Real world lessons are taught as students across the country explore the PR industry by contributing to student-run PR firms. PR Lab, Boston University's student-run PR agency, is one example of a success story. Last May, PR Lab put together the Eighth Annual Taste of Beacon Hill, an annual event that promotes the neighborhood in Boston. Tickets were sold out ahead of time, and the public response was greater than ever.
The agency is open to undergraduates and grad students in the school's communication department, and students receive academic credit for their work. PR Lab's goal is to replicate a real PR agency and send students into the industry ready with necessary experience. This semester, the firm consists of 35 students and 16 clients. There is also a volunteer-based firm on the BU campus affiliated with PRSSA, called PRSSAgency.
Other colleges that have student agencies are the University of Georgia, Indiana's Valparaiso University, and University of Southern California. USC's TriSight Communications charges their clients $250 per semester, which gives students more experience with budget management. They also offer classes on the business of PR.
I think this kind of hands-on experience is necessary before going into the real world of public relations. I love that our PR Campaigns course is similar to this idea of a real agency. Bobcat Promotions is Texas State's student-run PR agency, but unfortunately, I never hear too much from them. They seem to be somewhat successful, so far, but if they branched out more and promoted around San Marcos or surrounding cities, perhaps they could receive more clients. I'm not sure where or if Bobcat Promotions even meets on campus, but I like the idea of having a separate meeting space for the agency - in an office or some sort of outside environment providing a professional feel. I also think that USC's idea of learning about budgeting and business PR is important and should be taught everywhere.
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Bobcat PRomotions has a meeting space in those offices that were our PR Writing lab. Last year they were in the office next to my office.
Bobcat PRomotions meets Mondays from 3:30-4:45 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:30-10:45 a.m. if anyone's interested in checking it out (at least those were the times last I heard). I was a part of the student-run PR firm at the beginning of the semester, but they were pretty unorganized so I decided just to focus on my classes and work, and maybe give it another try next semester. Turns out, the group was undergoing a sort of "face lift." The faculty adviser and way they conduct business in general has changed. Maybe now we will start to hear about them more... I think these types of organizations are great, especially for giving students some skills they might not gain in the classroom.
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