6 social media use to the next level with support from their Social Media Director Kelsey Pardue , and CEO Sabrina Antcliff .
Firm of the Issue : GrandPR , Grand Valley University
By Ashleigh Kathryn Vice President of Professional Development
Professional development is the guiding principle behind working for or operating a Student-run Firm . These organizations provide the “ internship before the internship ,” in other words , real-life work experience with opportunities to create campaigns , execute strategies and facilitate media relations efforts . Some Student-run Firms go above and beyond providing these experiences , and integrating even more skills-building programming .
The Michigan-based Student-run Firm operates with 28 members , but does not let their size determine their efforts . They work for a variety of clients , in all different industries , and have numerous sponsors . These efforts provide their memebers with more opportunities . Since their launch in 2007 , the firm has grown significantly , and now stands out as a top firm within PRSSA and their region .
GrandPR , Grand Valley State University ’ s Nationally Affiliated Student-run Firm , takes
6 social media use to the next level with support from their Social Media Director Kelsey Pardue , and CEO Sabrina Antcliff .
Almost all PRSSA firms and Chapters use social media as a tool for branding and self-promotion , but GrandPR implements social media to provide insights into the public relations community itself by sharing articles , trade stories and influential thoughts from opinion leaders to educate its members and followers . GrandPR has learned that engagement through social media is one of the best branding strategies a firm can have .
“ We use Twitter chats , podcasts , blogs , webinars and even Facebook for both structured and informal professional development ,” said Antcliff . “ Social media makes it easy to share helpful opportunities that are happening within PRSSA , Grand Valley , and Grand Rapids that our members can attend or partake in .”
These opportunities are just one example of professional development and exemplify why PRSSA ’ s Student-run Firms are a necessary part of the Society .
“ We have made professional development an integral part of being a staff member of GrandPR because we want our staff to walk away with skills they aren ’ t taught in class or may not get from PRSSA ,” Antcliff said . “ Our staff members do not get paid and don ’ t get any type of credit for the work they do that is applied to graduation ; those factors push us to want to provide experiences for the staff that will help set them apart when job or internship hunting in addition to the boundless skills they acquire just being a team member working for a real client .”
GrandPR prides itself in this value and has continued to thrive . It has had phenomenal retention rates and continues to expand with its newly added design team . GrandPR is definitely a PRSSA Student-run Firm to watch , as well as follow on social media @ Grand _ PR .
Interested in starting a Student-run Firm , or applying for National Affiliation ? Email prssavppd @ gmail . com .
Navigating Fake News in a Digital World
By Laurie Vazquez Indiana University Northwest This year at National Conference there was a session titled “ Navigating Fake News ,” where we learned that this issue is not new at all . Fake news dates all the way back to the times of Herodotus , the father of history . His own thoughts and writings were constantly questioned and tried by the public . The difference between then and now is that people had more trust in the news and press in the past . Networking : It ’ s More Than Just Making Friends By Erin Hildreth Kansas State University
Defined by Google , networking means to “ interact with other people to exchange information and develop contacts , especially to further one ’ s career .” It sounds simple enough , but the system of networking is a delicate balance . It can be easy to overlook the professional aspect of networking and to treat the relationship like a new friendship . While networking isn ’ t just about making friends , it also shouldn ’ t be too strict . To be a networking pro , you must always try to find the happy medium .
Fake news is a topic we hear about often in the field of communications and public relations . It is talked about more than ever before due to all of the new technologies available now . There are two main reasons fake news is traveling throughout the digital world so quickly : the loss of trust in the media and the unreliability of free content . Once people hear of any type of news , it is only 280 characters in a tweet away from spreading to an even larger audience . Being that fake news typically originates from free content sites such as online press and social media , it is more easily accessible to anyone who wants to read it . Free content is also typically sharable , which promotes the spread of it even further . Anyone can be a publisher and produce content on blogs , free sites or social media in this day in age . This forces us to take on the responsibility of checking the credibility of anything we read . Allowing anyone to become a publisher contributes to fake news , because not only can a person release topics and ideas that are untrue or harmful , but they also can promote ideologies that are not good to the public .
To combat fake news in the digital world , we as public relations professionals need to work harder than ever at deciphering what is real and what is reliable . We also need to understand the difference between credible sources and those that write for their own personal agendas . We must work to stop the spread of fake news , and when necessary in our careers , clean up the effects it may cause .
www . prssa . prsa . org / forum Winter 2018
FORUM ® STAFF 2017 – 2018 Exchanging information
You don ’ t always exchange contact information every time you meet a new friend , but you should always exchange information when you meet a new contact through networking . Business cards help that exchange of information happen seamlessly — they are a great resource for students to invest in . Adding your networking contacts on LinkedIn or other social media sites also should be a given . Also , make sure to send an email to follow up on what you talked about . Timing is crucial for this step . You should wait about a week to follow up with the contacts you made . That way , your email will stand out . Add a reminder to follow up in your calendar , planner , notebook or whatever you use to help you remember important information . Without the follow-up , the entire process of networking really isn ’ t worth it .
Mutual interests and being yourself
Networking is great because you already have a mutual interest : furthering your career . Knowing that you have that commonality takes some of the pressure off of you . Networking may seem weird to you now , but once you go through it a few dozen times , it gets better . Find what works for you — just don ’ t be robotic . Everyone knows the point of networking is to make contacts . Don ’ t tell someone you are networking with them because you want a job , an internship , a contact at a company or an interview . Go beyond that and make a human connection . Ask people questions and actually listen to their answers . Also , always be nice to people — you never know when you will see him or her again .
Using your connections
We wouldn ’ t be where we are without networking . We ’ ve all heard that connections will get you into more interviews than your resume will . That can be disheartening to think about , but it also can be inspiring . At our core , we are all communicators . Some of us may be better at writing than speaking , but somewhere inside of us we all have that drive to connect with people . Don ’ t be scared to communicate with your networking connections , and use them to your benefit . If you know they had really cool internships this summer that you think you would like , ask them to give you more information . If your school ’ s PRSSA Chapter wants to go on an agency tour , ask your connection if his or her school wants to join up with yours . There is always something to be gained from your connections . It ’ s also important to remember that not all connections have to further you in your career . It ’ s nice just to have a familiar , friendly face to sit by at conferences .
Publications Editor in Chief Natalie Gloady Help those who help you
A component of networking that tends to get overlooked often is helping others . In theory , networking works well because it establishes a two-sided , give-andtake relationship . An important tip to remember : It is critical to help those who help you . Networking establishes relationships . Relationships simply don ’ t work when they are one-sided . One-sided relationships lead to resentment because there is never any reward for your efforts . Relationships require work in order to grow and flourish . And remember , your reputation will always follow you . You don ’ t want to be known as the taker ; you want to be known as the giver . Be a good friend and a great contact .
Copy Editor Maura Fenske
Content / Graphics Coordinator Teghan Simonton
Editorial Assistant Olivia Kelley
Advertising Manager Samantha Chadwick
FORUM ® is published three times per year for PRSSA members .
The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Society or staff . The editor in chief reserves the right to refuse all copy .
Article submissions , comments and suggestions may be made via email to the editor in chief at natgloady @ gmail . com . FORUM ® is produced by students at Waynesburg University in Waynesburg , Pa .