Three Binge-Worthy Podcasts for PR Majors

As the digital landscape continues to grow, there are more ways than ever to stay in-the-know and up-to-date on all things PR. Aside from traditional news sources, podcasts are becoming one of the easiest ways to keep up with the industry. Podcasts provide the opportunity for listeners to tune in whenever and wherever, connecting them with industry experts and other like-minded professionals. These podcasts are full of advice that will help throughout your college career and help set yourself apart in the real world. If you’re interested in adding a new podcast to your list, below are three podcasts that I recommend for all PR majors.

1. The PR Week Podcast with Steve Barrett

PR Week shares a variety of insightful episodes pertaining to a plethora of topics related to the PR and digital media landscape. Host, Steve Barrett, hosts with guest speakers in different roles in the field to discuss the past, present and future of PR. PR Week is an all encompassing podcast that gives listeners a little bit of insight into all aspects of the industry. If you’re looking for a podcast to keep you up-to-date on just about anything related to the field, PR Week is the podcast for you.

2. PR Hangover

Created by Grand Valley State University’s (GVSU) chapter of PRSSA, PR Hangover is the perfect podcast for undergraduate students that are pursuing a degree in public relations or communications. PR Hangover provides listeners with insight across a variety of industries and supplies students with tips and tricks to help them succeed in the field. If you’re looking for a podcast that will connect you with other students and prepare you for life after graduation, PR Hangover is a must-listen.

3. The Creator’s Diary

Started by two Michigan State University students, The Creator’s Diary focuses on all things social media, fashion, PR, influencer marketing and more. These girls host guest speakers to talk about everything from content creation to finding your niche in the industry to setting yourself up for success and how to prepare for post-grad life. If you’re interested in the fashion and beauty industry or if you’re a senior looking for guidance as you enter the real world, these girls have all the answers.

As the digital landscape continues to grow and shift, podcasts are becoming one of the easiest ways to stay current on industry trends. By consuming various forms of media, you will become an expert in the industry and set yourself up for a successful career in the public relations and communications industries.

This blog was written by Jacquelyn Kelly, Director of Social Media.

The Importance of Keeping Events Hybrid

For the past two years, we have had no choice but to hold every meeting, event, class, and function virtually. While many people are greatly looking forward to in-person events, it’s important to remember the benefits that come with being virtual. Therefore, these are some reasons for keeping a virtual aspect to everything as we move forward.

1. Wider Audience

The biggest benefit that we saw while functioning virtually was how many more people could attend events and meetings. People from all over the world could attend the same webinar and learn the same skills. This also applies to guest speakers. My classes have been able to get guest speakers that would normally never be able to find the time to come to our school. Our PRSSA chapter hosted a virtual conference last year, and it allowed students from across the country to attend. In the future, we should incorporate an aspect of this. For example, we have been having our meetings in-person, but also send out a Zoom link for those who can’t come in-person or don’t feel comfortable with large groups yet.

2. More Flexibility

With new strains of COVID being so unpredictable, it is great to have a back-up plan. COVID aside, there are a lot of other factors that can inhibit an in-person event. For example, if there was supposed to be an outdoor event and it rains, there is nothing you can do but reschedule or cancel. However, if you were planning on having a virtual aspect, you could simply shift to fully virtual. In addition, it provides more flexibility for attendees. In the past, if an employee was supposed to attend a conference but their childcare fell through, they could no longer attend. Now, there should always be a way to attend things virtually.

3. Accessibility

For people with disabilities, there are a lot of challenges with in-person events that most people don’t even consider. For those who have trouble walking, getting up and down stairs could be a challenge. We hold our meetings on the second floor of a building, and while we have an elevator, the building is always super crowded and may be hard for someone in a wheelchair to access. In addition, people with hearing impairments have struggles with in-person events. As someone with hearing loss, sometimes online events are easier because I can simply raise the volume or put on captions if I’m having trouble hearing. Hybrid events allow all events to be more inclusive for those with disabilities.

There were a lot of ways the pandemic was a negative force. However, there were also some good things to come out of. While we were working towards a more virtual world, the pandemic accelerated that process. As we can see, hybrid events are here to stay.

This blog was written by Chloe Maher, Co-Director of Community Service.

Using LinkedIn to its Fullest Potential

LinkedIn may be been seen as the social networking site for intimidating professional executives, but it is really for anybody looking to get their foot in the door in their career. Like any other social networking site, the purpose of LinkedIn is to connect with others, particularly professionals dedicated to practicing their work and strengthening their skills. LinkedIn can get you some really cool connections, provide useful information, and develop your skills to build your career if you know how to use it right. Finding the right connections, discovering your dream job, and building you skills are available to you through LinkedIn at the touch of a button. When you know the features and tricks of LinkedIn, your professionalism will shine.

Networking

It’s all about the connections you have in your network, instead of friends or followers like other social networking sites. You can see what your connections are up to in a more professional setting, as well as their work and educational background. One of the most stressed pieces of advice is to find something in common with whom you’re connecting with. That could be the field of study/work, organizations, alumni, or even if they work for your dream company. You’ll be surprised by how easy it is to find a Temple alum in the public relations industry, and strike up a conversation while sending a connection request. Showing genuine interest and asking questions will help build the connection, and engaging in their posts will help maintain it. This alone helps build key digital communication skills necessary for PR.

Career Search

LinkedIn’s job post section is a good place to start when looking for potential internships or post-grad entry-level jobs. You can filter out what might be a good match in terms of location and experience level, as well as whether it will be remote or in person. Alongside each job posting, you can see how many applicants there are, how many of your connections are already working there, and if you might be a good match based on your skills and experience. From there, you can apply externally or through LinkedIn’s Easy Apply feature that automatically submits your profile as your application. Most times, the job posting will include the company recruiter, which is a great opportunity to build a key connection if you shoot them a quick message.

Professional Development

Being a Temple student with a LinkedIn profile means you have free access to LinkedIn Learning, a digital library filled with thousands of online courses and instructional videos on developing skills in business, technology, and creativity. If you look up “public relations” in the search bar, you’ll find an abundance of courses and videos on the subject ranging from the foundational basics to writing tips to developing a strategy. These are cool refreshers to solidify your understanding of PR and get fresh tips from practicing professionals. This is a free resource that will benefit anybody dedicated to furthering their professional development, including PR and communications work.

There are tons of hidden ways in which LinkedIn can benefit you. As a Temple student you are granted access to special premium features for free, and it’s best to take advantage of that while you still can. Knowing these things and how to best navigate and utilize LinkedIn features, you have a better chance at having strong and professional profile that potential employers would love to see.

This blog was written by Arlene Isardat, TSG Representative.