Public Relations: Final Project and Thesis

Ashley Collins Full Sail University Professor Sandra Krasa January 23, 2017 Public Relations: Final Project and Thesis Course In my final Public Relations course, I believe this class exceeded my expectations and met the original objective of finalizing my thesis paper and revising content to turn in a well thought out thesis. I was happy to learn new methods and ways of presenting content via keynote with the Pecha Kucha format. It was a bit challenging to stay within the six minutes and forty second time frame of the presentation as I wanted to make sure all the information required was answered throughout the Pecha Kucha. I learned many things from the course content when creating a cover letter, pitch and/or resume. I learned the do’s and don’ts when approaching a potential employer as well as what would be noticed within the first eight seconds of someone looking at your cover letter and resume. I also appreciate the fact that the career development center with Full Sail University is hands on and available to the needs of the student when trying to establish a career either freelance or under a business. I believe I will apply the skills I have gained from this course both professionally and personally. As far as profession, I am capable of creating content to produce in the Pecha Kucha format as well as knowing how to write a professional cover letter and resume that is appealing to a potential business or employer. In reference to applying it personally, I plan to build my skill set as a freelance Public Relations Specialist. This course taught me how to meet proper deadlines, stay organized and motivate me to showcase my best work. I believe these personal skills will help continue to set me apart as an individual and be successful in whatever task I set forth to do.

Mastery Journal: The Online Media Room

Ashley Collins

Professor Lee

Full Sail University

December 9, 2014

                                            Mastery Journal

in the Online Media Room course, I really enjoyed the assignments and discussions in the class as they were the most interactive and insightful. I like to interact with my peers in the class to gain a different perspective on specific subjects covered for that week. This course exceeded my expectations with all the knowledge I have gained from the lessons and Lynda video tutorials. I believe I now understand the importance of content on my website and how to customize pages to encourage engagement from consumers.

The course met my objective fully by causing me to, "Evaluate best-practice principles in the planning, design, and production of online media rooms, Synthesize knowledge of the evolution of online media rooms, Pitch, design, create and promote an online media room for a specific brand and/or organization, synthesize digital public relations principles into a comprehensive model for an organization's online content strategy and create evaluate, and revise the design, navigation, and content in an online media room as a key element of the capstone public relations project" )OMR Course Syllabus). I believe I have done all and above in this course and believe I am fully capable of creating engaging content for potential clients.

My favorite assignment in the course was creating the Capstone Campaign Snapshot Video through Keynote software. I was previously introduces to keynote in another course and while using it again, I notices a lot of upgrades to personalizing the content and slides. I also appreciated the Professor's leniency in grading my assignment that was about an hour late from the deadline and was still able to make a high passing grade. Overall, this class taught me so much with customizing my website and giving it a tone and theme to tie in with my message.

I believe I will apply the tools learned in this class both personally and professionally simply because the website is my personal brand and professionally when representing clients as a Public Relations specialist. I am looking forward to the many projects and campaign videos I will have to construct to influence and captivate my specific target audience.

Ashley Collins

Full Sail University

Professor V

November 14, 2016

 Mastery Journal: Reputation Management Strategies

The Reputation Management Strategies course was quite challenging with the amount of work to study and critical thinking skills utilized to grasp the full understanding of the assignments. I enjoyed the course because it taught me many things that I did not know about keeping a positive reputation of the company and how to rebuild a bad reputation of a company in lieu of a crisis. I believe that I did understand the fundamental principles of reputation management, understand how social media and online communications have impacted the development, maintenance, and repair of an organization’s reputation, evaluate actual crisis communication strategies used by other organizations during crisis situations and develop a crisis communication plan relevant and useful to a capstone client organization (RMS Syllabus, 2014).

This course exceeded my expectations by providing many sources and interesting books to reference in order to get the full understanding of the lesson for that specific week. I like to be challenged and throughout this class my thoughts, writing capabilities and critical skills were past what I thought I was capable of. My favorite assignment in the course was the Online Reputation Assessment because it focused on the different sites out on the internet being used to rank and monitor what people say about businesses. It was amazing to see all the different options available based on the type of company and what you are specifically looking for in the comments of consumers. Now that I am aware of the different levels of the Online Reputation Assessments, I can utilize the different programs for whatever company I work for or even my own.

Though there were many topics covered throughout the course of the month, I believe the two topics that will be most helpful in my profession as a publicist is creating a crisis communications plan and a dark website. I chose these two because I have learned that it is important to have a plan in place in case anything happens as well as being able to maintain the reputation of the company during the crisis. The dark website is also beneficial because it allows the company to keep the consumers informed and up to date with current news if a crisis has taken place. Overall, I believe the knowledge that I have gained has prepared me to work professionally in the public relations industry. I am well prepared to help with maintaining the reputation of companies and construct crisis communications plans, a crisis team with proper trainings to help maintain a positive outlook on the company from consumers.

Reference:

(2014). Reputation Management Strategies-Online. Course Syllabus. Retrieved on November 14, 2016 from RMS-O_Syllabus2014_ed707175-069b-4c84-a093-31b6b087818c.pdf.

Ashley Collins

Professor Palmisano

Full Sail University

October 17, 2016

Event Marketing and Production

In the Event Marketing and Production course, I truly enjoyed every assignment that was given in this class! I learned so much about facilitating an event and creating my own webinar used to inform people on subjects I believe matter. I also learned how to create a flyer using the smore flyer template required. I believe this course met the original objective to, “Evaluate strategies and tactics executed in the production, promotion, and marketing of a wide rand of in-person and online events, synthesize knowledge of the evolution of event production and marketing in analysis of current and future trends, pitch, promote, and host an online event, synthesize traditional public relations principles into a comprehensive model for modern event production and promotions, report, produce, and publish a multimedia publication on the events industry that includes an original interview with a professional practitioner and create, evaluate, and revise strategic event plans to be executed as a key element of their final project public relations campaign” (EPR Syllabus, 1-2).

All the objectives mentioned were met and exceeded my expectations with learning all of what was to be expected and much more. I was able to access skills and expertise in event planning with specifying the goals of the event and also showcasing the detailed outline of how the event will take place. The knowledge and skill that I have gained from this course will be used personally as it will definitely boost marketing confidence via webinar events, flyers for clients and reaching out to vendors to help run local events. The knowledge I have gained from this course will be used professionally by reaching the specific target audience for my clients, representing my client via webinar events and building my clientele by showcasing my portfolio and experience. I really enjoyed this course and the professor.

Ashley Collins

Full Sail University

Professor Lee

September 16, 2016

Mastery Journal: Media Relations

In the Media Relations Course, this course exceeded my expectations in the amount of material covered as well as the knowledge I have gained in 4 weeks. I have learned the ins and outs of journalism and types of reporters to connect to when debuting a specific campaign in their story sector. I enjoyed creating different types of pitches and Press Releases for diverse media outlets as it taught me how to narrow down information within pitches. I expected to learn about the different forms of media and how the affects correlate with the information that I as the PR specialist should give to set my campaign a part from others. Of the objectives expected to learn, “Demonstrate an understanding of media-relations concepts and strategies to preserve and enhance client reputations” (MRL syllabus, 1), one of the assignments entailed a preparation for Press Conferences and the types of questions to expect from reporters. This assignment was interesting and gave insight of an actual scenario of representing a prospective client and analyzing specific preparations with questions.

Overall, the content provided throughout the course helped in understanding reporters and what they expect from PR specialist as well as the ultimate preparation of the Media Kit that covers all the information needed. Preparing the Media Kit was the most challenging of all assignments for this course because I really had to think outside the box with the “b-roll” picture outline as well as the interview segment of the kit. In doing this assignment, I believe I have gained the proper tools and skills to be successful as a PR professional and represent clients in my own unique way.

I will apply the skills learned in this course both personally and professionally when representing my brand for public speaking and networking with potential brands that need assistance in pushing their name and product out. I will be able to access the needed information for Press Releases from my client and pass it to potential reporters, bloggers, magazines etc. I will also know how to keep the reputation of my client positive and when to hold press conferences for upcoming events, launchings or to clear up any negative situations that could possibly jeopardize the reputation of the client. This Media Relations course as well as Professor Latoya Lee prepared me to be the best PR agent for this day and time.

Ashley Collins Full Sail University Professor Ginger Palmisano August 24, 2016 Mastery Journal: Market Consumer and Research Analysis In the Market Consumer and Research Analysis course, I enjoyed the many outlines and aspects within the course. The objective of the course were to, “Examine and describe their target audience, experiment with secondary research tools to determine the best source for the planned event, Understand statistical significance, discuss and analyze the current situation of their organization, present an analysis of a case study, and synthesize and apply their knowledge of primary and secondary research to create a research brief” (PBR 560, 2016). Within that mouthful of information listed, I can honestly say that I learned that and some not even listed. This class was quite the challenge but it was a good one because it pushed me past what I thought I was only capable of doing mentally. With the Capstone Thesis project in full effect for this class, it caused me to fully understand the importance of the target audience, to specify the age, demographics and statistical significance as to what was it that I can contribute to help the organization I chose to grow exponentially. I appreciate professor Palmisano for her generosity and strategic guidance throughout the course of the class because she made it so much more informal even with the challenging assignments and discussions. I believe I can definitely apply the material I learned professionally as it is detrimental for PR professionals to contain these fundamentals when taking on potential clients willing to invest in the goal the Publicist pitched. My mental state in reference to what I have contained within the four week course has been mind-blowing and has given me great expectation for my career as a publicist. I am looking forward to the last few classes within the program but I will never forget this specific course that has truly taught me so much not only about the industry but about myself and what I am capable of doing when mental challenges come my way.

Ashley Collins

July 27, 2016

Professor Krasa

Full Sail University

Social Media Metrics and ROI

My expectations for the Social Media Metrics and ROI were met exceedingly and I learned so much in the past four weeks that would likely take about 3 months to fully understand. Thankfully my professor, provided all the needed resources for the class and gave step by step instruction for the discussions and assignments as well as provide the webinars that covers the current week. Professor Krasa made it extremely convenient and easy to ask questions and turn in assignments along with opening all of the assignments per week to get a head start on other work.

What I learned throughout the course was the use of Google Analytics and how to break down the reports and numbers in different segments for my website. I was also able to identify the terms ROI, KPI and metrics of specific measurements in reference to my website and reaching the set goals I have for my website and brand. One of the challenging assignments that I had in the course was the Project Pitch assignment because you really had to think of a brand to represent as well as detail information regarding their metrics as well as placing yourself in the position of representing them as a client.

  I am certain that the information I learned in this course will be applied professionally as it will help in building relevant reports for website data as well as pitching clients and their brands to partner with companies. I am glad I had the opportunity to take this course and learn so many things that will help in my future as a Public Relations Specialists. I also appreciated my Professor in her professionalism and accountability to do well in this course.

Mastery Journal

Ashley Collins Professor Sandra Krasa Full Sail University June 24, 2016 In the Innovative Public Relations Tools and Resourcescourse, I learned a great deal on how to better reach my target audience aswell as on a global level. This class ultimately exceeded my expectations withthe various amount of resources as well as relevant articles that cultivated myknowledge in what PR is about today. The class was well organized and ProfessorKrasa always made herself available for questions. I appreciated the videolectures and the convenience of the YouTube videos relating to the assignmentfor that week. I also liked the objective in becoming more involved with socialmedia and learning the “ins and outs” of scheduling specific posts, creating newboards on Pinterest, and learning tactics on how to begin a new following. In regards to the content from the course, it gave greatinsight on how to be of influence and possibly be discovered with the righttools to gain exposure. I also appreciated the requirement to follow theinfamous Gary V and learning from his perspective in reference to business andselling your brand. I believe this course helped in building my brand as wellas the want of others to get involved in the vision of my brand. I believe itis important to know the needs of your consumers or clients in order to bettertarget them in the areas they need and I believe this is what the course hastaught me in so many different areas. I will apply all that I have learned in a professionalstandpoint because of the brand I am trying to build in cultivating phenomenalspeakers, writers, bloggers etc. In doing that I have to push my brand outthere in the right timing and get connected to the right people. Thus far Ihave learned that Public Relations is all about the clients’ needs and desiresand in order to succeed at filling them, you have to observe and research andknow how to sell yourself.

Ashley Collins

May 26, 2016

Full Sail University

Professor Maras

  Legal Aspects of Media

  In the Legal aspects of media course, I thoroughly enjoyed all of the assignments in the course. One I consider to be my favorite was the video lecture course where we had to explain the definition of defamation using two cases to compare and contrast. We were also required to use the given resources and readings for that specific week to have as our guide and as strong sources to back up our information.

This was my favorite assignment because I had the opportunity to use the keynote software to prepare a professional presentation as well as record my voice using my research and information given on the two similar cases. This project was challenging but it helped me create a well thought out analysis on defamation as well as reflecting how I could use these skills as well as knowledge in the near future as a communications professional.

In the course, I believe the copyright assignment would be the most helpful as a communications professional because it aided in understanding what material can and cannot be used without consent of the original owner of the work. It gave insight on how to copyright your own work as well as the guidelines and laws that were put in place for those to receive original credit for their material.

Within the Legal aspects of media course, the given scenarios and examples of situations in cases, advertising, copyright works, I have gained great insight and knowledge on how to handle the situations as well as recognizing the legal aspects of written material.

This course exceeded my expectations because it was very well organized, the professor provided all the resources and materials to do well in the class. I also appreciated the constructive criticism from my professor on my assignments because it helped me do better within the ongoing weeks as well as with my writing. If I had the chance, I would take this course again! It was that great!

Ashley Collins

Full Sail University

Professor Cochie

April 28, 2016

Mastery Journal Week 4

In the course, “Writing for Interactive Media,” the types of writing styles I wanted to learn were press releases, covering live events or stories, and narrative based writing. I was able to learn the logistics of creating a Press Release and covering live events in different writing formats within the course. I was able to differentiate between both types of styles from the many resources and tools given throughout the course as well as the multiple analysis done on different examples researched. I learned the types of style writing expected from the course but I wanted to learn a bit more on narrative writing styles that would aid in my improvement and writing skills. The narrative writing style was not covered in the course and I believe it would have helped all students improve their writing as well as gaining knowledge of a different format.

This style of writing from the course will help in my career as a digital communicator due to the multiple formats learned in relaying messages to the desired audience. The level of analysis made with each article researched helped in understanding what should be used and what could have been added to make the story clearer and precise. The tools and lessons given throughout the course will allow greater potential to properly represent someone and their brand as a publicist. It will give me the skill to create press releases for potential sponsors as well as building an original profile on the client.

Overall, I believe Writing for Interactive Media met my expectations in being able to create and format different styles of writing and analyzing articles. I enjoyed the course and my professors’ personality along with her encouraging words to stay the course and do your best. Professor Cochie graded reasonably and gave great feedback on my work and always made herself available when needed.

Ashley Richmond              

Full Sail University

Professor Lee

March 23, 2016

Mastery Journal Assignment: Week 4

In the Public Relations in a Digital World course, I have gained knowledge and skill on a Master’s level that will aid in my goal to pursue Public Relations as a career. I learned how to create in design my own website that benefited in building my brand and reaching my desired target audience. I also gained the skill of creating my own PSA “Public Service Announcement” as well as learn the necessities of what it takes to broadcast and develop a timeline. Also, to better understand how to relate and reach the target audience, I was able to learn about principles us as humans share when it comes to our needs and wants in life.

Many of the original course objectives stated were indeed accomplished in this course. Being that it was about the effects of media use in PR, I was able to “Assess current media trends and the ways in which they impact public-relations practices” (syllabus, 2016). I was expected to become familiar in advertising and marketing that I did accomplish in my comprehending the relationships between the two. The course also met my expectation in gaining the knowledge in creating reports or press releases in written formats.

In the journey of reaching my goals and establishing my career in Public Relations, I will apply the contents learned professionally as it will add value to building my brand and reaching my target audience. I will also apply the content and objectives personally as far as social media usage to get more involved in news feeds, sharing informative posts, and posting what the audience wants to read. Lastly, I will apply the content professionally to add more skill to my resume in possibly building my own business firm or working for one.

This is such an inspiration! I can say that I am motivated by this statement because I want to leave a legacy behind for my family. One that they can be proud of!

Here is my Mastery Timeline. Hope you enjoy.

Logo for Public Speaking.

This inspires me to continue to press on even when you are turned away by your dream job. You may think that something is your big break but just waiting a little while longer will get you that and then some.

Here is a screen shot of my feedly account. This is an awesome way of keeping up to date with things you like!

Here is my link to my linkedin account.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-richmond-462274a8