We're more than just glitz and glamour. We're PR, too.

There’s a view of the glamorous life of public relations. You graduate college and move to NYC and immediately you’re one of the girls from Sex and the City. High heels and pavement, bright lights and celebrities.

It’s not exactly like that. It may not be anything like that.

Just like any other profession, public relations has a stereotype. But for many of us there won’t be any bright lights, big city. Instead, it may be more of a struggle to prove our worth, much less a huge starting paycheck. It may be a choice between agency and corporate. It may be a choice between living in a one bedroom with three girls so that you can get that NYC internship, or a spacey apartment in a smaller city with a different dream.

Our recent grads will tell you that the real world of public relations is very different, and they had the dream internship at the same firm they work now.

Truly, I don’t have any kind of perspective on the topic. I only know what I’ve heard. But, luckily, we have an expert coming in to help us deal with these issues.

Lisa Brock, who has recently written a book on this topic, will be joining us Wednesday, October 1, to speak on the transition, its benefits and downfalls.

We hope you’ll join us for this event! Whether you are a freshman or senior, you’ll find our workshop interesting and useful to your life. And, maybe… just maybe you’ll find a little clarity about your future path.

As always, leave comments and suggestions below!

Sincerely,

Kathryn Watson

VP of Chapter Development

Alpha Chapter, PRSSA

Alpha PRoductions: They PRovide PRactice in PR that will PRepare you -- Catch my drift?

What experience do you have within the field of PR?

Panic. Simple panic.

The question became increasingly important with each second of my silence.

"Kathryn?" the interviewer asked a few seconds later.

"Just trying to organize my thoughts," I whimpered. "There is just too much experience to choose from."

First interview. First internship. First anxiety attack.

"Everyone has to get a start somewhere, Kathryn," Jessica said.

Jessica was my interviewer and a PRSSA mentor of mine. It only took one mock interview before I realized my weakness. Jessica exposed it with a simple question: "What experience do you have within the field of public relations?"

NONE!

This was my situation a year ago. I was a sophomore, and I had work experience, good grades, workable references and plenty of ambition. But, I had no PR experience.

Unlike you, I didn't know about Alpha PRoductions until it was too late. Our student-run PR firm is the number one way to get experience in public relations. As Jessica said, we all have to start somewhere. Take a look around. That somewhere can be Alpha PRoductions for you.

I was never involved in Alpha, unfortunately. Other commitments kept me from joining. However, Alpha can give you the opportunity to excel above and beyond your peers. You can get work experience during the school year, and you are working for real clients with real needs. Not to mention, we have the best client list ever this year.

There's really no reason not to get involved. If you want to get a step ahead, you should join Alpha PRoductions.

Contact Monica David at monica.mdavid@gmail.com if you are interested. It's not too late! Applications will be taken through October 1st. Get in while you can, and get the experience that will get you the internship you want!

If you have any questions or comments, please chime in at the comments section below, or contact me at kwats@ufl.edu. Also, please join our Facebook group! Just search for UF PRSSA.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Watson

VP of Chapter Development

Alpha Chapter, 2008-2009

What did I JUST DO?! How can I fix it?

You’ve been doing crisis PR your entire life. Just think about the last time you said something you shouldn’t have. That horrible realization that you can’t take back the pop-culture-dubbed “word vomit” is coupled with the certain panic of, “how can I fix this?” Certainly, you have a look quite similar to the one I have in this photo, taken shortly after I spilled water all over myself in a Chili's restaurant.

With each passing minute after your slip, you seek to mend fences. Often you ask yourself how to “make things right.” And, sometimes, you think “I should just come entirely clean,” or “what can I do to find the easiest solution to the problem?” And, as you pick up the pieces of the situation, you vow that you won’t let it happen again. That is budding crisis prevention.

These are foundations to skills that are part of crisis PR. Certainly, crisis PR is much more complicated than a personal crisis. There are many delicate intricacies that dictate how to operate during a client or company’s crisis situation. That’s why we bring in professionals such as Cynthia O’Connell to speak to the Chapter. Her insight will help you to know what to expect in the future, should you find yourself in this sector of PR.

When you come to our workshop on Wednesday, September 17 you’ll get a chance to hear about her success within the field, as well as her experiences with the Republican Party.

You’ll also get another chance to meet members of PRSSA, as well as the executive board.

So, join us at 6:30 p.m. in room C130 of the Chemistry Lab Building!

If you have any questions or comments, please chime in at the comments section below, or contact me at kwats@ufl.edu. Also, join our Facebook group! Just search for UF PRSSA.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Watson

VP of Chapter Development

Alpha Chapter, 2008-2009