PRinciples Year-End Highlights

PRinciples class with Dr. V is officially over, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to give you the highlights from the semester of class. For those of you still in college: Look for a class like this. For those of you out of college: Try hard not to be jealous

Favorite Moments:                                                                                             

• Live-covering class on Twitter (and surpassing a PR conference on Twemes, oh what a proud moment)
• iChat with Paull Young of the famed Converseon and Young PR (who later subscribed to my blog…no pressure!)
• Skype call with Laura Fitton, perhaps better known as @Pistachio

Most important PRinciples learned:

• Strategic PR begins and ends with RESEARCH, and good research takes the guesswork out of PR.
• Pay attention to where your profession is going, not just where it is.
• The way you handle a crisis can become a second crisis, and ethics are extremely important when handling one.
• Social media is about using the Internet for conversation– use a human voice and keep the reader’s best interest in mind, please!
• Learn enough about the peole in other fields with whom you’ll be working so you can interact with them knowledgeably and courteously. 

Favorite uses for blogging so far:

• If you’ve been reading my blog at all, I’m sure you’ve noticed the 3 or 4 posts about the Mocha Club. I’ve been able to use this blog for class to get the word out about a cause I believe in.
• I went to an interview for an internship at Jeff Dezen Public Relations in Greenville, SC and was able to use this blog as a writing sample and proof of my skills in online PR. (BTW–I got the job. Don’t underestimate blogging

Random things to take away:

• I loved this talk on education and creativity given by Sir Ken Robinson at the TED conference this year

• I am now Facebook friends with Paull Young, don’t be jealous 
• I have become an awestruck fan of Cheryl Harrison  

To wrap up…

Best class ever.