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Nikki: Takeaways from the Chicago Trip

First of all, this trip was AMAZING!!

For someone who has developed an interest in the Windy City, this trip only enhanced my desire to move there.  As a recent graduate from the SOJC, I went into this trip wanting to learn more than just the difference between in-house and agency PR work. This trip did significantly more than that.

Each company/agency we visited had at least one takeaway that stood out to me the most. These takeaways are listed below:

1) The Field Museum: Manage expectations for both media and in-house employees. Do not oversell a story, or lead employees to believe their story will get more coverage than you know it will.

2) Chicago Cubs PR Team: Remember the responsibility to the fans and neighbors first and foremost.

3) Golin: Treat the business/client as if you could lose it tomorrow.

4) Google: Be 10x better, think 10x better. Your work can always be 10x better.

5) Porter Novelli: Treat every application and interview personally. If it is clear you have not researched the company, you won’t get the job.

6) The Chicago Tribune: Be understanding of journalists’ schedules. Pushing a story or not having enough information for the journalists is detrimental to building a relationship with the,.

7) Edelman: Let employers know you want to be challenged and do not be afraid to be yourself.

8) Bader Rutter: Do not burn bridges with employers. The PR world may seem large, but there are always connections.

During one of our dinners, I spoke with Gini Dietrich, the CEO of Arment Dietrich,  author of  Spin Sucks, and well-known blogger. I told her how in my experience with a professor, it was almost worst for the professor not to know who you were at the end of the term than for them either not to like you or not agree with your style of #PR. Gini stressed to hold on to that idea throughout my career.

However, the best takeaway from this experience was the connections we made. It was not only amazing to meet some of the leading PR professionals in the Chicago area, but we got to meet some incredibly successful UO alumni. These connections weren’t just individuals we could now add on LinkedIn, but they taught me and gave honest feedback that I had yet to receive from any internship or informational interview. Even if you have no interest in moving to the Chicago area, this trip will still benefit you more than you can imagine.

I could not have been more pleased with how well this trip went. Do not be surprised if six months from now, I am living in the beautiful Windy City!

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Best Trip Ever

Wow is all that comes to mind.  This trip was amazing. It went so fast, but in those four days I learned great insights, tips and tricks from the professionals. We visited a total of six places including the Field Museum, Chicago Cubs HQ, Golin, Google, Porter Novelli, Chicago Tribune, and Edelman. I can easily say I enjoyed and learned so much from all of these places, but the three that stuck out to me were the Cubs PR team and the two agencies, Porter Novelli and Edelman. 

I was excited before we even met with the Cubs because my big interest has always been sports pr.  We learned all about their fast paced environment and how people really have to work on the fly in that industry. Their hours are long and they work hard, but it all seems so worth it. I was happy to hear they work with many of the other departments an example of strategic counseling. As a whole they work to communicate, plan, and execute daily tasks as a team making everything more efficient and timely.  

When going into the agencies I was a bit nervous. Agency work has always seemed intimidating to me, something about it has always made me a bit reluctant. After meeting with some of the teams at Porter Novelli and Edelman, I was proven wrong. The people we met with were so welcoming and open about their journeys. They weren't scared to tell us about the difficulties they’ve faced while also all the enjoyments they’ve had. After seeing the agencies I've learned it’s good to have some experience in agency work along they way, even if it’s just for a year. I think it gives an all around experience of the public relations world.

An amazing thing to me was to see past Oregon alumni doing great in the public relations field, all the way in Chicago! They ranged from all different ages, doing somewhat different things but all having the UOSOJC in common. The biggest piece of advice almost every person gave us was to be nice to everyone. This PR world is much smaller than we think and everyone knows somebody. Avoid burning bridges and build good relationships. Public relations is all about relationships so I’m happy this trip has given me a little push in building further relationships with some of the professionals we met. I couldn't be more grateful for this opportunity and I think it has helped me see my future a little more clearly. 

Go Ducks!

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Day one: Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

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A bit about the team: Nikki

My name is Nikki Pirucki and I am a recent graduate from the University of Oregon (UO), with a degree in journalism and major in public relations. (Officially a graduate as of yesterday!) Over the past year and a half, I have gained valuable public relations experience from my internships with Springfield Public Schools, Levi Strauss & Co., Funk/Levis & Associates and Allen Hall Public Relations. Through my internships, I have developed a passion for brand management, crisis management, graphic design and event planning. Moving into my professional career, I hope to find a position that allows me to continue to pursue and develop these skills. During my senior year of college, I decided I wanted to move to a large city after graduation. Coincidentally, the #1 city I've wanted to move to has been Chicago. When the opportunity presented itself to go on this trip, I knew I needed to make it happen. I'm looking forward to exploring the city and touring the different agencies and companies, but I'm most excited to begin building professional relationships in the Chicago area.@ After this trip, I plan to spend majority of my summer traveling Europe before furthering my career outside of college.

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What's Next

My name is Baylee Newman and I am currently a junior at the University of Oregon, studying public relations and ethnic studies. Expected graduation is June 2016. I was born in Southern California, the state that still has my heart, but grew up most my life in Portland, Oregon. I wish to further my career in the sports world. My dream includes working for a sports team with a PR position. I would love to eventually leave the state of Oregon and go back to California or anywhere else this career field could possibly take me. Away from school, I work as a communication intern for the Student Alumni Association at the university. I also love playing intramural sports, including flag football and basketball. My all time favorite thing to do is cook. I watch food network everyday and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen. But I am a college student on a budget, so I’ve learned how to turn ramen and canned tuna into a food network worthy meal. I'm so excited for this trip to Chicago. This will be my first time visiting the windy city and I can't wait to see all that it holds. I thought this would be a good opportunity for me especially since I will be graduating next year. I think it will really help me pinpoint the area of PR I enjoy most. I'm very enthusiastic about meeting with the Cubs PR team since I'm so interested in sports PR. I'm also looking forward to the different agencies because I never considered agency work until recently and I look forward to see all the different aspects of that world. Check out my LinkedIn page for more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayleenewman Chi-Town, it's time to see what you are all about!

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New Horizons

My name is Alexandra Brewster and I am a Portland, Oregon native. I am majoring in public relations and minoring in history with a focus on foundations of America at University of Oregon and will be graduating in 2016.

I am in my first term as a full public relations major and I wanted to hit the ground running in the program. When I found out about the opportunity to go to Chicago to network with different companies, I had to take it. Before coming to the major, I had done public relations work within politics in the 2014 Oregon Governor Election and non-profits for music education. My positions really solidified my love for the field, but I have been itching to see what else is out there. I saw this trip as a perfect opportunity to expand my horizons and in a part of the country I had never been before.

I think the biggest thing I am excited for is the wide variety of companies, firms, and practitioners I will be meeting and networking with. I’m really excited to learn and find out how wide and varied the field is and to see it in a completely different perspective than from the North West. 

Check out my linkedIn profile to see my resume! Can’t wait to update everyone on this awesome trip this week!

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Hometown Connections

I have never really blogged before, so please try to bear with me. Anyways, being from Chicago it has always been a dream of mine to live/work in the city since I can remember. Growing up I always thought I would take over my family’s meat company in Alsip, but started to feel like it wasn’t for me about two years ago. Now that I have found my passion in public relations I made it my goal to work for a major PR firm in Chicago and once I heard of this trip I immediately wanted in. 

Kathryn Kuttis is my mentor and, of course, she is always talking up Edelman. I looked into the company last Spring and grew a large interest in it, so much so that it is now my dream to work for Edelman Chicago. Don’t get me wrong, visiting Google and Porter Novelli will probably be incredible, but I am looking forward to seeing Edelman the most. 

This is all I can think of for now, but I’m sure I’ll have a lot more to write once the trip is underway! 

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn through the link below and check out my attached resume. Until Tuesday! 

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/bobby-whittingham/9a/bb/419