PRSSA Kent hosts assistant directors of communications from Major League Baseball

Photo Credit: Brendan Williams

KENT, Ohio (March 1, 2017) - The Kent State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA Kent) recreated the 2016 World Series in its latest meeting. PRSSA Kent hosted Joel Hammond, the assistant director of communications for the Cleveland Indians, and Skyped with Kevin Saghy, the assistant director of communications for the Chicago Cubs. PRSSA Kent held an interactive discussion about  “Sports Public Relations”  on March 1, 2017 Kent State University’s main campus.

The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians faced off during the 2016 World Series. The Cubs overcame a 3-1 deficit and won the 2016 World Series in Game 7.  

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Thirty-seven students from four different majors learned about gaining media coverage, building a fanbase and establishing relationships within the organization’s community. The professionals shared insight on various topics: how to effectively communicate with fans on social media, building rapport with colleagues in the industry and tips on community engagement in sports public relations. Hammond and Saghy spoke in a panel style discussion allowing students to network and understand the industry through conversation.

When looking for internships with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians an important skill to have is real world PR experience. Being able to find meaningful stories is essential to engaging fans in sports PR.

Hammond and Saghy explained the importance of having a “snarky and humorous” voice on social media. Both teams recently made the decision to bring more personality to their social media presence, enhancing the fan experience through digital platforms. During the World Series, the teams used rain delays and other unexpected happenings as a chance to interact with one another on social media, showing a sense of companionship amid competition.

Samantha Ross, a sophomore public relations major, had been waiting for the Sports PR event all year.

“When I found out who was going to be speaking, I was very excited,” Ross says. “Both Joel Hammond and Kevin Saghy gave a lot of great advice and were able to share their experience of how they got to where they are today.”

For more information on the subjects discussed, email Brenna Parker, vice president of professional relations at [email protected].