Join us for our PUBLIC RELATIONS PANEL!! April 28, 2008

Are you still looking for a summer internship? Interested in Public Relations, but aren’t quite sure what it entails? Does PR=only the image of Samantha Jones from Sex and the City? Come find out about the many avenues you can navigate with a career in Public Relations!

Featuring:

Julia Labaton | President, RED PR

Lekha Rao | Vice President, Corporate Communications, Petry Media

Andrew Boepple | Senior Manager, Strohl and Company

Anne Lacombe | Harriet Weintraub PR

Don’t let the advent of finals clear your entire social calendar, because these agencies are ***STILL ACTIVELY SEEKING TO FILL SUMMER 2008 INTERNSHIPS!!!***

Please feel free to bring your resumes. Dinner will be served.

Remember, your attendance enters you into our semester-long raffle to win a one-on-one meeting with a top industry exec of your choice.

We will be drawing the winners at the end of this event!

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About the panel:

Julia Labaton — In 2000, Julia founded RED PR, a boutique agency with a specialty in beauty and style-related consumer brands. As a testament to Julia’s skill and professionalism, Creative Nail Design – a $70 million global company – has chosen to work with Julia since 1995. RED has won three ABBIE Awards for Best Public Relations campaign on behalf of Creative Nail Design for its outreach campaigns with fashion designers and celebrities. In 2007, RED won a prestigious Big Apple PR Award from the Public Relations Society of America for the results it produced surrounding a trend look book.

Lekha Rao — Lekha joined Petry Media in 2006 as Director of Advertising and Public Relations and was promoted to Vice President in July of 2007. She started her career in the financial relations division at public relations firm Hill & Knowlton, Inc. In 1998, Lekha joined Brunswick Group where she developed and implemented media and investor communications campaigns for public and private companies including addressing crisis situations, M&A, proxy fights and general profile raising. She is a member of Public Relations Society of America.

Andrew Boepple — Andrew started his career at magazines like Vanity Fair and Allure before switching to PR, landing a job at Red PR. Currently, he’s happy to call Strohl and Company home. Strohl and Company was created by Mitchell Strohl in early 1985 and serves the world of interior designers, architects and home furnishing. Andrew handles the accounts of such noted designers as Clodagh, Dakota Jackson, Jamie Drake, and David Rockwell to name a few.

Anne Lacombe — HWPR is a public relations firm with extensive experience in marketing and promotion in the luxury sector. The HWPR client base spans a range of prestige products and services that include: luxury real estate; fashion and accessories; fragrance and beauty; art and antiques; architects and interior designers; and hospitality.

Surviving in a Freelance World April 27, 2008

Tuesday night’s event gave WIC members insight about the pros and cons of freelancing, as well as tips on how to create the perfect pitch. Our speakers/freelancing experts included Adam Penenberg, Jessica Seigel, Matt Rivera, Rebecca Fox and Althea Erickson.

Freelancing in today’s job market seems scary, but it actually allows you to pursue the stories you really want to write. Your stories can be more investigative and have much more depth than a traditional newspaper story, and freelancing gives you the chance to build a “thicker skin” as you write from one outlet to the next. Althea Erickson, community manager for the Freelancers Union, assures that freelancers have the resources they need—from seminars to basic healthcare benefits—to make sure you can pay your rent!

Here are some basic do’s and don’ts for navigating the freelance world.

GETTING STARTED

DO have an online presence via a blog (another reason why you should write for Lit Up!). Write about an area of expertise that you truly care about and include multimedia (videos, charts, pictures, podcasts) to spruce it up.

DON’T leave your blog stagnant. Always refresh your blog with new content a couple of times throughout the day.

DO consider writing for online outlets, which is more up-and-coming than print.

THE PITCH

DO have a personal and unique perspective to market yourself.

DON’T pitch stories that you don’t care about—if you’re passionate about a topic, it’ll show in your article. For video pitches, Matt Rivera recommended that anything “flashy” or “viral” will make your videos stand out.

DO practice summing up your pitch in one sentence—if you can’t sum it up in a sentence, the idea is not focused enough.

DON’T pitch content that the particular outlet would not publish–you need to familiarize yourself with the publication first.

DO follow-up through e-mails (with no attachments and grammatical errors, of course!).

THE FINE PRINT: CONTRACTS

DO visit www.asaj.org to acquaint yourself with freelancing contracts and how not to get duped. Notice words and phrases such as “paid upon publication” (you want to be “paid upon acceptance” of your article).

DON’T be afraid to negotiate, and always ask: “What’s the fee?” and “What’s the word count?” to ensure that you’re not being overworked and underpaid.

DO always ask for a contract and check the wording very carfully to see what your liabilities would be.

DON’T get lowballed. If they offer you a lower rate than what you’d hoped for, ask: “Is this the best that you can do?”

Whether you become a freelancer in the beginning or middle of your career, it’s a great experience in finding your niche and becoming an expert in it. What do you think?

News From Around the Media World April 24, 2008

The New Acceptable F Word?

Advertising Age

How TV networks are able to broadcast the dirtiest word…sort of.

Navy Puts Recruitment Ad Contract in Review

Advertising Age

In an unusual step, the U.S. Navy has elected not to renew its recruitment ad contract with Interpublic Group of Cos.’ Campbell-Ewald, Warren, Mich., and is seeking bids for a new agency.

Starbucks Revert to Old Mass Marketing Tactics

Advertising Age

Free samples, coffee coupons…what is Starbucks up to?

-Tiffany Chang

“Get an Internship” event recap! April 9, 2008

Hey everyone! Last night’s WIC event, “Get an Internship!” was a complete success! We had a full house and got the inside scoop on how to get that first internship and be a success once you have it. Big thanks to Mai Hoang from CosmoGIRL!, Elisa Benson from Seventeen and Monica Monzingo from Good Housekeeping for their awesome insider tips.

 

If you weren’t able to make it, or if you just need a refresher, here’s a recap of what the editors had to say about making yourself stand out among the sea of applicants. Watch out for their pet peeves!

- For summer internships, send your application around February to mid-March; for fall, aim for mid-June. If you don’t hear back, follow up! It’s okay to re-send your application two or three times in case they missed it.
- In the subject line of the e-mail, be specific about what position and department you’re interested in.
Keep a cover letter succinct and put it right in the body of an e-mail instead of an attachment. In the letter, be sure to explain why you like the particular magazine you’re applying for and highlight some of their features or articles you found interesting.

- Keep your resume one page and only mention relevant experience (sorry, that summer job at Wet Seal doesn’t cut it!). Make sure there are NO typos and grammatical errors!

- You don’t have to be a communications or journalism major to apply. But writing skills are always a plus, especially for websites. Consider making a blog, writing for campus publications, and, of course, contributing to Lit Up to get awesome clips.

 

Once you get called for an interview, every moment is a chance to build that lasting (and good!) impression:

- Business casual attire is best. You don’t need to be too formal with a three piece suit, but don’t look like you just got pulled off the street. As Mai Hoang recommended, “kitten heels, a pencil skirt, and sweater are all you need.” When in doubt, choose professional over trendy attire (no leggings!).

- Don’t arrive too early for an interview. Editors are busy people and need to stick to their schedules. Ten minutes before the interview will do. If you come late, make sure you acknowledge it and apologize.

- Show your passion! Letting the interviewer know what specific department you’re interested in may be better than being open to doing “everything.”

- Know the in’s and out’s of the magazine you’re applying for. Elisa Benson said she likes to ask questions such as, “Who do you think should be on our next cover?”

- Buy a box of “Thank You” cards. Hand-write and mail them to the interviewers. This creates a personal and memorable connection.

- Check the privacy settings of anything you post on the Internet, whether it be your Facebook profile or your personal blog. What editors find on a Google search can affect your image.

 

Of course, it’s just as important to make yourself stand out once you start your internship:

 - Don’t hover over your editor’s desk or ask them repeatedly for projects. Keep an eye out for their mood and take notice if they’re on a tight deadline. Sending an e-mail works best.

- Always go above and beyond in all assignments. Again, no typos and grammatical errors!

- Make friends with other interns. They’re the ones who can help you with little issues. Be as resourceful as you can before having to ask your editor for help. Remember, it’s your job to make their jobs easier! Ask a fellow intern how to use the fax machine or how to un-jam the printer.

 

As a current intern, what these editors had to say was refreshing and completely dead-on about the magazine industry. I wish I had attended this event last year! Their tips on interning can be applied to any field, and the event offered a great way to get your foot into the industry by networking directly with hiring editors of major magazines. Be sure to attend future WIC events to start getting those dream jobs!

–Angela Bilog

“Eleven Minutes” with Jay McCarroll April 8, 2008

Even though it’s post-season “Project Runway,” I’m still scouring the Internet and watching every marathon, filling those Thursday night voids. One website that has managed to assuage my withdrawal is projectrungay.blogspot.com. On Friday, bloggers Tom and Lorenzo posted one of the most honest and lengthiest interviews with reality TV “star” Jay McCarroll about his upcoming documentary, “Eleven Minutes.”

“Eleven Minutes” filmed Jay for an entire year until the debut of his Spring ‘07 Collection, “Transport.” The documentary shows the lengthy and strenuous process Jay went through in making his collection, interacting with the press and, most importantly, making himself known as a designer and not merely a reality TV star.

Judging from the documentary’s trailer, I think “Eleven Minutes” finds a way to transcend the slew of reality TV we’ve had to digest for the past few years. Of all reality TV I’ve sifted through, “Project Runway” definitely seems to be the most grounded on featuring contestants with actual talent and demanding hard work from them. However, like “America’s Next Top Model,” “Rock of Love,” “The Bachelor” and any other show that hoists a winning couple or contestant each season, “Project Runway” has yet to produce someone who rises above the status of 15-minutes-of-fame reality TV star. “Eleven Minutes” may be what Jay needs to elevate his status as a true designer.

Jay’s decision to opt out of Project Runway’s $100,000 prize and Banana Republic mentorship has kept the media and fans intrigued. He’s defying our expectations of a reality TV winner; instead of voraciously using up his 15 minutes of fame, he’s moving himself into the industry at his own pace. He chose to live in the calmer countryside in Philadelphia, teaching at Philadelphia University, rather than in the high-fashion and pressured city of New York. Yet he’s still got that spark draws us to him years after his “Project Runway” success.

I absolutely loved his quote about the fashion industry during his interview: “Every six months you have to come up with new ideas, and the copying and regurgitating and reiterating and ‘Florals are in!’ ‘No! Florals are out!’ And trying to tell everyone they need to have a little black dress in their closet. It’s just … wear what you want to wear, have good dinner parties, you know? Like there’s a much bigger picture than that little world that I was being pushed into.” A reassuring comment that every starving college student and aspiring fashionista like me needs to hear every now and then.

Upcoming screenings of “Eleven Minutes” are taking place in Philidelphia, Toronto, Miami and Boston. But keep checking jaymccarrolldocumentary.com for updates. Hope they come to New York!

–Angela Bilog

GET AN INTERNSHIP! April 3, 2008

News From Around the Media World April 2, 2008

Kanye’s Travel Agency?

Advertising Age

Kanye West is leveraging his brand to launch a travel website this week, KanyeTravel.com. It aims to offer low airfares, hotels and rental cars.

NAD Tells Wal-Mart to Stop Savings Claim

Advertising Age

The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus is recommending that Wal-Mart discontinue the implied advertising claim that consumers can save $2,500 annually by shopping at Wal-Mart.

-Tiffany Chang