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Consider Trauma-Informed Communications
Working with education clients led me to learn more about trauma-informed care. As described by the National Association of School Psychologists, “a trauma-informed approach is a way of providing services to children and families that facilitates the improved function of those negatively affected by trauma.”
Curating Our PR Education
Everywhere I turn I’m hearing about mindsets. Articles and podcasts keep covering the influence our mindset has on our success. There’s the scarcity mindset, an abundance mindset, a growth mindset, or the newest I’ve heard — a scout mindset.
Be Courageous When Communicating
Communicating when the stakes are high or the subject is uncomfortable can be a challenge for PR practitioners. It seems like tactfully sharing hard truths or facilitating sensitive conversations is somewhat a specialty. All PR professionals should become skilled in navigating tricky topics and conversations to be true advisers. Even crisis communication experts may have to overcome fear or anxious feelings that arise before communicating. We may not have that thick skin yet, but we can work to develop it.
The Power of Context
Our words hold power by shaping each situation with details and context. We make meaning via communication, so how we shape our messages matters, and how those messages are interpreted is correct.
Time Management: The Key to Success for Interns
Fitting an internship into an already packed schedule of classes, assignments, and extracurricular organizations can seem overwhelming. As an intern at MVW Communications and a full-time student at Texas State University, I quickly learned the skills needed to thrive! The key to success lies in strategic time management.
Wisdom from a Recent College Grad: Get Involved!
Becoming a communications major is one of the best decisions I have made in college and I am greatly looking forward to my career in public relations. College is an amazing chapter in anyone’s life and I cannot stress enough what I have gained from having leadership roles and mentors I know I can trust. At the end of the day, you get out of college what you put into it.
4 Lessons from Recording My Audiobook
I spent three days recording the audiobook version of my book, 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑘: 𝑃𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑐 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝐸𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑠 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑤. Read here to find out what I learned during that process.
3 Pro Tips from a Recent Grad
I am not your “traditional” intern. I am slightly older (27) than what most would consider an intern. I returned to college in the middle of the pandemic, after already completing a degree in a field that didn’t make me happy. I’m so glad that I came back to the field that I fell in love with as a teenager.
Learning Through Experience
As a go-getter, I love to learn, and internships are where I have learned my most valuable lessons. This semester, I found that internships are a great opportunity to gain practical experience and apply what you’re learning in the classroom to real-world situations. Here’s a peek into some of the things I’ve learned at MVW Communications.
Get Familiar with Meta Business Suite for Facebook Advertising
Facebook advertising should be a staple of the media mix for organizations, large and small. It's less expensive than traditional advertising, can be managed easier, and doesn’t require a hefty advertising budget to be successful. Before you set up your paid ads, it’s important to understand…
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion PR Expert Releases First Book
Melissa Vela-Williamson provides valuable insights for those starting their PR career
Three Helpful Tips for Admin Professionals
April 27 is Admin Professionals Day. Administrative Professionals are “efficient individuals who help an organization function at its best." Our Administrative Assistant Catherine shares three things she has learned in her time with MVW Communications.
The Changing Language of DEI
When you use the word “diversity”, what do you think of? Language continuously evolves. In English, many words have double meanings and terms evolve from acceptable to unacceptable over time. Or we have many words that mean the same thing. PR pros – do you say “media release” or “press release”?
Communication Specialties: Generalist vs. Specialist
Everyone should have a generalist capability and mindset. That means that you could specialize in a certain topic or category, but you have enough knowledge to know the communication that would benefit that area all the way around. It’s a more integrated world every day we’re in it, so our communication profession demands that of us these days!
Census Says: Hispanic Heritage Month is a Must
Hispanic Heritage Month helps remind us of the rich traditions, leaders and shared values that make the Hispanic/Latino culture so significant. And that significance is rising -- the Latino population represented some big statistical shifts recently in the latest U.S. Census. Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 and lasts through October 15. There’s a lot to commemorate during this short time. No matter your market area, encouraging your organization or client to embrace this month makes good fiscal sense now.
Steps to Being an Ally at Work
If you promote this concept in your workplace, allyship is a step towards showing you support social responsibility because it’s in alignment with diversity, equity and inclusion. The first step starts with YOU. Just like we teach children -- we have to first be a friend to make a friend.
Think Before You Post to Avoid A Social Media Crisis
We all have had those moments where we see something on social media that makes us feel an emotion. Quickly, we can be inspired to laugh, cry or get angry. We instantly want to react. But what does liking, sharing, or commenting say about us professionally or personally?
What I’ve Learned as a PR Apprentice
I had no idea what to expect or what a virtual apprenticeship would even look like, but throughout the past eight months, I have gained real-world PR experience, expanded upon my undergraduate skills, and formed so many new skills. I have learned more in this position than I could even put onto paper, but here are some of the most important and career-altering tips I learned as a PR apprentice.