FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLUESTONE COMMUNICATIONS
Jamison Crenshaw
crenshjn@dukes.jmu.edu
804-316-4971

JMU’S STUDENT-RUN PR FIRM PROVIDES REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR

STUDENTS AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

HARRISONBURG, Va.— March 1, 2021. Bluestone Communications, JMU’s student-run

public relations firm, is supporting local nonprofits and small businesses during the pandemic
while giving students opportunities to excel beyond school during the past two online semesters.
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the way the firm functioned, but it went virtual and
increased the number of employees accepted to give hands-on experience to students whose
internships may have been cancelled.

“It is certainly a challenging situation for any student,” said Dr. Isaac Woo, faculty director of
the firm, “but, I am glad that students can experience what is exactly happening in the real world
through this student-run firm at this very moment.”

Working with six clients, the student employees are busy doing real-world public relations work
for local nonprofits and small businesses to boost their skillset and portfolios. The three account
teams are also accompanied by a newly installed “Bluestone Creative” that focuses on all things
video editing, graphic design and more.

“The creation of Bluestone Creative opened up opportunities to more students in the college,”
Woo added, “we received many applications from SMAD students, WRTC students and from
other majors as well. It has been beneficial for our clients because we could offer more creative
services. It is also beneficial for students because they can have more chances to collaborate with
students from different majors.”

Founded by six School of Communication Studies students in 2017, Bluestone Communications

has grown to employ 30 Communication Studies, Media Art and Design, Writing and Graphic
Design students.

The firm has managed several public relations campaigns on campus and in the community. It is
also nationally affiliated with the Public Relations Student Society of America and won multiple
scholarships and awards from the Richmond Chapter of Public Relations Society of America.
Liv Hart, Bluestone Communications’ student firm director, says, “Bluestone is really unique in
that it offers students so much hands-on experience working directly with clients—something
you may not get in a ‘normal’ internship. From start to finish, teams handle all communication
with their clients. It really prepares us as students on how to communicate and prioritize which
are skills that are necessary to know for our careers.”

Bluestone employees write news releases, blogs, pitch to local media outlets, manage social
media, plan events and consult with clients about communication strategies.

The firm has weekly meetings on Zoom, building a community within this new virtual world
while working with clients throughout the week. Additionally, they host many workshops for the
students to learn new skills within the PR world. Students also earn three credit hours toward
their major or minor.

Hart says, “I think the shift to online has only added to our versatility and prepared us even more
for a career in PR.”

Bluestone Communications is managed completely by the student employees on the executive

board with the oversight of two faculty advisors.

With the second half of the semester approaching, Bluestone is opening up applications to join
the firm next year March 15 that can be found on Bluestone’s Instagram and Facebook.

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About Bluestone Communications

Bluestone Communications is a student-run public relations firm at James Madison University
that offers research, digital, media and strategic communications for all client projects. The firm
is led by two faculty advisers, seven executive student members and twenty-two student staff
members.