Public Relations and Internet Marketing jobs are on the rise. It is a consumer revolution, where people get their news, information on demand, when ever and where ever they want it via social websites such as Facebook, MySpace or elsewhere Online.
The entertainment and advertising agencies are realizing there are billions of dollars to be had on the Internet. Broadcast news has made the switch, but not without challenges, and now the Writers Guild and TV and movie industry, and even high tech customers are switching to PR.
Each year I speak to the fall 2007 UCLA Entertainment Publicity class, Tuesday, October 23 at 8:00, Geology Building, room 3656. The class is endorsed by EPPS, the International Cinematographers Guild, Local 66 and it is taught by one of Hollywood's famed Entertainment Publicists Julian Myers. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking to go into this business.
The course provides a practical approach to the current world of entertainment public relations with the latest guidance and blog-site opportunities from leaders in these areas. I usually present state-of-the-art PR techniques that have earned MAYO Communications "Best Media Placement", Best Education Campaign" and "Best Online Tactics" from Public Relations Society of America, LA Chapter. I will specifically reveal trade secrets, how to prepare for what I describe as a "sometimes cutthroat" business, and "dog-eat-dog" world. I'm amongst a list of Hollywood's 30 top entertainment publicity pros schedule to speak to the UCLA class this year, which makes this class even more valuable. There is nothing like hearing great advice from the president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to entertainment publicity pros who have been practicing for four or more decades.
At every university campus the best advice I leave students with: if they major in Information Technology they'll become a millionaire overnight, if they minor in it, they'll become rich in five years. Just about everything from broadcast news to "how to find or do whatever" is discovered Online. The news media has finally caught up with technology, but now consumers are sometimes even more knowledgeable, and expect more from information resources. There are more than 2,000 widgets Online, or what I describe as your life on a desktop, where you can obtain info on just about anything your heart desires thanks to Google.
In addition to the challenges of technology, budding entertainment PR and marketing pros are soon discovering that after they enter college they need a wider skill set. I recommend to anyone majoring public relations or marketing to also take business, photography, computer science and especially creative writing classes. It just makes you that much more valuable, and you can fit into more jobs available. There are lots of new media jobs today. The career opportunities and resources are endless. Only 10 years ago when students applied for jobs they had to request company information ahead of time. Now, students can surf the employer's website and read everything from annual reports to the mission and goals of the corporation. Sometimes they know more about the company than the person interviewing them.
I also recommend networking and finding a mentor before students graduate. When you graduate, you should decide where you want to live, take an entry level job in that city and just move there. Check in with your mentor as you make your moves up the career ladder, and listen to what they say, because your mentor can save you the heartache of making same mistakes we did.
Many people in this world believe that relations are the most important assets anyone could ever have. These people maybe, world leaders in their wise old ages as well as a high school kid who has an election to face. Relations are indeed that which make man a social animal. This same principle is closely held onto in most credible organizations, firms and companies across the world and they have a name for it; Public Relations.
Public relation, for any organization or group, is the major lifeline. Without the positive appraisal of the public who are the consumers of all the products, whether it be in the entertainment, food, clothing, software or hardware industries, it is impossible to survive. Trust is what organizations feed on to expand and this trust is gained or earned only when the public recognizes the organization as that which is for their good.
The positive image of an organization or an individual is what draws people to it or him/her. This image can be a result of years of delivering appealing service or goods in times ripe. This can also be achieved by strategically taking directions to find a place in the hearts of the public. Entertainment artists, at least a few believe that any sort of publicity is good, whether it means being involved in violence, drugs or scandals does not matter, which may prove disastrous.
One of the ways by which Public Relations can be positively achieved and maintained is by being part of noteworthy social events, not just the high flying parties but also those which are in level with the general sentiments of the public, like fundraising for a reasonable or charitable cause and sponsoring such events. Maintaining good relations with the media is a must to evade flak.
When faced with criticism, the responsible company must win back what goodwill it has lost. This may include an acclaimed celebrity to be the new face of your organization, to clear the doubts of the public by using the powerful and trustworthy reputation of that person. Advertisements and other related marketing strategies too, make a great deal of difference in figuring in the good books of the public.
Nobody would prefer to go to an eatery or a bookstore where they previously had an unfriendly confrontation with, the same, applies to the bigger firms too. All firms must genuinely have a people oriented approach and morale codes stitched into the fabric of the ideals upon which they work.
Proactive ideas to the changing needs of the present generations are a must to keep up in this terrifyingly competitive world where start ups happen every other minute in all the coveted and promising PR agency industries. Forgetting to maintain good Public relations is as ignorant and tragic as digging one's own grave. So keep a smile and do what you have to do to keep, those people whose trust you feed on, smiling.