Welcome To Our New Spring 2014 Staff Members!

The semester has officially commenced! PRowl held it's first weekly meeting yesterday afternoon with many returning faces along with a few new ones. Everyone seems extremely excited to begin work with our new as well as returning clients. After such a successful meeting, I am really looking forward to a fun-filled semester.

I would like to give a shout out to our newest staff members here at PRowl Public Relations. You will be seeing their first few blog posts in these upcoming weeks so make sure to familiarize yourself with their names:

Megan Healy is a sophomore Strategic Communication major with a concentration in PR, as well as a Spanish minor. She has always loved the urban lifestyle, which led her to Philadelphia. Megan’s dream job would be working in entertainment PR in New York City or Los Angeles.

Shaun Luberski is a sophomore Strategic Communication major with a concentration in Public Relations. She is thrilled to be a part of the PRowl staff. She is currently interning at The Rock School for Dance Education. Shaun hopes to work in a Public Relations agency and incorporate her love for photography and dance.

Paige Gross is a freshman Journalism major/ PR minor. Moving to Philadelphia was one of the most exciting and beneficial choices she has ever made; every day Paige sees or hears something new. She has a passion for media, coffee, anything that comes in black, and cheesecake. Paige is figuring out life the only way she knows how- one interesting day at a time.

Emily Charles is a sophomore Strategic Communication major with a concentration in Public Relations and minor in general business. She is currently the public relations representative for Rent the Runway. She also volunteers with different organizations on Temple's campus and hopes to someday work in public relations for a non-profit organization. Emily is extremely excited to be apart of the PRowl staff and cannot wait for the opportunities to come.

Michael Maling is a junior Strategic Communication major from Brick, NJ. Before becoming a PR major, Michael bounced around from psychology to journalism, then eventually to communication. His passion is music and intends to work in the industry upon graduation. Michael is currently waiting to start his new internship with East Side Electro, a music company based out of Philly.

Tyler Cameron is a junior majoring in Strategic Communication and minoring in General Business Studies. As an avid writer, PR was a natural fit. He hopes to work in corporate or crisis public relations, as well as earn a master's degree in Finance from Temple University in the near future. Tyler is the Director of Social Media for the Temple PRSSA chapter.

Nicole Beck is a junior Strategic Communication major with a concentration in Public Relations. She is excited to be apart of the PRowl staff and gain experience beyond the classroom.  Nicole has a passion for PR, being outdoors, photography and interior design. In the future Nicole would love to pursue the event planning and social media aspects of the PR field.

Christopher Smith is a sophomore Strategic Communication major with a concentration in Public relations. He is excited to be a member of the PRowl staff and experience more hands on work. Chris hopes to work in a Public Relations agency and incorporate his love for writing.

Welcome to PRowl everyone, here's to a wonderful new experience!

Interested in joining PRowl? Stay up to date with this blog for future opportunities and openings within the firm!

5 Experiences You Can ONLY Get In A Student Run Firm!

Student run PR firms provide students with real world experiences before many students even accept their first internships. I was lucky enough to be hired at PRowl PR my first semester at Temple, and the experience has been invaluable. With PRowl PR interviews right around the corner, it seemed appropriate to share some experiences that you can only get when you work in a student run PR firm!

1. Gaining a personal team of editors: When the time comes to draft that perfect cover letter or phrase volunteer work correctly on the fifth draft of your resume, you fellow PR firm members will always be around to help. Whether it be professional documents or a paper for class, you'll always have someone there to edit your writing to perfection.
2. Meeting people who understand the concept of being busy: How many times have your non PR friends attempted to make plans, only to become frustrated at how packed your days are? Between general meetings, executive board meetings, classes, and homework, the studennt run PR firm member rarely has free time. Your fellow firm members will totally understand that, and will work to make the time that you spend getting things done as fun as possible to make up for it.
3. Getting the low-down on the internships and jobs everyone is after: There is always one agency or organization that every PR major goes after. Since you work with the top students, the ones most likely to grab and succeed at these internships, you can find out the truth about them before stepping anywhere near an interview room! Do they really give interns major responsibilities? Will you learn things there that will be beneficial to your future? Who is really the best person to email your resume and cover letter to? Your fellow student run PR firm members will likely have these answers and more.
4. A team of professional fashion police: When you do land that interview with the agency or organization of your dreams, it's very likely that you will stress over what to wear to said interview. Is a suit too formal for that environment? Is a dress too casual? Your fellow firm members will be happy to receive texts with outfit options, or have you bring your top choices to the next meeting to help other members plan for interview attire. Need a blazer at the last minute? I'm sure a firm member has one you can borrow, with shoes or a tie to match!
5. A group of friends who will become your professional network: After everyone has graduated and gone their separate ways, your fellow firm members become your professional network. You will likely reach out to them looking for information on new jobs or positions, or even for professional advice on projects you're working on. Sooner than you think, the new younger members of the firm will be reaching out to you, in hopes that you can help them secure job opportunities and internships.

More than anything, the relationships that you build while you are in the firm, both personal and professional, will make the biggest impact on you. They will help you determine your strengths, weaknesses, and future goals.

Are you planning on interviewing for PRowl PR? Have you ever worked in a student run PR firm before? If so, what were your experiences? 

Gift Guide 101: What To Get The PR Student

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Trees are up and decorated, the fireplace is burning, gingerbread houses are being made and your Christmas list is complete - well, almost. Struggling to find the perfect gift for the PR student in your life? Or are you a PR student looking to get yourself something fabulous and functional for the New Year? Well, look no further!

Here are five essential gifts that would be perfect for almost any public relations student:

1. AP Stylebook: The newest edition of course! Every student looking to land a career in the field of communication needs to stay up to date with AP Style. Costing anywhere from $13 to $20 ($25 for an online subscription), this book is an inexpensive must have for a PR student.

2. iPad or iPad mini: Does this even need an explanation?

3. Annual Subscriptions: PR Week and PR Daily rank among the best PR resources. Surprise the PR student in your life with an online subscription to one of these and they will love you forever.

4. PRSSA Membership: Becoming a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America opens many doors for a student looking to become a PR professional. PRSSA offers a key opportunity in the PR world - the opportunity to network with other PR students as well as professionals. PRSSA offers holuday discounts too!

5. Hector Serrano Digital Downtime Watch: For the social media obsessed PR student (hint, hint we all are), make sure to pick up this stylish and functional watch. This watch helps with time management by divvying up time spent on Facebook, Twitter and Gmail each day. Confused? This video explains how it works: http://www.hectorserrano.com/index.php?id=41&m=lab&grupo=downtimewatch#

Is there anything else on your list? Let us know!

If You Build It, They Will Come

Most public relations students go out into the professional world armed with an polished resume, a strong sense of self confidence, and knowledge of their field. They walk into interviews prepared to ask questions and share stories of their PR experiences. After the interview, sadly, many people walk away leaving the interviewer with nothing but the memory of the interview.

As important as your resume and ability to speak about your experiences will be when you go out into the professional world, there is something else you can do to give yourself to an added edge. What's that you ask? Create a portfolio.

A portfolio will allow you to not only leave the interviewer with a memory of the interview, but also provides something tangible to go back to beyond the bullet points on your resume. Once you build your portfolio, you can update it as often as you update your resume, just keep it consistent. Whether you're a senior or an ambitious freshman, it's never too late to create an outstanding portfolio. Here are some things to remember when creating your portfolio:

• Review and Revise - Do not put unedited or unrevised work in your portfolio. Have someone else read over your writing and check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Nothing is a bigger turn of than writing samples that are full or errors.
• Create What You Lack - If you don't have as much writing experience as you'd like to include in your portfolio, generate some! Create mock media alerts, press releases, and other PR documents. Doing this shows that you don't wait for experience to come to you, and that you are willing to create opportunity for yourself.
• Keep It Simple - Don't overdo it with the look of your portfolio. Less if often more when it comes to professional presentation. Use a solid colored portfolio cover, preferably dark brown or black, and print your writing samples on white paper in black ink.
• Offer it digitally - It's one thing to be able to give someone a tangible version, but another to be able to follow up with a digital copy. Have a digital version available via online hosting site or flash drive. This makes the portfolio easy to email and gives you a back up way of saving a hard copy!

Have you created your portfolio yet? What tips do you have for creating a solid, professional portfolio? Let us know!

Optimize Your Blog Post

Whew, the hard part is over, you wrote the most exciting and informative blog post, now what? Even if your blog has a reputation and a prestigious following, your post may not be getting enough promoted attention.  Branding oneself through blogs is highly important for an aspiring PR professional. Future job and internship opportunities are amongst only some of the perks of writing for a blog.  Divvy HQ recently posted “Your Blog Post Promotion Checklist” helping bloggers to optimize their coverage. Preview our top 5:

1. Add keywords
2. Take advantage of your RSS feed
3. Shorten you post’s URL
4. Tailor your status updates
5. Post teasers on other sites

The Freshman PR Student Survival Guide

When I first stepped on my college campus, I had a long list of goals and no idea how I was going to achieve them all in just two semesters. PR seemed like a huge ocean, and I was a small fish with no idea how to swim. I was hit with terms like press release, media alert, and internship. It was definitely a lot to take in. As overwhelming as your first year as a PR student may seem, I’m here to let you know that you will survive! Here are some tips and tools to make your freshman year as a PR student manageable and successful:

Get Involved- It is much easier to adapt to college life when you have friends in the same situation. See if your campus has a PRSSA chapter that you can be involved in and join! Reach out to organizations on their social media accounts so they know to look out for you. Talk to older students and ask them questions about classes, internships, or getting involved more. Help out with community service projects, which look great on an often empty freshman resume.

Network, Network, Network!- Take advantage of any networking opportunities you can get your hands on. You want to meet as many professionals as you can. Even if you aren’t sure where you want to be in the industry, you never know who knows who. Always leave a good impression, take business cards, and send follow-up emails! Make sure you keep in touch with everyone you meet.

Stay Organized- Buy a day planner and make that planner your BFF. Write down assignments, meeting times, and make sure you are using your time wisely. If you work better electronically, use the calendar in your phone or on your computer to keep your dates straight.

Set Yourself Apart- Public relations is a very competitive field, especially in this day and age. Everyone will have a college degree and internships to boast about. Do things that make you different whether it be starting a blog or volunteering off campus. Make yourself stand out from other PR students.

Breathe- No one expects you to get everything right all of the time. Every successful PR professional was in your position at some point. Accept your mistakes, grow from them, and move on. It’s only PR, we are not curing cancer!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Amber Burns.

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.

15 Minute Writing Makeover

Between classes and extracurricular activities our to-do list as PR students may seem never ending, so finding time to work on our writing skills each day can be challenging.

However, Samantha Hosenkamp of Ragan.com says you can improve your writing by taking 15 minutes each day to do this challenge:

1. Take a minute to brainstorm three talking points on a topic. As you do this exercise more frequently choose topics that you are unfamiliar with. This will force you to learn how to write engaging content on even the most unappealing topic.

2. When your minute is up, use the next 10 minutes to flesh out your ideas in a concise and creatively written essay. Challenging yourself to write on a crunch will help you when you have to quickly turn out a media advisory, press release or any other PR document.

3. Then take your final four minutes to edit your work. Learning to critically review your work for both grammar and content can be the difference between an OK press release, or an 'A' release that gets picked up by various outlets.

4. Use the remaining minute to read a blog post or short article. Reading examples of good writing will help you unconsciously pick up some of the key skills used to produce these works.

Try this trick and let us know how it improves your writing skills!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Shari DaCosta.