Book Sneak Peek: Getting Started in Public Relations
In Chapter 1, “What PR Really Is,” I share tips and advice on getting started in public relations. Why? Because colleges may teach how the field works, but they can’t always teach how to work in the field! The hardest part can be getting started – getting that first break. Read this excerpt with tips on landing your first shot below.
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.
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.
How College Graduates Can Launch Their Career
Dear college graduates, we feel your pain! We know what it’s like to do everything you have been told - get a high school diploma, a college degree - but no one promises you a fun and lucrative job out of college! We’ve been there too.
Melissa Vela-Williamson and MVW Communications Named Finalists in Inaugural National Diversity Awards
San Antonio-based MVW Communications can now add “changemaker” to its list of accolades.
PRNews recently announced that Melissa Vela-Williamson, APR, is a finalist for the Latinx Pioneer Award, and its Meals on Wheels COVID Response Campaign is a finalist in the communications and PR campaigns executed by a Latinx-owned business.
Managing Communication During Power Outages
The morning of Feb. 15, Texans woke up to a Winter Wonderland. As the day wore on, our Winter Wonderland turned into a Winter Wasteland. Power outages left thousands of residents without heat and in the dark. To compound the challenges, many lost water service to their homes from frozen water pipes and other weather-related issues. The winter storm of 2021 taught us many lessons when outages lasted more than a day. Here are a few tips to help you plan for the next major weather disaster.
A Starter Guide to Clubhouse
Have you heard about Clubhouse? I’ve been on the app for less than two weeks and I really enjoy the experience so far. Think of it as stepping into an audio-only conference with workshops to pick from.
It is defined as “casual drop-in audio conversations with friends and other interesting people around the world.” Here are some tips I noted in my short time on Clubhouse to make you or your clients look “experienced.”
Four PR Strategies for 2021
Did you have to throw out most of your 2020 public relations plans when COVID-19 took hold of our daily lives? This January, hit the reset button on your organization’s communication goals with lessons learned from the pandemic. Your plan should incorporate these four approaches.
Manage Social with a PR Point of View
Managing social media platforms for an organization is incredibly challenging. This year we saw countless examples of what not to do on social media, proving the critical need to approach social media with a public relations point of view.
A tried-and-true set of PR principles, The Page Principles, have proved helpful to PR pros for almost a century. And when applied to social media, these principles can guide us through a framework that integrates durable direction into social media management.
Three Things I Learned as a PR Apprentice
Before receiving the title of Public Relations Apprentice at MVW Communications, I was just a PR graduate with some theoretical practice in my area of study. I knew that the real lessons hadn’t even begun. Although the lessons I learned during my time at MVW are too many to mention, I’ve listed my top three.
Prepare for Zoom Media Interviews or Presentations
At this point in 2020, each member of my household now has a dedicated Zoom account. Zoom/video call mishaps are still an everyday occurrence. Some professionals have been embarrassed or even fired for something seen while using Zoom. While media training has fundamentals, there are some nuances that should be accounted for when patching into a television studio virtually. As a PR professional, I see a need to share these insights with businesses and organizations facing media interviews over virtual platforms like Zoom.
How Puzzles Help with PR Planning
We jumped on the puzzle trend at my home during the pandemic to find a way to keep our kids off screens during “bored” times. Here’s what I imagined -- opening a fresh cardboard-scented puzzle box brings a surge of excitement and anticipation of a new adventure. My reality -- we opened the box and looked at all the pieces and I immediately felt overwhelmed. That overwhelmed/puzzled/anxious/hopeful feeling was familiar. It’s the same feeling I get when starting the strategic communication planning process.
Four Ways to Maximize Your Time Post-Graduation
The quest for meaningful employment can seem daunting, but these challenges should be used to strengthen our mindset and continue pushing towards our dreams. Instead of pulling the “I graduated into a pandemic and now I can’t get a job,” excuse card, ask yourself what you could be doing to make yourself more marketable to future employers. More importantly, what could you do that would positively impact your mindset and resume?
How to Be COVID-Kind with Video Calls
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there was been a wild increase in the use of video calls. As a PR person, I immediately worried that video calls would add undue volatility to an already unpredictable situation. Before you request a Zoom meeting, consider….is a video call the best tool for this? Would a conference call suffice? Or would a screen-share only video call be the best option for my audience?
How Livestreaming Can Help During COVID-19
Stay-at-home measures caused by COVID-19 in the United States are leading to an increase in the popularity of livestreaming content for consumers and creators. Livestreaming is a powerful tool that allows for direct communication in real-time, giving users a much needed sense of connection. In this blog, I share how to’s for individuals, professionals, and/or organizations who want to use livestreaming to adjust to life in this “new normal.”
Crisis Communication in the COVID-19 Climate
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned organizations of all sizes across the world upside down. Our independence and social norms have shifted dramatically to stop the spread of this novel coronavirus. Based on what I’ve experienced alongside journalists these past days, here are suggestions for how to move forward in our world’s new normal.
Lessons Learned from Livestreaming
Livestreaming allows organizations to share video content in an interactive, exciting way. As this format of video creation increases in popularity, organizations should invest their time and energy into using this tool for their advantage. Here are some key lessons I have learned from livestreaming so you know what to expect and what to avoid before you broadcast live.