Alternatively titled: My Eternal Love, Maggie Gee
I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll be
muttering it to myself again; nothing in this placement is going to be
handed to me. Working at a start-up level in internal PR means a lot of
planning, research and trial and error.
I must admit I get rather jealous reading all
your blog posts about pumping out multiple media releases on your first days
and dealing with a super secret crisis situation that you’d have to kill us if
you told us about *cough*Elliot*cough*.
My situation is very different. Do you
remember those first year units, when our teachers would describe what PR is
and how it is often mistaken for marketing? Or how people don’t always see any
value in it because of its lack of short-term, monetary return?
That kind of
attitude is what I found in internal PR, as opposed to working in a PR consultancy.
My superiors are always cautious of my ideas because, well, no one’s really
done anything like it before and ‘how is this going to make sales, again?’. PR
is a long term game and sometimes you need time to prove, not only your worth,
but PR’s worth.
After completing small writing tasks and a
plethora of PR plans based on a company analysis (that have, so far, been
cautiously put on hold), I feel I am slowly, but very surely earning my place
here. A little while ago I overheard that the marketing consultant was
frustrated because she didn’t have time to write an editorial for beauty trade
publication ‘Beauty Biz’. Now I had been asking to write an editorial for a
while, after all it seemed clear to me that it was PR and not marketing work. Although it seems immodest, I also
knew my writing was better than the other staff members who saw writing as a
chore and something to be rushed and avoided.
I jumped on the chance, and mentioned to the office manager that I would
be very grateful for the opportunity to offer an article- just give me a chance. Within two hours, I’d analyzed the
publication, written a targeted media release and article and placed it with
the media kit (backgrounder and factsheet) I’d already completed. I knew I’d impressed
straight away because the Managing Director called me in to ask if I wanted to
write the editorial each month. Of course I did!
I feel like I just needed a chance to prove
myself. Now at the weekly meeting my name actually appears on the agenda. I’ve
been given a regular media placement editorial and been finally given the go-ahead
to target other publications (have I mentioned how amazing Maggie Gee is? I
think the saddest part about leaving university will be having to pay for her
guide). I’ve also gained permission to work with ‘Eco-Cert’ to help our products
gain Eco Certification, which will hopefully lead to some great media placement
and brand management opportunities! Now,
around my halfway mark, I am ecstatic to be finally carving a niche for myself and
am confident that I will be able to make a real impact in the company.
Until next time!
Natasha
14279030
