The first week of my summer break consisted of handing out water bottles, sorting baby clothes, moving donations and delivering supplies. Doesn’t sound like the typical start of summer for a college student, but it was the best week of my vacation. What made it special was that I was helping people. When my professor told our class that she was going to Tuscaloosa to help with the relief I instantly wanted to go. Tuscaloosa is her hometown and you could feel the pain radiating from her when she told us about the destruction. I knew I had to help. I was a late joiner and it was a last minute decision. I didn’t know anything about the trip. All I knew was that we were going to help and leaving on Sunday. I went to visit my cousin, a trained military EMT, and persuaded him to come along.
It was remarkable how this week affected me. Since I had been dealing with such petty drama the week prior it was a eye opener to see true problems. This was a city that was flattened for blocks and blocks. I remember the smell. It wasn’t rotten it was just distinct. I noticed it the most when we were working out of a tent in the middle of rubble. The amazing part of this week was how southern hospitality remained intact. I felt like we were constantly being thanked or checked on to make sure WE were comfortable. These people have just witnessed a natural disaster and they were making sure WE were comfortable. I can say that if you plan on donating goods to a disaster be practical. It was hot in Alabama and we were sorting winter jackets. Yes these people have lost everything, but if you could try and wait to send those it would lift a weight off of the people working on site. Salvation Army was also a great presence at the sites. It was so amazing to see the kindness and the generosity. This was a week I will always remember. I learned that I may not be strong but I can still help. And I may not have a perfect life but I have a blessed one. - Allison Copens
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For this assignment, you will choose and interview a public relations or advertising professional, and then write about this interview in a concise manner. During this interview, you will interview a PR practitioner about their typical managerial styles, seek advice for future career steps, and analyze the practitioners approach to their job. Though a face-to-face interview is preferred, a phone or webcam interview is acceptable. An interview that is e-mail or text-based only is not acceptable. Schedule your interview at least a week before this assignment is due, preferably two. PR professionals sometimes have unpredictable schedules, and it is possible that you may need to reschedule.
Include an introductory paragraph that introduces the PR professional, including title and company, educational background, etc. Mention your connection to the professional (how you found him/her) and how you conducted the interview (face-to-face, phone or webcam). Include a photo of your interviewee. (This can be a photo he or she provides or one that you take yourself.) This will be analyzed for not only grammar and AP style, but also depth of the questions and analysis of the interview. This assignment will be a minimum of 500 words. When you turn in the assignment, you’ll also need to provide me with the professional’s contact information (name, title, company, phone number and e-mail address). Some questions & topics you may wish to ask: · What’s a typical week like? (If no week is typical, then what was last week like?) · Tell me about a project you worked on that you are especially proud of. · What do you do to keep current in the PR industry? · What do you wish you would have known before starting your career in PR? · How important is writing in your career? · What three tips would you offer someone just starting out in PR? · After interviewing this person, are you (the student, not the practitioner) more or less likely to want to have a career in PR? Why? · What do you do if you (or your client) encounters a crisis? · Are the answers you got from the PR pro what you thought they would be? · Did your education prepare you for working in PR? How? · What has surprised you the most about working in PR? · How has PR changed since you entered the field? · How does technology affect your daily work? · When your company is hiring for an entry-level PR position, what makes a candidate stand out? · What professional organizations are you involved in? (For example, PRSA, IABC, etc.) · Ask for feedback on your resume · More informational interview questions EXTRA CREDIT: For additional credit, you can post this interview on your blog, (If you don’t I’m happy to help you set one up.) include links to the pro’s company and/or linkedin, and photo of the pro. You can also conduct the interview using Skype and two webcams, or record the interview with Vodburner, and then post the interview at your blog. |
AuthorI'm a Ph.D. in Mass Communication, PR Consultant, & SM junkie. Archives
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