This course has a lot of important aspects. In my opinion, none are greater than the way it showcased the importance of good writing. What I really gathered throughout this class is the different mediums in which writing is crucial. From a public relations or journalism lens, good writing is a skill that is never going extinct.
Through all of the projects, my writing was challenged. The press releases, media advisories, fact sheets and blog posts all helped me improve my writing and see the importance of it. I really enjoyed the real-world practicality that this class demonstrated. We talked through real possibilities where a press release would be needed, and created them accordingly.
Having written press releases as a part of my summer internship, I felt prepared for that aspect of this class. Although I believe that held true, I appreciated the great variety of topics we wrote about. All summer, I wrote pregame and postgame press releases as well as the occasional roster move news release. That type of experience is valuable. After all, it is highly likely that anyone working in public relations will have fairly consistent types of content.
Another great piece of education from this course has been the relationship between the news media and public relations. As a journalism major, I understood some of the key areas of overlap between these two professions. Learning about the differences and areas where these two work together has been fascinating.
As I continue to work in the sports media field, I hope that my experience in public relations helps with social media content, press releases, on-air work and broadcast production. Storytelling takes many shapes and forms. That is what makes it so great. Whether I am calling a game, directing the camera crew, writing press kits or creating videos and graphics, good, honest storytelling is critical.
