Surviving the PR Sequence: Media, Power, Culture & Multimedia Techniques

By Brittney Prather

OKAY so by the titles of Media, Power and Culture (MPC) and Multimedia Techniques, they sound complicated, but in reality they are really not that bad!  MPC was essentially about what mass communications is including the background about radio, newspaper, what ethics is and the importance of it in the media, and so much more. For the most part, it was more about learning than it was about tedious assignments for busy work. So the best advice is to really just show up and pay attention and when the assignments come along, really try and apply what you’ve learned!

Now for Multimedia Techniques. This class is as fun as you make it especially if you are lucky enough to have David Alan Foster! It is a class that focuses on, as the title of the class says, multimedia techniques. This means photography, video, newspapers, and even social media. I would say the most difficult part of the class was the three hour labs, but fear not, if you bring snacks, it really does help the class go by quicker, but don’t forget to focus when eating the three hours away! Another difficult aspect would be that if you are not quite familiar with how to put together video or you feel uncomfortable interviewing random people. There are ways to get through this. If you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask your professor for help, they will be willing to help with any difficulties you are having. As for talking to random people, it can be nerve wracking, but with practice it will get better, I promise!

New classes are always intimidating, but if you go into these classes with an open mind and willingness to break out of your comfort zone, you will do great! Also, don't forget the snacks!

To succeed in these classes:

• Don’t miss any class time. The lectures are really informative and can help you really take something away from these classes.
• Attend all of the study sessions for Media, Power and Culture! They are really helpful when preparing for exams.
• Go out of your comfort zone when working on a story or an interview assignment. This will lead to much more interesting stories than if you just interviewed your friends!

Brittney Prather is a junior public relations major and is PRSSA Kent's vice president of membership. Contact her at bprathe2@kent.edu.

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