AdPR@UGA Blog

AdPR students visit tech industry giants during trip to Silicon Valley

2017-01-30T12:50:00.002-05:00

AdPR students and faculty at eBay headquarters in San Jose, California.

AdPR students looking to enhance their education were selected for a 3-day immersive experience in California’s Silicon Valley over winter break. Through the new Grady AdPR partnership with eBay and help of UGA alum Suzy Deering (CMO of eBay), students were connected with a number of industry giants including eBay, Facebook, Google, Pinterest, Imgur, and Kiip. Students also toured the Verizon Innovation Center to see demonstrations of some of the latest technology innovations for communications. Program participants had their marketing, sales, and tech industry questions answered by leading experts in the field.

Students had exclusive access to new technologies in beta testing from Verizon Innovations and Google. After experiencing first-hand facial recognition software at the Verizon Innovation Center and Tango in action at Google, senior Advertising major Caroline Fowler said, “It was exciting to see the development of new technology and discuss how it is going to change the future of the advertising industry.”

AdPR students talk with Brian Wong, founder and CEO of Kiip.

The group was also introduced to the robust landscape of business in Silicon Valley and fostered connections with professionals in the field. The students did Grady Proud. According to Brooke Montgomery of AOL, “The UGA students were extremely passionate about marketing and advertising. They asked extremely thoughtful industry-related questions.” AdPR faculty also enjoyed watching their students develop a greater interest and awareness of the successes and challenges of a start-up business. “You could tell immediately how invested the professors were in their students’ futures,” said Montgomery. “It was delightful to interact with faculty and hear about the extensive curriculum at UGA. All of the students were already so knowledgeable about virtual reality which was a pleasant surprise!”

AdPR students and faculty at Google headquarters in
Mountain View, California

Caroline Youngs, a senior Advertising major, said her favorite aspect of the trip was learning about the new opportunities within the virtual and augmented reality space. She is specifically interested in the marketing of these new technologies. “The networking opportunities provided by the University, and connections that were made as a result, were invaluable for us all,” said Youngs. “Hopefully there will be a future in Silicon Valley for some or all of the participants. It was an incredible educational experience and I am so thankful for the opportunity!” The attentiveness, professionalism, and enthusiasm of the students on this trip truly reflected the excellence of Grady students.

Costa selected for Lockheed Martin's Communication Leadership Development Program

2017-01-10T13:22:00.000-05:00

Ananda Costa, a recent graduate with a degree in public relations and a New Media certificate from Grady College, is one of the top students selected for Lockheed Martin’s two-year rotational Communication Leadership Development Program. Throughout her time in Grady College, Ananda gained valuable experience in her leadership roles including the co-director of AdPR Connection and director of outreach for TEDxUGA.

Lockheed Martin’s Communication Leadership Development Program is designed for selected individuals to gain experience and knowledge in corporate communications. Participants have the opportunity to be immersed in the world’s top advanced technology company. While completing this program, participants are encouraged to continue their education with provided tuition to obtain their master’s degree. Lockheed Martin hopes to mold future company leaders through this exclusive program.

Ananda Costa chosen for Lockheed Martin's Communications Leadership Development Program

“I am so honored to have been selected for Lockheed Martin’s Communications Leadership Development Program. Grady has a proud history of having several students participate in this prestigious initiative. In fact, I couldn’t have gone through the rigorous interview process without the encouragement of exceptional Grady professors, alumni and PRSSA. Having a strong support system of people who helped proof my application materials and provide me with program insights gave me an edge throughout the application process. I am so grateful to Grady and can’t wait to begin my Lockheed journey working with the Space team in Denver soon," said Ananda.

We look forward to supporting Ananda in her future success in Lockheed Martin’s Communication Leadership Development Program.

Two AdPR students selected for AAF’s 2017 Most Promising Multicultural Students Program

2017-01-06T12:29:00.002-05:00

AdPR students Emily Laramy (L) and Savannah Rabin (R) are a part of the AAF's 2017 Class of Most Promising Multicultural Students

Two Grady College advertising majors have been named to the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) 2017 Class of Most Promising Multicultural Students (MPMS).

Emily Laramy and Savannah Rabin are part of the elite group of 50 students from AAF’s college chapter network who were selected for the program through a vetted application process that included essays, letters of recommendation, resumes and specific academic requirements.

“We are so proud that two of our students have received this national recognition,” said Tom Reichert, head of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. “It’s wonderful that the American Advertising Federation has created a program that honors high-achieving multicultural students and also connects them with industry professionals.”

“Being a part of AAF’s Most Promising program means so much to me,” Rabin said. “I have an incredible love for the advertising industry and I feel as though programs like this are pivotal in further enriching its work and culture. To be recognized in this way is such an honor and I feel empowered and emboldened to make valuable contributions to the ad world.”

Laramy echoed that sentiment. “To know I was selected by a panel of judges made up of advertising professionals means my career goals are validated by the very people who make advertising what it is,” she said. “To have AAF invest in my future, and in broadening diversity in advertising as a whole, makes me hopeful for how advertising will change even more in the future.”

In addition to the recognition, the MPMS program includes a four-day industry immersion in New York City designed to promote diversity and inclusion within the advertising and marketing-related industries. It includes professional development workshops, agency visits and a recruiter’s expo.

“We’ve studied their campaigns in class, but being able to engage with the creators of great work is invaluable,” said Laramy, who aspires to work in art direction and ultimately as a creative director in an ad agency. “Also being able to share this experience with other multicultural students, many of whom I know from participating in the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Intern Program this past summer, is an amazing perk as I know we all share a focused passion for advertising and will likely be collaborating together in the industry very soon.”

The industry immersion means a lot to Rabin, as well. “Not only will I be visiting NYC for the first time, but I’ll also have the opportunity to network and converse with professionals eager to find talent,” she said. “I’m interested in both strategic media planning and brand strategy. I am still searching for the best fit for my skill set, so I’m excited to talk to more professionals in regards to my potential.”

Both students attribute much of their success to Grady College and its faculty.

“I feel overwhelmed with gratitude to have professors who go out of their way for students to ensure their success after graduation,” Rabin said. “I am confident I’ll be relying on their expertise well after college as well.”

Added Laramy: “Grady has been a huge part of my journey to join the advertising industry. I applied to UGA in the first place so I could attend Grady, because of its reputation and dedication to the advertising program.”

With an average GPA of 3.6, this year’s MPMS Class represents 34 schools and 20 states across the country, according to a news release from the AAF.

Leading agencies and companies have utilized MPMS year over year as a recruitment tool, including BBDO, DigitasLBi, Google, Leo Burnett, Omnicom Group, Pepsico, Turner and Wieden+Kennedy, among many others.

Kim Nguyen (ABJ ’16) was a member of the 2016 MPMS Class.

Author: Stephanie Moreno

Intern Spotlight: Missy Harris

2016-12-23T17:17:00.000-05:00

Public relations major and AdPR intern Missy Harris

Missy Harris is a senior public relations major pursuing a Spanish minor from Alpharetta, Georgia, and is one two student interns behind the scenes here in the Advertising and Public Relations department of Grady College.

Who has been an impactful teacher during your time within Grady College?

Dr. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru, Dr. A for short, has been the most impactful teacher during my time within Grady College. This past semester I enrolled in Dr. A’s Telenovelas, Culture and Society class. I decided to take this class because it is a Grady elective and a Spanish class; therefore, I could mix both of my interests into one class. At first, I assumed this class would just be an easy class filled with telenovela clips, but I was very wrong. Dr. A made this class so much more. With her passion and constant dedication to helping her students learn, Dr. A inspired me to dive headfirst into exploring telenovelas throughout the world. Dr. A always pushed me and my fellow classmates to never stop learning. Overall, Dr. A is the most compassionate and inspiring in my college career.

What is your dream job after graduation?

Since my start in Grady College as a PR major, I’ve always wanted to work for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in the corporate foundation or PR department. With my passion to help children coupled with my communication skills, I think that working for CHOA would be a perfect fit for me.

What's your favorite spot in Athens?

I love exploring the Normaltown area in Athens. There are always new restaurants and hidden treasures.

Describe valuable lessons or skills that Grady College has helped develop for you.

Grady College has helped me developed my writing and communications skills. Before my classes in Grady, I was terrified to talk in front of crowds of people. However, through my PR classes, I overcame my fear of presenting.

One valuable lesson that I’ve learned while a student in Grady College is to get to know those around you: other students, professor and administrators. Networking is a huge part of an industry but especially in PR.

What has been your most memorable moment during your time as a student within Grady College?

Being a student within Grady College is the best. Grady opens so many doors to so many incredible opportunities. My most memorable moment during my time as a student has to be when I went on the PRSSA Atlanta Agency Tour in 2015. This tour was exclusive to PRSSA members and was an awesome experience. We spent the day visiting some of the top Atlanta agencies: Edelman, MSLGROUP and Jackson Spalding. At each agency, we met with some of the top professionals and toured the office space.

What are your goals for your career after UGA?

After I graduate form UGA, I hope to find a career path in which I can use my knowledge and skills in writing and communication.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

I would love to go to Paris and experience the city magic for myself.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years, I hope to have a career that makes me excited to wake up every morning. I’m driven by my passions, so I want a job that incorporates them into my everyday life.

Additionally, in the next 10 years, I hope to be an active Grady Alumni. I want to give back to the college that gave so much to me.

PRSSA Agency Tours offer students industry insights

2016-12-14T12:32:00.000-05:00

The University of Georgia Public Relations Student Societyof America (PRSSA) Drewry Chapter offers its members the exclusive opportunity to visit major cities including Chicago, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. to visit top agencies.

Erin Shattles, Creative Consultants Director, and Maggie McNerney, PRSSA PR Director, enjoy the Chicago Agency Tour

“The Chicago Agency Tour opened my eyes to the various possibilities for my future in public relations,” said Maggie McNerney, a senior public relations and Spanish major.

Each agency tour presents students with chances to experience and explore the top agencies in major cities in the public relations and advertising industries. Some of the agencies included on the Chicago Fall 2016 Agency Tour were Publicis Media, Energy BBDO and Golin.

The next tour available to students through PRSSA is the Washington, D.C. tour from January 31, 2017 through February 4, 2017. This tour is available to only 16 PRSSA members to network with PR professionals in agencies, government offices and nonprofits.

Information about the Atlanta Spring 2017 Agency Tour will be released in the upcoming months. Students seeking an opportunity in Atlanta are encouraged to watch out for more information soon.

To attend the exclusive agency tours, students are required to be members of PRSSA and to fill out an application for each individual tour. The spots for the tour are limited, so students must make sure to meet the application deadlines. The Washington,D.C. Agency Tour application is Tuesday, December 13. All interested students should consider applying to this incredible opportunity.

Research from AdPR: What draws a sports fan to a particular team - An examination of the "Linsanity" phenomenon

2016-11-01T11:43:00.000-04:00

What draws a sports fan to a particular team? In many cases, geography is certainly a factor – but new research indicates that for international consumers, ethnicity and/or nationality might also play a role.

A study in Sport Management Review examined the 2012 “Linsanity” phenomenon, in which New York Knicks player Jeremy Lin became an NBA sensation after coming off the bench to lead his team to seven consecutive victories and set an individual scoring record. Lin, an Asian-American of Taiwanese descent, garnered considerable attention in Taiwan as well as the U.S., leading researchers to wonder how many of those fans he might have attracted based on shared cultural traits.

The study focused on the process of self-categorization – the extent to which a sports fan self-identifies with a particular team or sports league as an extension of themselves. The researchers deployed an online survey to a sample of Taiwanese college undergraduates and graduate students, as the demographic group most likely to engage in sports-related consumption and discussion. They found that international consumers might first become aware of a player due to his ethnic and/or national identity, and then transfer that attachment to the team for which he or she plays. Ultimately, the self-categorization can extend to the sports league itself.

“These findings have clear implications for the ability of a sports league to expand successfully into new international markets,” says co-author Joe Phua, assistant professor of marketing and advertising at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. “For example, teams might consider recruiting players with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds and leverage those associations via strategic marketing activities, such as hosting sporting events in the foreign countries that identify most closely with those athletes.”

And whatever became of Jeremy Lin? It was a happy ending: On the strength of his record-setting performance, Lin earned a $25 million contract with the Houston Rockets. To view the full article, click here.

Kuan-Ju Chen, Joe Phua (2016). Self-categorization process in sport: An examination of the “Linsanity” phenomenon in Taiwan. Sport Management Review.

Brian Wong Presents Tips on Success from "The Cheat Code" to AdPR

2016-10-31T14:09:00.001-04:00

Brian Wong, Founder and CEO of Kiip

On Friday, Sept. 14, the AdPR Department hosted guest speaker Brian Wong to discuss his new book The Cheat Code: Going Off Script to Get More, Go Faster, and Shortcut Your Way to Success. Wong is the founder and CEO of Kiip, an innovative approach to mobile marketing that helps connect brands to consumers through a rewards platform in mobile games and apps. Named by Forbes as one of the “4 Hot Online Ad Companies to Put on Your Watch List,” Kiip has raised over $32 million in funding to date.

Before launching his own company, Wong played an instrumental role at the social news website Digg.com by forming relationships with key publishers and tech partnerships. Wong received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia by the age of 18 before he jump-started his career.

Wong recently wrote and published a book titled The Cheat Code: Going Off Script to Get More, Go Faster, and Shortcut Your Way to Success to provide tips for success. While at UGA, Wong explained to students a few of his favorite tips from the book.

"Know your super power...put all your energy into your strengths to get noticed and get ahead,” said Wong.

The students gained valuable knowledge for future success through this presentation. A huge thank you to Accelerate Athens for co-promoting this popular event.

AdPR's Executive Advisory Council welcomes new members

2016-10-26T10:20:00.000-04:00

AdPR is honored to welcome the following new members to our Executive Advisory Council. The Council is a diverse group of leading communications professionals committed to supporting the vision of the Department of Advertising & Public Relations, and assist the department with activities that align with the most current industry drivers in both the commercial and public sectors worldwide.

Chowning Johnson, Senior Vice President at Dodge Communications, is a leading strategic advisor to companies that range from new market entrants to early IPOs as well as multinational companies building out healthcare verticals. Her passion in communications, positioning and business growth has spurred the department she oversees to break into new healthcare categories, carving out additional areas of expertise for Dodge, as well as elevating Dodge clients to the national and business media stage.

During her career, Johnson has successfully ushered numerous companies to their ultimate goal of acquisition through thoughtful, fine-tuned strategic communications programs, branding and messaging initiatives, and lead generation campaigns that align with overarching business goals.

Natali Johnson works as a Marketing Director, supporting TNT and TBS networks, at Turner. Natali joined the company in 2007 as a research analyst for TNT, TBS and TCM marketing initiatives. Natali has played an integral role in the development and direction of marketing campaigns for some of the networks' most successful series, including The Last Ship, Rizzoli & Isles, Wrecked and Conan. The campaigns included traditional advertising tactics, as well as social, mobile and digital strategies. Natali has also forged multi-tiered partnerships with various events/festivals that helped build audience engagement within tastemaker communities.

Natali is a proud alumni of the University of Georgia, where she graduated with dual degrees in Telecommunication Arts and Political Science. She was highly active within the Honors program and participated as a student judge in the George Foster Peabody Awards program. Upon graduating,, Natali held account and marketing positions at Cox Media and Lloyds of London.

The success of AdPR Week 2016

2016-10-21T14:47:00.000-04:00

Bryan Reber moderated the "Rio 2016: Sports PR and media on the world stage" panel.

The Grady College's Department of Advertising and Public Relations hosted AdPR Week from Sept. 26 through Sept. 30. The week incorporated speakers and visitors including those from Wieden + Kennedy and Gary McCormick, from GMc Communications, hosted by faculty and student organizations. Each AdPR event exposed students to industry related information and helpful advice from professionals. The week culminated with an exciting panel discussion about the Olympic games entitled, "Rio 2016: Sports PR and media on the world stage". UGA's Olympic silver medalist Chase Kalisz and journalists and public relations professionals, Nicole Chrzanowski, Mike Mobley, Vicki Michaelis and Mark Johnson shared their experiences and lessons learned from the recent Olympics and Paralympics. Hosted by AdPR and Grady Sports Media, AdPR's Bryan Reber moderated this event.

The AdPR Department developed the High Five Donor Recognition Program. This program was designed to provide AdPR students with a fun and easy way to demonstrate their AdPRide. In return for a $5 donation, students and alumni entered to win a three prizes. The first place prize winner, Madison French, received a personal University of Georgia Yeti Cooler. The second winner, Katie Shivers, was awarded a lunch an The National, a restaurant located in downtown Athens, with her favorite AdPR professor. Sophie Ryland, the third place winner, earned a basket filled with "AdPR Swag" including an AdPR cup and notebook.

1st Place - Madison French

2nd Place - Katie Shivers

Third Place - Sophie Ryland

This year's AdPR Week surpassed all goals and expectations by reaching record giving levels. With generous donations throughout the week from students, alumni, faculty and friends of the department, AdPR received over $8,500 in gifts towards the Excellence Fund. This fund will help department initiatives such as providing students with travel grants for study abroad programs, helping with the implementation of the SEE Suite social media monitoring lab and supporting leading research by AdPR's nationally recognized faculty.

AdPR Week 2016 was very successful and the department hopes for continued success in the future. Thank you to all of the generous donors for contributing to the Excellence Fund.

Moxie leads Fall content strategy workshop for AdPR students

2016-10-06T13:53:00.000-04:00

The winning team of AdPR students with Moxie representatives.

On Sept. 30, 2016, Grady College's Department of Advertising and Public Relations hosted Moxie, a digital marketing agency, for an N>GEN content strategy workshop.

AdPR seniors were selected to participate in the workshop that is held once a semester. The seniors broke out in instructional sessions and then worked in groups to present campaigns to the Moxie representatives.

Through this program, students are able to expand their creative interests and digital knowledge.

To view the full article, click here.
Written by Stephanie Moreno

AdPR Alumni Spotlight: Jasmine Clayton

2016-10-06T10:02:00.000-04:00

Jasmine Clayton, Communication Specialist at Aon Hewitt

One of our newest alumni, Jasmine Clayton, is a May 2016 Grady College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in public relations, minor in Spanish and certificate in New Media. She currently works as a communication specialist at Aon Hewitt, a human resources consulting firm. Through her role at Aon, she provides collaborative strategic consulting on client teams to help engage readers and drive behavior for employees. Before joining Aon, Jasmine had five communication-based internships during her undergraduate career and studied abroad with “UGA en Buenos Aires.” She interned with the Grady College Department of Experiential Learning, Southern Company, Goodwill of North Georgia and completed two internships with Open Hand Atlanta.

AdPR Department: How did you secure your job at Aon Hewitt?

Jasmine Clayton: My current position was posted in the Grady Jobs & Internships Newsletter at the time, so I applied through the exclusive job posting. I had been interested in human resources (HR) communication for about a year, and when I read the job description was a communication role within an HR consulting firm, I couldn’t help but think it was tailored just for me. So, I applied and made sure my cover letter and resume were tailored just for the job. To prepare for my on-site interview, I compiled some of my best writing and design work into a tangible portfolio and printed out a copy for each interviewer. I also practiced behavioral interview responses, made sure I was familiar with the role and how my past experiences could contribute, and researched the company. Afterward, I sent my follow-up thank you messages and received the great news a few weeks later.

AdPR: What are some of your everyday duties?

Clayton: As a content creator on health and benefits enrollment projects for our clients, this often means that I either write or edit content for benefits enrollment materials (guides, newsletters, etc.) to ensure that the language used will engage the reader and influence behavior among employees. I also provide and compile feedback from my team’s rounds of review to relay to the designers or other content creators.

AdPR: What are some concepts or skills you would consider essentials for for AdPR students to grasp before they graduate?

Clayton: My top three would be interviewing, editing and networking skills. A lot of students may know about behavioral interviewing questions, but it is essential to look up the STAR approach, practice these out loud and tie in past experiences that relate to the specific internship or job. Also, it is one thing to know how to write, but for me it’s been important to be able to provide solid feedback through editing a lot of my colleague’s materials. As you critique other people’s work, you start to learn how to enhance your own. Lastly, networking is more than just meeting new people at busy networking fairs, it’s maintaining the professional relationships you already have. You don’t want to only contact people when you need something. Don’t forget to thank the people that are helping you get where you want to go, and maintain that gratitude and relationship once you get there. This could be as simple as sharing an article that you think they would appreciate, sending a hand written thank you note with a life update, or catching up over lunch.

AdPR: How did Grady help you prepare for entering the job field, specifically at your current job?

Clayton: Grady helped to heighten my natural curiosity by teaching me that there is always more than meets the eye – you just have to be curious enough to explore. In my case, this innovative thinking cultivated in new media and journalism classes inspired me to explore the nooks and crannies of Grady, and is now playing into my experience at Aon. Within Grady, my experiences ranged from shadowing and conducting research with some of the top professors, interning with amazing career mentors and travelling to top companies in Atlanta. Every organization has outreach and experiential learning opportunities that can take you outside of your comfort zone and introduce you to people you can learn from, and this is crucial to find when you enter full-time work. At Aon, so far I have joined committees outside of my department, attended professional development conferences and scheduled lunches to get to know people in different business units – and I’m not finished yet. There is always a way to get involved past your daily responsibilities and you never want to remain stagnant, so I’m making my work experience work for me.

AdPR: What is one of the biggest things you've learned so far in the professional world?

Clayton: I’ve learned how to make a big company feel small. During my first few weeks on the job, my manager set up lunches for me with the colleagues on my team. From her example, I started setting up my own lunches with people in different business functions. By reaching out to people outside of my division, not only am I learning more about the company, but I’m building relationships and making this big company feel a little smaller. It’s a ripple effect: The more people you know, the more comfortable you are and the more comfortable you are the more you feel like you belong. It’s important to feel like you have a place in a company (especially one with tens of thousands of employees) and not like you can be easily replaced. Put your face out there to build your brand and relationships, and people will not only see the value of your work but they’ll also see the value of your presence.

A glimpse into the UGA AdPR Study Abroad Program in China

2016-10-04T08:29:00.000-04:00

Grace Zeitlin, UGA student on Grady China Study Abroad Program

The University of Georgia Grady College AdPR Study Abroad Program in China offers students tremendous experience and the chance to gain advanced skills in the fields of advertising and public relations. With the rapid growth within China, students experience first-hand the expansion of major marketing including brand communication, advertising and public relations. While the program provides valuable insights into the advertising and public relations sectors, students also receive a three-hour, upper-level course credit. Over the course of the three-week program, students visit historic sights, gain valuable business knowledge and obtain course credit.

In order to gain insight into this program, AdPR interviewed Grady student, Grace Zeitlin, who experienced this study abroad program in China.

Grady College AdPR Department: Why did you choose the Grady China program?

Grace Zeitlin: I chose this program because it allowed me to experience one of the largest growing advertising markets first hand through meeting top professionals. The small size of the program and one professor was attractive to me because it allowed students to become very close with each other and our professor in a foreign country where it was easy to get culture shock and home sick.

AdPR: What is your favorite memory from the trip?

Zeitlin: My favorite memory was climbing the Great Wall. It was an incredible view and definitely a workout hiking watchtower to watchtower. One of the best parts was when we all tobogganed down from the Wall through the trees and tried not to hit the person in front of us. Some of us even wanted to climb back to the top just to slide back down.

AdPR: What educational experience or insight did you gain during this trip?

Zeitlin: Every agency visit we learned something new, but overall what stood out to me was how the lines between public relations and advertising are starting to blur. We we are also lucky enough to get invaluable advice regarding interviews, resumés, and our future careers.

AdPR: How did Grady College impact your overall experience on this trip?

Zeitlin: Without Grady, I would have never been able to visit China. Dr. Meng and Grady College made my whole experience an amazing learning opportunity I could not experience anywhere else.

AdPR: What advice would you give to students looking to study abroad?

Zeitlin: I would tell those students to put themselves out there and they will not regret it. Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I made in my college career and helped solidify my career path. Studying abroad is an opportunity more students should take while they have the chance in college.

AdPR: Would you sign up for this program again?

Zeitlin: If I could sign up for this program every year, I would in a heart beat. Every day I learned and experienced something new. I made great friends and memories I will have for the rest of my life and wouldn't trade for anything.

The Grady College AdPR China Study Abroad Program application is due January 20, 2017. The 2017 program dates are May 9, 2017 - May 29, 2017.

Three Alums from Wieden + Kennedy Deliver Keynote Conversation for AdPR Week

2016-09-30T12:56:00.001-04:00

Jason Kreher - Creative Director

Jason is a Snellville, Georgia-born Creative Director at Wieden+Kennedy, overseeing work for clients such as Verizon, Weight Watchers, KFC and Old Spice Social Media. Prior to becoming a CD, Kreher worked as a copywriter on Old Spice, Target, Coca-Cola, Heineken, Jaguar, Howard Stern, and MTV. He also tells people he wrote the iconic Elizabeth Taylor “White Diamonds” commercial, even though he was only twelve at the time of its first broadcast airing. He has won 12 Lions at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity over the years, including Gold Lions in each of the past two years. Last year he was listed in AdWeek’s “The Creative 100,” a list of America’s most inventive talent in marketing, media and tech.   Kreher recently published his first book along with art director Matt Moore; a collection of cruel Popsicle stick jokes named “SchadenFreezers” that you should go buy right now, it’s not even that expensive. His “Napkin Notebook” with former partner Dave Arnold was featured in the MoMA Design Store. Kreher also directed and co-wrote a series of YouTube videos with standup comedian Maria Bamford.

Kreher is a 2001 advertising graduate of the Grady College. He currently lives in Portland with his husband Eirik.

Tatum Shaw - Freelance Copywriter and Photographer

Tatum is a freelance copywriter based in Portland, OR. In a previous life he was a writer at Wieden + Kennedy from 2004 to 2012, where he created work for clients such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Target, Starbucks, and Proctor and Gamble. Now he primarily writes top-secret ads for Apple, and occasionally dances with the likes of MTV, Google, 72and Sunny, Facebook, and Deutsche LA.

Tatum graduated from The University of Georgia in 2002, with a BA in advertising and a minor in stuff he can’t talk about here because faculty is reading. In an effort to avoid making any major life decisions, he enrolled in school again, this time at The Creative Circus in Atlanta. A school name any parent can be proud of. Visually inclined by nature, he had dreams of becoming an art director. But guess what? He was colorblind (thanks, God). So he enrolled in the copywriting program, graduated and got is first job at Wieden + Kennedy working under the silent ad sensei, Hal Curtis.  

When he’s not writing ads, he spends his time making art books and taking photographs, some of which can be seen online at Complex, Juxtapoz, and This Isn’t Happiness, and in the printed pages of Nylon Magazine, Bloomberg BusinessWeek and Oxford American.

Mike was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia where he spent an inordinate

Mike Egan - Copywriter

amount of time shooting free throws. Mike graduated magna cum laude from the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia. After a year as a bumbling account coordinator at an agency in Tallahassee, Florida, he quit and went to the Creative Circus before his boss could figure out he was terrible at his job (Sorry, Richard).

Mike restarted his career in advertising at vitrorobertson in San Diego before landing a gig at the Wieden + Kennedy mothership in Portland, Oregon. Somehow he’s managed to trick those beautiful suckers into employing him as a copywriter on the Dodge, Chrysler, Booking.com and Samsung accounts for almost six years. Although, he’s recently noticed that his key card has stopped working and, truth be told, he’s a bit nervous about it.

AdPR Alumni Spotlight: Michael Gray

2016-09-29T11:32:00.000-04:00

Michael Gray, Communications Consultant for Wells Fargo

We are proud of our AdPR Alumni! AdPR Week seems like the perfect chance to take a closer look at what one esteemed alumni, Michael Gray, is doing now. With past work at Porter Novelli and Fox Sports, Gray has experience in the public relations industry. He currently holds a position as the Communications Consultant, Corporate Communications, North Florida Region for Wells Fargo.

AdPR Department: What are some of your everyday duties?

Michael Gray: My job as a communicator for Wells Fargo is to enhance and manage the company’s reputation. This is accomplished through internal and external communications, issues and crisis management, and acting as a trusted advisor for my clients. Every day, I am focused on effectively communicating our desired messages through positive storytelling and engagement with our key stakeholders – team members, external media, and our customers and communities.

AdPR: In your previous positions and also in your current one, were there any assignments or duties that you were required to take on that surprised you?

Gray: I have learned to never be surprised in the public relations field. One of the biggest indicators of success for a PR professional is adaptability. It’s imperative to be open-minded and to not let anything throw you for a loop.

AdPR: What are some concepts or skills you would consider essentials for AdPR students to grasp before they graduate?

Gray: Writing is key. Many other skills are developed as you progress in your career, but your writing is what will set you apart from others. Confidence is also extremely important, but make sure not to confuse confidence with arrogance. It’s good to have a little modesty, and to understand there is always room for learning and development.

AdPR: After graduating, what was one of your biggest challenges while entering the job field?

Gray: I had a difficult time deciding what exactly I wanted to do and where I wanted to live. Did I want to try agency life or focus on corporate? Did I want to stay in Atlanta, where I grew up? Did I want to pursue a career using my economics degree instead? For me, there were more questions than answers at graduation, which was uncomfortable. But I also learned something through those challenges – when the right opportunity comes along, trust your gut. You will know when you find it.

Students receive scholarships for participation in Moxie-Zenith / UGA Partnership Program

2016-09-26T14:39:00.001-04:00

Sierra Romeo, Srishti Mishra, Hawk Young and Daniella Grinzaid worked together on the Moxie-Zenith / UGA Partnership Program

The University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication AdPR department awarded scholarships to four students for participating in the Moxie-Zenith / UGA Partnership Program.

The awarded students, Danielle Grinzaid, Srishti Mishra, Sierra Romeo and Hawk Young, applied and were carefully selected to participate in the UGA program for Publicis Media Groupe, a group of agencies dedicated to being leaders in global marketing, communication and business transformation.

After the selection process, the four chosen students prepared a presentation about the major impacts or themes they noticed throughout the program. Guy Abrahams, global strategic planning director at Zenith, and Claudine Cheever, executive vice president and head of strategy at Mediavest/Spark, provided input about themes during the student presentations.

The students continued the program by presenting their observations at Moxie in Atlanta. Based on the program feedback, the students’ performance impressed the Atlanta agencies. As a result, the students received a scholarship for their participation.

“I am very grateful to be one of the very few selected by Dr. Reichert and Dr. King for this opportunity. The people over at Moxie were more than welcoming and I thought it was really cool that we got a glimpse into their professional environment because it gave me a good sense of what it is like to work for a marketing agency in Atlanta” said Srishti Mishra, UGA student.

The program proved to be very effective, and Grady College looks forward to continued success in the future. For more information about student scholarship programs, visit the Grady College website.

Yan Jin selected for membership in the Arthur W. Page Society

2016-09-26T14:32:00.000-04:00

Yan Jin, an associate professor of public relations at Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, has joined the ranks of world-class senior public relations and corporate communications executives and educators as a member of the prestigious Arthur W. Page Society.

"It is a huge honor to join such a premier group,” said Jin, who is also associate director of the UGA Center for Health & Risk Communication. “As an academic member, I look forward to contributing research insights for corporate communications practice and to the mission of training future leaders in our field."

Membership in the Page Society consists primarily of chief communication officers of Fortune 500 companies and leading nonprofit organizations, as well as CEOs of top agencies. Only a small percentage of educators are extended an invitation for membership; yet Grady College now boasts two members, as Jin joins Bryan H. Reber, who was inducted in 2015.

“This is a top honor reserved for top educators in the field,” said Tom Reichert, head of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. “Dr. Jin is very deserving of this recognition, and we are proud of the collaboration and work she will do in this role alongside Dr. Reber and other Page Society members.”

Jin teaches undergraduate public relations courses in research, management, and campaigns, as well as a graduate communication theory course. Her research includes studies of public relations, crisis communication, corporate conflict management, social media, and strategic health and risk communication, with a strong focus on how emotions influence organizational decision making processes as well as stakeholders’ information seeking behaviors and communicative responses.

*Author: Stephanie Moreno

The Grady College Department of Advertising and Public Relations hosts second annual AdPR Week

2016-09-20T16:08:00.000-04:00

The Grady College Department of Advertising and Public Relations hosts its second annual National AdPR Week at UGA from Sept. 26-30. UGA clubs and organizations including PRSSA, IABC and AdClub are arranging and hosting various special events, presentations and professional development workshops with industry veterans for students throughout the week.

In addition to the engaging events, the AdPR department is launching AdPR Giving Week. This new program will allow current students, alumni and current industry professionals to support current and future programming for AdPR students.

AdPR pride will be encouraged and shared throughout the week on social media using the hashtag #AdPRide.

Find more information about AdPR Week here.

Tina Stow of UnitedHealth Group visits students in DC to share her insight and expertise

2016-08-30T10:41:00.000-04:00

On July 7, Tina Stow (MA '03), visited Grady students at Delta Hall to discuss her experiences working in health policy and public affairs for UnitedHealth Group. During their time together, Ms. Stow shared her strategic approach to executing and measuring the effectiveness of campaigns focused on Washington, D.C. policymaker and influencer audiences. "It is so energizing to spend time with these great young people", said Stow, is also a member of AdPR's Executive Advisory Council.

Tina Stow joins students at Delta Hall in Washington, D.C.

Students enrolled in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication are encouraged to participate in Grady @ DC, a domestic field study program which takes Grady students to Washington for nine weeks during the summer. Participants enroll in a directed study as well as an internship, and live in Delta Hall during their time in Washington.

The University of Georgia received a grant from the Delta Air Lines Foundation to support UGA in Washington. In recognition of this gift and partnership, UGA named the residential facility, Delta Hall. President Jere W. Morehead notes, "Delta Air Lines has been a strong corporate partner of the University of Georgia for many years, and this gift demonstrates the leadership role Delta is taking in our ongoing comprehensive campaign to advance the University of Georgia".

Those interested can find out more information about this program here.

Assistant Professor of Advertising Grace Ahn profiled in UGA Focus on Faculty column

2016-08-29T11:34:00.003-04:00

Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn, communications researcher and an assistant professor in the department of advertising and public relations in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, is the founding director of the Games and Virtual Environments Lab. This combination of virtual simulation devices allows users to experience something as if they are going through it in the physical world.

Ahn's research focuses primarily on how virtual environments influence people's cognitive, affective and behavioral responses. She is exploring how digital technology can be used to encourage better food choices, more physical activity and better STEM learning in children.

See more about Ahn at www.uga.edu/faculty/profile/ahn-sun-joo-grace/www.uga.edu/faculty/profile/ahn-sun-joo-grace/

Summer at the Circus offers Grady students insight into portfolio school

2016-08-24T09:43:00.001-04:00

Students from a variety of colleges participated in the Summer at the Circus, including 15 students from Grady College which hosts the program.

While some Grady College students spend their summers studying abroad or working on internships, others spend their time at the circus…Summer at the Circus, that is. Summer at the Circus is an intense eight-week program offering college students an inside experience of Creative Circus, a prestigious portfolio school in Atlanta.

This unique program is offered through the Department of Advertising and Public Relations and just completed its fourth summer of educating students in a variety of disciplines from the University of Georgia and other colleges including the University of Texas, Emory University and Dartmouth College, to name a few. A total of 22 students participated in this experiential learning program, and Grady college students can earn up to six hours of credit for taking the program.

Read more about this year's Summer at the Circus program.
*Author: Sarah Freeman

AdPR students and alumni shine at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

2016-07-07T13:19:00.000-04:00

AdPR Department Head, Tom Reichert kicking off the week

Our Cannes Lions Advertising Study Abroad program, offers two academic courses centered on the famed Cannes Lions Advertising Festival, which takes place in the south of France each year. This year's program ran from June 13 through July 1, 2016.

Students and Alumni from the AdPR Department at Grady College made quite an impression among industry professionals. Two AdPR alums won Gold Lions and one alumni at Leo Burnett participated in the Young Marketer competition.

Two Public Relations students, Shelby Gordon and Shivani Patel paint a picture of life at the festival in this article published in PR Week. Shelby is pursuing a degree in public relations with a communication studies minor at the University of Georgia at Athens, Georgia. She will be graduating in fall 2016. Shivani Patel is pursuing a dual degree in public relations and linguistics with a Spanish minor at the University of Georgia at Athens, Georgia. She will be graduating in fall 2016.

Students gather for the Cannes Lions Festival

Additionally, Madison French tells her story here, of the opportunity to participate in the study abroad program: PR Council Blog

Congrats to all the AdPR faculty, staff, students, council members and alumni who participated in making this yet another fabulous year in Cannes Lions! What a fantastic and immersive learning experience.

The Georgia Journalism Academy at Grady College: A Huge Success!

2016-06-21T11:37:00.001-04:00

The Georgia Journalism Academy, held June 5-10 at The University of Georgia's Grady College, was a huge success! The camp gives young journalists an intense weeklong experience in the fields of journalism and mass communication, offering valuable hands-on instruction.

The program is open to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors in high school. Academy instructors include Grady College faculty and staff, and local media professionals. A major bonus for Academy attendees is to experience life on the University of Georgia campus for a week. Students are housed in a campus residence hall and supervised by Academy personnel who are familiar with the UGA campus and Athens. Most meals are in the University’s award-winning dining halls. Activities are planned throughout the week designed to let Academy students get to know each other, the campus and have fun!

Academy students choose a core class: broadcasting, feature writing, sports writing, editorial writing, photojournalism or advertising. While learning, students are working together to produce the official Academy newspaper, website, TV news show and/or advertising campaign, and maintain blogs about their week. Students will also participate in production classes, graphic design, web design or broadcast production -- and take informational sessions on public relations, staff leadership and how to get into the University of Georgia.

We in the Advertising and Public Relations department, value and appreciate this program and the opportunities it provides to potential Grady students. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, friends and our board members, we are able to help support the program and full scholarships for two deserving students to attend this program with financial assistance.

This year's scholarship recipients:

Autumn Pressley (pictured left) is a rising senior from Stockbridge attending Woodland High School. This was her first time attending the Academy. She’s interested in attending the University of Georgia, Auburn University or Boston University and plans to major in mass communication. Last year she was the business editor of her yearbook’s staff. She is an active member in National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Beta Club, and Girl Scouts of America. She has received the President of the USA’s Volunteer Service award, Principal Scholar, Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award, as well as the Young Scholars Award. She is also on the Cross Country/Track & Field team and the Lacrosse team at Woodland High. She has an identical twin sister, who also attended the camp.

Arman Bryan is a rising junior from McDonough attending Ola High School. He is currently part of Ola’s Newspaper Hoof Print as the Graphics Editor. He is interested in attending either UGA, USC, UNC or NDSU and plans to major in mass communication in the future. Arman is a member of Youth Leadership Henry and was selected for the Georgia Power Washington Youth tour this year. He was adopted at an early age from Kazakhstan and raised in Georgia. He has also been involved in the Jr. Beta Club, Beta Club, Peer Mediator Program, Henry County Poetry Recitation, Henry County Spelling Bee, the Duke Talent Identification Program and the academic team for four years.

Research from AdPR: Social media continues to re-shape our world - sometimes in ways we don't even suspect.

2016-05-16T11:36:00.000-04:00

A recent study published in Information, Communication & Society shows that new participants in the social media space are disrupting long-held assumptions about how news and information flow from one geopolitical entity to the next, including by government-run networks such as Voice of America, Al Jazeera and Russia Today. In particular, non-institutional social mediators – like individuals, bloggers and twitter accounts associated with major corporations – are entering into the conversation and enabling more two-way communication between news sources and audience members.

Historically, the flow of news and information has tended to originate in larger nations – known as “core” nations – and then migrate to smaller, or “peripheral” nations. This is important in shaping the worldview of individuals, as core nations are better able to imprint their own cultural values and geopolitical priorities on the citizenry of peripheral nations. Such communication has tended to be very top-down, aimed at passive audiences with little or no ability to influence the discourse.

According to co-author Itai Himelboim, associate professor of advertising and public relations at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, this dynamic is changing.

“Our ability to predict and understand information flow based on traditional assumptions is eroding,” Himelboim explains. “Non-democratic governments such as China, Saudi Arabia and Russia are now about to bypass news media gatekeepers and establish more direct communications with citizens of foreign countries, thereby increasing the global reach and influence of their own worldview. As a result, the international news system is becoming somewhat more egalitarian than what we’ve been used to seeing.”

Guy J. Golan, Itai Himelboim. Can World System Theory predict news flow on Twitter? The case of government-sponsored broadcasting. Information, Communication & Society.

View the full article.

Grady students earn certificates in Performics AdWords Certification program

2016-05-10T08:54:00.002-04:00

Twelve advertising and public relations students at Grady College earned their Google AdWords certificates April 26, 2016, in a ceremony in the Peyton Anderson Forum.

The Performics AdWords program at Grady is a three-month series of meetings and online sessions where students are mentored about how to use Google AdWords. The students are given a budget to practice their skills with real clients and each student must successfully pass the online Google AdWords exam before earning their certificate.

The mentors are employees from the Atlanta office of Performics, a national performance marketing agency that specializes in paid search, natural search, social, display, affiliate and mobile marketing. Elaine Lin, an assistant professor of advertising, directed the program this year.

Karen King (second from left) and Elaine Lin (third from left) are joined by program mentors Sara Beth Naylor, Claire (Doiron) Russell (ABJ ’10), Brittany Busik (ABJ ’14) and Logan Frost (ABJ ’15).

The two client websites that were used during the training were the Grady College and Talking Dog, a student-run advertising agency. In the one-month campaign period, the Grady College search campaign attracted more than 55,000 impressions and more than 250 clicks, while the Talking Dog search campaign achieved a click-through rate (CTR) of over 10%.

“It was a valuable opportunity for the students to work on campaign optimizations with the mentors,” said Lin. “They were able to learn how to generate actionable data-based insight and make strategic decisions for improving campaign performance.”

Performics, as well as other firms such as The Media Kitchen and Workshop Digital, have hired several graduates from this program. The program just completed its fourth year and was started by advertising professor Karen King and Grady alumna Dana Todd (ABJ ’91).

Logan Frost (ABJ ’15) was in last year’s Performics AdWords program and was hired by Performics as an associate media manager after graduation. In his junior year, at Grady College, Frost developed an affinity for media classes.

“I absolutely love it,” Frost said of his chosen career. “I can’t imagine sitting at a desk and not being part of the Performics team.”

Brittany Busik (ABJ ’14), who is an associate media manager with Performics and worked with as a mentor of the group, had high praise for the students.

“You were a really impressive group,” Busik said during the certificate presentation. “It’s really inspiring to see seniors their last semester in college being so engaged with this program. It’s a really rewarding feeling to graduate college and come back to Georgia and teach you a little bit about what we do every single day.”

The certification program sparked an interest for student Alyssa Lagimoniere.

“I applied for AdWords kind of hoping to put something on my resume, to be honest, and I ended up really finding an interest in it,” said Lagimoniere. “It’s really so important. Digital marketing is on the rise and it’s not stopping anytime soon.”

Students have reported to Lin and King that having the AdWords certification on their resumés comes up almost every time in interviews.

Lagimoniere expects having the AdWords certification will help her after graduating, too. “When I’m applying for jobs, I see people searching for search engine marketing expertise and I think having the certification is going to improve my hire-ability and my career.”

Author: Sarah Freeman, freemans@uga.edu
Contact: Elaine Lin, jhlin@uga.edu,

Grady AdPR department shines at AAA conference

2016-05-09T13:08:00.001-04:00

Nate Evans with "Best Paper Award"
at the AAA conference.

The Grady College Department of Advertising and Public Relations brought home two distinguished awards from the American Academy of Advertising conference in Seattle March 17-20.

Nate Evans, assistant professor of advertising at Grady College, and Dooyeon Park, a Grady College doctoral student, earned the “Best Paper Award” for their conference paper.

“This is a remarkable feat—especially for an assistant professor and graduate student,” said Tom Reichert, head of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. “Their paper was rated as the best among almost 200 submissions by some of the top advertising scholars in the world. We are very pleased.”

Also winning honors were Len Reid, emeritus professor of advertising, with doctoral students Jung Hwan Park and Dooyeon Park and recent graduate Olesya Venger (Ph.D. ’14). They won the top journal article award for the "Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising" for their paper “Replication in Advertising Research, 1980-2012: A Longitudinal Analysis of Advertising Journals.”

“Winning the top JCIRA award is quite a coup for our department,” Reichert said. “This is the second time in three years that a Grady Ad/PR faculty member has brought home this award. It is a true testament to the level of dedicated research our department is producing.”

The top papers are nominated by reviewers of the journal and selected by its ediorial board. In 2014, Reid and Reichert won the award.

The top conference paper by Evans and Park is entitled “The Effects Format, Topic Knowledge, and Experience on Advertising and Brand Recognition for Paid Search Advertising” and describes research about subjects’ ability to identify paid search advertising from mobile versus typical desktop platforms. “We know that there are certain structural differences in how paid advertising is presented on these platforms”, said Evans. An online experiment examined whether people could identify paid search advertising designed for the platforms on which they were being viewed.

During the research, subjects were asked to view either a mobile or desktop screen shot of search advertising on a desktop computer. Nearly 60% of those who viewed the mobile screen shot said a paid ad appeared on the right hand side of the screen. Evans said that, “this level of false advertising recognition is quite interesting but not necessarily surprising. Participants probably expected advertising on the right hand side because that is where advertising usually appears when seen on a desktop computer.”

“Experience matters in the world of advertising,” said Evans. “The study showed that there are issues with advertising schema. How we make sense of the advertising environment, we believe, is predicated on experience and context in which we are viewing the advertising.”

A second part of the research focused on subjects’ overall experience with advertising. There was an assumption that someone who has seen advertising across multiple places and platforms will be better equipped to know when and where there will be advertising. They created indices designed to capture participants’ breadth and depth of advertising experience. Their findings indicated that participants were better able to recognize brands and paid search advertising when they possessed more breadth of advertising experience.

The Best Conference Paper is a recognition by the AAA where paper reviewers recommend manuscripts for the award. The top four or five papers are reviewed by a committee of five people, including the two immediate past vice-presidents and three research committee members, and one winner is selected.

Author: Sarah Freeman, freemans@uga.edu