Stephen Waddington’s latest post touches on the value of student blogs and in it he references Richard Millington and myself (thanks, Wadds) as to why a blog can help kickstart a PR career. He’s completely right too. As long as he or she is articulate enough, a PR student who writes a blog can open up a number of career avenues; particularly in the final year’s study and moving through the transition of student to professional.
Thing is, not many PR students are actually writing blogs these days. Well, not in the UK, anyway. The US is much more advanced in this area with the likes of Robert French in Alabama and Kelli Matthews in Oregon teaching blogging (and social media in general) as part of their respective university’s curriculum.
This isn’t a post claiming that every PR student should be looking to move into a social media role after their studies.
Far from it. A blog is merely a platform where the content is king and the most important element. So, wherever your passions lie. Be it in: Sport PR, crisis communications, internal communications, financial PR or whichever area of the industry you want to progress in, a blog will help you differentiate yourself from your fellow candidates. It will also help you to gather your thoughts on your chosen area of expertise and help your brush up on your writing skills.
And besides, a little social media knowledge wouldn’t hurt either, right?
Stephen is a communications consultant based out of the UK. You can connect with him on Twitter or check out his LinkedIn profile. | Email Stephen
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Tom Reidt
There are a few of us! At least in Canada.
I completely agree with your post. Since getting involved in the blogosphere/social media (or whatever other term you’d like) I’ve learned as much, if not more, about PR than I have learned in class.
There was a similar debate on Bob LeDrew’s Flacklife blog, and on PR interactive in early February. Here are some links if you’re interested:
http://flacklife.blogspot.com/2008/01/students-in-public-relations.html
http://flacklife.blogspot.com/2008/02/students-starting-to-warm-up-to.html
http://tinyurl.com/33wm65
The comments on each are especially interesting.
Best Regards,
Tom
Chris Clarke
There are plenty of PR students blogging up here in Canada, eh.
Robert French
Hey Stephen,
Thanks for the mention and link. My view is that the act of blogging is important, but not the be-all, end-all … if anything, we’re trying to develop awareness of emerging media types.
Experiential activities are good, but in the academic world some would say, “That’s trade school. We’re a university.” The debate goes on and adoption, adaptation of curricula will continue … slowly.
Meanwhile, we’ve had a lot of new blogs coming in at PRblogs.org from Europe and Canada. So, they are starting to join in. Time, it is the great equalizer.
Simon Collister
I think that all new entrants to PR should aim to have a grasp of online media – and not just if they plan on working for digital PR teams. Given the way the industry is going even basic knowledge of the online space is going to be beneficial in the longer-term.
Paull Young
You’re doing a hell of a lot better than the Aussies though mate. We’ve only ever produced 1, and he’s a complete and utter drongo
Judit
Hey!
Im studying at Bournemouth Uni but Im from Hungary. Im blogging in Hungarian and I havent found any other student blog so far!! I did my BA dagree in Hungary and in Italy and we were not encouraged to get involved in blogging at all. Here in the UK it is completely different, so it really depends on where you study I guess! I found it really useful as well though!
Eileen Chang
Stephen:
I just wanted to say my piece here. As a student of Kelli Matthews and being a student PR blogger, I have found my blog to be extremely useful and a great competitive advantage as a I enter my professional career. Blogging has helped me connect with other PR professionals to understand their voices on public relations strategies and ideas. It also is a great way to understand my own thoughts and put them down for the blogosphere to see, praise, critique or just comment on.
I just had an interview at an agency the other day. They were extremely impressed with my working knowledge of PR from both the classroom and the blogosphere. I htink it shows the employers that I am am proactive in my career aspirations.
Blogging is not a must, but more of a great way to develop oneself.
Thanks!
Eileen
Christi Eubanks
Hear hear!
I wouldn’t have the job the I have today without my student blog. Now that I’m on the other side, looking for interns and thinking about qualities I’d want to see in a new hire, I can appreciate the value even more. A blog can reveal so much more about your abilities, interests, strengths, motivation and discipline, than bullet points on a resume (and sometimes even an interview) ever could.
As Lee Hopkins once said (I’m constantly repeating this), it’s the perfect place to showcase your thought leadership, intelligence, passion…self. What better way to set yourself apart?!
Stephen
Thanks everyone. Great input!
ridhocyber
coolll
John Rowlands
I think there are probably more UK PR students blogging than you may think.
Having done a PR masters in Stirling, all of us who took the Tech PR class did blogs (which were assessed), though that was the first time it had ever been done on the course.
So, it is happening over here, slowly but surely, mirroring the pace at which formal PR education is being accepted as useful and legitimate within the actual industry – which unfortunately is far from widespread.
Any good links for Sports PR blogs?
Natalie Smith
Don’t worry, there are plenty of PR students here in Leeds with PR blogs! It’s keeping them upto date that proves a bit of a problem, we’ve got a lot of work on at the mo!
Link to mine:
http://nataliesmith.prblogs.org/
Please take a look and feel free to comment!
Natalie Smith
Stephen
Thanks for the comment, Natalie. Thanks for the heads up on your blog also. Good to see some PR students from the UK involved.
If I can give you a little constructive criticism, you may want to add some info about yourself on your ‘about’ page on your blog – allows people (and potential readers of your blog) to see who you are, what you do etc.
Congrats on the work placement! Say hello to George for me if you’re working with him.
Matthew Watson
Another British PR student blogger here!
Natalie Torbett
I never realised the importance of blogging untill recently when studying other PR blogs, its a brilliant way of getting your name out there especially when you keep regular updates and talk about relevant topics that get people talking! Plus its quite a good way of expressing opinions and finding out answers to questions!
Tor Martin Nilsen
Another one here!
http://tormartinnilsen.prblogs.org
There’s probably a lot more PR students who blog than we think, but for the momemt it smay seem that they are mostly based in english speaking countries?
Someone who can prove me wrong?
John Peden
Referenced in my latest post.
William "theceo" Weekes Jr
Hmmm! I have to say that you hit right on the head with this one. From what I’ve seen in the market (speaking about US), from my experience is that you can wait for that opportunity to knock on your door.
As a college senior I knew that if I want any kind of respect from my peers or colleagues, I needed to be “doing it!” So I started my own business.
It’s small! But what I have learned and still learn out ways anything I could have working for some else. Now I know what it is I want to do in this industry. Regarding PR. My mistakes are my own and on my dollar. I learned to valve networking.
This exprience has awarded me creditiability and tech savoy knowledge. So to my PR’s, I look forward to meeting you and networking with you in the online blog-o-sphere!
Let’s go where no person has yet to go!
katie pearce
I’m one of the many student bloogers who were told to contribute to the new technology of blogging while studying, but failed to keep it up once leaving uni.
It’s much more time consuming than people think but I’ve rekindled my love for the blog as I’ve found myself delving into the World Wide Web at work http://www.advent-communications.co.uk and wanting to voice my opinion once more!
People should only start blogging if they’ve got something worth talking about. Fact.
Katie