News from AdPR@UGA

ADPR Distinguished Visiting Scholar discusses effects of violent humor

2012-02-16T08:19:00.004-05:00

Professor Marc Weinberger, AdPR Distinguished Visiting Scholar, described his research that explores the effects of violent humor in advertising. Dr. Weinberger delivered his talk Tuesday, February 14, at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Weinberger, an emeritus professor of marketing at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, is the foremost academic expert on humor in advertising. In 2006, Weinberger coauthored Humor in Advertising: A Comprehensive Analysis, and has published many humor articles in the academic literature.

Dr. Weinberger described how the presence of violent humor in advertising has increased during the last few years. He then detailed two studies he recently conducted that assess the effects of violent humor. Interestingly, women respond more positively to low levels of violent humor compared to men. Men's responses were the same regardless of the level of violence. Dr. Weinberger discussed these findings and their implications for advertisers.

Recent Alum Spotlight: Molly McFerran

2012-02-15T11:56:00.007-05:00

Molly McFerran graduated from UGA in 2007 with degrees in Public Relations and Spanish and is now living in Atlanta.

What are you doing now?

I am currently working at The Reynolds Group, a boutique public relations and marketing firm based in Atlanta and Charleston, S.C., that specializes in the restaurant, hospitality, and lifestyle industries and represents clients across the Southeast.

What is your favorite Grady memory?

Being on the Bateman team and winning first place at the national competition my senior year.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

My best advice would be to apply for and have as many internships as you can. As you get further along in your college career and have more flexibility with class scheduling, try to have classes all on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday so you can have completely open days for internships. Try to intern in different situations to see what you like best and where you can use your talents — in-house at a non-profit, small agency, large agency, communications department of a large company, etc. Be sure to intern in different industries, too, from fashion and hospitality to technology and healthcare. You don't know what you like, or don't like, until you have different experiences. When you are an intern, take initiative and go above and beyond what is asked of you. Try to be as proactive as possible, taking the extra step to present multiple solutions to a problem or question if one isn't crystal clear. Think outside of the box and be creative. Also, be resourceful! There are so many opportunities to find the right answer or look for examples; it's okay to ask questions, but it's always nice when an intern demonstrates that he or she has exhausted all other options before asking.

Learn how to manage your time. So much about PR is prioritizing tasks and then re-prioritizing them when something else, often unexpected, develops. You constantly have to juggle projects at work, and also juggle work and your personal life, so it's best to work on your time management skills while in college so you are more prepared after graduation.

Sports Promotion: Home run for new ADPR class

2012-02-07T12:14:00.008-05:00

If the Sports Promotion and Publicity class is any indication, Grady College's new Sports Journalism initiative is sure to be a hit. Students gain firsthand knowledge of the various components of the sports communications world through a unique combination of experience, diversity, collaboration, and emersion.

Instructor and sports promotion specialist Bryan Harris brings his own years of experience of working with the Atlanta based PR firm, Jackson Spalding. In addition, students hear from guest speakers, such as sports journalist Welch Suggs, ESPN reporter Michelle Steele (joining via Skype) and others who share their expertise on topics such as athletic team promotion, corporate sports sponsorships, athlete management, media relations, contemporary sports writing and event planning.

To supplement the classroom experience, students keep up with current events through a subscription to the Sports Business Journal, as well as contribute to a blog in collaboration with Grady's sports writing class. Senior PR major Tina Theriault said, "The weekly assignments are not only a helpful way to stay engaged and be prepared for class discussion, but they are interesting! I've always been driven to work in the sports industry, so I am looking forward to the real-world insight the multitude of speakers will provide."

The classroom diversity of notable as well. While all of the students are Grady majors, not everyone showed an initial interest in sports promotion. Senior advertising and graphic design major Caroline Eddleman said, "I took this class because I needed another Grady elective, but I have been so impressed with how Mr. Harris goes out of his way each class to make connections between what we are discussing and my interests. He has really opened my eyes to the limitless options available to me."

Other guest professionals this semester include SI.com's Holly Anderson; UGA Sports Information Director Claude Felton; Atlanta Falcons's VP, Football Communications Reggie Roberts; The Coca-Cola Company's VP, Public Affairs and Communications Scott Williamson; Bloomberg News' Mike Buteau; CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell; Jackson Spalding's Cultivation Team and several others.

—Carly Nash

Pictured above: Spencer Hall of the blog Every Day Should be Saturday and Holly Anderson, blogger for SI.com lead the class with Bryan Harris

Ad students conduct taste research for Bob Evans

2012-02-01T08:50:00.004-05:00

Meat and potato lovers in the Grady College were in heaven January 26. Dr. Strausbaugh-Hutchinson's capstone campaigns course took time out to 'discover farm-fresh goodness'.

This semester, the ADPR 5740 students are tackling an integrated marketing plan for Bob Evans Food Products, and will be developing communications geared toward consumers of the brand's frozen and refrigerated offerings. The products are a nationally distributed line extension of the popular mid west Bob Evans restaurant.

The capstone students, along with faculty, staff, and many other Grady College students, were able to sample everything from savory sage sausage links, to the brand's original roll sausage, to thick-cut bacon, to garlic mashed potatoes. "Yum," said Department Head Tom Reichert. "Bob Evans can be apart of my diet any day of the week. A big thanks to Matt Wilson at SBC Advertising for making this possible."

It was a delicious way to truly get to know their client's products and to get a taste of what they'll be selling this semester!

UGA's PRSSA hosts third "PR Workout" to benefit campus organizations

2012-01-31T17:56:00.007-05:00

On Saturday, January 28th, PRSSA hosted its third annual PR Workout, a conference aimed at teaching student leaders how to implement effective PR strategies in their organizations. PRSSA wanted to serve the UGA community by sharing its PR knowledge and expertise with fellow student organizations. At this year's event, PRSSA members led five informational sessions in the following subject areas: Event Planning and Fundraising, Media Relations, Social Media, Member Recruitment and Campus Legalities. Over 28 student leaders attended the conference and learned how to improve their organizations' communication efforts. Whether they learned the ins and outs of Twitter or the secret to pitching a press release, attendees walked away with something.

Not only did PR Workout serve as an educational opportunity for individuals, but the student leaders also benefited from networking. Many organizations were represented, from the Asian Children Mentoring Program to the UGA HEROs organization. In additiona, attendees discussed issues with each other, offered solutions to others' problems and asked session leaders for their input. Overall, this event was another success for PRSSA and UGA's students orgranizations. A big thanks goes out to the PRSSA Diversity Committee for coordinating PR Workout 2012.

AdPR Alum Spotlight: Evita Broughton

2012-01-25T21:05:00.007-05:00

Evita Broughton graduated from UGA in 2004 with a degree in Advertising and a degree in African American Studies. She currently resides in Atlanta.

What are you doing now and how did you get there?

I'm a senior account executive at Fleishman-Hillard, an international communications agency, where I support AT&T's public relations initiatives surrounding device launches and third-party surveys. I began my career in public relations as an intern at Cingular Wireless' corporate headquarters where I worked for two consecutive summers in college. That experience helped me to land my first post-college position as an intern at Edelman, a top public relations firm. At the end of my three-month internship, I was offered a full-time position. During my tenure, I provided writing, grassroots outreach, strategic counsel, event planning, and media relations for Edelman's marquee clients in retail, entertainment, travel/tourism, and consumer health. In 2010, I accepted an offer to join Fleishman-Hillard's team where I am currently employed.

What is your favorite Grady memory?

Lively class discussions during Dr. Brooks' Race, Gender, and Media course. Also, hearing a certain Mid-Western professor pronounce the state Missouri. It cracked me (and the entire class) up every time!

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

Hone your writing skills. Aside from leveraging intentionally-formed relationships, nothing will serve you better. Also, stay abreast of societal trends as well as top headlines in local, national and global news.

ADPR welcomes Dr. Weinberger as visiting scholar

2012-01-20T08:46:00.004-05:00

The Department of Advertising & Public Relations at the University of Georgia is pleased to welcome Dr. Marc Weinberger as an in-residence visiting scholar. During the Spring 2012 semester Dr. Weinberger will be looking for opportunities to work collaboratively with graduate students and faculty in the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication.

Weinberger comes from the Department of Marketing at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he served as Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research in the Isenberg School of Management. Among numerous articles and presentations, Weinberger coauthored Humor in Advertising: A Comprehensive Analysis (2006), a definitive source on the topic.

Weinberger plans to continue working on humor-appeal projects and he has interests in measuring corporate brand attitudes, reputation management, and the effects of negative information in the marketplace. He is available for meetings as well as occasional guest lectures.

ADPR welcomes South Korean professional studying effects of social media

2012-01-03T08:21:00.003-05:00

The ADPR Department welcomes South Korean business journalist Kyoung-Doo Kim for a year-long professional visit. Kim has over 11 years of professional experience and currently serves as a financial staff reporter at the Seoul Daily News, one of the leading newspapers in South Korea.

During his stay at Grady College, Kim plans to investigate the influence of emerging media on global corporations. Specifically, Kim is interested in the effects of social media and mobile marketing from public relations and branding perspectives. Kim is living in Watkinsville with his wife and 7-year old daughter.

Alum named one of 15 Top PR People to Watch

2011-12-08T21:46:00.007-05:00

Congratulations to Dawn Brun, Grady PR alum and account manager at Porter Novelli Atlanta. Brun was recently named one of the "Top 15 PR People to Watch" by PR News.

Brun currently serves at account manager for clients Bayer Crop Science and T-Mobile. Also, for an HP Innovation Summit, she developed a custom experience involving cupcakes and QR codes to demonstrate how HP technology contributes to custom packaging.

AdPR Alum Spotlight: Kristen Green

2011-11-30T14:20:00.010-05:00

Kristen Green graduated from Grady in 2007. She earned a degree in Advertising and a New Media Certificate.

What are you doing now and how did you get there?

I am currently a Content Strategist at JWT in Atlanta. After graduating from Grady in December 2007, I began my career in Account Service at JWT in February of 2008. I learned a lot about the advertising business in my first few years, as I had the opportunity to work across multiple clients that spanned the gamut from cell phones to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In December of 2009, I hopped the fence and began my foray into Digital Strategy as an Assistant Digital Strategist. Digital Strategy was a perfect fit for me and I was now able to apply both my passion for all things digital as well as the knowledge I had gained through Grady's New Media Institute. I was able to use my nerd love for apps and gadgets to make recommendations and positive impacts on clients' businesses.

In May of 2010, I was promoted to Content Strategist on the United States Marine Corps account. Not only is it awesome to work for such a prestigious client like the Marine Corps, but the burgeoning field of content strategy has been a fun field to dive into head first. I've had the opportunity to do so many things in my role ranging from drafting the content for a major web redesign to all the way to being on a Marine Corps base collecting video content that will live on our websites. I have loved every minute of it. Digital and content strategy is where I have found my niche, and I am excited to see what the future holds as I plow forward in my career.

What is your favorite Grady memory?

Although walking across the stage and receiving my diploma and Grady pin will always be precious to me, I have to say that my favorite Grady memories are the long nights I spent in the halls of the building formerly known as the SLC (now the MLC) working all night on projects with fellow Grady classmates. Putting in those long hours on projects with a team is an exact replica of what you will be introduced to in the real world of advertising: teamwork, collaboration, long nights, lots of red bull and making memories that last a lifetime.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

Soak it all in. Campus. Athens. Football games between the hedges. Ringing the Chapel Bell. Lectures from brilliant professors. The ability to sleep in until noon. The vast array of knowledge from professors and peers. Soak it all in. College goes by so fast. The irony is that while you are in college, you can't wait to get out into the "real world", but once you're out, you would give anything to go back. So savor the late night cram sessions and take advantage of this time in your life to focus solely on learning and bettering yourself.

Go above and beyond in your projects. Seek out internships, opportunities to study abroad and be a hand raiser when called upon to go the extra mile. Not only do these things look good on a resume, but they make you a better person. When you go to those first terrifying interviews you'll learn that its less about what awesome accolades you can cram onto one piece of 8.5" x11" paper, and its more about the experiences that have molded you into who you are. People want to work with a team player who is passionate about what they do. So be passionate, soak it all in and relish away the days that you get to walk down the hallowed halls of Grady and across our beloved Athens campus before you move on to the "real world."

PR student selected for Lockheed Martin Communications Leadership Program

2011-11-29T23:59:00.007-05:00

Congratulations to Heather Kevern for being chosen to participate in the 2012 Lockheed Martin Communications Leadership Program. Heather is a PR Major and the current PR Director of PRSSA. She was one of three students to be chosen for the program which is a two-year rotational commitment. During this time, Heather will have the opportunity to be a key contributor to her teams, applying her public relations knowledge and experience, writing and interpersonal skills, and leadership aptitude to the tasks at hand.

Heather joins a long list of UGA PR students who have participated in this elite program.

To learn more about this program, click here.

PHD CEO Andrew McLean visits UGA's Department of Advertising & Public Relations

2011-11-29T22:00:00.007-05:00

Andrew McLean, CEO of PHD (US), today visited with UGA students and faculty. McLean first spoke about the future of media in his talk "Media - Now and Beyond the Horizon." Specifically, McLean offered predictions about technology and media and challenged students to use technology more creatively.

McLean also was a featured speaker at Cannes Lions Night at UGA, hosted by UGA's Ad Club. He emphasized the importance of attending Cannes Lions and taking advantage of Grady's study abroad program to Cannes Lions.

"If you want to turbo-charge your career and entry into the profession," said McLean, "a week at Cannes Lions will do it."

During his visit, McLean also met with faculty, Dean Clark and Parker Middleton, and a select group of students interested in pursuing a media career.

Grady welcomes Chris Hall, CEO of BBDO Atlanta, to Board of Trust

2011-11-21T14:23:00.007-05:00

The Department of Advertising & Public Relations and the Grady College are pleased to welcome Chris Hall, CEO of BBDO Atlanta, to the Grady Board of Trust. The board serves as an advisory arm for Grady College.

Hall brings his expertise in advertising to the board as he joins other notables in the journalism and mass communication industries.

Chris Hall has worked in the advertising industry for over 20 years. Before being called to head BBDO Atlanta, Hall worked at J. Walter Thompson as Management Director and Director of Business Development. Hall has spoken at several universities in addition to UGA. He has spoken to our very own UGA Ad Club and talked with Grady students at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival this past summer.

Ad Club takes on the Windy City

2011-11-15T21:03:00.008-05:00

Recently, 16 members of UGA's Ad Club headed north to Chicago. From October 15th to October 19th, the students and their advertising faculty escort, Senior Lecturer Dr. Jennifer Griffith, participated in the Chicago advertising agency tour. This year the group was pleased to have Advertising and Public Relations Department Head Dr. Tom Reichert, AdPR's Dr. Karen King, and assistant dean for enterprise and development, Dr. Parker Middleton, join them on their adventure.

The group made stops at Starcom, Digital Kitchen, Tapestry, Leo Burnett, and McGarry Bowen. They also visited Advertising Age's Chicago office, Edelman Public Relations, and brand activation shops, Craftsman Experience and Kenmore Live Studio.

"Hopefully (fingers-crossed) I will be hired in Chicago and get to give back to UGA Ad Club by hosting them next time they tour the Windy City."

Ad Club first visited Chicago in 2007. The Chicago advertising agency tour alternates with the New York trip, so Ad club will journey back to the Big Apple in 2012. For the time being, though, it seems that the trip made a big impression on the advertising students. "I had strongly considered moving back to my home state of Texas upon graduating, but now I've decided I should take advantage of my youth and take a chance on another city (with Chicago being at the top of the list)," said senior Nicole Nazarenus. "Hopefully (fingers-crossed) I will be hired in Chicago and get to give back to UGA Ad Club by hosting them next time they tour the Windy City."

AdPR Recent Alum Spotlight: Kaley Meier

2011-11-01T20:19:00.006-04:00

Kaley Meier graduated from UGA May 2010, with a degree in Advertising and a Comparative Literature minor. She currently resides in Chicago and works at Leo Burnett's Arc Worldwide.

What are you doing now and how did you get there?

I am an Assistant Account Executive on the Procter & Gamble account at Arc Worldwide in Chicago. Arc is the shopper marketing agency within Leo Burnett. I was well into my job search when I graduated in May and I managed to keep in touch with a contact I had in the HR department at Leo Burnett. Although nothing was available at the time, I sent him emails of interesting ad articles/campaigns every other week for a few months and mailed him a new marketing book I was reading so I would stay on the top of his mind.

When a position opened up for an entry level account person at Arc, I had a few phone interviews and was hired shortly afterwards. I stepped into the office on August 15th and have been learning, developing, and loving my position here ever since.

What are your responsibilities as Assistant Account Executive at Arc Worldwide?

A position on the account side is a great opportunity to work with every dimension of the business from creative and strategy to brand management and production. I help coordinate a number of in-store executions including product trays, displays, coupons, and online e-commerce.

My team is founded in shopper behavior and a constant drive to grab the attention of the shopper while he/she is in the store or shopping online. Shopper marketing is one of the fastest growing specialties in advertising because it relates directly to the point of purchase. Each day is different than the one before and I can honestly say I look forward to coming in every morning and contributing to great work.

What is your favorite Grady memory?

Grady has an amazing program, but the faculty is by far the program's greatest asset. My favorite Grady memory definitely involves Dr. Peggy Kreshel and Dr. Kirsten Strausbaugh-Hutchinson's campaigns class. The campaign assignment was challenging, time-consuming, and intense, but having that experience as an undergraduate was invaluable.

During that semester, most of my dinners can from a vending machine. I think I single-handedly supported Jittery Joes' business and I had a long-term relationship with the media wing in the MLC, but I made great work and that's what this business is all about. My team's finished product might not be Effie-worthy, but the guidance and feedback from Drs. Kreshel and Strausbaugh that we received along the way is so applicable to the industry. I can not thank them enough for preparing me for this career.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

The best advice I can give to any student involved in Grady's program is to stay curious. The main point of difference that set me apart in the interview process was the way I sold my sense of curiosity and passion for the ad industry rather than just pitching myself as a potential employee.

Grady provides a great platform for you to excel in the industry, but its your sense of curiosity to learn more about what makes a campaign great that is going to give you an edge in this industry. Going above and beyond a basic cover letter and resume will make you a more desirable candidate in the job market and, when you actually get a job, will lead to great, insightful work that positively impacts the brand and its consumers. Best of luck!

AdPR Internship Spotlight: Kelley Kirstein

2011-10-25T21:14:00.006-04:00

Over the summer, Advertising major, Kelley Kirstein interned with Comedy Central in New York City.

What were your responsibilities at Comedy Central this past summer?

I provided overall support to the corporate communications department team. I also conducted Internet research for production of the network's daily press digest and compiled the daily press digest. My other responsibilities included creating and maintaining contact lists, drafting press releases with the supervision of a publicist, attending wekly staff meetings and other show-related meetings, and DVD/tape dubs.

What valuable information or skills did you learn at your internship?

I learned about important programs like Cision, Critical Mention, Excel, and Photoshop as well as the ins and outs of the entertainment and cable industries. We were taught how to work as a team and to be creative when coming up with solutions for public relations and marketing related problems. MTV networks also offered many informational sessions for its interns that also taught me about the importance of networking and gave workshops on how to make the most of your internship experience and improve your resumé.

Did anything you learned in year Advertising or PR classes aid you in your internship?

My Advertising and PR classes helped in teaching me the language used in the industry, but for the most part, I would say that a good deal had to be learned on the job through understanding the company I worked for and how the operated.

What was the best part of your internship experience?

The best part of my experience was all of the connections I made, within the press department and beyond, even in some of the MTV Network's other channels. I learned so many things about the way the entertainment industry works because of how helpful and open my supervisors were, and how much they wanted me to succeed.

What advice do you have for other AdPR students seeking an internship?

The advice I have for other students is network, network, NETWORK. Our fields are largely based on how our personalities mesh with the companies we are interviewing with, and it is important to make personal connections with everyone you meet because you never know who will one day be in a position to help you out, or who already is! Do not be afraid to reach out and ask for informational interviews because the most important thing I learned is that to get a job or internship, you just need to get your foot in the door and follow up. Once you are in, it is much easier to move around to the position you most want to be in!

AdClub and PRSSA join forces to offer an exciting networking event

2011-10-25T20:42:00.007-04:00

Professionals, students, PRSSA members, and AdClub members are getting ready for one of the biggest on-campus networking opportunities of the year—ADPR Connection 2011 on Tuesday, November 8th in Tate Grand Hall. This event is free to all participants thanks to the generosity of Porter Novelli and BBDO Atlanta.

ADPR Connection will begin with a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. for professionals, AdClub and PRSSA seniors, faculty and staff. A panel of corporate leaders will talk about where the industry is headed in the next 10 years. Following the luncheon, all interested students can attend a wide range of workshop panels for both Advertising and PR that will help them expand their knowledge and skills.

For a detailed list of these workshops, please click here.

The highlight of this event will be the Career Fair, which will take place from 3:30-5:00p.m. Students will be able to hone their networking skills with professionals from more than 50 companies and professionals can use their time to meet their future interns and entry-level employees.

To see a complete list of attending companies, click here.

ADPR Connection does not stop there. There will be a special mixer from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Tap Room downtown where students and professionals can get to know each other in a more casual setting. The Tap Room is located at 247 E. Washington Street.

For more information on how to register, what to bring, or any other inquiries, please click here.

PRSSA President Nash wins national internship award

2011-10-25T20:15:00.014-04:00

Congratulations to University of Georgia Public Relations major and PRSSA President, Carly Nash for winning the Altschul Champions for PRSSA Outstanding Internship Award!

This award honors a PRSSA member who has achieved outstanding success in a public relations internship and demonstrates academic excellence and strong practical performance in the field. Nash was nominated by Dr. Jones for her internship with Coca Cola this past summer and received the award at the National PRSSA Conference last week in Orlando.

To learn more about the qualifications for this award, click here.

Ad Major selected as PSO Scholar

2011-10-18T22:25:00.007-04:00

Congratulations to Advertising major Amelia Marable for being named a Public Service & Outreach Scholar!

Because UGA is a land- and sea-grant institution, the university seeks to improve the quality of life in Georgia through 8 Public Service & Outreach units. Each year, 10 students are selected to intern with these PSO units. In the fall, the student scholars spend time at each of these facilities, touring them and learning about their history. They also mean with PSO mentors and gain insight on how the mentors came into their careers in Public Service and Outreach. According to Amelia,

"My favorite part of the fall meetings is hearing the mentors' stories. I have realized that no matter what a person studies, their is a career in Public Service & Outreach that will suit their strengths and interests."

During the spring semester, the student scholars spend 150 hours obtaining real-world experience and help UGA reach farther "beyond the arch." Amelia was placed in an internship with the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel. In January, she will officially begin her internship, working under the Department Head of Conference and Event Planning. She will spend most of her time next semester working in the conference center, learning what it takes to plan and execute a conference and creating new ways to promote the Georgia Center through social media.

"It will be my goal to make UGA, Athens, and the online world more aware of the The Georgia Center and all the resources it has to offer. I am so excited to begin!"

To learn more about the PSO Student Scholar Program click here.

AdPR Alum Spotlight: Amanda Pack

2011-10-06T16:38:00.009-04:00

Amanda Pack graduated in 2009 with an Advertising degree from the University of Georgia. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

Current Title: National Media Planner for Kia, Initiative

What are you doing now and how did you get there?

After I graduated from UGA, I followed the employment opportunities to Atlanta where I acquired a job with Initiative on the Kia regional account. I had not intended to get involved with media planning, nor with an automotive client, but the stars aligned and I soon discovered that the structure of the work suited my strengths and the client was and is a rising star in the world of advertising. I was very fortunate to serve as both an assistant and media planner for Kia in the Atlanta office for two years. However, having lived in California briefly in college, I decided that getting my feet wet in a larger advertising market would benefit me both personally and professionally. After exhausting my list of contacts and interviewing with various companies, I was hired as the National Media Planner for Kia in Los Angeles at Initiative in July of this year. Both Initiative and Kia have become part of my extended family and I look forward to continuing to watch the business grow in 2012!

What is your favorite Grady memory?

My favorite Grady memory is undoubtably my work with HSBT. I had the privilege of serving as an Account Executive on the Canopy Studio team and it was there that I began to immerse myself in the art of client/agency interaction. I was extremely fortunate to work with both a team and client that were excited about the relationship and saw the innumerable benefits of advertising. Working with an unconventional client exposed me to the idea that advertising is not only a necessity for big budget corporations, but can equally transform a non-profit or charitable organization as well.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

I would like to stress that one should never underestimate the power of networking. I distinctly recall that cliché recited in nearly all of my Grady classes and extracurricular activities and sincerely doubting its importance. However, without networking and cultivating relationships in the business, I would not have achieved the professional successes of my career thus far. Secondly, make no excuses for yourself. If you are focused and determined to achieve what you set out to do, you will obtain your goals without question. Don't limit yourself... expand your mind.

AdPR Intern Spotlight: Jefferson Hopkins

2011-09-25T13:58:00.008-04:00

This past summer, Jefferson worked in New York as an Advertising and PR intern at Tom Ford.

What is Tom Ford?

Tom Ford is a leading menswear and womenswear fashion designer. He is also an Oscar-nominated director for his film A Single Man.

What were your responsibilities at Tom Ford this summer?

As a PR and Advertising intern, I was responsible for all of the "hard labor" tasks that you don't necessarily need a degree to do. I packed clothes for celebrities, ran clothing and accessories to photo shoots throughout the city, represented Tom Ford by meeting with magazine editors and stylists that my bosses didn't have time to meet with and took pictures of products for Mr. Ford.

What valuable information or skills did you learn at your internship?

Treat everyone you meet with respect. You never know what someone does or who they know.

Did anything you learned in your Advertising classes aid you in your internship this summer?

Mots of the stuff I did at Tom Ford required on-site training and can't be taught in the classroom. Dr. Reichert's emphasis on sex in advertising did, however, lead me to Tom Ford and I am grateful for that.

What was the best part of your internship experience?

The best part of working at Tom Ford was learning how things work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. It was great to see how much work it is for a company to do everything in-house. The advertising team did the creative and media planning all on their own and Mr. Ford photographed the campaigns himself.

UGA doctoral student publishes brand Twitter analysis in Journal of Interactive Advertising

2011-09-21T22:21:00.009-04:00

Congratulations to new Grady Advertising doctoral student Eun Sook Kwon for having her article "Follow Me! Global Marketers' Twitter Use" published in the Journal of Interactive Advertising. Eun Sook Kwon and Dr. Yung Jin Sung (University of Texas at Austin), a Grady Advertising doctoral alum, explored how social media have grown into powerful marketing communications tools in the global economy.

Kwon and Sung undertook a content-analysis of the Twitter use of 44 different brands including Starbucks, BlackBerry, MTV, Coca-Cola, Nokia, and McDonalds. They found that marketers try to introduce human personality characteristics into their brands by using human representatives, personal pronouns, and verbs in the imperative form. The analysis also showed that information like brand names and redirecting cues frequently appear in tweets for these brands. Overall, the researchers discoverd that marketers tend to exhibit brand presence and personality through their Twitter accounts, which allows them to build relationships with current and potential consumers.

Read the full article here.

Professional Blogger Speaks at Ad Lecture Series

2011-09-13T15:26:00.004-04:00

Award-Winning blogger, Mir Kamin spoke at the Ad Lecture Series on September 1st. Her talk, "Pitch Perfect: How to Woo Blogs and Influence People," discussed the ways bloggers are approached by advertising and public relations professionals. She talked about the best ways for advertisers to approach bloggers and offered advice to those who are thinking of starting blogs.
Kamin maintains two popular blogs, wouldashoulda.com and wantnot.net.

AdPR Alum Spotlight: Whitney Jones

2011-09-12T11:52:00.010-04:00

Whitney Jones graduated in 2006 from UGA with a degree in Advertising. She currently resides in Atlanta.

What are you doing now and how did you get there?

Currently, I'm a Communications Specialist in Atlanta at the Emory University Department of Medicine. Before that, I was a Marketing Strategist and Internal Communication Specialist with WellStar Health System in Marietta for over four years (January 2007-June 2011). I got my start with WellStar as a Marketing and Publications intern back in August 2006.

What is your favorite Grady memory?

My favorite Grady memory would have to be my summer 2006 capstone course. There were several students unable to take the Advertising Campaigns course during the spring semester due to class size limitations. Grady added an additional course during the summer to allow for us to graduate with our class. Since it was a summer course, my classmates and I became really close and truly embraced our final project. I think having the class during the summer gave me a greater respect for the project and the processes it involved.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

Be sure to put yourself in a position where you are always gaining experience and connections. It may seem difficult at times, but if you are willing to put in the time and effort, the hard work pays off.

AdPR professor investigates sports fans' use of social media

2011-09-06T20:52:00.012-04:00

Do sports fans on Facebook have a better experience socially than fans not on social networks cites? That is a question one of AdPR's new professors sought to answer.

Dr.Phua's article entitled, "Use of Social Networking Sites by Sports Fans: Implications for the Creation and Maintenance of Social Capital" was accepted for publication in the academic publication Journal of Sports Media.

His study examined the use of Facebook by fans of the football team at a major southwestern university, and its relation to sports fan identification, collective self-esteem, satisfaction with life and bridging and bonding social capital. Dr. Phua sought to discover if Social networking sites (SNSs) act as a communication channel to connect sports fans with others in their existing offline social networks, meet new friends who also support the same team, and engage with the larger community of fans.

Survey results (N=395) indicated that intensity of SNS usage had a stronger effect on bridging than bonding social capital. SNS usage also interacted with identification, collective self esteem and satisfaction with life to influence bridging social capital. SNS usage thereby enhanced fans' online experience, allowing them to connect to fans of their favorite teams, while also helping to maintain their existing offline relationships.