Indiana University School of Journalism

PRSSA workshop features resume critiques, professional advice

Shannon McEnerney — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:57:07 +0000

Photo by Shannon McEnerney

PR professional Bruce Hetrick gave a talk about resumes and critiqued several of the attendees’ resumes at the Thursday night PRSSA workshop. He said resumes should set the applicant apart from the hundreds of others most businesses receive.

Four students to attend PRSSA conference (Nov. 4)
NABJ meets Monday for update on service project (Nov. 4)
Board to hear IDS editor-in-chief candidates (Nov. 4)

Sophomore Amy Bishop has been working on her resume since last spring, when she applied for her first internship. But now the heat is on: This week, she had to submit a final version of her resume because she soon will soon meet with potential employers for a summer public relations internship in this summer.

Bishop was one of about 20 who attended Thursday night’s resume workshop and critique session hosted by the IU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. The session featured Bruce Hetrick, president of the public relations firm Hetrick, as the keynote speaker who shared shared advice, and five other professionals who then critiqued resumes for the attendees after the talk.

Bishop said she found the critique helpful because it showed her how to incorporate into her resume the tangible effects of what she’s done and demonstrate how her experience can help a prospective employer.

“I thought I was going in a good direction, and the critique affirmed my belief while also giving me a few pointers to show me how to get more out of the information I already have,” she said.

This was Hetrick’s second year attending PRSSA’s resume event.

“People tell me that it’s helpful and I like to help people,” Hetrick said. One of the students came up to Hetrick after the event and thanked him for his advice, telling him of her positive experiences in pursuing her first internship, fixing her resume and improving her networking skills after she heard Hetrick’s talk last year. These success stories, Hetrick said, are gratifying to hear.

In his talk, Hetrick said the resume and the cover letter are only tools. The critical part to securing a job is through networking and meeting people in the industry.

“In my experience, it is rare that someone gets in the door from just a resume and cover letter,” he said. “Get people to remember you and recommend you.”

The resume and cover letter are tools to help employers remember applicants. But Hetrick said the biggest mistake applicants make is crafting an application that is more about themselves rather than the employer. He said the objective statement included on most resumes includes details about what the applicant wants but has nothing to do with what the employer needs. Most objectives revolve around education. But the employer is not running a continuing education program, Hetrick said. The employer is hiring someone who can solve things for the company, not someone who wants to have a great experience and is excited to apply for the job.

He said that students need to rephrase self-serving statements to be “you get” statements. Applicants should address what the company will be getting in return as a result of potentially hiring them. Applicants should tell the company how their particular skills will benefit the company as a whole.

“You take the same information and write it differently,” Hetrick said.

Research is important, Hetrick said, because most companies have Web sites and statements explaining to whom and to where job applications should be sent. Addressing a cover letter “to whom it may concern” or to a “sir or madam” is not personal. Hetrick said cover letters need to be addressed to a person and applicants should carefully check to make sure all names are spelled correctly.

“Timeliness is next to godliness” is Hetrick’s advice to students when it comes to applying for internships and jobs. He said his company has already begun receiving recommendations and applications for summer internships, and it is important for students to send out internship applications now and not in April or May because positions fill early and quickly.

His advice to aspiring public relations students is not to limit themselves. He said he encourages students to find a specific passion in public relations and pursue it because this passion will make certain applications stand out from others.

Photo by Shannon McEnerney

Cover letters should explain how the applicants’ talents will benefit the company, not the other way around, Hetrick said, and they should be free of errors.

Hetrick shared a handful of bad resume and cover letter examples that his company has received over the years. These examples reiterated how important it is to proofread and edit all of the materials before sending them in to the employer. Of the examples, one applicant sent in a cover letter that had Xs where the company’s name should have been; another applicant misspelled public by forgetting the ‘L’; and another applicant mentioned how it would be nice to work for a firm that is one of Hetrick’s competitors.

Junior Abby Hull attended the resume workshop because no one has critiqued her resume and she wanted feedback on it. She said she found Hetrick’s opening advice to be valuable in warning of the do’s and don’t’s. She plans to meet with more people and continue to improve her resume. Thursday’s workshop, she said, was a good starting point.

Of the resumes Hetrick critiqued, many needed a summary statement of what sets the applicants apart from others. In the current economy, companies receive 300 to 400 applications for a job opening, he said, and the aim of the summary is to quickly explain what sets the person apart.

“Stand out,” Hetrick said. “Don’t blend in.”

Besides Hetrick, the other professionals involved in the student resume critique sessions were School of Journalism professors Jim Bright and Craig Wood; Career and Resource and Development Center representatives Crystal Smith and Matt Wells; and vice president of human resources at Star Media James Keough.

Taylor MacKenzie, PRSSA president, said the organization’s next event will be an event planning workshop in December. He said the group plans to invite event-planning professionals to come and explain the job logistics.

New reporting courseincludes travel to Kenya

Jessica Birthisel — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:21:31 +0000

Courtesy photo

Associate professor Jim Kelly visited the Buffet Farm, an AMPATH-sponsored project that produces fresh fruits and vegetables for patients at the Moi University Hospital. Kelly plans to lead a class to Kenya next summer to report on these types of projects.

Students already are looking into the School of Journalism’s newest travel course, Reporting on HIV/AIDS in Africa, which will be offered in Summer Session I.

The Indiana University Overseas Study program just approved the four-credit course, which associate professor Jim Kelly planned and will teach. It features travel to Eldoret and Nairobi, Kenya, to work with journalism students in those cities on ways to research and report on the HIV/AIDS crisis.

The school will host an info session for interested students and their parents at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in EP 214. Those interested should apply online by Jan. 19.

The course is open to students with junior or senior standing who have completed J110 Foundations of Journalism and Mass Communication, J200 Reporting, Writing and Editing I and J210 Visual Communications, and to graduate students who have completed or been excused from J505 Intensive Reporting, Writing and Editing Workshop.

Following an April orientation, the course begins May 11 with several weeks of preparatory work in Bloomington. During this time, Kelly said he has invited four guest speakers to inform the students about their travels to Kenya, including Fran Qwigley, author of the course text about IU’s Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare; Andrea Morehead and Deshong Perry, reporters and producers at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis who produced an Emmy-award winning report on Eldoret and AMPATH; and School of Journalism doctoral student Kioko Ireri, who is from Kenya and has worked at The People’s Daily in Nairobi.

Students set out for Kenya May 21. As part of their work there, they will create multimedia news projects about AMPATH, which treats 90,000 HIV-positive patients at 18 sites in urban and rural Kenya, Kelly said. He has traveled extensively in Africa and, in India, he has led workshops for reporters there who are covering HIV/AIDS.

The AMPATH reporting experience will be followed by a short trip to Nairobi, where students will tour media houses in the region, which serves as "the hub of journalism" in that part of Africa, according to Kelly.

Upon their return to Bloomington, students will spend one week debriefing and producing their projects, which will likely include a written story, photos, video and audio slideshows. Kelly said he hopes that the stories can be posted to the School of Journalism Web site and marketed to local media outlets.

Director of Experiential Learning and Recruitment Kathleen Lee and Riley Visiting Professor Dennis Elliott will accompany Kelly and the students on the trip. Lee, who handles administrative details for the school’s overseas travel, will co-host the upcoming info session.

Kelly said the information session will include photos, a description of the AMPATH project, and time to answer any and all questions about the course and Kenya. Kelly and Lee will outline the course description and rationale as well as important health, safety and security information. Kelly said that student safety is a high priority.

“Because Kenya is under a State Department travel advisory, we’ve taken a number of steps to increase the safety conditions for our students,” said Kelly, who has traveled several times to 10 east African cities.

In addition to ensuring that every student carries a cell phone at all times, Kelly said that IU students will travel with partners from Moi University who speak Swahili and who know the local conditions. Anytime they leave Eldoret, they will be with their partners in university vehicles driven by university officials. Third, they will be staying at the IU house, a secure compound operated by IU.

Contact Kathleen Lee at (812) 855-1725 or by e-mail.
Attend the info session at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in EP 214.
Apply online by Jan. 19, 2010.

Student publications win more than 50 awards

SoJ Web Report — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:19:25 +0000

Photo by Ron Johnson

IDS news adviser Ruth Witmer, 2010 Arbutus editor Katie Myrick and IDS editor-in-chief Natalie Avon collected awards at the College Media Advisers convention in Austin, Texas last week.

Board to hear IDS editor-in-chief candidates (Nov. 4)
Workshop to bring professionals
for one-on-one consultations (Oct. 20)
Grad student's 'Trash to Treasure' film set for Oct. 13 (Oct. 8)

Indiana University Bloomington’s student publications won more than 50 awards from three national associations this past week, including national first places for IU’s newspaper and magazine.

This fall’s Indiana Daily Student newspaper won first place among large dailies in Associated Collegiate Press’ Best of Show competition Saturday. The newspaper’s section on homecoming won a second place. The fall IDS editor-in-chief is senior Natalie Avon.

Inside magazine, launched four years ago, won a national first in Best of Show. Junior CJ Lotz edits the magazine.

Individual ACP winners include:

IDS sports reporter Matt Dollinger, first in sports writing for his coverage of the rebirth of Hoosier basketball;
IDS columnist Indira Dammu, first in opinion writing for her column on the culture of rape;
2008 Arbutus yearbook photographer Jacob Kriese, second in feature/picture;
IDS designer Larry Buchanan, who came in third in infographics.

Even IU Student Media’s professional staff was honored. IDS news adviser Ruth Witmer won a CMA Honor Roll Award, which recognizes advisers with up to five years of distinguished experience.
In two other national competitions announced last week, IU journalists won more awards than any other school. Designers won six firsts among 14 awards in the Best of Collegiate Design competition of College Media Advisers, and staffers won 17 firsts among 36 Gold Circle Awards from Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

IU was also the only university whose newspaper, news Web site, magazine and yearbook were finalists in ACP’s Pacemaker Awards.

Avon, the fall newspaper editor, said the publications should continue to explore and experiment while maintaining a tradition of excellence.

"From the beginning, our goal has been to cover IU and its students in the best way possible," Avon said. "I think getting recognized this early in the game only gives us confidence and the motivation to keep trying new things while maintaining our core goal."

For the complete list of IU student media winners, visit the IDS Web site.

Students attend PRSSA conference

Gena Asher — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:18:00 +0000

Four IU students are attending the Nov. 6-10 Public Relations Student Society of America conference in San Diego.

Four students to attend PRSSA conference

Gena Asher — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:07:58 +0000

PRSSA workshop features resume critiques, professional advice (Nov. 7)
New reporting course
includes travel to Kenya (Nov. 7)
NABJ meets Monday for update on service project (Nov. 4)

Four IU students are attending the Nov. 6-10 Public Relations Student Society of America conference in San Diego. This conference is in conjunction with the professional group, Public Relations Society of America.

The students are Taylor MacKenzie, Kristina Hunter, Ali Meyer and Darcy Marlett. Hunter received a PRSSA/PRSA 2009 Health Academy Grant to attend the conference.

The conference will provide some special events for students, though they will attend some of the same workshops as professionals. They also will have the chance to network with pros in career development sessions.

Meyer and Marlett will be sending blog reports and photos for the School of Journalism Web site about their experiences. Keep track at the Blogs page later this week.

NABJ meets Monday for update on service project

Gena Asher — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:29:11 +0000

PRSSA workshop features resume critiques, professional advice (Nov. 7)
Four students to attend PRSSA conference (Nov. 4)
Board to hear IDS editor-in-chief candidates (Nov. 4)

The IU chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists meets at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in the Ernie Pyle Hall lounge.

The group has undertaken a service project this semester that requires their talents in advertising, marketing and public relations. Members are working with the Archives of African American Music and Culture to promote the group’s activities, such as an upcoming conference, “Reclaiming the Right to Rock: Black Experiences in Rock Music,” Nov. 13-14.

All are welcome at the meeting or to find out more about the project. Contact group president Ashlee Green for details.

White, Dvorak lead sessions at Journalism Day

Gena Asher — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:59:59 +0000

Teresa White, High School Journalism Institute director, and professor Jack Dvorak presented sessions at the Oct. 30 Journalism Day for high school teachers and students at IU-Southeast in New Albany.

White moderated sessions with advisers and teachers, with special emphasis on changes in teacher training being proposed by the relatively new Indiana superintendent of public instruction. Dvorak led two ethics sessions for high school yearbook editors and staff members.

Johnson interviews Crabb on Profiles (Oct. 29)
Aamidor serves as panelist for legal ed forum (Oct. 27)
IU journal reports on Parameswaran research (Oct. 27)

Big Ten Network to air NSJC symposium

Gena Asher — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:55:44 +0000

Buck headlines scholarship fundraiser (Nov. 3)
Fox Sports' Joe Buck wraps up Speaker Series (Nov. 3)
Schiller responds to audience questions (Oct. 20)

The Big Ten Network will air the National Sports Journalism Center’s recent symposium on diversity in sports media twice Thursday, Nov. 5.

"The Diversity Divide" will air at 10 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. The Sept. 14 panel at the NSJC in Indianapolis featured sports journalists and researchers discussing how a lack of diversity among reporters and sports organizations affects media coverage.

This is the second NSJC symposium on the BTN this year. The network plans to record the upcoming Speaker Series talk with Joe Buck Nov. 10 for broadcast at a future date.

Board to hear IDS editor-in-chief candidates

Gena Asher — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:52:07 +0000

PRSSA workshop features resume critiques, professional advice (Nov. 7)
Student publications win more than 50 awards (Nov. 4)
Four students to attend PRSSA conference (Nov. 4)

The IU student media publications board will hear from two candidates for Indiana Daily Student spring editor-in-chief at a public presentation at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in the State Room East of the Indiana Memorial Union.

The two applicants are seniors Brian Spegele and Brad Zehr. They will be interviewed individually in alphabetical order. Each interview should take about 45 minutes. The board members and audience members will question the applicants. All are welcome to attend the session.

After the interviews, the board will adjourn into a private session to make a decision. For more information or to view the completed applications, visit the IDS Web site.

Fox Sports’ Joe Buck wraps up Speaker Series

Gena Asher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:39 +0000

Courtesy photo

Fox Sports’ Joe Buck wraps up the school’s fall Speaker Series with a talk Nov. 10. The talk is free and open to the public.

Buck headlines fundraiser
Big Ten Network to air NSJC symposium (Nov. 4)
Buck headlines scholarship fundraiser (Nov. 3)
Smiley reflects on IU years at SPEA dedication (Nov. 2)

Fresh from calling the World Series, Fox Sports’ Joe Buck visits Tuesday, Nov. 10, as the last of the School of Journalism’s fall Speaker Series guests.

His talk is at 7 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood, and is free and open to the public.

Buck is a six-time Emmy Award-winner who handles lead play-by-play duties for Fox Sports’ coverage of Major League Baseball and the National Football League.

“Especially with the recent opening of the National Sports Journalism Center, it was a good time to highlight sports journalism in the Speaker Series,” said School of Journalism Communications Director Beth Moellers, adding that Buck’s appearance is especially timely coming off the World Series. “This adds a new angle for our students.”

Buck’s career path may inspire journalism students. His broadcasting career began in 1989, while he was a telecommunications undergraduate at IU. That year, he called play-by-play for the Louisville Redbirds of the American Association, a minor league affiliate of the Cardinals, and was a reporter for ESPN’s coverage of the Triple-A All-Star Game.

In 1994, he was the youngest announcer to call a full slate of NFL games on network television. Before that, he was a radio and television announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1991 to 2007.

Buck, who serves as a board member for the NSJC, is the son of the late broadcasting legend Jack Buck, whose career spanned parts of six decades. They are the only father and son to each call the Super Bowl on network television.

“I think his visit is going to be, in a lot of ways, a very personal conversation on his reflecting back on his IU days,” said Tim Franklin, director of IU’s National Sports Journalism Center at IUPUI, in a phone interview. “But also, what it’s been like, growing up with a broadcast legend and icon father, and growing into an icon himself.”

Franklin, who will conduct an onstage Q&A with Buck during the event, anticipates that Buck’s insights are not just limited to a sports crowd, but will hit home with a wide range of students and audiences.

“Joe is not just considered one of the premiere sports casters in the country,” said Franklin,” he’s also widely respected as one of the top broadcasters period.”

Prior to his talk, which will be taped to air on the Big Ten Network, Buck will appear at Nick’s at 5:30 p.m. to support a fundraiser for the Bloomington Press Club’s scholarship fund. Tax-deductible tickets are $50, available by contact member Sherry Rouse by e-mail or phone at (812) 855-1024.

Indiana University School of Journalism

PRSSA workshop features resume critiques, professional advice

Related

New reporting courseincludes travel to Kenya

Related

More:

Student publications win more than 50 awards

Related

Students attend PRSSA conference

Four students to attend PRSSA conference

Related

NABJ meets Monday for update on service project

Related

White, Dvorak lead sessions at Journalism Day

Related

Big Ten Network to air NSJC symposium

Related

Board to hear IDS editor-in-chief candidates

Related

Fox Sports’ Joe Buck wraps up Speaker Series

Related