March 2013
3 posts
6 tags
What I Learned from PR Internships: Own Your...
It’s that time of the year again. Students and soon-to-be graduates across the country are updating their resumes, highlighting their experience and trying to score dream internships for the summer. But, as you work to make a positive impression, be sure to think ahead to the skills and tools you want to fine tune once you land the job. Taking ownership of this will help steer your experience...
6 tags
PR Interns: How to Juggle Multiple Accounts, Even...
If you’ve worked at an agency supporting two, three or even five or more clients, you know that multitasking is a very valuable skill. Yet, while we may all strive to be master multitaskers, there will be circumstances when you will have multiple deadlines all at the same time – and most likely in the next hour.
Now, you don’t possess super powers (if...
5 tags
In PR, a Smile Goes a Long Way
Can it be that I’ve worked in PR, marketing and communications more than half my life? That’s 25-plus years for those bothering to do the math.
Wow! That’s both kind of cool and scary. So much has changed. For example, I did my graduate thesis on an IBM typewriter with that awful yellow correction tape. A quarter century later, I use web-enabled mobile apps to guide my life; a smart phone for...
February 2013
1 post
7 tags
PR Intern Applications - Sweat the Small Stuff. ...
Details, schme-tails. The only people that need to pay attention to details are accountants, lawyers and physicians, right? Wrong. If you are looking to land a job at a PR agency, being detail oriented is not only an asset, it is a necessity.
Why?
First and foremost, clients demand high-quality services, about 90 percent of which involve some type of writing or presentation creation. If you...
January 2013
2 posts
8 tags
11 tags
October 2012
2 posts
6 tags
Time to Shine: 5 Indispensable Ways PR Interns Can...
Brainstorms are a major component of working on a team in any PR agency. They are the times when team members come together, get their creative juices flowing and generate winning ideas for their clients. Often times it is intimidating for interns to speak up during a brainstorm, especially when they are surrounded by experienced, senior level PR professionals. A common question that interns...
7 tags
Help Yourself Stand Out: 4 Things You Must Do at...
Attending a networking conference as a student can be a harrowing experience. The nerves set in and you find yourself worrying: how do I make myself stand out?
This week, Porter Novelli is joining future PR pros from all over the Southeast at the University of Georgia’s regional, integrated communications networking event called ADPR Connection 2012. There are countless events like this for PR...
September 2012
1 post
9 tags
PR Interns: Perception is Reality
What immediately comes to mind when you see a picture of:
Ryan Lochte?
Nicki Minaj?
Angelina Jolie?
Chances are, your immediate thoughts were something along these lines:
Ryan Lochte – Olympic medalist, party boy, “ladies man,” hot body, not always articulate (JEAH!)
Nicki Minaj – singer/songwriter, rapper, wild, over-the-top, colorful, crazy fashion sense
Angelina Jolie – adoptions,...
August 2012
2 posts
7 tags
When Utilize and Optimize met Agonize . . .
At the beginning of my internship, I listed one of my goals for the summer as improving my writing skills. Now, I know what you are thinking: shouldn’t I already have strong writing skills as an intern at Porter Novelli? The truth is that you always have room to improve your writing, no matter how fantastic your skills. Don’t believe me?
After my first month here, I joined a writing workshop...
8 tags
3 More Tips for Becoming a PR Intern Rock Star
PR News editorial intern Danielle Aveta recently offered sound advice for future interns on getting the most out of PR internships, and how to make a positive mark in the process. The article featured advice from current PR interns in a variety of organizations, compiled into “7 Tips to Make the Most of Your PR Internship”.
“On a Roll” © June 24, 2012 <rs> snaps’ photos,...
July 2012
4 posts
4 tags
Finding Your Place in PR
Hey y’all, I’m Nicole McClellan, the newest addition to Porter Novelli Radar. Just what in the world is that, you ask? Porter Novelli Radar is a round-the-clock monitoring service providing clients with real-time analysis of the issues most important to them. I’m happy to be a part of this ultra-savvy team.
I’m from Tifton, Ga., and moved to Atlanta to accept this incredible internship. I...
6 tags
Let the “Real World” Adventure Begin
For me, it just clicked. It was two years ago and there I was, on the edge of my swivel chair in a large conference room, captivated by every case study and comment presented to me at a Porter Novelli shadow day. The passion, intelligence and friendliness of everyone I met caught me off-guard. I hadn’t expected to feel so connected to a firm’s values and work after just one shadow day. But while...
10 tags
Seize Your Opportunities
Hey everyone! I’m Patrick. I was born in and raised just outside of Washington, DC. I went to the University of Maryland (GO TERPS!) and studied Psychology and Public Health, which were tough to translate into a job in 2009. I knew I wanted to study public health at the graduate level, but had no idea where, so I took some time off and went here:
When I received an invitation to study behavioral...
7 tags
Find Your Passion
Hi! My name is Brianna Wagenbrenner, and I am the new technology intern at Porter Novelli. I will be blogging about my experiences at PN and little things I learn along the way. Below are a few fun facts about me.
Where did I come from?
I grew up in Roswell, Georgia in a family of seven. I have a twin sister and three younger siblings. I recently graduated from Georgia Southern University (Go...
March 2012
3 posts
5 tags
Jumping Feet First into the New and Unknown
Last September I joined the PN family as a monitoring specialist in Porter Novelli Radar. Working in Radar isn’t your everyday PR job. We don’t pitch journalists and we don’t write press releases. Heck, we don’t even work on an account team! That begs the question…what do we do?
The best part about PN Radar is that we constantly answer that question in different ways, but this is how it usually...
6 tags
Media Relations 101: Make Your Pitch Work for You
Photo from: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1280072
By Amanda Coppock
In my time as an intern at Porter Novelli, one of the areas I came to love was media relations. While some enjoy this function of PR more than others, at one point or another it is a skill that we will all have to master. Like any skill, with media relations, practice makes perfect. Sure, at first it can seem like an overwhelming...
10 tags
Keep me on your "Radar": PN's latest monitoring...
Hi! I’m Kaylea Notarthomas and I’ve been having a blast interning at Porter Novelli Atlanta since September. Aside from my professional life, I am a musician. I sing, am a pianist of 18 years, and also have experience playing the French horn, mellophone, marimba, vibraphone, djembe and viola. I’m big sister to three wonderful siblings and a proud native of Syracuse, NY (Go Orange!). A...
February 2012
1 post
4 tags
The First Fellow
Hi all!
I’m Haley Winther: a big sister of five, movie and popcorn addict, recent grad of The University of Georgia and the first-ever Omnicom-Grady Fellow to join the Porter Novelli team!
What is an Omnicom-Grady Fellow, you ask?
This year, for the first time ever, Omnicom introduced a new fellowship program in partnership with the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at...
November 2011
1 post
9 tags
PN at UGA’s ADPR Connection
Ok, who here is a UGA student? If you said, “me!” then this post is just for you. I’m sure you’ve heard about tomorrow’s ADPR Connection 2011 at the Tate Center and if you hope to one day have a career in advertising or public relations, I hope you plan to attend. Porter Novelli is sponsoring this year’s event along with fellow Omnicom agency BBDO and UGA’s PRSSA and AdClub.
Look out for some...
October 2011
1 post
6 tags
Intern Tip of the Week: Don’t Forget the...
Source: stock.xchng
When sending out an email in response to someone or requesting that they review a document, DON’T FORGET THE ATTACHMENT! It seems like such a silly thing, and yeah, people forget all the time, but if there is one thing that will make you look like a total rookie, it’s forgetting the attachment.
In such a fast paced work environment, it’s easy to become completely focused on...
September 2011
1 post
7 tags
Be a PR Hero: Pick Up That Phone!
Source: The Stone’s Colossal Dream
Sometimes, old school is better than new school. Now, I don’t propose that we break out typewriters or completely take the office back to the 1960’s, but I have learned over my internship that occasionally it is more efficient to pick up the phone than to send a message over that new-fangled internet.
I have to admit that in this technical age, our...
August 2011
3 posts
12 tags
The Search for True Love
In my years of internship experience, I have often wrestled with one question: what is the key to loving what you do? I know that I love PR in and of itself—writing, media relations, creating—so I’ve never doubted that I chose the right field. The main question I ponder is if it is more important to love the clients you represent, the tasks you are completing or the people you work with?
My past...
8 tags
How to leave a footprint at your internship… and...
Picture credit: wandee007 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Okay, so the title’s a little cheesy. I’m here to provide tips on creating an impact at your internship that will stick even after you leave. In this economy, the best you can hope for is that you leave your boss and colleagues impressed with:
Your work.
Your skills.
Your (smiling) face.
Here are some tips from me (and from my role models...
9 tags
A SUMMER IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE….
Greetings!
I’m Rachel Krasnow, and it’s a pleasure to say I’ve been working as the Health and Social Marketing intern at PN’s DC office for the past 10 weeks. Time flies when you’re having fun… and working hard! Although my internship officially ends in one week, I’ve got to a lot to say about my experience here. At PN this summer, we’ve had a lot of laughs, a giant 6 foot map placed on my...
July 2011
4 posts
3 tags
Handling Criticism in the Workplace
We have all been criticized at one point or another, whether in our personal or professional lives. However, not everyone reacts to criticism the same way.
Some ignore it, protecting them from hearing things they do not want to hear.
Some become defensive, building up feelings of resentment.
Some become disheartened and allow their self-esteem to lower.
But others use it as a way to correct and...
3 tags
Public Relations Agency 101
Hello Blogosphere!
I graduated in May with no definite plans for my transition into the real world. I was definitely pounding the pavement, but was also enjoying my last summer break with trips to the beach, the lake, the river, the pool—basically any body of water— to escape the sweltering heat. After a few weeks of fun in the sun, I looked at my friend and said, “I think I’m ready...
5 tags
Greetings from the Nation's Capital!
I’m Parnia, the Consumer Marketing intern at Porter Novelli Public Services in Washington, D.C. Here is a little more about me:
Hometown: Ashburn, VA, a small-but-growing suburb of Washington, DC. I was born in Sweden and lived there for five years before moving to Vancouver, Canada for a year and finally to Ashburn.
Education: I’m a rising senior at James Madison University (Go Dukes!). I’m...
14 tags
Want People to Listen to What You Say? 10 Tricks...
It’s safe to say that we live in a world dominated by online communication. When our parents and grandparents began getting Facebook accounts, I knew that social media was not a trend reserved exclusively for Millennials. From Facebook to Twitter to blogs, it seems that nearly everyone and every company has an online voice.
The ability for anyone to take part in online communication means that a...
June 2011
4 posts
The “New Edition”: Featuring Jasmine, Atlanta...
Hello digital world! I recently joined the PN Atlanta family in May to begin my 12-week internship in the Health & Social Marketing practice. Here is a sneak peek into my life and experiences so far as a PN intern!
Jasmine Humphrey
About Me: I am originally from a small town called, Garland, which is right outside of Dallas, Texas (Go Mavs!!). I have lived in Atlanta for nearly six years, and...
11 tags
From a tornado whirlwind to the agency whirlwind
Needless to say, the past month and a half has been a whirlwind for me in more ways than one.
For most recent graduates, vivid images of caps and gowns, diplomas and university ceremonies fill their minds as they enter the working world. My graduation was less ceremonious, and filled with a very different type of vivid image.
April 27 was the Wednesday of “dead week” at The University of Alabama....
Everybody run for cover, a millennial is coming!!
Hello Blogosphere! Yes, I just referred to myself as a millennial, as apparently, I am one. As a rising senior at the glorious University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, Ga., I am a mere tadpole in this giant pool of talent we like to call Porter Novelli. I joined the PN Atlanta technology team just one week ago, and have already begun mastering its infamous acronym system with the office’s endless...
I Bid Thee Adieu
Well, the end is finally here. I still can’t believe it’s been nearly three months since my first day at Porter Novelli Atlanta! Overall, I had a wonderful experience interning here, and being able to write for this blog was certainly one of the highlights of my internship. After reflecting on my overall journey at PN, I want to leave you all with the two greatest lessons I will take away from...
May 2011
4 posts
This Too Shall Pass
CareerCast recently released its annual list of the top 10 most stressful U.S. jobs, and public relations officer made the #2 spot, just after commercial airline pilot and before corporate executive. There was some buzz about this list around the Porter Novelli Atlanta office when it was first published in April, and although I have witnessed a few less-than-Zen moments during my time here,...
Response: Taking Time Off as an Intern
Recently, we received a question regarding taking personal time off as an intern. While every office and situation is different, here are some tips that should help you navigate through the intern world. While you’re not yet part of the full time staff with vacation time and benefits, you are a critical member of the team. You may have many questions when it comes to taking time off and...
Why can’t we be friends?
I recently moved away from home and all things familiar to work at PN, and I am starting to realize just how difficult making friends can be as an adult. As children and teens, making friends and hanging out with them is practically your job, but in the working world, your job is your job, and unless you happen to find your perfect friend at work, finding time to make new social connections is...
My Favorite Things (Raindrops and Roses Aside)
Disclaimer: This post will be full of cheesy metaphors and painful glee – proceed at your own discretion.
Three months sure flew by. “Time flies when you’re having fun” must have some truth to it because I seriously feel like I blinked from February to May.
All I can keep thinking is what a difference a year makes. From the brutal winters of NYC to the glorious Atlanta spring (fingers crossed I...
April 2011
4 posts
3 tags
April showers on money tree fantasies
Broke is a five-letter word that I refuse to accept. If you ask me, “I’m ballin’ on a budget.” Sure, internships provide opportunities (in the words of Blair) to soak in the brilliance from peers, but interning will also readjust the way you look at money.
During my first post-grad internship, it felt like somebody robbed my piggy bank and captured the tooth fairy for ransom. My parents...
“Blogging, Tweeting, Bookscaping”
“Part two in a four-part series titled Brand You: Market Yourself and Secure that Internship”
We’re all very familiar with blogs, Twitter and Facebook, and many of us spend a fair amount of time on social networks and the Web. In fact, about 77 percent of the U.S. population is on the Internet, so why not use the Web to help market yourself? Using the Web to your advantage can highlight your...
11 tags
Getting Your Feet Wet, Again and Again (and Again)
The PR industry is ever-evolving, continuously adapting to the media and technology that has changed the practice in the last decade. In the three short years since I graduated, I have watched the competitive nature of the business explode, mirroring the large number of under-grads marching towards a career in PR. Looking back on my few years in the professional arena (and because hindsight is...
Give me a "C"! Give me an "A"! ... Well, you get...
Greetings loyal PN Intern Blog readers!
My name is Cathryne—that’s C-A-T-H-R-Y-N-E. People—including relatives—have misspelled my name throughout my life and, unfortunately, this trend will probably continue at Porter Novelli, as I am the fifth employee at the Atlanta office to be blessed with this regal name. I hail originally from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; I spent my adolescence in Ontario,...
March 2011
5 posts
19 tags
Business Cards for Aspiring PR Professionals
“Part I Brand You: Market Yourself and Secure that Internship”
How many times have you spoken with someone and then come up empty handed when asked for a business card? During my first month here, I was invited to attend a mobile healthcare conference sponsored by Porter Novelli. Everyone assembled to network and swap business cards after the speaker’s sessions. Being new to Porter Novelli I...
7 tags
Say Hello to Brickney
Hi world, I am Brickney, a consumer practice intern. It is my third week at Porter Novelli (insert hand clap). Here’s a little about me.
Hometown: Milwaukee (Go Packers!) Education: Syracuse University (M.S.) & Alcorn State University (B.A.) Relocation to Atlanta: After spending four years “beneath the shade of giant trees, fanned by a balmy Southern breeze” in Mississippi followed...
RESPONSE: It Never Hurts to Try!
We recently had this question submitted from a college freshman: “Is it hard to get an internship as a freshman college student who is certain of her career?” The fact of the matter is that some intern programs are reserved for college juniors or above. But whether you are a freshman in college or a fifth year senior, you can never do too much to plan for your future. Internships are the best...
3 tags
Introducing Spring 2011 Intern Blair Riley!
Hello beautiful people! I joined the Porter Novelli Atlanta technology practice a few short weeks ago, following my big move back from New York City. After graduating from Virginia Tech [GO HOKIES!], I moved to Brooklyn to intern with the Porter Novelli office in Manhattan. I then took a detour from PR and worked with Shecky’s, an event marketing company. While there, I assisted the company’s...
12 tags
Do you want five with that? Tips to jump start...
Going back to the campus where you spent your college life can be a strange thing. It still feels the same, except everyone looks younger than you remember and there is now a building where there used to be a green field. After spending two days speaking about social marketing at my alma mater, the University of Florida, I leave invigorated and excited for these students. They face an uncertain...
February 2011
3 posts
10 tags
Transform into a PRofessional at Real World with...
In case you haven’t heard, Porter Novelli Atlanta will be the premier, Summa Cum Laude sponsor at this year’s PRSA|GA Real World Conference, which welcomes students interested in PR from throughout the Southeast.
Look out for us during Session Two of the Conference in “Get the Interview. Land the Job,” with Tia Jackson, human resources manager, who will give you great pointers on interviewing...
RESPONSE: Greatest challenge faced as a Porter...
The greatest challenge I faced as a Porter Novelli intern was getting used to my new city. I am a long way from home here in Atlanta so it was quite the adjustment: daily traffic jams (to and from the office), finding the nearest Target, making new friends.
I reached out to any and all of my connections from college, my parents, and extended friends and family. Through my networking, I...
Response: Top Six Things to Know for an Interview
A reader recently submitted a question on what absolutely necessary things a potential intern needs to be prepared for when being interviewed for an internship. Well, when interviewing for any new position you want to make sure that you come prepared with the right tools to make a positive impact on your interviewer. Interviewing for an internship is no different! This is your chance to show...
January 2011
4 posts
7 tags
Response: Are internships paid? If not, how do you...
Recently, we received a very interesting question from one of our readers regarding unpaid internships. How do you balance the high cost of big city life with the limitations of an unpaid internship? Fortunately, Porter Novelli offers paid internships so interns can fully immerse themselves in their work without the added stress of identifying a different source of income. However, as the economy...
