Public Relations

This is our public relations blog.

What a PR Degree Can’t Buy

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“Baptism by fire.”  This was the term used to describe the internship program at Buchanan Public Relations on my first day at the agency.  I didn’t understand it then, but I definitely do now.Public Relations buchanan philadelphia internship

When I chose Public Relations as a major during my first semester in college, I didn’t know exactly what it was.  Upon graduating in May, I thought I knew what it was.  I was completely wrong. Granted, I understood the basic skills of the profession, such as how to write a news release, how to use proper grammar and AP Style and how to conduct proper research.  But to be completely honest, I don’t think I truly appreciated what PR was until I was fully immersed in it.

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Where Are They Now? (Part 2)

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Over the years, we at Buchanan PR have had the opportunity to work with a number of talented college students and recent grads interested in exploring careers in public relations. These interns have gone on to do amazing things and have some pretty great tips for those looking to break into the field.  Our blog series, “Where Are They Now?,” highlights the career trajectories of former BPR interns – showcasing what they have accomplished since their time with us, their biggest takeaways from their experiences here and their advice for those just starting out.

Our second submission is from former intern Sydney Fenkell, who worked with us during the summer of 2011.  A University of Pennsylvania graduate, Sydney currently works at a public relations agency outside of Boston.

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The Best and Worst of 2012 through the Eyes of PR Practitioners

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buchanan public relations ardmore public relations christmas

This week we shared our firm’s holiday card, the theme of which is to “enjoy the holidays through the eyes of a child.”  Many years later, we find ourselves seeing the world through a different lens as Public Relations practitioners.  How stories are told, how they are perceived, and how people’s behavior changes as a result all factor into how we view the world today. 

Here are, from our perspective and areas of expertise, some of the best and worst PR moments of 2012:

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Continuing Education in PR: Options and Opinions

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For many PR practitioners, there comes a time during the course of their careers when they begin to wonder, “Should I go back to school?”  Since PR is a relatively new academic discipline, only in recent years have multiple options for obtaining an advanced degree in the field become available.  Once a practitioner has decided to pursue continuing education, his or her first choice becomes which path to take.

Here at BPR, two of our staffers chose to pursue advanced degrees: one obtained an MS in Communications Management, and one earned an MBA.  What follows is an overview of their respective experiences that we hope can serve as a guide for practitioners currently pondering a return to the classroom.

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Where Are They Now?

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Over the years, we at Buchanan PR have had the opportunity to work with a number of talented college students and recent grads interested in exploring careers in public relations. These interns have gone on to do amazing things and have some pretty great tips for those looking to break into the field.  Our new blog series, “Where Are They Now?,” will highlight the career trajectories of former BPR interns – showcasing what they have accomplished since their time with us, their biggest take-aways from their experiences here and their advice for those just starting out.

Our first submission is from former intern, Jeff Puklin, who worked with us during the fall of 2011.  A Muhlenberg College graduate, Jeff currently serves as New Media Producer at Connecticut College:

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Why I Will Never Use Facebook’s Social Jobs

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I am a product of what I consider the golden age of Facebook.  I first logged in when the site was just one-and-a-half years young, and college students were the only users welcome.  Back then, you needed an ‘.edu’ email address from a university to even create an account, and because of this exclusivity, privacy settings practically didn’t exist.  People actually used the site to stay connected or meet new people – friending those they met in class, their dorm hallway or at a party.

It was a truly social network.  Nothing more, nothing less, and certainly not a job board.

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The World of Social Media — Literally

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Last week, I was in Cape Town, South Africa, for the twice-a-year meeting of the Public Relations Global Network, an association of 45 independently owned and operated PR firms from around the world.

I was asked to facilitate a workshop on the state of social media in various markets and agencies worldwide.

The conversations, coming from PR leaders in diverse parts of the world, were fascinating. Here are the big takeaways:

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Dear Bosses: What Young Employees Wish They Could Tell You

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Buchanan Public Relations Philadelphia agencyLast week, I had the pleasure of hosting the first gathering of the newly formed Young Professionals Group of the Philadelphia Chapter of PRSA.  It was billed as an informal exchange where I would share some of my best tips and advice for new PR professionals and we would, as a group, share workplace problems, client challenges, ideas and solutions.

As the hour-and-a-half drew to a close, I told the nine 20-somethings that I would like to turn the tables.

What, I asked them, did they wish their bosses knew about them? If they had the opportunity to give some feedback to their boss, what would it be?

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A Parting Piece of Advice

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We run a robust internship program here at Buchanan PR and take a deeply personal interest in helping our interns transition into fulltime employment in the Real World.  One of our fall interns recently left us to accept a fulltime job. It got me to thinking about all the tools I hope we equipped him with – as well as one that will be new to him but is critically important in launching his career.

Here’s a parting gift to Jeff and all of the terrific interns we’ve had the honor of mentoring over the years:

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A German’s View of the European Debt Crisis

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One of the many benefits of being a part of a global consortium of independent public relations agencies – the Public Relations Global Network – is the ability to get a first-hand impression of major news events in other parts of the world. With so much attention focused on the frantic efforts to resolve the European debt crisis, we thought we’d check in with our affiliate in Germany to gauge the mood. 

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Michael Diegelmann

From Wiesbaden, Germany, Michael Diegelmann of the Cometis agency reports that the effects of the crisis are felt throughout the European business community, and the consensus is that a unified action is essential. “Especially the financial community sees the need for helping Greece or other countries in order to save the Euro,” Michael says. “But the unanswered question is: What do these countries pay for this help?!” 

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