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| Courtesy photo |
| Kristen Ditsch, pictured, Helen Russick and Amy Bishop attended the PRSA/PRSSA international conference in Washington, D.C. All are members of the IU chapter. |
The professional conference featured keynote speakers such as Bettina Luescher, chief spokesperson for the United Nations World Food Programme, and Jim VandeHei, executive editor and co-founder of POLITICO. Topics ranged from “Shaping the Debate: Public Affairs Strategies and the Health Care Reform Bill” to “Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies.”
The PRSSA conference paralleled the professional event, but with workshops geared to college members, such as careers and student membership. The students attended workshops as well as took in some of the sights in Washington.
Trip Diaries:
Day by DayBy Kristen Ditsch
Friday
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| Courtesy photo |
| While attending the PRSA conference, Kristen Ditsch (left) met up with Elvia Malagon, who is interning in Washington, D.C., this fall. |
After getting situated at our hotel, we made our way to the White House for our tour of the east wing. Walking through the East Room, Blue Room and Green Room, I felt surrounded by greatness and history.
That evening, we took advantage of a low-key conference schedule to tour the city where every monumental sight from the endless episodes of West Wing I had watched sprung to life in front of me.
Wandering around D.C. with camera in hand, I saw the Library of Congress, Supreme Court and Capitol. It was completely surreal and the exquisite detail of these monumental buildings was overwhelming.
Saturday
We spent much of today in conference events, hearing from a former Obama campaign official on marketing and public relations in the 2008 presidential election, a member of President Bush’s communications staff and former Vice President Al Gore’s speechwriter.
With this year’s convention set in Washington, D.C., much of the conference has focused on politics. As someone who intends to use my journalism degree to pursue a career in political communications and public relations, this has been a wonderful experience already.
Tonight, Amy and I traveled back down to the White House and National Mall to walk around the monuments at night. It was cold but breathtaking. For me, standing at the feet of Lincoln at his monument was particularly incredible, but the view of the reflecting pool, Washington Monument and Capitol in the distance was especially overwhelming and a great end to a fantastic convention day.
Sunday
I woke up early to meet School of Journalism senior Elvia Magalon, who is interning at newswire service Scripps Howard in D.C. this semester, for the White House Gardens tour. Two weekends of the year, the south lawn of the White House is open to the public for free tours of gardens. I was delighted to hear that this happened to be the week in the fall.
We saw the First Lady’s vegetable garden, the President’s basketball court, and Sasha and Malia’s play set. My favorite stop on the tour was the opportunity to see the Rose Garden, which sits right outside the Oval Office. I promise we could see the paintings on the walls from the tour line. I was waiting for President Jed Barlett to walk out the door and over to the residency with Leo, Josh, Toby and CJ following right behind him.
I got back to the convention just in time for our joint keynote address with PRSA, given by the co-founder of Politico and the communications director of United Nations World Food Programme, before a series of conference lectures on crisis communications, nonprofit management and chapter fundraising.
Off to Georgetown for dinner and an attempt to find the infamous Georgetown Cupcakes from the TLC show, “D.C. Cupcakes.”
Monday
Amy and I headed over to the PRSSA job fair for a morning of networking and career development. I was most excited for the opportunity to meet with representatives from Ally Financial, the client for this year’s PRSSA Bateman Competition, a national case-study competition the IU Beth Wood Chapter competes in annually and I am a member this year.
In the afternoon, we traveled to the American History Museum of the Smithsonian Museum. I especially loved the exhibit with fashions of the first ladies, but it was the “Star Spangled Banner” exhibit that gave me goosebumps. As the song played softly in the background and sounds of cannons went off in the distance, the flag that inspired Sir Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner glowed under the lighting used to preserve the 15 stars and 15 stripes. With burn marks and patches missing, it was awe-inspiring.
I made one last sightseeing loop to National Archives to see the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. These documents embodied everything that this city represents and left me feeling bigger than myself.
As our flight took off from Ronald Reagan Airport, I could see the Capitol, Washington Monument, Jefferson and Lincoln memorials and White House glowing in the nighttime distance. Now I know it’s only a matter of time before I’m D.C. bound again.
Tonight, Amy and I traveled back down to the White House and National Mall to walk around the monuments at night. It was cold but breathtaking. For me, standing at the feet of Lincoln at his monument was particularly incredible, but the view of the reflecting pool, Washington Monument and Capitol in the distance was especially overwhelming and a great end to a fantastic convention day.
Sunday
I woke up early to meet School of Journalism senior Elvia Magalon, who is interning at newswire service Scripps Howard in D.C. this semester, for the White House Gardens tour. Two weekends of the year, the south lawn of the White House is open to the public for free tours of gardens. I was delighted to hear that this happened to be the week in the fall.
We saw the First Lady’s vegetable garden, the President’s basketball court, and Sasha and Malia’s play set. My favorite stop on the tour was the opportunity to see the Rose Garden, which sits right outside the Oval Office. I promise we could see the paintings on the walls from the tour line. I was waiting for President Jed Barlett to walk out the door and over to the residency with Leo, Josh, Toby and CJ following right behind him.
I got back to the convention just in time for our joint keynote address with PRSA, given by the co-founder of Politico and the communications director of United Nations World Food Programme, before a series of conference lectures on crisis communications, nonprofit management and chapter fundraising.
Off to Georgetown for dinner and an attempt to find the infamous Georgetown Cupcakes from the TLC show, “D.C. Cupcakes.”
Monday
Amy and I headed over to the PRSSA job fair for a morning of networking and career development. I was most excited for the opportunity to meet with representatives from Ally Financial, the client for this year’s PRSSA Bateman Competition, a national case-study competition the IU Beth Wood Chapter competes in annually and I am a member this year.
In the afternoon, we traveled to the American History Museum of the Smithsonian Museum. I especially loved the exhibit with fashions of the first ladies, but it was the “Star Spangled Banner” exhibit that gave me goosebumps. As the song played softly in the background and sounds of cannons went off in the distance, the flag that inspired Sir Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner glowed under the lighting used to preserve the 15 stars and 15 stripes. With burn marks and patches missing, it was awe-inspiring.
I made one last sightseeing loop to National Archives to see the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. These documents embodied everything that this city represents and left me feeling bigger than myself.
As our flight took off from Ronald Reagan Airport, I could see the Capitol, Washington Monument, Jefferson and Lincoln memorials and White House glowing in the nighttime distance. Now I know it’s only a matter of time before I’m D.C. bound again.
The pros behind the politicians
By Helen Russick
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| Photo by Jen Tanner |
| Senior Helen Russick got a taste of power while visiting the White House, sitting at a mockup of the desk in the Oval Office with cardboard cut-outs of President Obama and his wife. |
I decided to cross off the other two items on my second day. With a Georgetown cupcake in hand, I attended PRSSA’s professional development session, “From Behind the Podium: A White House Communication Perspective.” Taylor Griffin and Bob Lehrman answered students’ questions about the strategies that go into every political event and message.
Taylor Griffin is a partner with Hamilton Place Strategies and most recently served as a senior communications adviser to the 2008 McCain presidential campaign. Griffin emphasized the importance of research and getting to understand the voice of the politician or group.
“Go to YouTube and study their tone. Research is the best defense and offense you can have,” said Griffin.
Bob Lehrman is a novelist, teacher and former chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore. Lehrman was very open about the demanding nature of politics.
“This job is all about shoveling information out to the people. It’s not a place for writer’s block,” he explained.
Though Lehrman’s and Griffin’s personal politics clash, they agree on the importance of internships. Griffin told students the best way to get a foot in the door is to serve as an intern and jump in immediately after graduation.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a job yet, move to where you ultimately want to be and pound the pavement,” Lehrman said.
Listening to Lehrman and Griffin, I learned that to work in politics you have to be aggressive and prepared, and there’s no place that’s more true than Washington, D.C.
“Go to YouTube and study their tone. Research is the best defense and offense you can have,” said Griffin.
Bob Lehrman is a novelist, teacher and former chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore. Lehrman was very open about the demanding nature of politics.
“This job is all about shoveling information out to the people. It’s not a place for writer’s block,” he explained.
Though Lehrman’s and Griffin’s personal politics clash, they agree on the importance of internships. Griffin told students the best way to get a foot in the door is to serve as an intern and jump in immediately after graduation.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a job yet, move to where you ultimately want to be and pound the pavement,” Lehrman said.
Listening to Lehrman and Griffin, I learned that to work in politics you have to be aggressive and prepared, and there’s no place that’s more true than Washington, D.C.
Learning from peers
By Helen Russick
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| Photo by Jen Tanner |
| Junior Helen Russick attended the PRSA/PRSSA conference in Washington, D.C. She and other students compared notes on generating interest in their campus chapters. |
Penn State University and DePaul University hosted a chapter development session that focused on promotional activities and working with the community. Penn State University has over 280 members in its PRSSA chapter, the second most in the country. They had some really great recommendations for expanding any university group:
- Start early: Penn State starts promotions two weeks before school starts.
- Be accessible: Allow for potential members to meet the executive board of your chapter.
- Emphasize benefits: Stress how your group will help potential members’ professional development.
- Keep them informed: Make sure your members always know what the next step is.
DePaul University has a very accomplished PRSSA chapter. It raised hundreds of dollars for various Chicago charities and won Outstanding Regional Activity for 2010. DePaul recommended concentrating on members’ charitable interests in order to better serve your community.
I came to this conference excited to meet my peers and to learn from the professionals. I am impressed and excited by the incredible work and presentations from Penn State and DePaul.
I came to this conference excited to meet my peers and to learn from the professionals. I am impressed and excited by the incredible work and presentations from Penn State and DePaul.