Public relations students Ryan Collins, Lisa Gulasy, Jenna Hedman, Christine Morgan and Taylor Titus were selected by PRKent faculty to participate on the Kent State University Bateman team. These students will then recruit other Kent State students to assist with campaign execution.

United Way Worldwide is Bateman’s client this year, and the sponsor is General Mills. The PRKent Bateman Team is working with the United Way of Portage County and other community partners.

“I’m so excited to be a part of the 2012 PRKent Bateman Team. Our team has some exciting initiatives lined up, and we can’t wait to put our plan into action. I am grateful for the valuable real-world public relations experience I have gained thus far in the competition,” Morgan says.

PRSSA Kent faculty adviser Professor Michele Ewing, APR, JMC associate professor, and several PR professional advisers are providing guidance and support throughout the process.

“This project creates an opportunity for students to gain valuable public relations experience and demonstrates how students can use their communications skills to make a positive impact on families and communities,” Ewing says.

However, the students are independently researching and conducting the campaign.

“This is the second ‘real campaign’ I’ve helped research and design in my college career, but it’s the first campaign that actually requires implementation. Attempting to create a measurable, sustainable and replicable plan for the United Way Worldwide is a really daunting task, but I know PRKent Bateman is up for the challenge. You can expect great things from us,” Gulasy says.

PRSSA Kent members learned a lot about his 34-year PR career, 33 years of which he spent working with the Cleveland Indians. In 1979, he began his career with the Cleveland Indians as an assistant PR director, and then quickly became director of PR in 1980. In 1988, DiBiasio became vice president of PR.

Key points from DiBiasio:

PR = Planning Right

DiBiasio defined PR as “planning right.” Planning right can help dissolve potential problems, such as the recent Fausto Carmona scandal. He explained some of the steps the Cleveland Indians franchise is taking to resolve the problem.

You’re never wrong when you stand up and tell the truth.

In PR, DiBiasio says telling the truth is a must. Withholding certain facts from the media can cause the company or organization to lose credibility.

PR is a 24/7 job

It doesn’t matter the time of the day: PR never sleeps. You must constantly be aware of any information the media releases about your company or organization. Responding quickly to a crisis is important.

PR – Promoting Relationships

Start networking with professionals now. DiBiasio mentioned how he began writing letters to the Cleveland Indians as early as the ninth grade. It’s never too early to start networking.

Beat the story before it becomes something.

Don’t allow reporters to interpret a story how they want. Get the word out quickly about what happened before it catches fire. Always tell the truth and respond quickly and responsibly.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Feb. 15, when officers will share some of their internship experiences.

PRSSA Kent is excited to welcome guest speaker Bob DiBiasio, VP of Public Relations for the Cleveland Indians, for our next general meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1 in room 340 of Franklin Hall. If you’re interested in learning more about sports PR, this is the meeting for you!

DiBiasio will discuss the challenges and rewards of a career in sports PR, as well as share stories from his 34 years in Major League Baseball and his role in developing the Indians Social Suite in Cleveland. A true Clevelander, DiBiasio has spent 33 of those 34 years with the Cleveland Indians. He started in 1979 as an assistant PR director and was named director of PR in 1980 and vice president of PR in 1988. The Lakewood, Oh native was promoted to his current position in 2011. His lone season away from the Tribe was 1987 when he served as Public Relations Director for the Atlanta Braves.

DiBiasio was the 1999 recipient of the prestigious Robert O. Fischel Award for Public Relations Excellence in Major League Baseball.  He was also inducted into the Lakewood High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 1999.  In 1986, DiBiasio was named the Public Relations Director to the Sports Illustrated Dream Team.  He received the ALS Cleveland chapter Lou Gehrig “Iron Horse” Award for Community Service in 2009 and won the Mel Harder Distinguished Service Award for Community Involvement in 1997.

DiBiasio currently serves as the President of Cleveland Indians Charities, is an Honorary Member of both the Executive Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland and the Board of the Cleveland Baseball Federation, serves on the Athletic Advisory Board at Notre Dame College (OH), and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Bob Feller Museum in Van Meter, IA.

PRSSA Kent is excited to welcome Mr. DiBiasio and we hope to see you at next week’s meeting!

Last summer, Cichocki traveled across the country with the Do Good Bus, a traveling initiative that encourages people to volunteer in their communities. The Do Good Bus partnered with Grammy-nominated band Foster The People during their summer tour. Cichocki was responsible for creating and executing a media relations plan during the tour.

Cichocki shared valuable information about thinking strategically, connecting with audiences and networking with other professionals. Her presentation ended with a contest –the winner, PRKent Freshman Megan Corder, received a Foster The People CD!

Students walked away with some useful tips about media relations as they start their careers in PR.

Carli’s tips for media relations success:

• Think strategically. Develop a plan and be prepared. Set goals and decide what you want your plan to accomplish and what you want your audiences to learn.
• Do your research. Learn as much as you can about your audience and narrow it down to target only the most important. If your media relations plan targets everyone, you’re not really talking to anyone. Research reporters who have covered your subject in the past and pitch them personally.
• Use your resources. Social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr) can help communicate your message.
• Find an angle. Reporters are looking for a way to connect the story with their audience. Emphasize a unique angle to make your pitch stand out. It could be a trend, local connection or celebrity involvement.
• Network and stay in touch. Get to know professionals and stay in touch with classmates. Foster long-term relationships with everyone you come in contact with –journalists, producers and others in the PR industry.

PRSSA Kent would like to thank Carli Cichocki for sharing her experiences with us. It was a great way to start the semester!

Our next general meeting is Wednesday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m. VP of Public Relations for the Cleveland Indians Bob DiBiasio will talk about sports public relations and his career in MLB. We hope to see everyone there!

As a student at Kent State, Carli interned with Marcus Thomas LLC, The Babcock & Wilcox Company and the City of Kent. She also worked for two semesters at Flash Communications; served as Vice President of Public Relations, PRSSA; and survived the course “PR Campaigns.”

Carli currently works to further local nonprofits’ and political candidates’ communications efforts at R Strategy Group in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jan. 18 – PRSSA Meeting

Using the Do Good Bus as an example, we’ll cover traditional/social media relations planning and implementation. More specifically, we’ll discuss:

• The qualities of a news story
• Determining target audiences
• Crafting messages
• Pitching media/ working with reporters
• Ways social media tools can complement each other to spread the word.

Don’t forget the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in room 110. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

Jan. 18: Carli Cichocki: Media Relations on the Do Good Bus

Feb. 1: Bob DiBiasio: Sports PR –Cleveland Indians Social Suite

Feb. 15: All About Internships

Feb. 29: Ethics Discussion: Bill Sledzik, moderator

March 6: Communications Connection

March 14: Facetime with PRSSA

April 4: Officer Elections

April 18: Heather Wuensch (Akron Children’s Hospital): Healthcare PR

Our first general meeting is Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m in room 110, Franklin Hall. Be sure to check this blog regularly for updates about programming and information about guest speakers. Have a great semester!

Tonight will be the last general meeting of the semester. Come and enjoy snacks and refreshments as we close out this semester.

Campaigns Presentations

Come to the Governance Chambers on Friday, Dec. 9 to watch the seniors make their big presentations for Campaigns class. These students have worked hard all semester, so come support them and get a preview of what you may have to do not only in this class, but in the real world of PR. For information or questions, contact Heather Thomas (hthoma3@kent.edu).

Look Forward to Next Semester

The PRSSA officers never stop working hard to bring members a great semester. Look out for great speakers, Communications Connection, the annual networking event planned with AAF Kent and other fun opportunities to get involved and boost your PR knowledge next year.

Last Chance to Pick Up Your PRSSA T-Shirt

If you ordered a PRSSA t-shirt at one of the last general meetings, come by the last meeting to pick it up! Bring $10 to the general meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 7 and ask Heather Thomas (hthoma3@kent.edu) for your tee. Start reppin’ PRSSA on and off campus to show your PR spirit.

Join us on PRSSA Kent’s social networks to keep up with all the latest information about meetings and internships. Leave a comment on Facebook, our blog or tweet us about PRSSA or other relative PR news!

Allison Brookes, PRSSA president

Major: Public Relations

PRSSA Title: Current President, Former VP of Fundraising

Hometown: East Liverpool, Ohio

What are your plans after graduating: Work for an agency and learn the ropes of being a young professional.

Favorite thing you like about Kent State: The people I have met and the life-long friends I’ve gained really made a difference in my time at Kent State.

What you think you will miss most about Kent State: I’ll miss the professors and seeing my friends in the halls of Franklin.

Favorite PRSSA memory: Going to National Conference in Washington D.C. last year. It was such a fun conference and itwas a great bonding experience!

Interesting fact about yourself: I’m engaged and will be getting married next October.

What advice would you give someone that you wish you have known as a freshman: I would tell them to not be afraid to get involved. Once you get involved with committees and start to get your name out there, the networking opportunities you’ll receive will amaze you. When professors tell you “It’s all about who you know,” listen to them, because it’s definitely true.

On behalf of PRSSA Kent we would like to thank you Allison for everything you have done. We all wish you the best of luck and congratulations on graduating. Allison will be graduating from Kent State University this December.

Don’t forget about our last meeting of the year this Weds. in Franklin Hall room 213 at 7:30 p.m. Come and enjoy the end of the year party.

Come get educated at tomorrow’s general meeting in Franklin Hall room 213. Ben Brugler, executive vice president, AKHIA public relations and marketing, and Brandi Neloms, sales and marketing manager, Digital Color International, will be educating students on ways to handle different personalities in the real world.

The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Make sure you get there early to network with other PR students. We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night.