Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Internship

My internship at Alpha Auto Sales has been very exciting. I like it but the work is very tedious and time consuming. I enjoy the freedom, but when a person is the only media relations representative for a company all the small tasks that needs to be done can be a bit overwhelming. Combined together it can make it difficult to complete the job or task at times. I think I am helpful to the company because before I came along the company had no insight about technology and social networking. My responsibility for my internship and my obligations for Florida A & M University will not conflict at all.
The strengths and skills that I posses is the ability to solve problems, write grammatically correct, multi-task, and understand other people’s point of views. I would like to initiate public relations strategies in order to help promote Alpha Auto Sales to the public. Conversely organizing Alpha Auto Sales would be a major help for the company.
My long-term goal for my internship is to build a friendly partnership with others by practicing on all areas of my public relations skills such as writing, framing, analyzing data and PSA’s. Also using technologies and social networking will assist me to further advance my career in public relations so that others in society will recognize me as a serious public relations practitioner.

Summer Class 2010

I was in a 6-week summer class in 2010, when I learned about public relations strategies. In my opinion, I believed that the skills and knowledge that I learned in that class was the meat and chuck of public relations. Public relations audits, communication audits, surveys and analyzing data are just a few ways to show or prove your self-worth and why a public relations practitioner is needed in today’s society. All those many different skills that I acquired from the summer class I am using those skills now at my internship. Without the prior knowledge of public relations strategies individuals probably would have not taken me seriously or recognize me as a public relations practitioner.
Fall is my last semester at Florida A & M University; I will be graduating with a B.S. in public relations and minor in graphic design. The classes that I am taking are Public Relations Campaigns, Public Relations Practicum and a senior Colloquium class. These classes are important classes I need to successfully pass to ensure that I graduate on Dec. 10, 2010; As well as an upper senior level graphic design class and class electives to help boost my GPA. The goal for this semester is to do all my work and be prepared to present, and graduate from Florida A & M University.
Other activities outside of the classrooms and the internship I am involved in are group fundraiser, event planning for my lodge brothers and improving my skills in the art of radio ads and jingles by using studio equipment. Radio ads and jingles are another great way to deliver a message to the public. Also, improving and developing websites, flyers and graphic designs, helps me to be more marketable to my company and distinguishes me from the rest of my competition. In efforts, to reach my goal in the future I am incorporating all the forms of communication that I learned and put it under one umbrella called Hudson PR Company Communicating Globally, which would be an ideal dream for me.

Job Like Experience

I decided to use my skills and knowledge that I have acquired at Florida A&M University to work for Alpha Auto Sales, which is a small business that has only been established since 2005. Alpha Auto Sales is a business that sells used cars, and strives to provide quality and dependable vehicles for its costumers. Since it is a new business I have the great honor to promote and raise awareness to the public about this company through social networking sites, and when it’s possible I will do my best to implement public relations strategies for Alpha Auto Sales.
In the past I have interned at non-profit organizations for a semester and created media kits for that establishment. I worked for other various local businesses in the Big Bend area, although some internships worked out and others did not, and also maintained a part-time job throughout my college career. Conversely, I found ways to use my public relations skills in the real world; For example, by putting together brochures, creating blogs, twitter and analyzing the best way to deliver a message.
My duty for Alpha Auto Sales is to organize, analyze and gather information to present it to the public in a way that is easily understood. A few ideas that could help include a SWOT Analysis on the company. I will also work about 10 hours a week, complete each of my responsibility and report to the owner of my weekly progress of what has been accomplished.
In this internship, I would like to know how the business really works and actually see how important public relations are in the real world. Also, this is great opportunity to for me to implement public relations strategies and to see which ones will work and which ones will not work.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Likeability: It’s An Inside Job,” by Bruna Martinuzzi

After reading, the article “Likeability: It’s An Inside Job,” by Bruna Martinuzzi, I found it to be a very interesting article. I can agree with a few of Martinuzzi’s point of views, especially about malcontent individuals, which are individuals that have more of a likelihood of scaring off employees, guest or clients. The funny thing is that most people have meet or ran across an individual with those characteristic in the past or present. Alternatively, calling people by their name and remembering it is a great way to be likeable, because people from the outside in perceive that as a friendly relationship that has been built.
Public relations practitioner must be smooth and graceful and do their job with a likable personality, while in the confusion of mass communication. Skills, a great conversationalist, and image are part of being likable. When a person is diligent, respectful and honest most people would be attracted to that positive aura and would like to surround themselves with a positive circle. An individual can attract more bees with honey than vinegar, and that goes the same with people. In my academic career, being friendly and respectful definitely helped me to build a friendly bridge with my colleagues and anyone that I may meet in my travels.
Relevance is one of the areas that I need to work on. To be interested in other people’s hobbies, interest, wants or needs I would need to actually have some interest in that particular subject. On the other hand, above the line thinking and taking the time to entertain other’s wants, needs or hobbies would be in the best interest of the public relations practitioners in order to learn and gather more data. Knowledge is power, so the more you learn the more a person earns. As a public relations practitioner being aware of new trends and technology will be to his or her advantage in order to stay ahead of the communication curve.

Building Your Personal Brand

Building your personal brand is one of the most important aspects of public relations, which some public relations practitioners over look at times. The article clarified and gave examples as to why a public relations practitioner must be aware of their self-worth in order to market their skills to the public or employers. The article suggested that public relations practitioners should get involved in the community, and even work for free. Reason being is that it will allow a public relations practitioner to continue perfecting their skills, gain networks and connections, and try out new public relations’ strategies.
If I had to follow one of the suggestions from the article it would be to volunteer your skills and knowledge with a non- profit organization. In my experience, volunteering was one of platforms I used to get my work out there to the public, so that I can make a name for myself and get recognize for my knowledge and skills. Plus, when an individual volunteers for free what he or she is gaining is worth more than money because the experience and knowledge can be applied to any other job or career.
To add on to the article “Building Your Personal Brand,” I would suggest that public relations practitioners become a little bit more technology savvy in order to be more marketable. Reason being is because the job of a public relations practitioner is to have full command or to master all forms of communication. When you generalize communication they can be divided into two general categories of how people communicate. The two categories are words and pictures, which truly do have a harmonious relationship. The underlining message is that a public relations practitioner would need to be familiar with the knowledge of how to build flyers, billboards, and websites; As well as using social networking to communicate like: RSS feeds, PSA and blogging to encompass all forms of communication.