Diversity, Storytelling, Silver Anvils, Integrity, and PRSSA
- kadeejojones
- Oct 27, 2020
- 6 min read
Day two was just as good as day one!
I have been loving my time at the PRSA ICON!
Who is ready for the run-down? I know I am! Let's get to it!
Session: General Session with Carolynn Johnson
This session was all about diversity and inclusion. Carolynn shared her thoughts on racism in the nation as of late and gave advice on how to handle it moving forward in the PRSA. She also moderated a panel on the same topic with various individuals which was very insightful!
What I learned:
People are looking to the PRSA to guide efforts on diversity and inclusion
We are human, it's okay to mess up
Educate yourself on how to be an ally
Don't ignore the truth
What does this mean and how will I apply it?:
As I continue with my experience in the PRSSA and move on to the PRSA, I now understand that we lead the efforts of diversity and inclusion. PR is such an outwardly-visible career, and the world looks to us to lead efforts on many social issues. As I head into my career, I now know that it is my responsibility to lead the charge on diversity and inclusion and other social issues in the future.
Being human is totally okay. We should not punish people for making mistakes when it comes to everyday interactions. There will be times when we address someone incorrectly or use stereotypes, and those mistakes are okay as long as we learn from them and try to become better. This was my favorite lesson from the session.
Becoming an ally is something I have always tried to do. It's likely that many of you have too! It doesn't have to be a scary thing. Instead, we should ask those around us how they try to be allies. We should talk to those who feel victimized and ask them how we can help. Whatever we do, we should start by making a conscious effort to become an ally to the minority communities. This is important to know not only with racial minorities, but I will be able to use this advice with any group that needs an ally.
There have been blatant displays of racism in our nation recently and it is important not to discredit those instances. It is sad and disheartening, but the only way we can move forward is to acknowledge that there is a problem in the first place and work toward a solution. Using this in the future, I will be able to look at problems in our nation objectively and try my best to solve them using my PR skills.
Session: Unleash the Power of Storytelling
Y'all this was a good session. I love storytelling so I might be biased, but it was so fun to listen to! Rob Bisenbach did such a good job on this session. Here are the deets:
What I learned:
Stop being boring, use a story to introduce yourself!
When we hear a story it releases chemicals in our brains that is the same when we experience something
Show, don’t tell
Ask others what they think you do, it is eye-opening
What does this mean and how will I apply it?:
There are so many meetings I am in where people begin to introduce themselves by saying the most boring things. They list their job history and accomplishments when they should be telling a story. No one wants to hear a lengthy resume-style introduction! Tell your story!
As PR practitioners we write beautiful words every single day. Rob taught us that those words are great, but people remember how we make them feel and what we show them!
Understanding the power that a story has will help me in my career because I now know that I can always use a story to get my point across and it will be the most powerful form of communication that I have!
YAY for storytelling!
Session: Silver Anvil Awards
You guys. Did you know that the silver anvil is used in the PRSA because PR practitioners help to shape public opinion like a metalsmith forges metal? It's okay, I didn't either. But how cool is that?
This session was an awards ceremony for all of the outstanding PR campaigns over the last year. PR campaigns are my favorite part of the whole industry, so I was super excited to see some of these great campaigns!
What I learned:
PR campaigns are so much more than marketing materials
The best PR campaigns are the ones that bolster connection
The future is bright for graduating seniors
What does this mean and how will I apply it?:
Aside from pretty videos and elaborate marketing materials, campaigns are a compilation of hard work, good ideas, and a stellar team! Most people only see the final product of a campaign, but behind that campaign is a myriad of work. Going into my career it is crucial to put together a solid team when I create campaigns because now I know that I can't do it alone. I also know that each step of the process is important and cannot be overlooked. Each step leads to the beautiful finished product!
When I said that the best PR campaigns bolstered connection, I meant that in an opinion-sense. All of the campaign videos I saw today focused on creating a connection, be it with another human, a cause, or a product. Once you establish a relationship between your campaign and your target audience, you are golden. Understanding this will help me to build powerful campaigns by finding the important connection early on.
Lastly, as individual Silver Anvil awards were given, I was assured that the future is bright for me. It was so fun to see all the amazing individuals who have led the world of public relations in its current landscape, and it gave me all the best hope for the future. PR students have amazing mentors and the future is so bright for us!
Session: Candace Steele Flippin PRSSA Chat
Candace was a powerful speaker. She spoke about some key lessons that PRSSA students should learn now to ensure a better career in the future. Here are those lessons:
What I learned:
Generation Z will be a powerhouse in the workforce
Confidence is key when it comes to standing up for something
Don’t ever compromise your integrity
If you see something wrong, Do something about it
What does this mean and how will I apply it?:
I love being from Generation Z and I feel like the work ethic of Gen Z is a common theme at this conference so far. I feel so lucky to be a part of a generation that values hard work and integrity in social issues. Having a strong work ethic and desire to do what is right will always help me in my career, no explanation needed.
If we are ever in a situation where we feel like we need to stand up for something, we can do so, but we should do it with confidence. Look at all of our well-known social leaders from history. They did not become historically famous by sitting idly by. They stood up with confidence. This was a powerful lesson that Candace taught, and it is so important because I am sure that at some point or another, we will all have to stand up for something. I am going to start working on my confidence today because when it comes time to stand up for myself or someone else, I don't want my efforts to go unnoticed. I want them to create change.
Session: PRSSA Awards Ceremony
I have only been a member of PRSSA for a few months, so it was so fun to interact with other students from this conference during the PRSSA awards ceremony. Awards and scholarships were given to individuals students and school PRSSA groups.
What I Learned:
PRSSA breeds opportunity
We are the future of PR
Taking advantage of opportunities is key to success is PRSSA
What does this mean and how will I apply it?:
As I said earlier, I have only been a member of PRSSA for a short time. However, even in the short few months that I have been a member, I have had amazing opportunities to succeed already! PRSSA allows students to have wonderful industry experience before getting to the workforce, and I'm SO happy that I get to be a part of this group!
The PR practitioners of today are eventually going to retire, and it is up to us, the current PR students, to take their positions in the future. Going into my career, it is important to recognize the legacy of current professionals so that I can uphold that legacy when my time comes.
With all that being said, day two has been a SUCCESS. Stay tuned for day three y'all!
Photo by Jonathan Kemper via Unsplash.
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