Brand Development. Media Relations. Graphic Design.
By: Sophia Morrow
Creativity exists in everyday life, it is not about following ‘rules.’ Creativity is meant for us to be our most authentic self. From making breakfast, to doing one’s hair. It is the way we do things, view things, think and produce things. However, in the workforce, being a titled creative may differ slightly. What defines a creative?
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Photo by Eddie Aldrete
By: Eddie Aldrete
There is a reason why I am a photographer. Or rather why I feel more comfortable being behind the camera; it is because being in front of the camera is really uncomfortable. The photographer behind the camera is asking you to expose yourself. They are able to see every detail of your face. It’s unnerving to have someone look at your essence and judge you. Feeling uncomfortable while modeling can ruin a photo. It is the photographer’s job to make their model/client feel comfortable. Here are some tips that I use that can help bring out the best out of my model.
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Photo by Pixabay.com
By: Itzel Cruz
Business attire or business casual can be such broad terms that they can be difficult to pinpoint. It’s not a full tailored suit but you can’t show up in jeans and a shirt either. Many students have never had a job at this point in their life that required this type of dress. Many are not financially equipped to go out and buy an all new work wardrobe, but it does not have to be expensive nor a daunting experience. A few solid pieces can go a long way.
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Photo by Jillian Peart
By: Emma McDermott
I moved to Chico, CA to attend college as a first-year. I was ready to start fresh and fully embrace this new chapter of my life. As an undeclared student with lots of time on my hands, I decided I was going to make the most of my four years at this university.
Continue reading “How Playing a Sport in College Provided Me with Skills for a PR Career”
By: Lauren Meichtry
Coming up with new ideas can be harder than it looks! As an artist and graphic designer I understand how real the struggle can be. But you don’t have to be an artist to be affected by creative block. Idea generation has become a necessity for staying relevant in careers including public relations. To get back on track, use these six helpful tips for the days when you sit in front of a blank sheet of paper or an empty screen:
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By: Nick Denton
As college students, we often procrastinate assignments because we think we have the time. As journalism students, we are always working toward a deadline. On multiple occasions I have left a big assignment until the night before it was due and I have never failed to get it done, these results reinforced the idea that this practice was okay.
Continue reading “Don’t Procrastinate in a Professional Setting”
By: Chase Victor
1. Spread Positivity
It’s easy to get discouraged when a client is not great at communicating or doesn’t like your ideas. However, that is part of the process in learning how to align your talent to the clients’ needs. In order to grow as a valuable team member you must always do your best to look on the bright side. Look for what’s right, not for what’s wrong.
2. Learn to Stay Level-headed
There can be difficult situations that arise whether it’s completing tasks in a narrow time frame or dealing with a crisis. Staying calm and collected is far more productive than blowing a fuse or panicking. Being negative or upset can have a ripple effect within your group and can impede workflow so take a breather and focus on solutions.
3. Learn From Your Mistakes
In a fast moving environment, mistakes can happen but it’s up to you to decide on how to move past them and learn from them. We’re all human, mistakes are part of the learning process, so don’t be too upset about them. It’s not a matter of if, it’s when. But when they do happen, it’s important to take responsibility, move past those mistakes and learn from them so you can grow.
4. Learn to Juggle
The PR world, whether agency or in-house, is a busy place and making sure you have a grasp on your time management skills is absolutely crucial. You need to juggle and prioritize your clients’ needs in a orderly fashion however you and your team see fit.
5. Stay Organized and Reliable
Staying organized and reliable goes hand and hand with juggling tasks and time management skills. It’s best to be very detailed with everything you do, especially your calendars and to-do lists. One tip from a DineAmic Group publicist, Cara Zizzo says to always respond to emails. Whether they are clients or team members. Responding to them lets them know that you’re aware and on top of what needs to be done.
6. Listen Well
Oftentimes, we are so busy that we almost ‘skim’ the information we hear and get right to the task. However, listening doesn’t mean you’re actively understanding what’s being said. To be a better group member, you must be patient and engage when you listen, carefully hear the person to respond and get the correct information down.
7. Never Play the Blame Game
You never want to throw another team member under the bus if they were unable to complete something on time. Instead, let them own up to it and be positive when trying to give constructive criticism. Working in groups is a dynamic environment and requires effective communications and problem solving. If you’re running out of time on a deadline, let someone know that you may need an extension so there’s no confusion. Communication and a positive team atmosphere is key to successful teams.
8. Collaboration, Not Just Cooperation
In simplest terms group projects require cooperation to finish what needs to be done. But after are you pleased with the team’s performance? When collaboration is involved it makes the group much more willing to lend a helping hand. Antonio Garrido, a professional from Absolute Sales Development, says to get into the habit of asking your fellow colleagues, “How can I help you?” at any chance you can take to improve group function.
9. Have Empathy
You want a working environment where your colleagues help and support you, not just tolerate you. However important the work may be, you must remember the human behind the job. Listen and discuss about life outside of work (when appropriate) to show them that you care.
10. Ask for Feedback
Asking for feedback regarding your strengths and weaknesses is crucial in your development as a professional. There’s a time and place for everything so you don’t want to be a pest about having people check your work but asking for constructive criticism is encouraged and lets your group member know that you value their opinion.
By: Kendra Clark
Don’t be afraid to fill the entire frame with your image. Filling the frame to its’ entirety can create a sense of closeness for the viewer and a better understanding of the focal point for your image.
Divide your image into three equal parts, this creates a harmony and equality between the subject and background of your image.
Try to think of the best times for photos and whether you will need to use a flash or change the settings to get better natural light. Sometimes the weather can determine this for you.
Shutter Speed – How fast the sensor for the lens opens and closes, works with the aperture, the shutter speed determines how long the lens will be exposed to the light.
ISO – Sensitivity to the light. This determines how the sensor responds to the light. High ISO is more sensitive than a low ISO.
Aperture – The measure of how open or closed the lens’ iris is. A wider aperture means more light, smaller means less.
Create a foreground and background, separate the subject and create a focal point. This trains the eye to follow where it will look first.
Be aware of your background and surroundings. Use the subject as a starting point and take your time to get the shot you want.
The best way to avoid camera shake is by using a tripod. Especially for long exposure or when you are taking multiple shots. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Using simple backgrounds creates less distraction. Don’t overthink a simple idea. The background is just as important as the subject.
What message are you trying to send with your image? Practice taking shots from different perspectives whether it’s up close and personal or a shot taken from a distance. Perspective tells a story.
Follow the rules and get a good understanding on the basics then break the rules. Find your style and don’t be afraid to be different.
By: Ashley Kainz
Social media has become a convent way we connect and interact as humans. Even though social media has become the new “norm”, many people are taking break from social media and living their lives. You may have heard people doing a “social media detox” or “social media cleanse”, that’s the new fab. There’s advantages to social media, but there’s disadvantages that can be detrimental to your mental health. As students and working professionals, we are already stressed enough, social media just adds unneeded stress. It’s time to put down your cellphones, delete your accounts and actually live your life through you, not your phone screen.
By: Itzel Cruz
As college students and young adults heading into the workforce, it can be an adjustment learning how to maneuver throughout the professional world. It is easy to make mistakes like showing up a bit late to a meeting or misunderstanding an assignment you have never done before. It can be common to be dishing out lots of “sorries” throughout your professional work experience, but making mistakes does not always have to have such a negative connotation around it.
Replacing a “sorry for being late” with a “thank you for your patience” can put a positive twist on a negative situation.
Showing those involved your gratitude for their time can help them have a positive image of you in their mind as well as feel appreciated for their contribution in whatever project you may be working on. People’s time and contribution is very valuable and letting them know that you respect their time and effort can be very important in maintaining that relationship and keeping that business relationship positive.
There are many situations in which you could replace sorry with thank you. Instead of “sorry for taking up all your time” you could say “thank you for spending time with me” or instead of “sorry for rambling” you can say “thank you for listening”.
In a business like public relations where you deal with many different groups of people on a daily basis your image, your client’s image and your employer’s image are so important. You want to stand out but also be professional in anything you do. Being accommodating and considerate of your coworkers and clients is essential to a healthy work environment. Maintaining a positive professional reputation is vital to your success and getting people to come back to you and your work.