24 – Become Someone Else

As this term comes to a close I find myself reflecting on what I have learned so far. Deb Morrison has blown my mind many times throughout the term with her wise words along with some really amazing guest speakers who came in to talk with our class. One thing that has really stuck with me since the beginning of the term was the importance of reading. 

I saw this photo and it really stuck out to me. We as consumers can learn so much from the paths others have created for us. A book is a way for a reader to get inside of the brain of the writer. For a moment we can almost become that writer by becoming consumed with their words.

A few books that were suggested to our class as great reads were….

• Brett Robbs: Idea Industry: How to Crack the Advertising Career Code
• Scott Bedbury: A New Brand World: Eight Principles for Achieving Brand Leadership in the Twenty-First Century
• Debbie Millman: Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits
• Teressa Iezzi: The Idea Writers: Copywriting in a New Media and Marketing Era

So I thought I would suggest these to anyone who may read this.

Remember to always continue to expand your knowledge. If you aren’t moving forward then you are moving backward. You never stand still.

My Journey Through Public Relations…and Other Things

I want my blog to be a learning experience for me as well as for whoever reads it. I want to explore topics more deeply and becomebetter acquainted with the areas of journalism that interest me most. The main focuses for my blog will be event planning advertising, and fashion PR. I have always been interested in event planning and I think watching a fair amount of reality T.V. growing up opened my eyes to just how glamorous it can be. Although I am aware I probably won’t be landing a job party planning for the Oscars, it doesn’t hurt to dream a little! I think this goes hand in hand with my interest in fashion PR. The fashion industry is such a huge part of our culture today; I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to get to work closely with the fashion industry in one way or another.

Advertising has just recently become an interest of mine. Last winter I decided I wanted to double major in advertising through the School of Journalism and Communication. I am very interested and intrigued in how influential the advertising industry is among our culture and I am excited to learn more about it.

Aside from the classes I have taken at the University of Oregon haven’t had too much experience working in public relations. I am currently an intern for the March of Dimes working as an event planner/fundraiser. It is a non-profit organization that works to provide help and education to women to prevent premature births and defects. Interning for a non-profit organization has really opened my eyes to this part of public relations and has made me realize I probably don’t want to work for a non-profit in the future. I have a lot of respect for the people who do work for non-profits for their career but I just don’t think it’s for me. Working for the March of Dimes has taught me some very valuable things like the value of a budget and how important outside supporters are. I am excited for what my last year at the U of O will bring to me and am ready to step out into the “real world” and put my skills to the test.