UWG Media Day 2011

Mass Comm Alumni Social AFTER Media Day 2011

This past Wednesday I took the day off from work and headed up to my alma mater, University of West Georgia. For the FIRST time, I was actually on the other side of an event called Media Day. Media Day is the premiere event for the Mass Communication DEPARTMENT (it used to be a program when I was there, but now it is its own department).

In the past, I was a student (obviously) and I attended to network with professionals. One year, when I was in my Intro to PR class with Ms. Reid, I helped plan the first ever internship fair at Media Day. Last year, I taught public speaking in the department, thus I was able to work more behind the scenes at Media Day both on the committee and as the Student Volunteer Coordinator for Media Day. Finally, this year I was on the other side. I really liked coming as a "professional."

It was nice to meet the students coming through the program. I enjoyed their questions. I thought I'd write a short bit about that in case someone in their shoes stumbles across this post. I found myself saying this a lot:

*To work in public relations you have to be more than simply "a people person." While being social seems like an obvious job requirement, it isn't the only one. You have to know how to talk to people, know how to LISTEN to people, have a good memory or system for remembering people and their preferences...and about a million other skills and traits.
*Event planning is more challenging than Samantha Jones, or any other TV personality, makes it out to be on TV. For good or for worse, having a simple catered lunch can sometimes be a political ordeal. Which refers back to my first tip of knowing people and their history/preferences etc.
*Never think you are too important to do something like make a pot of coffee, you have to stay humble and gracious.
*Of course I stressed the value of good writing, but I feel like they hear that one a lot. But, I reminded them that their professors aren't just saying that to say it. Learn to write!
*Intern, intern, intern, or volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! I regret not doing any internships in college. Sure I did a lot of volunteer work that also had elements of public relations in it, but it would have helped if I actually had done more internships.
*And of course I stressed the value of working in the nonprofit sector or education fields. Sometimes when you look for jobs you only look for the titles of "public relations practitioner" or "communication specialist" when really jobs have some creative and interesting titles. You really need to explore the job descriptions out there. I also recommended higheredjobs.com and opportunityknocks.org for finding jobs in education and nonprofit work.

Of course, the disclaimer is this, I'm by no means an expert. I only know what I know. But, I am truly blessed right now with an amazing job that I love, a great boss, and some co-workers that I feel have become some of my dearest friends.

In addition to the actual event, there was the alumni event that I posted a photo of up above. I truly love these people. UWG Mass Comm is like a mini-family and seeing these folks felt like a family reunion. So I'll leave you with the few photos I took:

Nichole and her husband. She's so cute when she's emotional- actually, I think she sneezed...

Here she is. She's so beautiful! If you need encouragement for WW, she's is your gal. She was definitely part of my motivation and inspiration to get it in gear.

This is what happens when Matt Kent and I try to take pictures...

This is what happens when someone else does it for us.

I love all of you!!! See you next year at the 31st annual Media Day!