My name is Riley Block, the Internal Director of Public Relations at Orange Umbrella, graduating public relations major and advertising minor at the University of Miami. I have completed five semesters of internships at three consumer public relations agencies based in New York City and Miami. With graduation around the corner, I wanted to share my top five tips for anyone majoring in public relations!
At the University of Miami, public relations students are required to take two graphic design classes. Some of the projects include making magazines, creating brand materials—a logo, business cards, and letterheads—and constructing a graphic resume.
My ability to use InDesign and other Adobe Creative Cloud programs propels me to succeed in my internships. Using Canva to create presentations and social media graphics is a must, especially if you want to work in social media.
The first thing you learn in any public relations class is the difference between public relations, marketing, and advertising—and yes—it is a question on every 100 level class test.
If your curious:
Public relations focus on earned media strategies while creating mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.
Advertising talks to consumers of the product or service through paid media tactics such as commericals, magazines, or billboards.
Marketing focuses on using owned media to promote products and services to consumers with a heavier emphasis on data analytics.
When working or taking classes in public relations, you will be constantly writing emails, press releases, pitches and communicating with journalists. Your writing must be concise and immediately draw your audience in. Therefore, paying attention to AP Style and developing your writing during college is essential to success.
Public relations is a constantly evolving field. The best way to deep dive into the field is through people who work in public relations everyday. Getting an internship is not only great for your resume but will help you succeed in higher level classes.
Adjunct professors are accomplished individuals that specialize in the topics they teach. They provide insights of what is happening today, and can help foster connections for jobs and internships. These classes have been some of my most profound experiences in the classroom.
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