Dear 18 Year-Old Me

As I begin to write my final PRowl blog post as a now Temple alum, I can’t help but reflect on my last four years. I had an amazing college experience thanks to my family, friends, professors and student organizations I was a part of.  I wish someone would have given me some advice when I started that I have now learned along the way. Here are the top five tips I have for students just beginning:

1. Love thy self: I know this is a cliché but self-confidence does go a long way. As someone who is usually her own worst enemy, I’ve found that the power of confidence and positive energy can change everything. Be your biggest cheerleader and do whatever it takes to make yourself better. If daily affirmations or a 12 mile run work for you, then routinely do it. No one is in your way but you. 
2. Love thy enemy: You will come across certain people who may be just as talented as you. You will probably want to hate them because they are your competition. However, I can tell you from experience, two is better than one and three is better than two. Find the genuinely gifted, motivated people and unite forces. You will become unstoppable and they will be your greatest support system. 
3. One step at a time: Taking giant leaps usually leads to falling flat on your face. Everything is a matter of baby steps. Do things on your own time, not anyone else’s. Be spontaneous but make decisions that will make YOU happy and impact your life positively. It is a marathon, not a sprint. 
4. Pay it forward: I have had some amazing role models, starting with my parents to cousins, older students and professors. Take the time out to mentor others and guide them to their own path. Take every opportunity you’ve been given and make one for someone else.  It is one of the most rewarding feelings and makes all of your obstacles worth it.
5. When all else fails, find Dr. Suess: My favorite book is Dr. Suess’ “Oh, The Places You’ll Go.” I suggest taking your next pay check and buying a copy. It is a simple story that reminds us to fight fiercely for our dreams and always puts life in perspective for me. When you are at your lowest, go back to being a kid.  Find a swing, fly a kite or watch a Disney classic. Do whatever your favorite childhood activity was. It helps to relax and remind you that it’s just life; no one gets out alive anyways. 

My college years hold the most precious memories that cannot be replaced. Remember that the moments are more important than the A+ or three executive board positions. Thank you my PRowl Public Relations family for an incredible start to my career and best of luck in the future! 

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations alumni Alex Crispino.

PRowl's Seniors

PRowl is so PRoud of our seniors!

Doug Bennett (Account Executive &

Director of Finance)

Doug is currently interviewing for corporate communications positions and is now an intern at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. During the summer, Doug will begin studying for the LSATs and then apply to law schools.

Emily Ascani (Assistant Firm Director)

Emily will be continuing to intern full time this summer as a Public & Media Relations intern at Morgan Lewis, a law firm in Center City. She is looking for an entry-level public relations position in the Philadelphia area, concentrating in hospitality, tourism & corporate or agency public relations. She is interested in utilizing her skills in social media, editing, writing and blogging.

Steve Jacobs (Staff Member)



Steven Jacobs will graduate this May with a bachelor of the arts degree in strategic communication, public relations concentration. He is currently in the interviewing stages of his job search, while finishing up his internship at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. He hopes to stay in Philadelphia and land a job doing public relations for the City.

Kurie Fitzgerald (Staff Member)

After graduation Kurie will have a paid internship/PR coordinator training position with Van Eperen & Company in Rockville, Md. VE&Co's mainly focus is strategic communications consulting. Kurie plans on visiting Chicago the week after graduation and Canada during the summer. 



Frank Kunkle (Staff Member)

Frank will be continuing his internship at University of the Sciences while looking for a career in higher education. Whether corporate or nonprofit, Frank envisions working in a PR/marketing role. He would like to stay in Philadelphia for at least a few more years before thinking about moving to another city. 

Alex Crispino (Account Executive)

Alex Crispino will be graduating Magna Cum Laude and staying in the Philadelphia area. She is hoping to start her career at a Philadelphia agency and plans to eventually return to graduate school. Feel free to reach Alex on Twitter: @alexcharli.

Niki Ianni (Firm Director)

Niki Ianni is proud to be a May 2012 Temple Graduate with a degree in Strategic Communication and a concentration in Public Relations. With her sights set on nonprofit public relations, she is packing up her bags and moving to Washington, D.C., to pursue exciting career opportunities. With a passion for animal welfare and advocacy and a love for her two cats, Niki hopes to work in an organization that makes large strides and impacts in the animal world. She is incredibly excited about the adventures to come living in the nation's capitol.

We wish you all the best!

Is Penn State’s THON now a PR Tactic?

It has been quite the year for Penn State with Jerry Sandusky’s sex abuse charges and the death of Joe Paterno. From a human perspective, it has been a year full of tragedy but from a public relations stand point, it has been a year of crisis management. Everyone’s question: Can Penn State recover?

While the answer is still not entirely clear, it is more than possible for Penn State to come back better than ever. A perfect example of this: Penn State’s THON raised $10.6 million for childhood cancer research this year and exceeded its goal by $1.1 million. The entire Penn State community banded together to support a cause they believe in.

From a public relations perspective, THON can be seen as a PR tactic that helped Penn State restore its image in the higher education world. This year’s THON commercial uses very specific language that talks about the challenges of the past year. In the video, the phrase “Many things have changed” flashes across the screen while a photo montage plays in the background. By using this terminology, Penn State recognizes that the environment around the event has changed drastically in the last year. However, the next phrase to be shown was “But what’s important remains the same…our families.” This phrase conveys the message that Penn State’s mission remains the same regardless of what happened during this year. They are a unified force that will be overcome any obstacle in order to raise money for the children in need.

Despite scandals and difficulties with fundraising before the event, THON raised the most money in the history of the program. The event can be seen as a PR tactic that helped restore Penn State’s image in the mist of recent challenges. Additionally, the success of THON shows the resiliency of the Penn State community. While there are still many steps to take in order to change the perception of Penn State, THON’s success has played a key role in the process.

Do you see THON as a PR tactic for Penn State? Why or why not? Let us know!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.

Transferable Skills: A PR Essential

As a PR major, it is essential to our success to develop transferable skills. Transferable skills can include anything from good organizational skills to remaining calm under pressure. Luckily for PR students at Temple University, there are a variety of ways to expand this skill set. From internships to student organizations, the possibilities are endless. However, I decided to take a different path.

During the fall semester of my junior year, I became a Resident Assistant (RA) for Temple’s University Housing and Residential Life. I joined because I wanted to help other students like my RA had helped me. I had no idea how much my RA position would help in building my transferable skill set.

Here is the list of transferable skills that I developed as an RA:

• Organization: As an RA, I have to manage 50 underclassmen while also balancing my own work. Each resident has a folder that I’m in charge of updating regularly.

• Event Planning: Each month, I am required to complete two programs for the residents on my floor and in the building. This means I need to write a proposal, complete a catering order, create advertisements, and get people to come to the event. It is very similar to planning events in the PR world, just on a smaller scale.

• Crisis Communication: RA’s are on duty once a week and also have three duty weekends a semester. This means they hold a specific phone that residents and security guards can call if there are any problems. Sometimes, there are major issues in a building that need to be handled immediately. In essence, answering the duty phone is like responding to a PR crisis.

My position as an RA proves that you can use different opportunities to build your transferable skill set. While it is important to have PR experience during college, you should use every volunteer opportunity and job you have to develop your transferable skill set.

What other ways can PR students develop transferable skills? Let us know!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.

Missing: Important Leadership Traits

Leadership is a concept that everyone has discussed over and over again. Discussions about what makes a “good” leader frequent every classroom and workshop across the country. The older I get, the more I wonder about leadership and a person’s ability to lead effectively. My personal curiosity caused an exploration of those forgotten leadership traits that all leaders should possess.

What comes to mind when you think of an effective and successful leader? Most answers would include organized, strong public speaking skills, ability to motivate, and approachable. Each of those is important, but what about other skills like humility, listening, and face-to-face communication?

Humility is often a skill that many successful people do not possess. It is especially difficult to lose that “rockstar” attitude and be brought back down to earth. For leaders, humility is about admitting your shortcomings as a leader (and person sometimes too) and seeing how those weaknesses effect the group. A Forbes article states “Great leaders, like great parents, will grit their teeth and accept the painful reality that they are almost always the reason something is awry in their organizations. They’ll accept the pain of being humbled and set themselves on a course of correction.” The organization as a whole will improve because a leader is willing to sacrifice his or her ego.

As a young leader, I am often talking about plans, strategies, and assignments for my account. While it is important to be an articulate speaker, listening is also extremely important. Our society has become proficient in relaying messages and persuading audiences. But, the art of listening negates all of that. Instead, it is simple, focused attention on the speaker to find out their intentions, goals, or even fears. Listeners should actively ask questions in order to fully understand what the speaker is saying. Listening skills and face-to-face communication are complimentary, lost leadership traits.

Face-to-face interaction is near obsolete in today’s technology-driven world, where people Tweet job offers and blog about their breakups. Again, technology and social media are helpful but nothing can replace face-to-face communication. Duke University’s men’s basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski believes the only way to motivate a team is through constant, face-to-face communication, where a level of trust can be established. Additionally, talking and meeting with people in person allows messages to be expressed clearly with more fluid dialogue.

What are other lost leadership traits? How should leaders better develop these skills? Let us know!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.

Who Runs the World? GIRLS!

As a young woman and aspiring public relations professional, one thought about the future always crosses my mind: can I have it all? Any other female professional knows exactly what I’m talking about. Is it possible to have a successful career and the family or personal life that you desire? Beyonce’s empowering anthem gives us hope, but here is what the professionals say.

Each year, Fortune creates a “Most Powerful Women” list that is comprised of various different professional women who manage their professional and personal lives with ease. Editor at Large, Patricia Sellers formed a “top 10” list of tips from these women. My personal favorites are highlighted below:

1. Don’t plan your career. The most successful women have remained flexible throughout their careers while also having an open mindset about the path they are on.

2. Forget the ladder, climb the jungle gym. Women should not focus so much on climbing the hierarchy in their respective business. Instead, think of your career as a jungle gym with opportunities all around.

3. Follow your compass, not your clock. Do not allow your personal time line to get in the way of your goals or ambitions.

4. Don’t balance, juggle. Anne Sweeney, who oversees Disney Media Networks, believes that all you can do is give each day your best shot and try again tomorrow. Balance does not exist because at any given time, something will need more of your attention than another task.

5. Own your power. The word “power” needs to stop having a negative connotation. Most women interviewed by Fortune think that power is the ability to create change and impact others.

In the last twenty years, there have been many advances in technology that now allow mothers to work from home and still accomplish just as much work if they were working in an office. With patience and compromise, it is possible to have it all, as long as women never limit themselves.

Have you seen a woman in your life who has struggled with this challenge? What strategies do you think are important when managing a career and personal life? Please share them with us!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.

Take Your Passion and Make It Happen

When you hear the word job, what do you think? There are several answers to this question, most connected to money and making a living. But what about your passion? Is that the same thing as a job? It probably should be, so that you’ll love what you do and ultimately will be better at it.

In today’s society, many people forget about their passion and solely focus on their job in order to make money. It is important to reignite your passion and to find inspiration at work that will lead to success.

In her article, “How to Find Inspiration at Work,” PRowl PR alumni Jessica Lawlor gave readers five tips on how to find or remember their inspiration at work:

1. Decorate your work space: Having a visual of places you’ve been or sayings that you like reminds you of past accomplishments while also adding some color to your space.


2. Break out the warm-fuzzies: There should be a folder in your inbox for compliments and affirmations from other colleagues, supervisors, or even friends. It’s a great way to remind you that you are good at what you do.


3. Create a killer playlist: Music is one of the best motivators out there so get together some of your favorite motivational songs for when you need a pick-me-up. My personal favorite is “A Beautiful Day” by India Aire.


4. Turn to your Social Media: Whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, or Google +, many times people on your social networks provide inspirational stories or quotes that can get you motivated or remind you why you love your job.


5. Take a Walk: I know, we’re all too busy to take 15 minutes out of our day but fresh air and sunlight allow you to feel refreshed and refocused.

Similar to finding inspiration at work, it is important to reignite your fire or passion for what you do. A blog called Zenhabits listed some ways in which to ignite your passion. For me, I’ve seen a few of them like surrounding yourself with passionate people, living outside of your comfort zone, and starting a blog or journal to be successful. When you are around people who love your cause, it instantly lifts your spirits and reminds you that you are a part of something so much bigger than yourself.

Where do you draw your inspiration from? What’s your special secret for reigniting your passion? Let us know!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.

Team Work Makes the Dream Work

While studying abroad in Spain, I’ve come to understand how important it is to work effectively in small groups. I have been thrown into a foreign country with fourteen other students from Temple, who I didn’t know before. From coordinating plans to practicing a new language, working as a group has become a necessity.
While abroad, I read Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture, a book written in the last years of his life. In one section, titled “Enabling the Dreams of Others,” Dr. Pausch discusses a few key points on how to effectively work within small groups:

1. Meet people properly: Pausch explains that a solid introduction with eye contact is important because it lays a good foundation for the relationship in the future.

2. Find things you have in common: By doing this, it’s much easier to address differences that may be discovered.

3. Try for optimal meeting conditions: People will function better if they aren’t tired, hungry, or standing in the rain.

4. Check egos at the door: Ideas should be written down and identified by a description, not the person who thought of the idea. Additionally, it is a level playing field, with opportunities for everyone to succeed.

5. Praise each other: Even the worst ideas have a silver lining! This also helps keep everyone’s morale up.

6. Phrase alternatives as questions: You should suggest doing plan A, instead of plan B. It’s never a good idea to tell someone that you’re changing the plan to your own.

Pausch’s tips are more practical than others I’ve heard before. They have become very helpful while working in my group in Spain. For example, when a decision needs to be made about which direction to walk, removing ourselves from the rain calmed everyone down and allowed for more rational thinking, like #3 suggests. While these tips seem simple, they can change group dynamics if applied correctly.

The incredible experiences I’ve had in Spain are only because of our group working effectively to achieve a common goal, with patience and respect. I want to take this lesson back to Temple with me, so that each group experience from now on is equally as positive. I highly recommend The Last Lecture and following the tips above for a successful outcome.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.

All Work and No Play Means Trouble

For many of us, twenty-four hours is not enough in a single day! With classes, internships, jobs, and the hope of a social life, each of us is cramming as much as we can every day. While we are trying to keep up during this highly competitive age, working too much has some negative, lingering effects.

CNN, Fortune, and the Today Show have been investigating what happens when people overwork themselves. Ellen Langer, a psychologist at Harvard University, finds that a vacation is essential for mindfulness, which is mediating in a non-judgmental way. This allows individuals to be present while clearing their minds and has plenty of health benefits, like lowering both heart rate and blood pressure.

In the article, “How Many Hours Should You Be Working?” author Laura Vanderkam helps workaholics decide how much work is too much. She quotes the authors of Rework, saying that workaholics aren’t the heroes but that the real hero is at home because she figured out a faster way to get everything done. While a study of Italian CEO’s found that working more hours does increase overall productivity, it is contingent upon how these hours are spent. For example, when executives spend more hours meeting with employees, productivity increases, but not when they meet with clients or outside vendors.

A recent segment on the Today Show highlighted the problems with overworking yourself. When juggling so many balls in the air, the one that usually drops is your own. This segment explained how women are at a greater risk for depression, arthritis, cancer, and other chronic illnesses than men. In their quest to have it all, a career, a family, women often neglect their own health. The Healthy Woman’s Forum, held for the first time this year in Princeton, NJ, offered solutions and suggestions for workaholic women. One idea was for women to join an exercise group or find some kind of hobby just for themselves. In the end, it is all about balancing your priorities.
It is extremely hard to shut down the computer, turn off the phone, and just unwind. Most of us have this ridiculous fear that we will miss some amazing opportunity or not respond fast enough to the "oh-so" important email. But, at the end of the day, our health, sanity, and well-being must be put first. There is nothing wrong with working hard, but we all must strike a balance between work and play.

Are you a workaholic? Do you think there are ways you can change to better yourself?

To read more on the benefits of taking a vacation, click here.

To read more on the value of your time, click here.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.

The Value of a Mentor

As I watched the class of 2011 graduate last week, I realized how instrumental this group of young leaders has been in raising the bar for the underclassmen that will soon follow in their footsteps. These graduates have served as mentors for all of us, which is extremely important as young PR professionals.

In her recent post on PRSay, Barbara Whitman discusses the importance of having a mentor in a digital age. While much of the PR world relies on technology and social media, Whitman talks about the value of face-to-face communication and the younger generation benefits from this type of interaction. As a former mentor, she has seen how this program benefits both the mentee and the mentor. Mentees have someone to both celebrate their successes with and help guide them through difficult challenges, while mentors improve their listening skills. Whitman emphasized that mentoring is more than just mentioning someone in a tweet, but that it is a lifelong investment in that person. In the end, a mentoring program fosters professional growth for everyone involved.

Many companies also see the value in promoting a mentoring program internally. The PRSA Job Center offers members the option to have a career coach, which is essentially the same thing as a mentor. They provide several different professionals who are available to mentor members and provide advice when necessary. Similarly, many corporate organizations like Bank of America offer their employees the option of having a mentor within the company.

During my first semester with PRowl, I looked to all of the senior members for guidance and advice. Specifically, Trish Wyatt, an Account Executive at PRowl did become my unofficial mentor. The experience for me was invaluable, to have someone there to listen, read over press releases, or even to de-stress with at the gym. After such a positive experience this past semester, I hope I can do the same for another PRowl member in the future.
Do you think it is important to have a mentor? What can individuals gain from this experience?

To read the PRsay article on the value of mentoring, click here

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino

Social Media Education

Most people utilize various social media sites several times a day. Some use Facebook to interact with their family and friends while others check Twitter for current news stories. However, there is an educational component to most social media sites that many people may not realize.

Last week, Skype released a program called Skype in the Classroom, which permits teachers from around the world to connect with each other. They will be able to exchange information and to search for resources based on the age groups and subjects they teach. This program will allow teachers to introduce a global perspective to students at a younger age.

Businesses should also have their hand on the pulse of social media. To fulfill this initiative, some companies like Sprint Nextel Corp. and Mattel Inc. have created college classes and graduate-level research projects to develop social media campaigns. Sprint partnered with Emerson College in Boston to offer students an online marketing class in which they received smart phones with unlimited wireless access. Students were then required to tweet, post on Facebook, blog, and create Youtube videos to promote the launch of Sprint’s 4G network in Boston. Most professors feel it is a win-win situation for students who are learning and businesses who are becoming more active in the social media word.

Social media has been tied to only certain majors, like Public Relations, but it is quickly becoming important for any young professional to understand. Business models and communications plans are evolving to include a social media component that will be measured in a final evaluation. It is a positive development that websites like Skype and Twitter are beginning to be taught in the younger years of school. Similarly, colleges should be offering classes in social media that are open to all students. Our culture is changing, so we must adapt to this new world that relies heavily on technology and social media.

Do you think social media should be taught in elementary and secondary schools? Have you taken a social media course at your school or university? What was your opinion of it?

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.

A Deeper Look into Diversity

Since February is Black History month, it is important to examine how diversity is intertwined with public relations. While our industry has made great strides in attaining a more diverse employee population, African Americans and women are still underrepresented. The Calvert Study, released this past fall, stated that women hold less than 1 in 10 top paid executive positions. Women only make up 18% of director positions within the top 100 S&P 500 companies, whereas 92 out of 100 CEO’s for these same companies are white males. Additionally, within the public relations field, there are low hire rates for African Americans, both male and female.

Public Relations is a global industry that demands diverse perspectives. In the PRSay article, “Diverging into Diversity: A Communications Strategy,” Larry Jones explains that companies are reluctant to move from the familiar to more diverse populations. Jones describes the importance of this idea by saying, “Diversity in communications also can mean building bridges to new audiences or tapping into new perspectives and ideas.” This statement is a central idea that can permeate through any realm of public relations. As public relations professionals, it is important to provide creative opportunities for our clients. With the help of people from different backgrounds with different experiences, we can provide the most innovative and comprehensive strategy for our clients.

Diversity in public relations is something that can always be improved upon. As young professionals, it is in our best interest to be continuously aware of the inequalities that all minorities may face in our industry. We must focus on changing these aspects to ensure the most inclusive community of public relations professionals. This will ultimately allow companies to provide a more complete plan for their clients.

Do you feel diversity is a problem within the public relations world? What steps can young professionals take to change these issues?

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.