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 Success 
Hugh M. Culbertson Chapter Ohio University PRSSA Fall 2009 Edition
Chapter Newsletter
PRPR
Where are they now? Alums talk life post-grad
Samantha Bartlett
 A
s creatures of wonder, imaginationand passion, humans oftenspeculate about the future andquestion themselves. One way in which a
person can nd assurance is to ask for advice
from peers, professors, parents and others whohave been in the same position in the past. For students with the hope of one day pursuingan occupation in public relations, it is most
benecial to talk to alumni who were recently
in the same place to see how their lives havechanged as well as to receive words of wisdom.Four 2009 graduates of the E.W. ScrippsSchool of Journalism, April Prior, AnatasiaPronin, Cari Steiner and Paul Matson have
graciously bestowed their knowledge to current
Public Relations Student Society of Americamembers. All four alumni majored in publicrelations and were involved in PRSSA. Prior hadspecializations in business and political science,Pronin had specializations in business andEnglish, Steiner had specializations in French
and marketing, and Matson had specializationsin marketing and sociology. Prior had specicadvice regarding specializations: “I think it’simportant to really think about your specialization
Inside this edition
PR Industry:
p
roting in
r 
ecession?___ 2
True Life:
“I’m a JSchool kid!”________ 3All about the PACE program_________3Internship spotlight________________ 4“What I wish I’d known...”___________ 5J370: What’s the point?_____________6ImPRessions spotlight______________7Meet the ‘09-’10 execs_____________ 8
and not just take the easy road with them. I think
students really need to consider their interests,
even if it’s not related to PR or business andgure out a way, with their advisor, to make thosecourses work for specializations,” Prior advised.
Steiner expressed something many haveheard before when she said, “The experiencethat you gain in internships, at OU and throughPRSSA issomething
that isn’t
seen at other colleges. OhioUniversityis one of thebest placesthat you couldhave chosen to
go to school, and it’s obvious when you applyfor internships that people know and respectyou because you’re a Bobcat.”Looking back on her time at OhioUniversity, Pronin said she would have takenadditional business and nance courses beyond
the scope of the business minor offered atOU. “I would have possibly double-majored in
 journalism/nance,” Pronin said.
Many colleges across thenation offer public relations intheir business colleges rather than journalism schools. Therefore, itis always debatable as to whatstudents should be studying. Pastprofessionals who have come to
speak at PRSSA, as well as past
graduates and professors, have all
told students that they think it wouldbe benecial to take more business
classes because public relations corresponds so
closely with business ideas and tasks.“Take accounting, even if people tell youit’s hard and you will hate it. No matter what
you intend to do with your journalism degree,
business and nance knowledge is critical. If 
you are a typical Jschool student, it will not comeeasy. After all, rising to the occasion is what we
do best,” Matson
said.Prior iscurrently livingin Cleveland, isrecently engaged,
and is working as amarketing assistant
for PositivelyCleveland. She didnot see herself 
working or living in Cleveland, but sheenjoys her job and Cleveland. “I also think the
attitude and atmosphere of an organization is
extremely important rather than just the job title,”
Prior said. Pronin currently lives in Manhattan
and works at Financial Dynamics, a nancialcommunications/investor relations rm near 
Wall Street; Pronin interned at this company the
summer before her senior year. Steiner works at
Fleishman-Hillard in Cleveland as an assistant
account executive. Matson is currently workingat Weber Shandwick in Chicago, but after graduation worked at a public relations rm inColumbus, Northlich. All four recent Bobcat graduates are
learning new things everyday and are enjoyingtheir time with their new lives, but miss Athensgreatly. Although none of them would changetheir experiences at Ohio University, they do
...it’s obvious when you applyfor internships that peopleknow and respect you becauseyou’re a bobcat.
-Cari Steiner, 2009 graduate
“
”
Continued on page 4
 
PR
 Success 
Page 2Fall 2009
ImPRessions works towards National Afliation
Making an impression
Senior JanelleHuelsman, CEO of ImPRessions, has been themain advocate for the importance of national
afiliation. Above, Huelsman informs PRSSA
members about upcoming ImPRessions events
(Photo by Anna Luczkow).
 Anne Cummings
ImPRessions, the student-run public
relations rm on campus, plans to obtain Public
Relations Student Society of America national
afliation by the end of this quarter. PRSSArecognizes top student-run rms around thecountry through the afliation and membershipis prestigious and difcult to achieve. All rmsmust undergo an application process and work
to maintain a relationship between PRSSA and
the PR rms on college campuses.
ImPRessions at Ohio University has110 members serving nine clients, including
national client Bob Evans. Other clientsinclude the College Book Store, BackdropMagazine and non-prot organizations such
as The Athens Humane Society and Empower.
ImPRessions Chief Executive Ofcer, senior 
Janelle Huelsman, hopes ImPRessions willbe eligible for the Teahan award given to the
best student-run rm after becoming nationallyafliated.“Not only will we be recognized as one of the nation’s best and most dedicated student-run rms, but opportunities for student-run rmsthat come from PRSSA’s national headquartersare typically only offered to rms that haveNational Afliation. This includes opportunitiesto add more national clients to our roster, too,”
Huelsman said.
 According to junior Grace Naugle, oneof the two Account Executives for the Up Til’Dawn account, ImPRessions has been takingsteps in order to gain national afliation, such
as adding new contracts that the client, accountsupervisor, account executive(s) and accountassociates, or members, have to sign to bepart of the account.
“I think that this is a really positive thing
for ImPRessions. We had to sign contracts
this year and I feel like it is more organizedbecause we know what steps we have to takeand when we have to take them. I feel like it is
bringing PRSSA and ImPRessions together in a
benecial way,” Naugle said.
Huelsman sees positive things in
ImPRessions’ future and hopes recognition willbe earned through National Afliation.
“I hope in addition to obtaining PRSSA
national afliation, ImPRessions continuesto focus on the benets of working with localbusinesses and student organizations, too,”
Huelsman said, “ImPRessions is a serviceorganization and I hope our students arerecognized for all the time and effort they put
into such great public relations campaigns.”
Economy affects all aspects of PR industry
 Alyssa Albertone
 As the economy begins its climb back
upward, consumers continue to feel theeffects of the recession. In the past year,
consumers’ entire spending habits have
drastically changed. In a story published ina January issue of 
 Adweek 
, Noreen O’Leary
addressed consumer spending habits. According to her research, “Americans – whoin recent years have had negative savings
rates – are expected to ip those patterns with
Goldman Sachs now saying the US savingsrate could be as high as 6% to 10% this
year.” Since public relations relies heavily on
the consumer, agencies are being forced toinnovate and to get creative about promotingproducts and forging customer relationships.The economy has affected both whatconsumers decide to buy and how theyactually purchase those items. A steadyincrease in online consumerism has madesocial media increasingly important. One of 
the rst steps in reaching targets is to optimize
social media content and outlets. With user-
friendly content, the consumer is able to nda company’s product more easily, which then
allows consumers to effectively do the research
necessary to assist in nalizing their spending
decisions. Improved social media also aids journalists when they are conducting their ownresearch on products to write about and promote.Social media is not the only important factor in the business. Giving customers an incentive
is also a key to success. The recession gives
public relations a reason to get creative aboutcatching the interest of customers. For example,some restaurants have started adopting the ideaof a bailout. In the evenings, the restaurant
will choose a table at random to “bailout.” The
customers at the chosen table then receive their meal for free, with the exception of alcoholicbeverages. This idea can also be applied toindustries other than the food industry. Somecompanies give away free merchandise,extend payment plans, or even forgive theinterest a customer owes.In a time of economic recession, many
people are struggling to nd happiness. To give
customers a little push in the right direction,Morgans Hotel Group throws various themed,anti-recession parties. They create somethingfun that allows people to get together andescape reality for a little while, in order to lifttheir spirits. In addition to lifting spirits, some
companies take stress off the customer. By
evaluating and adjusting return policies andpayment plans, the stress a customer feelswhen deciding to purchase a product can be
signicantly reduced.
Continued on page 6
 
PR
 Success 
Page 3Fall 2009
Column
True Life:
 “I’m a JSchool Kid”
by Maddie Stevens 
Let’s face it: if you’re reading this, you’ve
probably had a spaz-out session at least onceover the beginning of the quarter. As journalismmajors, we are all prone to at least one of these,whether it is because of the enormous amount
of work you’ve been handed or your insanely
busy schedule. This is because we are all cutfrom the same overachieving, dedicated, hard-
working and sometimes neurotic cloth.
 As a junior PR major in the E.W. ScrippsSchool of Journalism, I can attest to this. Over 
my three years here I’ve been lucky enough
to befriend many others in PRSSA and theScripps school, and we all have one thing
in common: we’re nuts. Now, don’t get mewrong, the level of craziness denitely varies,
but through my experience thus far I havecome to the conclusion that while we are allawesome students and are already well on our way to successful careers in communications,
we all have a tendency to freak out.These freak-outs are what spurred meto write this column, because I know how
it feels to be a freshman in Scripps and beoverwhelmed with all we are thrown. Juggling
classes, meetings, work, friends and, if you’relucky, time to breathe becomes a stunt that isenough to leave you reeling. Jeez, I’m in my
third year of college, and I still feel this way!Finding an internship is just another scribble
to add into our already overowing planners,and don’t even mention keeping up a blog or my Twitter account: it’s hard enough to keepup with my Facebook comments! We’re all
encouraged to get involved, get good gradesand get moving on building our resumes, butwhere does that leave time for getting sleep?!
Because of a JKid’s tendency to take on
more than he or she can handle and strive tobe the best at each of those responsibilities,it is easy to get wrapped up in our schedules,paving the way for all of our frustrations to
come rumbling out in an anxiety attack thatcauses our roommates or parents to think
Continued on page 6
PACE offers students experience and paycheck
Rachel Csaszar 
The E.W Scripps School of Journalismgives students information about the latestinternships and jobs outside of Athens through
emails and Scripps Notes. Yet, for manystudents, it is difcult to commit time over the
summer to an unpaid internship or to a full-time
paid position at a job that does not include one’schosen major. Luckily, there is another option,and it is all thanks to the PACE program.
The Program to Aid Career Experience,or PACE, is a program that was started in the
mid-1980’s. According to Melissa Van Meter,
the current PACE director, the program wasstarted in an effort to create jobs on campusfor students that would incorporate any chosen
profession, thanks to a private donation to the
university. Employers on campus can apply
to be funded by the program. The employers’
applications are reviewed by a committee andthe positions are opened up to students. Fromthere, students can apply online for the positionthat interests them most.Currently, around 300students are employed by the PACEprogram, and in the past the number 
has been as high as ve-hundred.
There are PACE positions in nearlyevery college and department
of the University, which makesfor a substantial internship-likeexperience. Van Meter believes the
program is a success because of the
employers, “Specically becauserst they create a position, andthey keep in mind what will benet
the student. Then they really act asmentors and help the students go on
to work in the eld they are providingfor them.”Bethany Scott, a sophomore
public relations major, is astudent writer for the University
Communications and Marketing
department.
“It’s great because I get
intern experience in a somewhat
informal setting. I have exible hoursand work around my busy class
schedule. In addition, I get paid to
gain learning experience in PR,”
said Scott.
Public relations jobs like Scott’s are
common PACE positions around campus, andmany public relations majors are employedthrough the program. The application processbegins by logging on to the Financial Aid websiteand selecting the Employment tab which leadsto the PACE page. Important dates are includedon the website, such as application deadlinesand interview times. The program gives studentsthe ability to squeeze in professional experience
while also working toward a degree. As all journalism majors know, experience is one of the
most important parts of a thorough education.For many students, the Program to Aid
Career Experience is an excellent choice. DevinHughes, a junior PR major who works for the
Ohio University College of Education, said, “MyPACE experience has been amazing. I get towrite press releases, operate our Twitter and
Facebook, cover events, update our Web site...
all things I love doing anyway, and somehow,
thanks to PACE, I get paid to do it.”
Setting the pace
Many journalism students
apply for PACE positions to gain internship-likeexperience during the school year. Above, PACEstudents Trevor Sherman and Nicole Bersani work 
on a project at their job in the Multicultural Center
(Photo by Samantha Bartlett).
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