ecedentPublic Relations Student Society of America

pr No. 2 • November 6, 2015 • Grady College • University of Georgia • Drewry Chapter • ugaprssa.org

PublicRelations:

Community at its Core

Simon Mainwaring, an award-winning social media specialist, says, “Brands must become architects of community.” As Mainwaring explains, all successful organizations are grounded in authentic relationships which leads to the creation of community. Organizational leaders understand the basic human need for a sense of belonging and ownership and know that these needs drive virtually all of our decisions, from what we buy to where we give. The key to success in public relations is to possess passion and abilities for joining, leading and creating communities. While searching for the right college, many students are deeply attracted to schools that successfully project a sense of community, wanting to be a part of an institution that evokes passion. It is not only the impressive academic reputation and high-end facilities that draw students to the University of Georgia, as we can find comparable assets elsewhere. Upon enrolling at UGA, we become a part of a community whose passion for our school, our teams and our Classic City radiates through our personal and academic lives. As we become aware of our need for this type of connection, we become keenly aware of the factors that create it. The collective spirit and passion for our school is the product of powerful public relations. It is what makes UGA not just a school but a home.

Successful organizations are led by a desire to create connection and community in a world that is becoming increasingly more impersonal with each technological advance it makes. The Children’s Hospital of Atlanta (CHOA) is an organization that excels in public relations and truly embodies community. Aside from its outstanding medical accomplishments, CHOA is a home that gives its patients and their families the gift of community against all odds. It is this gift that drives outsiders to rally behind other organizations like UGA Miracle and Make a Wish. We support CHOA’s mission and aim to strengthen it, all while becoming a part of it. Both the University of Georgia and Children’s Hospital of Atlanta are organizations that have passionate supporters. These institutions are indicative of public relations at its best: understanding, creating and tapping into the innate human drive to connect.

WRITTEN BY SHANNON WALSH

professionals who will guide students on their path toward a successful career. These interesting and diverse sessions will take place throughout the weekend and will cover an abundance of topics including career development, personal branding, pitch creation, and event planning, to name a few. During a PRSA General Session on Monday morning, students are invited to meet and interact with PRSA members. They will have

the opportunity to meet professionals, learn about the companies in attendance, and familiarize themselves with all of the different organizations during the career exhibition. The closing event on Monday night includes an awards dinner where honored students will be recognized for their commitment and passion for public relations, and

some will even be awarded scholarships. The 2015 PRSSA National Conference is the place to be from Nov. 6 to Nov. 10. The opportunities the conference will provide are extraordinary and will potentially enhance the growth of public relations nationally at the collegiate level and the professional level. Thank you to our amazing National Conference Committee for convincing the National Conference panel why Atlanta, Georgia would be the best of the best! We look forward to seeing what this year’s conference has in store for us.

By Lacey O’Brien

Nov. 6 is an important day in our nation’s history. On Nov. 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln

was elected the 16th president of the United States of America. On Nov. 6, 1988, the beloved actress Emma Stone was born. On Nov. 6, 2015, the PRSSA National Conference will convene the largest gathering of public relations students and professionals in the country, and this incredible opportunity takes place in our own backyard. The 2015 PRSSA National Conference is an amazing honor for PRSSA, Grady, UGA, and Atlanta. We will serve the public relations community around the country as hosts of this spectacular event. Atlanta’s most prestigious organizations and public relations firms will hold agency and career tours on the morning of Nov. 6, 2015. Companies for the tours include BBDO, Coca-Cola, Cohn & Wolfe, Cookerly Public Relations, Dalton Agency, Edelman, Goodwill of North Georgia, MSL Group Atlanta, Nebo, Southern Company, SPR Atlanta and Weber Shandwick. The conference is filled with endless opportunities for networking. Following registration and two chapter development sessions, the conference will celebrate with an opening event inside one of the Marriott Marquis’s beautiful ballrooms. Saturday and Sunday will conduct a multitude of professional development sessions. These sessions offer an once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet

PRSSA National ConferenceComes to Atlanta

2015 National Conference Committee (left to right): Jasmine Johnson, Maya Daniels, Kelsey Wood, Avia Meadows, Kaitlyn Peel, Kelly Tran

Professional Development Sessions Professional Development Sessions will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8. These sessions give students the unique opportunity to gain insight and advice from professionals in several fields. Below is a preview of many of the sessions students can attend at the conference. For the full conference program, visit prssa.prsa.org/events/conference/program.

• How Your Portfolio Gets You HiredGraduating summa cum laude doesn’t mean you’ll get hired in the top creative departments. You need to show-case your work. You need a digital portfolio, and at this session, you will learn how to put your best face forward with a knockout digital portfolio.

• Shaking Hands with the Right People: Tips For Networking

Public relations is all about building lasting relationships. In this session, you will get tips on how to widen your professional network by building relationships from the ground up.

• Rebuilding your ResumeAll resumes have to follow the same format, right? Wrong. Master new techniques on how to make your resume stand out in the pile.

• Y’allywood: The Hollywood of the SouthAtlanta is home to the world’s fastest growing enter-tainment market. From Akon to Zombieland, gain the insights for success in the exciting world of entertainment public relations.

• No Need to Panic: Crisis Communication Strategies

A true measure of an organization is not how they handle prosperity but how they handle crisis. Learn how to navi-gate crisis proactively in various fields of public relations.

• First Year on the Job: Starting your Career Off Right

Sixteen years of school has led you to this point, but where do you go from here? Take your first year in the industry by storm with knowledge you gained from this session.

• Just the Right FitWhat is in style today maybe out by tomorrow. Get the skills necessary to deal with ever-changing styles infashion in this fashionable session.

• Trending Now: Social Media MarketingLearn the most powerful methods of creating customized, audience-driven social media marketing and digital con-tent from the best in the business.

• Get Off the Bench: Sports PRSports may be a seasonal occurrence, but communication is a full time job. In this session, you will get trained on how to make it in the sports communications industry.

• The Interview: How to Share your Story to Nail that Interview

Everyone has a story of how they got to where they are today. Show your interviewer the real you by telling the story of your journey with public relations.

• Do or Do Not, There is No Try: Making Ethical Decisions

When it comes to ethics in the workplace, the lines between right and wrong can be hard to distinguish, but actions are always clear: they are either ethical or not – there is no trying. In this session, you will learn where you should draw the line and where it is okay to proceed.

• It’s All in the Details: Planning a Successful Event

Events are a vital part of public relations, but are one of the most difficult aspects of public relations to master. Learn the dos and don’ts of event planning that will trans-late from a charity fundraiser to fashion week.

• Creating a New ImageBecome a master of Photoshop and harness its powerful effects on marketing and advertising in this interactive session.

• It’s a Marathon, Not a SprintWinning the political race is just half the battle; now that you on the hill, the real work begins. Gain the skills nec-essary to successfully manage political communication before and after a race.

2015 - 2016 Executive Board

PresidentAmelia Milesajmiles@uga.edu@ameliajmiles

Vice PresidentKaitlyn Peelkdpeel@uga.edu@kdpeel

Creative Consultants DirectorKatie Hallkhall@uga.edu@UGACC

PR DirectorNia Washingtonniaw24@uga.edu@nia_washington

TreasurerKristyn Hickskristynhicks@gmail.com@kristynhicks

SecretaryTess Cleggcclegg12@uga.edu@TessClegg1

Publications EditorAdriana Reynoldsabr23@uga.edu@adrareynolds

Digital Media DirectorIsabel Bergerisabelberger00@gmail.com@isaslider

HistorianKelly Trankellytran384@gmail.com@kelly_tran_348Faculty AdvisorKim Landrumklandrum@uga.eduCreative Consultants AdvisorKristen Smithkmsmith@uga.edu

Professional AdvisorLynn Medcalf lynnharrismedcalf@gmail.com

Next Issue:

If you would like to submit an article for the next PRecedent, email vcm93@uga.edu.

Upcoming Events:

National Conference-

November 6-10

Chapter Meeting with UPS-

November 11

@UGAPRSSA

PRSSA@UGA

UGAPRSSA

SOCIAL MEDIA

stay in the loop &follow us on

ecedentPublic Relations Student Society of America

pr No. 2 • October 19, 2015 • Grady College • University of Georgia • Drewry Chapter • ugaprssa.org

Publications CommitteeMeet the

From L to R: Tori McKenney, Lacey O’Brien, Erin Shattles, Riley MuseNot pictured: Chelsea Wood, Shannon Walsh, Katie McKeogh