Getting in the Game: Sports PR

All of my life, I have loved sports so when the opportunity came at PRSSA National Conference in October to attend the session “Sports PR: In It to Win It,” I finally was able to hear what it is like to work in the competitive environment of sports public relations. 

The session was conducted as a panel headlined by Ketsia Colimon, Director of Public Relations for the Washington Mystics WNBA basketball team and Rebecca Timms, Publicist for the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team. The two discussed the challenges the face in the industry, told stories about different experiences, and also gave the passionate PRSSA members tips about breaking into the sports public relations industry. 

After listening to the expert advice of Colimon and Timms, here are a few things I learned about sports public relations as well as getting into the industry: 

1. Be ready to work long nights and weekends

The biggest aspect about sports public relations that was made clear by both Colimon and Timms was that the industry is busy, very busy. Both of the experts reiterated how working in the PR department of their respective teams brings great challenges of having free time and putting in a great amount of hours. With sports media never sleeping and games taking place on during the night and on weekends, Timms told the crowd “be willing to miss holidays.”

2. Do not let your fandom get in the way of your work 

In their experiences with sports public relations, Colimon and Timms always run into interns who are always too passionate about the team they work for. As a PR professional, it is fine to be supportive of the team you work for. However, it was stressed that fandom will get workers fired and will get in the way of having a successful career in sports public relations. An example of this was recounted by Timms when she told a story about her time interning with the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team where interns she worked with cried as the Flyers lost the Stanley Cup to the Chicago Blackhawks leading to the phrase “there’s no crying in sports PR.” 

3. Take every opportunity you can take 

While hearing from Colimon and Timms was interesting and inspiring, they also were not shy to indicate the harsh reality of sports public relations: it is a tough industry to break into. With Colimon stating “you have a better chance lading a roster spot on a NBA team than having a career with a sports team,” the two made it clear that one must exert every opportunity and path they have if they wish to have a career in sports PR. 

While it may take a challenge to reach the career I desire in sports public relations, it is a challenge I am up to and one I am ready for. 

Written by: Eric Kurbyun, Community Relations Chair. Contact Eric at valpoprssa@gmail.com

PR Buzz: Top Gifts for After the Holidays

While the craze of the holiday season is coming to an end, I wanted to share a few hot items (PR-focused, of course) that are great for gifts any time of the year. 

1) Good Pitch Vibes - How amazing is this gold foil print from PR Couture? Imagine hanging this above your desk at your internship or even in the comfort of your own apartment. Personally, I enjoy the clean look of the white background with the gold lettering.  $26.00

2) While this item is not exactly a "PR" item, as someone interested in going into fashion public relations, I had many books that were on the top of my list for fashion inspiration. When I came across Refinery29's new book, Style Stalking, I knew this would be a top contender. I was lucky to be able to receive the book as a Christmas gift and it has not disappointed. The book is laid out into several different fashion trends which include layering, how to wear pastels, how to mix and match prints, etc. Oh, and it contains the best street style pics. $19.99

3) As I was making my way down State Street after a day of my internship at Zapwater Communications, I couldn't help but notice the "Sale! Sale! Sale!" sign in retailer Anthropologie.  This NEVER happens.  After (of course) stepping inside the store, I immediately went to their notebook/organization section.  They have the best notepads and journals, I swear. What caught my eye was the Rifle Paper Co. Sweet Briar Notebooks. These notebooks look and feel so luxurious and have a pricetag of $12.99 for a set of three.  With all of my communications and PR classes spring semester, I feel like these are the perfect choice for staying organized and on top of ideas for campaigns and plans. 

4) This is something I would LOVE. Adobe Creative Suite. While this item has a heavy price tag, (look up prices on Adobe's website here) Web design, photo editing, digital imaging, graphic design, illustration, etc.  While this is more of a gift for a PRofessional, I believe it is a very important program to (eventually) add to your laptop. 

5) A Logitech keyboard for iPads - Obviously, you'll need an iPad (highly recommended!) for this item. After receiving an iPad mini last Christmas, I was never really sure how to use it effectively other than scrolling through social media.  With this new keyboard that has a magnetic strip for attaching the iPad mini in a position that is very easy to type, while also doubling as a storage case, has made sending emails, writing blog posts, and taking notes so much easier. You can score a brand new one for around $40.00 if you hunt on Amazon for a bit, which is way cheaper than purchasing from an Apple store. 

Written by: Emily Doherty, Vice President. Contact Emily at valpoprssa@gmail.com

*PRSSA Nationals blog, Progressions, published a post in which they gave their favorites for the holidays as well.  Check it out! 

Celebrating Diversity

In the month of November PRSA and PRSSA will be in celebration of diversity. However, diversity, even with its huge strides of success, has been a topic that has been controversial for a long time, especially in the United States. Many wonder why diversity matters and think that diversity just pertains to skin tone, sexual orientation or citizenship. But the most amazing thing is that diversity happens whether a company wants it to or not. The only thing that can be controlled is the amount and range of diversity that happens in the workplace. This being said diversity is important in PRSSA’s eyes for a multiple reasons.

1) Globalization and Research  

Public Relations is more that just knowing the background of a single group. When doing correct Public Relations work, a practitioner will be better off with knowing more than his/her background. Even in the workplace, it is easier to be comfortable around different demographics if the office is filled with them. This being said not only knowing about different peoples but being comfortable with them helps a great deal with working with others professionally. You understand them and they understand you. This is especially important in communication where most businesses work globally. Breaking the barrier of diversity is easy. The only thing needed is a want to broaden the professional (and in most cases personal) horizon.

2)   Being Involved and Reflective

The workplace is a stressful place and many like to be as removed from the workplace as possible. In the world of communication, this is not the case. Communication is all about relationships, understandings and interactions with many different types of sects, creeds, genders, and ethnicities. This is another reason why being diverse is important. Being diverse allows for employees and others to be extremely involved in the workplace and comfortable in many situations. The more diverse the group the more able others are no longer afraid to branch out to someone new. In the world of communication this is especially important. If the workplace is diverse it will make working for different, extremely diverse companies seem like a cake walk. It is also important to be able to reflect on why others backgrounds are important. Demographics feel comfortable surrounded by others like them, so when marketing or talking to these different groups it is important to know why they should care about what you have to say, how does it help their them? Knowing their background helps you understand what different peoples hold important. It is also good to know that others do not hold the same things in the highest regard.

3) Comfort

This is a subject that seems to be a common theme in diversity. People are comfortable when they work and are surrounded by others that are like them. However, being comfortable is a very guild term as well. Diversity is everywhere whether a company wants it or not. Backgrounds are all extremely different and even if groups have the same skin color or religion does not mean that everyone in that group thinks or acts the same. Welcoming diversity also means being comfortable in one’s own skin. Once someone realizes that everyone has faults and issues it helps everyone bond better as colleagues and friends. In communications it is detrimental to be comfortable and to help others join you as well. Everyone has problems in life and everyone also has differences. Recognizing them and accepting them allows for a productive and safe environment to ensue.

All of these ideas are amazing reasons of why diversity is not only important in the workplace, but also why it is important in life outside PR as well. November is PRSA’s and PRSSA’s month to celebrate and honor diversity. If this subject and celebration interests you further you may visit other PRSA blogs about diversity as well! All have different perspectives. 

Links:

PRsay:

http://prsay.prsa.org/index.php/2014/11/04/diversity-is-simply-good-for-business/

PRSA Diversity Today: 

http://diversity.prsa.org/index.php/2012/03/what-dancing-with-the-stars-can-teach-us-about-diversity/

Written by Alex Siebert, Junior. Contact Alex at valpoprssa@gmail.com 

Passion: The Path to Becoming a Stronger Leader

Nominations for the 2014-2015 PRSSA executive board are underway and this time next week we will have a new executive board leading our chapter.  Many of of current members, myself included, have shown the drive and interest in taking on a leadership position in PRSSA.  As the current Social Media chair, I have learned the best ways to provide tactics and information about our chapter via social media platforms to share with our members and other PRSSA chapters across the country.  All of the executive positions require one common trait for each person wanting to run. That trait is passion.

There are hundreds of qualities that could be listed as leadership charactersitics, but in order to commit oneself fully to a leadership position, passion for Public Relations and the betterment of our PRSSA chapter is very important.

A helpful article I found on how to become a leader: http://www.prsa.org/intelligence/thestrategist/articles/view/10031/1072/13_ways_to_become_a_better_leader#.UzNEgvldWH4

As writer Dave Grossman said in the above article, "If you were to commit to some additional chutzpah this year, then where might you focus your energies?"

Chutzpah, a Yiddish word which translates into "incredible guts," is something I would want to implement in the executive board, in every position. 

Number 1 was one of my favorites from Grossman's list...

• Have the tough conversations you've been meaning to having.

WITH YOURSELF ~ Many people have very great ideas and important thoughts, that go unsaid.  Telling people what they need to hear, instead of what they want to hear, may not earn you initial positive feedback but will not only be helpful to you (since you are no longer holding back your thoughts) but to the person who you are sharing the information with.  This will help create bonds and trust - two things that are important in any organization.

Elections are next week, a new executive board will be taking over, and Valpo PRSSA will continue to grow in a positive manner.  

What are your favorite traits you believe makes someone a leader? 

Share your thoughts!

Written By: Emily Doherty, PRSSA Social Media Chair and National Delegate for Valparaiso University. 

Contact Emily ~  emily.doherty@valpo.edu or linkedin.com/in/edoherty1/

PRSSA National Assembly 2014

National Assembly 2014 (March 13-16)

Emily Doherty - VP of Social Media

Last weekend was the Public Relations Student Society of America's annual National Assembly.  The Assembly took place in the beautiful southern city Charleston, South Carolina.  

A delayed flight in Chicago left PRSSA members Luke Crawford, David Watta, Erica Brown and myself rushing to our layover flight which was in Newark, New Jersey.  After running throughout the small New Jersey terminal, we watched our flight fly away right in front of us.  Needless to say, we were not thrilled.  We were missing the Day-of competition and the welcome dinner, but we were determined to make it to National Assembly! One more flight to the middle-of-nowhere South Carolina, a three hour drive in a rental car, and a twenty minute taxi ride, we had finally made it! At 11 pm.

Our rental car...

I was excited to meet my new roommates and fellow PRSSA members from across the country.  I walked in the room and they were so excited to meet me! I had the pleasure of rooming with Deanna Directo, Lexi Digby, and Cindy Deng. (We later realized we were roomed together by alphabetical order..) It was great having people to connect with right away and to mingle with during the sessions.  

March 14th

The first day was filled with excitement.  Seeing as this was my first National Assembly (and also my first national PRSSA event!) I was so eager to start learning about leadership at the opening session which was for Chapter Officers.  I attended the session for current/future Presidents and VP's which was great and interactive.  The other PRSSA students who attended this session sat together in groups as we talked about things that could be done to improve our chapters, to help recruit new members, and to create key talking points about PRSSA for our current members.  

President/VP Session

Next, we had leadership training sessions which included "Discovering the Leader in You," "Communicating Member Benefits," and "Leading with Integrity."  I took notes on these sessions which I shared with my chapter at our 3/18 meeting.

A special session with Fred Cook followed.  Cook, the CEO of GolinHarris International spoke to us at the Assembly and shared some of his entrepreneurial successes. As said via golinharris.com/about, "We’re changing…intentionally. Or said another way, we’ve PRevolved."

After the day came to a close, my roommate Lexi and I decided to explore downtown Charleston.  We went out for some good old fashioned southern food at a local restaurant and walked down the pier and main street.

Nice escape from the Midwest weather

Southern Cookin'

March 15th

National Assembly Meeting: As the delegate, I had the right to vote for the new PRSSA National Committee. I was proud to be reppin' Valpo!

Representing Valpo with iced coffee, of course. 

More information can be found at this link... http://www.prssa.org/news/national/news/display/1305

Congrats to the new National Committee! :) Glad I had the pleasure of meeting most of you.

After the Assembly came to a close, it was time for the PRSSA members to celebrate their new committee. Again, my roommate and I went out exploring the town and ended up coming back to the hotel room and making even more new PR friends! It was a great time and I cannot wait to reconnect with the individuals I met at assembly at the 2014 National Conference in D.C! 

March 16th-The Final Day

The last day of the Assembly was set with a keynote speaker and a farewell meeting.  The keynote speaker, John Deveney of Deveney Communications.  One key thing I took away from Deveney's keynote was, "Become hungry to objectively study, discuss your shortcomings, mistakes and failures," John Deveney.

After the morning sessions, it was time to pack up our things and check out of our hotel room. While the trip only lasted three days, the memories, the networking, and the bonds created with other PRSSA members will definitely last much longer than that. #prssalove

Written By: Emily Doherty, PRSSA Social Media Chair and National Delegate for Valparaiso University. 

Contact Emily ~  emily.doherty@valpo.edu or linkedin.com/in/edoherty1/

About Eric

 

About: Eric is a sophomore Public Relations major and Spanish minor here at Valpo. He is an active member in our PRSSA chapter. Along with being involved in PRSSA, Eric is also the Vice President of External Affairs for the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity where he handles the philanthropy events and public relations of the fraternity.

Hometown: Huntley, IL

Dream Job: To work for a sports team in their PR department.

Favorite part about PRSSA: Being a new member of PRSSA this semester I finally have the opportunity to work on a PR team here at our chapter. With this, I simply love the weekly meetings we have together as a chapter since they allow me to develop essential skills for my future in the Public Relations field.

3 Things You Can't Live Without: My best friends, sports writing, and coffee.

 

About Nicolina

About: Nicolina is a sophomore Public Relations major with a double minor in Spanish and Business Management. As well as being involved in PRSSA, she is a sister in the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

Hometown: Huntley, IL

Favorite Part of PRSSA: The many opportunities that are offered! It’s not only an amazing opportunity to gain experience and knowledge about the Public Relations field, but it is key for forming relationships with both other members of PRSSA and current PR professionals. Most of the knowledge needed to be learned within PR is learned through experience and cannot be taught in the classroom, PRSSA offers this experience to a further extent than just internships.

Dream Job: Living in Chicago, working in fashion public relations or as an event coordinator.

3 things You Can’t Live Without: Eminem, my cell phone, and my planner.