And the Top Blogger is...

The Chapter’s Next Top Blogger contest that took place in November attracted some impressive entries and stiff competition. However, none of this phased contest winner and senior PR student Susan Venker as she wrote her insightful blog article detailing her experience as a Mercy – St. John’s media relations intern. Susan’s piece earned her a spot on PRSSA’s National blog, a one-on-one session with a current PR professional in the area and a $15 gift card to The Coffee Ethic.

Describing her background in PR, Susan said, “I didn’t even know what PR was until the summer before I started college. I worked at AT&T Mobility, and the PR gal would stop by sometimes. I would talk to her about her job, and I thought it sounded like something I would love. No day was ever the same for her, which was exactly what I wanted in a major and career.”

Bethany Parry (on right) presenting the Top Blogger award to Susan Venker (on left). 

She experienced the quick pace and dynamic nature of the field during her time at Mercy – St. John’s. From writing feature stories and news releases to utilizing social media platforms and planning events, Susan was immersed in PR and media and loved every minute of it.

“I think outside learning experiences are of utmost importance for emerging PR professionals,” Susan said. “You don’t really know how PR or media relations works until you are immersed in it. “

In her winning piece, she discussed the importance of having a good relationship with the media and offered readers a few tips on creating and maintaining these relationships just as she had to do at Mercy – St. John’s. “I think my blog post gave students some real life tips that they can’t read about in a textbook in a classroom,” Susan explained. “Much of what PR professionals do is build relationships with the media. If you have a good working relationship with the media, it will make your job and their job so much easier.”

Even though Susan makes it seem like second nature, early professionals can learn a lot about PR and media relations from her blog article and first-hand experience in the field. Although graduation is still around the corner, Susan has already landed a position at the local non-profit C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue as their Public Relations Specialist. The Missouri State Chapter of PRSSA wishes this talented and promising young professional the best in all her professional endeavors upon graduation.

Susan's blog post will be featured in the next couple of weeks on the PRSSA National blog.

This blog post was submitted by Justin Letts. Letts is an undergraduate student at Missouri State University majoring in public relations and minoring in French. He is a member of the Communication Committee of the Public Relations Student Society of America in addition to numerous honor societies.

7 Tips from the Intern Queen

Earlier in November, I had the privilege thanks to Doug Gaehle to participate in a phone conference with the Intern Queen, Lauren Berger. According to the website, Intern Queen Inc, is, "an online internship destination that helps students find and apply for internships while also educating them on how to make the most of their experiences." Her website is filled with many different tips and possible internship opportunities. She also speaks to universities all over the country. Lauren took the time out of her day to talk to about 10 students on the phone and give them tips on the internship hunt.


1. Be Proactive.
Always be looking for ways to improve your resume for your dream internship, and once you have your internship, continue to be proactive. Be the go to intern that companies want to hire.

2. Don't Forget to Follow-Up.
Just like many of our internship panelists advised at our November meeting, ALWAYS follow up with an application and interview. Always send a hand-written thank you card after an interview. Do not be afraid to call after sending in your resume. Do not annoy possible employers though. "Culpwrit" recently published a blog post that gives a great outline to following up.


3. ALWAYS Include a Cover Letter.
Your cover letter is your way to connect the dots for your potential employer. Expand on the one thing you got the most out of on your resume, and describe it in detail. This is your chance to show your ability to write, edit and persuade. Do not waste it!


4. Do Your Research.
Most likely people are going to hire someone who is familiar or passionate about their brand or organization. If you walk into an interview without knowing some current and background information about a company, it is highly unlikely they will ask you back. Follow them on Twitter; like them on Facebook; and read recent press releases. Sometimes it is more about getting the right person for the company instead of the best person for the job.

5. Make Your Dream List.
Make a dream list of internships...NOW! Go write in your journal or on a piece of paper your 10 dream internships, and then go after them. Shoot for the moon! Laura also recommended to apply for 10 local internships a semester or 20 out of town internships a semester to optimize your chances of getting your dream internship.


6. Local Internships Help Build Your Resume.
Do not underestimate the power of a local internship. Sometimes it is necessary to gain experience locally to bulk up your resume, and then apply for out of town internships. Local news stations are also great places to gain experience and meet well-networked people. Many people seem to recommend three internships while you are in college, so start early!

7. Leave Fear at the Door.
Fear keeps you from doing your best. Whether it be keeping you from applying for an out of town internship or keeping you from asking your supervisor a simple question in order to perform better at work. If there is a company that you are interested in, give someone who works there a cold call or email. You may just get a few minutes of their time or you may get an internship, but it is worth the risk.

Lauren Berger also talked about a Campus Ambassador program. We currently do not have a Campus Ambassador at Missouri State University. If you would be interested in that program, email me at Bethany08@live.missouristate.edu, and I will connect you with Lauren. If you have not, be sure to check out her website and follow her on Twitter for more internship tips and internship openings!

Bethany Parry—Vice President: Bethany is a senior at Missouri State University studying Public Relations and Spanish. As Vice President, she promotes professional development, manages communications, and supports the president in anyway needed. You can contact her at Bethany08@live.missouristate.edu or follow her on Twitter at @bparry08.

Barkley Tour in Kansas City

In a previous post, I discussed some things I learned at Kansas City's PRSSA Day that Doug and I attended earlier this month. I also wanted to share about another element of our great day: our agency tour at Barkley.

Each school was offered the opportunity to tour a public relations agency in Kansas City. Doug and I went with some other schools to tour Barkley, an integrated advertising agency in KC.

As soon as I walked into the doors, I felt a creative rush of energy. I felt as if Sterling-Cooper, from the television show Man Men, was just transformed before my eyes and brought into the 21st century.

All of the office was open and clean with random bursts of color throughout the floor. The space encouraged collaborative work and a spirit of creativity with its nearly 250 employees. The entire office was themed around the Barkley rocket, with planet named meeting rooms, and a real rocket ride on the third floor. I loved seeing the inspirational quotes all the walls throughout the office with the theme: "ADD GOOD. SHAKE WELL."

One of the major benefits of agency public relations was clear after this tour: freedom. With the constant strife to impress clients, creativity and fresh ideas are prized. Working within an organization can sometimes put restrictions on your creativity because of tradition and organizational culture. That is not the case of an agency's culture. An organization comes to an agency because what they are doing is not working or because they need a new perspective.

If you are a creative person who loves to collaborate, an atmosphere like at Barkley would suit you well. Doug and I both made some connections to a couple Barkley employees if you are ever interested in learning more about the agency world. You can also check out Barkley's website, Twitter and Facebook page.

Bethany Parry—Vice President: Bethany is a senior at Missouri State University studying Public Relations and Spanish. As Vice President, she promotes professional development, manages communications, and supports the president in anyway needed. You can contact her at Bethany08@live.missouristate.edu or follow her on Twitter at @bparry08.

Job Shadowing 2012

Missouri State’s Chapter of PRSSA presents Job Shadowing 2012. This is your chance to experience what a day looks like in the world of a PR or communications professional.

The deadline to sign-up is December 8 at midnight. To sign-up, email your name, year in school, and dream mentor, organization or sector of PR to prssa.mostate@gmail.com.

Over Christmas break, PRSSA will contact different professionals and match you up with your ideal mentor. At our Jan. 31 meeting, we will announce your mental match and provide contact information. (If you are interested in shadowing someone in St. Louis or Kansas City, it is a possible option, so indicate it in your email.)

During the month of February, you and your mentor can decide when you want to meet up. Each participant will be required to turn in a picture, video or blog post about their Job Shadowing experience by Feb. 29 at midnight. The author of the best entry will get a $25 gift certificate to a TBA clothing store to build their professional wardrobe. Here is an example of a good blog post by Bethany Parry who shadowed Andrea Harp last year.

At the beginning of March, we will have a party with everyone who participated and the professionals we shadowed and announce the winner of the contest, or the “Top PR Sleuth.” All of quality entries will be published on our social media sites.

Don't forget to sign-up by Dec. 8!

Getting the Scoop on Internships

We have just moved to ONCE a month meetings instead of bi-weekly meetings, and our ONLY November Chapter meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 5:00 p.m. in Craig 330. It is free for members and $3 for nonmembers, so invite your friends!

Let us give you "The Scoop on Internships", literally. Ice cream will be provided by Dairy Queen to accompany our night full of internship discussion. There will be four student panelists (Megan Haeffle, Sara McClendon, Susan Venker and Kim Perry) ready to share their experiences in Springfield non profit and corporate internships and in internships from more urban areas like New York. 

Each student will get a folder filled with:

• Current internship opportunities in Springfield, Kansas City and more.
• A guide on landing the right internship
• Information about getting credit for in the department for your internship
• Tips from a conference call with Laura Berger, The Intern Queen
• A recipe to making the blueberry yogurt pictured here thanks to OneOrdinaryDay 

Bring your questions and your sweet tooth!

More Information on Student Panelists:

• Kim Perry, senior PR/Media student, interned at Le Metier de Beaute in New York City at their Public Relations/Communications Intern.
• Megan Haeffle, senior PR student, worked as the Grassroots Marketing Coordinator for Hollywood Theater College Station in downtown Springfield this past summer.
• Sara McClendon has been interning in the Development Department at Ozarks Food Harvest in Springfield since last spring and will be continuing to work there after graduation. They are currently looking for a new Public Relations Intern, and it is paid!
• Susan Venker will be talking about her experience as a non paid intern in the Media Relations department at St. John's hospital and her partially paid internship with the Pard Board in Springfield.

Bethany Parry will be mediating the panel, so if you want to send any questions for the panelists in advance, send them to Bethany08@live.missouristate.edu.