PRSSA officers and alumni offer PR sequence tips

PRSSA Kent officers want all members and PR Kent majors and minors to succeed in their courses. The officers and some recent graduates put together a list of tips and tricks for succeeding in the sequence.

Principles of Public Relations

• Attendance is key! For most students, PR Principles is their first in-depth look at the study of public relations. You’ll cover so much material, and it will be referenced in all other PR classes. Miss a day, and you miss a lot of valuable information. Showing up to class is always important, and this class is no exception.
  
• Sit in the front. PR Principles is taught in the FirstEnergy Auditorium because it has the capacity to hold a large number of students. This is a big class, and it’s easy to get distracted if you sit close to the back. It’s far easier to pay attention with less people sitting in front of you.
  

Newswriting

• Don't underestimate the importance of this class. It really shapes you as a writer in this field and prepares you for many other classes, like Print Beat.
• Be open to receiving constructive criticism in regards to your work. Kent's Newswriting professors know what they're talking about, and their guidance will only make you better.

Print Beat Reporting

• Don't let yourself fall behind for print beat. Make sure to plan interviews for weeks in advance so you can keep up with stories. Keep in contact with your editor to stay informed about what's going on in your beat.
  
• Take this class very seriously. It is the most demanding class you have taken up until this point and it requires a lot of your time.
• Stay focused and motivated.
• Stay organized, plan all your stories ahead and do not wait until the last minute to write a story.
• Get a planner; it will be your best friend. 
• Stay in contact with your main sources, and brainstorm a list of ideas that could last an entire semester. That way if your story for the week doesn't work out you have a backup story.
• Allow yourself plenty of time to finish tasks. 

Audience Analysis & Research

• Volunteer to take on a role with more responsibility within your group, such as project manager or lead researcher. You'll get more experience and, often, a better grade.
• Use this class to learn as much as you can about media research. Researching skills are some of the most utilized in public relations strategy. You'll be miles ahead of other entry-level PR practitioners if you know how to measure your efforts using surveys and focus groups.
• Study hard for the exams and quizzes in this class. You really need to the reading (and some rereading) for this one.

Public Relations Case Studies

• Get to know your group. You will be working a lot with them all semester, so be sure to get to know each other before diving into your project. It'll make the project and the semester go a lot more smoothly.
  
• Research as much as you can. Make sure you have enough research to help back up your objectives, strategies and tactics. Research will guide you when you are developing your plan.
• Use this class to strengthen your group project skills. You will work in teams a lot as a PR student.
  

Public Relations Tactics

• Be sure to always read the syllabus. In this class, you will almost always be working on more than one project at a time, so make sure you're keeping up with all the work that is due.
  
• Get over the fact that you're terrified of public speaking. Everyone else in the class is, too. Some people are just better at hiding it than others. Know that, just like with anything, you'll get better with practice.
• Try to choose topics you're interested in when planning your speeches. It's far easier to talk about something you enjoy if you happen to lose your train of thought. Odds are, you'll also be more engaging while talking about something you care about, rather than just a random topic you don't know a lot about outside of class.
  

Public Relations: Online Tactics

• Use this class to build up your professional online presence. At the end of the course, you'll have a fully functional website. You might as well use this class to create your portfolio and blog about PR, as you'll eventually need a professional website anyway.
• Take this class before you go apply for internships. You will learn things that literally every employer will want interns to know, such as web analytics, strategic social media planning and blogging.

Public Relations Publications

• Force yourself to go in during optional class periods. That way, the professor is there to answer your questions, and it will force you to work on your assignments rather than procrastinating.
• There will, inevitably, be people in the class with you who are design geniuses. Don't get discouraged. You graded on how hard you tried and whether or not your followed directions.

Media Relations & Publicity

• Expect to learn about: writing press releases, writing pitches, how to pitch to different media and the varied positions a public relations professional may assume.
  
• It's an amazing opportunity to learn about a sector of PR which you have been prepared for but never fully delved into.

Law of Advertising & Public Relations

• Study hard, and study a lot. After you document notes for the day, review it after class and make sure you comprehend it. This will prepare you for any pop quizzes.
• Any time the professor enunciates or repeats keywords and key ideas, it's important. Keep an ear out for that.
• The First and 14th Amendments will be important themes throughout your class. Make sure you understand how each relate to you as a citizen and a PR/Ad professional.
• Do not take Public Relations Campaigns and Law at the same time. You'll thank us!

Ethical Issues in Integrated Communications

• Ethics is a fun topic. Professors love it if you pay attention to recent ethics issues within the media. 
• If you're taking Public Relations Campaigns, please, please, please take ethics then.

Bateman

• Get to know your team members. It may sound silly, but you will be seeing these people more often than not. The better you get along, the better you'll work together because you'll want to be around each other. Your team will become a second family, and you'll make valuable friendships.
• Never be afraid to seek out advice from your professional advisers. As former Bateman team members during their Kent undergraduate days, they can empathize with you, and they are wonderful contacts. 

Public Relations Campaigns

• Research is the backbone of every PR campaign, and it's a vital part of this class. The more research you have on the client, the better.
• Have a set schedule to meet with your team each week. When everybody attends meetings, it allows you all to stay organized and be on the same page. Switch your work shifts if need be.