REAL WORLD PRFriday, February 20

PRSA/ GA will host its annual collegiate confer-ence, Real World PR 2015, on Friday, February 20 from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Westin Hotel

in Atlanta. The conference is designed to provide public relations students with real world information about industry trends, hiring secrets and career expositions to supplement their classroom learning. Attendees of Real World PR 2015 will participate in workshops, attend a catered luncheon with a keynote speaker, have their resume critiqued and network with the hundreds of public relations professionals who will attend. Students will select three workshops including “Choices: Corporate, Agency or Nonprofit,” “Social Media Shake Up,” “Lifestyle PR: Behind the Glitz and Glamour,” and “Finding the Balance: The Role of PR in Integrated Marketing.” In addition, participants will hear about the un-likely road to success for keynote speaker Kat Cole, president of Cinnabon, in her speech “Branding Lessons From Unexpected Places: Delicious Recipes for Success,” which will take place during the catered luncheon. Most importantly, students will have plenty of chances for networking. More than 200 public re-lations professionals from Fortune 500 companies, agencies and nonprofits are expected to participate in

the networking luncheon and career expo. The main goal of the event is to allow students to connect with current members of the public relations industry and get a more accurate look at what to ex-pect upon their graduation. Plus, PRSA Georgia reports that 96 percent of the attendees of Real World 2014 said they would attend again. “As a senior, I enjoyed this conference because it helped to better prepare me for entering the job field. My only regret is that I did not attend as a junior or even as a sophomore,” said a 2014 conference attendee from the University of Alabama. Our PRSSA president, Alyssa Stafford, had only positive things to say about the event. “I didn’t have any expectations when I attended, but I was completely blown away. It was an exhausting day, but I left feeling pumped about PR and excited about the profession,” said Stafford. The event costs $75 for PRSSA members and $85 for nonmembers who register before Wednesday, February 4. The cost rises to $85 and $95, respectively, before the final registration deadline of Tuesday, Feb-ruary 17 at noon. Register at http://www.prsageorgia.org/events/event_details.asp?id=523734&group=.

Friday, February 20Friday, February 20

By: Darby Quillin

W ith record levels of student attendance and professional participation, the fifth annual ADPR Connection career fair

was an overwhelmingly success. Co-directors Alex Prather of PRSSA and Mason Burril of AdClub have raised the bar for future Grady endeavors, staying true to the college’s stan-dard of high achievement.

This year the student-run networking and career fair boasted a jam-packed schedule. The day began early with a senior and pro-fessional luncheon. Luckily, a new coffee bar feature was added this year, courtesy of Royal Cup Coffee, for those who needed a pick-me-up for the long day ahead.

Next came the workshops, each diverse in topic and panel representation. Subjects ranged from the ever so popular interview tips to the secrets behind social media strat-egy. If students weren’t busy attending a workshop led by industry power players, they could be found by the hospitality table networking in between bites.

From the morning luncheon to the evening mixer, ADPRConnection was well rounded in its delivery of information and networking opportunities for students.

The event was so successful that Blair

Brady, partner and vice president of WITH/Sims, wrote an entire blog post about how she got “owned” by UGA college students. She mentions how professional, organized and polished the event was, noting every-thing from the way the students dressed down to their business cards. The emphasis on the polished student execution of AD-PRConnection was a common theme among professionals.

Surprisingly enough, when asked about their thoughts and experiences regarding the event, both directors mentioned a more hu-man aspect of organizing such a feat. “ADPR connection was the most rewarding expe-rience from start to finish. I made amazing new friends, watched our committee mem-bers exceed our expectations and help make the event beautiful and run effortlessly,” Alex Prather said.

Mason Burril also commented on her wonderful time with ADPRConnection, refer-encing it as the highlight of her senior year and sharing her excitement to come back as a professional after she graduates. The atti-tudes of the directors were echoed by their committee chairs and team members. Seth Law, co-chair of the marketing and hospital-ity community, said, “The most important

Connection Brings Grady More Than PrestigeADPR

#shareyourstory

part for me though was my committee. The girls were great and handled everything that was thrown at them with a ton of organization and dedication. I know they will make great leaders and like the event, they will be something Grady College’s ADPR department can be proud of.”

It seems that ADPR Connection not only added to Grady’s voice in the Atlanta job market, but it also helped forge new friendships between students and rekindled the pride of being a Grady grad.

By: Ananda Costa

5tipson howto thrive

Because the PR field is so broad, it is often times difficult to decide which environment and practice would be the best option for your personal interests. Research what options are available, and narrow down the choices to see which areas spark your curiosity. PRSSA advertises numerous conventions and events that discuss and cover various industries within PR. Also, the guest speakers and professors who attend the meetings are more than qualified to help with any questions you may have about the industry in general.

Find a specific area that intrigues you.

Seek out specific advice.PRSSA hosts different established guests who present students with an overview of their work. At the end of each presenta-

tion, the guests open the floor for students to ask questions. After the end of the meeting, students can ask the guests questions one-on-one. These one-on-one mini sessions have helped me tremendously. They gave me a sense of the

reality for a particular industry, and they gave me a possible future

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.Being a freshman in a world that was entirely unfamiliar to me last

semester made me feel apprehensive to ask about…al-most everything. Often we are intimidated in these situa-tions. I realized that I would never learn anything if I didn’t take the initiative to ask questions. PRSSA has incredible resources, and it would be a shame never to show your cu-riosity when these resources are presented to you.

Talk to your fellow students.It’s true that the PRSSA members are college students, but do not underestimate the power of being a PR major. These students are hard-working, passionate and willing to learn. Talking to them about their classes, internships or any other PR experiences creates an easier and more comfortable environment to learn about PR.

as a

By: Leah Shedrow

publicrelationsstudent

Get involved.Since PRSSA acted as my platform to discover whether PR would be the right fit for me, I decided to join a committee to test out the waters. Being a writer for the PRecedent has made me realize how much I have shrouded my love of writing. I’ve enjoyed my time writing for the PRecedent, and I’ve met talented students who have given me advice and guidance. Don’t hesitate to build your expe-rience in PR by joining committees and learning more about where you fit into in the PR space.

5

1

2

3

Seven Signs You Are Definitely a Grady StudentG FRADY eeDYou could single-handedly keep Jittery Joes in business.

You probably spent an inordinate amount of time choosing your email address.

You are better friends with the Grady faculty than you ever were with people in high school.

Getting an 89 on anything feels like a slap in the face.

Quitting is not a word in your personal vocabulary.

At some point in your life, someone has commented on your persistence, probably with a tone of worry.

It’s not something you say out loud, but you feel slightly superior to other UGA colleges and probably every other school in general.

Jittery Joes named a blend in Grady’s honor— that is how serious this relationship is. You need coffee for class, for studying, for work, for clubs and for all the writing/producing/filming that happens in between. How many of those stamp cards have you gone through? I’ve lost count.

This is how potential employers are going to see you after that networking event or on that internship applica-tion. Unfortunately, Gmail had the gall to give your full name to some other schmuck. Now you have to spend hours deciding if you want to have an ungodly amount of random numbers after your name or just cut half of it

Literally every professor or advisor whose office resides in the Journalism building is a fascinating human being. You see them in class, office hours and clubs, but you still make time to stop and talk whenever you see them around campus. It is not sucking up if you mean it.

4

5

6

7

OH MY GOODNESS JUST FAIL ME, WHY DON’T YOU. I need all of the A’s.

Yes I did accidentally just walk out of the wrong door of the SLC while checking my email, but I am not turning back around because I’m committed now.

You once wondered how many emails or phone calls were too many, but you decided that you don’t need that negativity in your life. You need that internship!

We were just named the number two journalism school in the country. If that is not a reason to walk around campus with your head held high and a smile on your face, nothing is. Grady students have huge goals and work hard to achieve them. So now we have our sights set on that number one spot, and we will get it because we are coffee-fueled overachievers who never quit.

By: Kelley Meyer

“People love to see what you’re passionate about,” Southey says. “Blogging gives them a window into your life.”

Haley Southey, 20, is a junior at UGA pursuing a degree in public relations. Her blog, Cupcakes and Sunshine, has recently gained a lot of attention, and it couldn’t represent her personality better. It’s almost 4:00 p.m. on a cold, rainy, Friday after-noon, and she still exudes warmth and sweetness.

What I love most about Southey’s blog is that it’s genuine. It features her hobbies, interests and pieces of her everyday life. Within just a few min-utes of reading it, I learned that she’s dedicated to school and several jobs, but also a down-to-earth girl who’s crafty and loves to bake. Her positive outlook on the future and everything she does could inspire even the most hardened cynic.

Southey discovered the blogging scene in high school, reading hundreds of blogs and becoming motivated by the thoughts and actions of others. She then created her own blog, which at first was mainly personal.

Luckily, Southey began her creation at a good time. She knew the name she wanted to use, the colors and the overall feeling, and paid design-er Kelly Ann Creative $150 to put it all together. Because blogging continues to grow in popularity,

Cupcakes and Sunshine:A Student’s Blog Turned Business Tool

rates from this designer are now around $2,000. However, many sites like Weebly and Wordpress allow you to create a blog for free.

Recently, Southey has used her blog to collaborate with different businesses, mainly Athens locals. The businesses gain media attention and traffic by being featured on her blog, and she gains experi-ence in the field.

Ads on her blog range from $10-$600. “It is to-tally different depending on how much traffic I receive, how many sponsors each month, and how many affiliate links shared,” Southey says. Southey believes having a blog is a great way to start your “personal branding,” a phrase all PR students have

Salted Caramel Brownies in a jar with buttercream frosting made by Haley Southey.

heard more than once.“It’s super beneficial to your career because it shows what you’re passionate about and makes you stand out,” Southey said. “If an employer Googles your name and a blog comes up, they can catch your personality and know if you’re a good fit.”

Southey loves what she does and gets valuable experience from it. In the digital world we live in, everyone is already tell-ing his or her story online already. Creat-ing a blog is a great way to host that story and more importantly, it gets your name out to future employers.

Rivet&Sway: A glasses company for which Haley wrote a review of a pair of glasses she ordered

Chobani: Representatives asked Haley to create a recipe for them, so she made Snickerdoodle Breakfast Blondies using Chobani’s Apple Cinnamon flavored yogurt

The Marriott: Haley contacted the business before a trip with her aunt and uncle, and she was set up with a private tasting by executive chefs

CUPCAKES & SUNSHINE SUCCESSESBy: Jessica Sherry

Snickerdoodle Breakfast Blondies made with Chobani Apple Cinnamon Greek yogurt.

Tips to Start a Blog

Bring your passions to life.It’s easy to write about things you care about, so why not start with something you’re passionate about. Share your interests in a compelling way that drives traffic and keeps the reader actively engaged.

Build your portfolio.Starting a professional blog that displays your strengths in news writing, design or storytelling can set you apart from the competition. Show employers what it really means to be a Millenni-al by being a pro in the digital world.

Be proactive.The time to create your digital footprint is now. Find the inspiration to begin blogging and don’t stop. Like all important social media channels, if there’s no content, there’s no viewers. Keep up with your blog by posting a few times a week to generate regular followers.

2014-2015 Executive Board

PresidentAlyssa Staffordalyssas@uga.edu@AlyssaStafford

Vice PresidentAnnie Swensoneswenson@uga.edu@AnnieSwenson

Creative Consultants DirectorSophie Frankham-Smithsophiefrankham@gmail.com@Sophiefrankham

PR DirectorMichael Braggmichaelsbragg@gmail.com@Braggg

TreasurerElizabeth Howardewhoward@uga.edu@Eliz_howard

SecretaryEmily Partenecparten@uga.edu@EmilyParten

Publications EditorAmy Johnsonajohns37@uga.edu@Aimee_37

Social Media DirectorKelsey Woodkelsey.mwood20@gmail.com@Kwoodvb

HistorianAbbey Fergusonaferg17@uga.edu@AbbeyFergFaculty AdvisorDr. Betty Jonesbetjones@grady.eduCreative Consultants AdvisorKristen Smithkmsmith@uga.edu

Professional AdvisorKatherine Strate, Sparks Grove katherine.strate@sparksgrove.com

Next Issue:

If you would like to submit an article for the next PRecedent, email aejohns37@gmail.com.

Spring Schedule: 250 MLC, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 11: Coca-Cola *

(*Room Change: 248 MLC)

Feb. 25: PRSSA Meeting

March 25: Full-service agency panel

April 8: Member Appreciation and

Elections

Other Important dates:

Feb 17-20: DC Agency Tour

Feb. 20: Real World PR

March 21: Mentor Social

March 26: PRSSA Social

April 16-17: Centennial Symposium

April 17: 100th Birthday Field Party

April 18: Centennial Gala

April 19: Centennial Brunch

April 22: Senior Night

May 6: Senior Banquet

Upcoming Events

@UGAPRSSA

PRSSA@UGA

UGAPRSSA

SOCIALM E D I A

stay in the loop &follow us on

February 11

PRSSA meeting:

Coca- Cola

February 10

PRSSA Social

February 11

Bake Sale all day at

TateCenter

February 20

Real World PR 2015

PRSSA 

February 25 March 26

PRSSA meeting

PRSSASocial