New Web site and blog address
After having 970 hits on this blog, I am moving it to the blog attached to my Web site. Same blog, same writer, new location.
My Web site is www.rachelmesterline.com and my blog is www.rachelmesterline.com/astepahead
Please, check it out!
Web site
I also forgot to note that I purchased my own domain name for my portfolio Web site. It will end up costing almost $6 per month, which isn’t bad. I bought it because I would like to get some business cards and wanted to have a permanent Web site (instead of the free hosting type). I think it will look more professional.
No comment
I now have my own office.
I had been sharing one with another woman, but she moved to a different office since she was offered a job in the other department. Meaning I have an office to myself, which is quite exciting.
I am now receiving a newsletter called PRNewser. I found How not to say “No comment” interesting. It’s a short read, but makes a good point.
What do you think when you hear “no comment?”
I think that the person must be guilty or avoiding the topic.
Freelance writing, interview with PR Week and social media
After a talk with Dan this past week, I have decided to try freelance writing. I tried it before last summer, but my job took over my life (or at least 65 hours a week’s worth of my life). Now I have time to give it a go.
I also was interviewed by the editor-in-chief of PR Week last week. I had taken a survey for their career guide and they contacted me to do a phone interview. They should be sending me a copy when it comes out.
I also came across the following presentation and podcast related to social media that may interest you:
Buzz generation, guerilla marketing and branding via social media and social networking – Chris Heuer
Busy with an internship
My internship with CMU Public Relations and Marketing has been keeping me pretty busy during the day. By the time I get home, the last thing I feel like doing is staring at the computer and writing some more. I definitely need to post more often, so I am going to shoot for posting at least once a week – most likely on Friday since that is my only day off.
Two of my ad concepts for Centralight Magazine are in the process of being designed by Amy. I’ve been writing content for the Department of Journalism and their new Web page. I have been doing more work with CMU Welcomes You, putting in the articles, pull quotes and such. I also finally got a copy of the PBS guide containing an ad I wrote and saw a copy of Connections, a newsletter containing material I wrote about the new education building. Today I was assigned two more items for the Reference Point.
I would describe my internship as a whirlwind of learning. I am improving my writing skills and getting real experience. It is so exciting. I really like how I get feedback and suggestions from Dan on my work. He doesn’t take an article and just edit it. He tells me what could be better and lets me do it myself. I think that is really helping me learn more.
I interviewed Frank X. Blouin, Jr. for the Reference Point at the Friends of the Library luncheon last month. I am really proud of the article I wrote (which I believe is close to being finished with editing). There was an enormous amount of information to sort through. I had to remind myself that I was writing an story, not a report. I had used a voice recorder in the interview and during his presentation about the Vatican archives, so I was able to sort through the information to get the most vital pieces.
I’ve been keeping myself busy in the evenings building a new Web site for my portfolio. It is close to be completed so check back soon for a link.
Eight Worst PR Jobs
On The Record With Tara posted a pretty interesting link about the eight worst PR jobs. I’m sure there is some truth to it as well.
PR Agency Work
My blog has been hanging around about five to 12 views daily since I don’t post as regularly anymore. But yesterday it jumped to 38! I thought that was pretty interesting.
Agency work sounds so exciting and I’ve really enjoyed reading Time Well Spent, an article in PR Tactics and The Strategist Online written by an intern about her PR firm internship experience.
I really would like to get some agency experience. Ever since my first PRSSA Spring Conference when I heard about Franco Public Relations Group, I have wanted to work at an agency. Then, last fall, I job shadowed two CMU alumna that work there (check out Lauren and Nikki). They were fantastic and really got me excited about agency work. My post about their session relating to agency work at the CMU PRSSA Spring Conference has received more hits than any other post on my blog.
I think that even if I decided I didn’t want to work at an agency for the rest of my career, the experience would be priceless. The experience of multiple clients and projects would teach me a lot.
I do really like my publications internship with CMU Public Relations and Marketing though. I think CMU is a great school and I like the publications area. I do a lot of writing! But ever since I was in junior high, I have been saying I wanted to be the editor of my own magazine. I think my experience with publications might help me with that dream. But I think all the experiences with CMU PRM will help me in the future.
Free Guides for New PR Professionals
Have you ever heard of the Public Relations Consultants Association? I recently stumbled across the UK-based PR organization’s website and found some interesting things.
First of all, there were free guides. As a college student, free is my favorite word. In the introduction, it says that the guides are for new public relations practitioners. They appear to be fairly simple and easy to understand, although I have not read much of any of them since I haven’t printed them.
They have the following type of guides:
- Event Management
- Communication Materials
- Media Relations
- Client Handling
- Copyright for PR Professionals
- Surviving PR
As soon as I can make it to one of the school’s computer labs (with free printing) I will be printing them all out. Even if I can’t use them now, they might be good reference later. Plus, I love the camouflage look of the cover 🙂
Go to the PRCA website to see the guides.
You can also read the blog of the PRCA Chairman.
Platform Magazine
I feel bad that I haven’t been writing. I really do. For awhile, I was writing daily. I haven’t even been reading any blogs lately. I’ve noticed many other bloggers aren’t posting as much as well. I blame the weather. Who wants to blog if you can be outside grilling or rollerblading?
I recently came across Platform Magazine, an online PR publication. It looks like a great website. It recently received a gold placement in the Hermes Creative Awards for the Web Site Overall category.
You can listen to an audio interview with a Ketchum account executive, take an AP Style Quiz, and read articles relating to PR, leadership, ethics, trends and more. You can even become a contributing writer.
On another note, feel free to check out PR Intern, my blog tracking my projects related to my internship.
I will also be posting about the project management workshop I attended. It will probably be broken up into several posts.
My Internship & More
I know I haven’t been posting much lately. I just haven’t felt that I had anything to say. I did start my internship yesterday and started a blog to track what I am doing and learning. Check out PR Intern if you are interested.
For Budding Public Relations Professionals has a post about PRSA vs. IABC. I am very active in PRSSA so I found his post very interesting. I know very little about the International Association of Business Communicators.
PRSSA has given me so many opportunities and great experiences. I absolutely love the organization. Out of curiosity, I checked out the IABC website. I don’t really see myself paying for a student membership when I already pay for PRSSA, but the website still had some links I found interesting.
Call for Research Papers & Communication Plans
The coolest part? You don’t have to be an IABC student member to submit your paper or plan! The deadline is June 20. I don’t have anything to submit, but maybe somebody else reading this does.
The Student Newsletter has some articles you might also find interesting, from communication plans to communication jobs.
Sorry but I don’t have anything more to write right now…
A Step Ahead 