Trade Tips: School’s in Session
Autumn is near and college students have returned to the classroom, possibly reconsidering their career pursuits. An unsettled economy might incite the art student to change gears toward a more lucrative career. Money is good but if one piece of advice can be given on selecting a career, it is: “follow your heart.”
For students considering the ever-changing field of public relations, some elements about the industry will never change. The press release, pitch call, media training and understanding key messages will stay—regardless if something more adept replaces social media or the television. Seasoned media professionals know the atmosphere will change but their feet remain firmly entrenched in the fundamentals of communication. In the zeal and zest for promoting a story or service, new PR professionals should remember these “cover yourself” details:
1- Always fact check, and check again. Putting forth misinformation is a sure way to ruin your credibility.
2- Never think a lie is ok. Always operate in ethics, truth. State the facts.
3- Ask questions to gain clarity.
4- Operate with your client’s agenda in mind, not yours.
5- Keep pitching, don’t quit. If an editor doesn’t accept your story idea, it’s likely not your fault. It happens to all of us, more than once. Fix the pitch or move on to the next.
6- Find a seasoned mentor who has dodged or stepped on the typical landmines of our industry. Their expertise and gut instincts may help to prevent your misstep.
What other tips would you recommend to newbies?
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