture, PR in your Pajamas, the Marketaire and many more. Current PR students also have blogs that you should check out too, from their experiences working with fellow students to working in the real world.
Open up your own WordPress or Blogger account and your own blog. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior sharing your knowledge and reading about the knowledge others have only expands your PR horizons. Who knows, maybe one day your blog will be the blog to follow.