Atlanta Public Relations Experience

Wrapping it Up

2008-06-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

By Lisa Sisk

Wow. That’s a one-word definition of the 2008 Atlanta Public Relations Experience Maymester class. But there’s so much more to say!

Twenty-two delightful young adults agreed to join me in the Atlanta adventure and I am very grateful to each one of them for many reasons. They all embraced the experience fully, participating in discussions with our hosts, asking deep and intelligent questions, and reaffirming why I love teaching in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

As you’ve read, our days were packed with visits and long bus rides from one to the next. We awoke early and stayed up late, but I rarely heard complaints that they were tired or bored. You also have read about the bonding and friendships they formed during the class and on the trip. For me, watching that happen was remarkable. We all come from various backgrounds, but we became a family. I already miss spending time with them!

Special thanks are in order. Dr. Shirley Staples Carter, director of the SJMC, had the idea for such a class three years ago and asked me to develop it and teach it with two colleagues. They’ve both retired, but I’m still here! She has continually supported this endeavor. College of Mass Communications and Information Studies Dean Charles Bierbauer also is supportive and encouraging, and introduced me to some of his former CNN colleagues with whom we visited in Atlanta.

Beverly Dominick is the SJMC internship coordinator. She graciously agreed to come along on the trip. I could handle the two weeks in class, and I could even handle all the details that went into planning such a trip, but I didn’t think I could handle being the only “adult” on the trip! Thank you, Beverly, for helping me corral the students. Terry Dixon, director of development for the College, and Elaine Taylor, the College’s alumni relations director, planned a lovely reception for Atlanta-area alums and my students on Wednesday evening. Elaine stayed with us the rest of the trip; I hope she enjoyed the students’ company as much as they enjoyed hers.

Professor John Besley agreed to accompany us for most of our time in Atlanta. I think Dr. Besley’s perspective was invaluable and we truly appreciate his taking time away from his family to join us.

Darwin McCray of Southern Connections Tours was our chauffeur for our week in Atlanta. He was so professional, delivering us safely to each of our destinations in busy Atlanta traffic. The air conditioning failed on our way to Atlanta. Mr. McCray drove halfway back to Columbia on Memorial Day to meet another driver so he could exchange the bus for a cool one. We were thrilled that he could join us on some of our adventures to CNN. Turner Studios, the Carter Center, the King Center, the alumni reception and the Georgia Aquarium.

You may have noticed that a few students’ bylines are missing from our blog. Bill Lane coordinated the blogging effort, collected the entries from his classmates, edited where necessary and added some polish to the site. Natasha Hopkins was our official photographer and our unofficial tour guide. She’s from Atlanta, and added some interesting insight about the city. Jessica Woods and Derrick Sprankle are May 2008 SJMC graduates; although they didn’t need any more classes, they were eager for the experience. I’m glad they came with us.

I hope you enjoy reading our blog. Please feel free to make comments. We’d love to receive them! And check back soon, as we’ll be adding photographs and other content in the days to come.

Lisa's Favorites

2008-06-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

By Lisa Sisk

Where in the world do I start with this? The entire experience was indeed wonderful, but I’ll try to pick out a few of my personal favorite moments.

I sincerely enjoyed my time with these students. The way they bonded and became a family impressed me, even before we left Columbia. Our two weeks in class were rigorous. They researched the organizations we would visit in Atlanta and presented detailed background information to their classmates. Every day, we participated in current events discussions about Atlanta news to familiarize ourselves with the city. Students also researched trends and issues in today’s public relations practice and led class discussions about those issues. They have diverse backgrounds and beliefs, but always treated each other and their opinions with respect.

Oh … the ice-breaker exercises they came up with in class were lots of fun, and eye-opening, too!

I was extremely proud of them during each of our visits. They were eager to learn, enthusiastic to spend time with our hosts, and visibly appreciative of the time these busy professionals spent with us.

During our time off, I enjoyed getting to know them better, learning about their families, their significant others, their jobs and their interests. I loved observing them interact with one another. The way they came together as a class and as a group of friends was delightful to watch.

Therefore, the top entries on my list of favorites are the students.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t cite our hosts on this list, as the trip wouldn’t have been possible without them. They were so willing to welcome us into their busy lives, sharing tips and advice with upcoming practitioners. I believe they may have gotten as much out of it as the students did. Many told me they wished they’d had such an opportunity when they were in college.

During one of our current events discussions, we learned a pair of rare peregrine falcons had nested on top of the Sun Trust building in downtown Atlanta. That excited me! So each time we rode anywhere near the building, I craned my neck and contorted my body to try to catch a glimpse of them through the bus windows. No luck. I was terribly disappointed until Wednesday evening. The alumni reception was on the top floor of none other than the Sun Trust building! The babies had already left the nest, although I could see the remnants of the nest. But I was able to spend several minutes gazing out the window at the male peregrine, who perched majestically in all his glory. I was certain he did so just for me. Definitely a personal favorite moment!

As I mentioned in Brent Duncan’s blog entry on UPS, I also loved talking with the UPS guys about the company’s sponsorship of Big Brown’s jockey Kent Desormeaux. I think Big Brown is going to be our first triple-crown winner in decades, so getting some inside scoop was fun.

Lastly, getting home was a favorite moment, but not for the obvious reason. Yes, I was tired and ready to sleep in something other than a tall single bed. But the genuine warmth and sincerity the students showed when they said good-bye was deeply touching. And many have written to say they miss our all being together and want a reunion soon!

Writing a list of favorites is more difficult than I thought it would be. It seems that the entire experience makes the list!

A Lasting Message

2008-06-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

By Chris Hudler

When I walked into The King Center and heard an audio recording of one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches, I was immediately struck by the strength in his voice. He sounded like a man who believed in what he was speaking of with his whole heart. Looking at some of the exhibits upstairs, we got a small glimpse into the personal side of Dr. King. There were displays with suits he had worn, his old and worn Bible, and other collections of his belongings.

There was also a display about Gandhi, whose philosophies on non-violent protest had an immense effect on Dr. King while he was in college. Seeing our second Nobel Peace Prize of the day was also awe-inspiring. To get to learn so much about two individuals, Dr. King and President Jimmy Carter, in one day was truly an awesome opportunity.

Unfortunately, we did not get to meet with anyone from The King Center to discuss public relations and the site at Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King was pastor was closed for renovations. However, I believe they would engage in many of the same activities in order to attract attention to their organization. Overall, our trip to The King Center was very informative, despite the small amount of time we were able to spend there.

Overall, it was great!

2008-06-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

By Star Jones

We came, we saw, and we networked. We started our journey at 9 a.m. every day and finished at that lovely traffic time, 5 p.m. Sounds like a job, doesn’t it? The Atlanta field experience offered the opportunity to go behind the scenes of those dream jobs. We left with an understanding of what it takes to run a company such as CNN, Coca-Cola and others.

“I once heard someone say that your college experience is half inside the classroom and half outside the classroom. The Atlanta field experience is a perfect example of that; I will appreciate everything I have learned and the connections I made forever,” said recent SJMC graduate Derrick Sprankle, who accompanied us on the trip.

At some of our stops, we were greeted by SJMC alumni. This offered the opportunity for us to see where our education gained at USC can lead us. Starting with Manning, Selvage & Lee we met with our fellow Gamecock Stephen Brown, who is Senior Vice President there. Alison Carnes showed us around Turner Studios, where she works as Edit Operations Supervisor.

“I had a blast getting an inside look at Atlanta’s best corporations and agencies. I learned so much and I am very excited about entering the public relations field. One of the best parts of the trip was the time spent with my classmates,” said Lauren Fabian

One thing we all can say at the end of this trip is that we left with more knowledge of how the field of public relations works. There are endless possibilities of what we can do, whether we are allowing fish lovers to swim with sharks at the Georgia Aquarium, or we are flying overseas to China to launch a new Coke.

Last but not least is the bonding. We left as 24 strangers and came back as 24 close friends. We the Maymester Atlanta 2008 class would like to thank all of you who made a wonderful trip possible, with special thanks to Lisa Sisk, who taught the class and arranged the trip, Beverly Dominick, the SJMC internship coordinator who came along as a chaperone, and Dr. John Besley, who joined us for four days of the tour.

Hot Nights in Hotlanta

2008-06-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

By Aaron Jarvis

Whether it was the ice-breaker games, the time spent sharing stories on the bus or the traveling tours through Atlanta, the public relations May trip to Georgia was an unforgettable experience.

The premier night when we arrived at Georgia Tech would be the classic example of how college students can get to know one another. Several rounds of “Never Have I Ever” ensued, where we all learned something new about our classmates, and helped bring everyone closer together. The mornings were early, the nights were late, but we were all together and the fun was exactly what I was anticipating.

The class was invited to the one-and-only Mr. Stephen Brown’s condo in downtown Atlanta, which furthered our understanding of what the public relations lifestyle can be like on a hot Atlanta night. Stephen is the Senior VP of Manning Selvage & Lee, which our class had the honor of touring before attending a nice get-together on Stephen’s behalf.

Everyone’s doors were open in the Georgia Tech dorm where we lodged for the trip. At night it was a constant leap-frog type of mingling, somewhat of a door-to-door getting to know everyone better, and that is exactly what happened.

I am extremely satisfied with the class and even more satisfied knowing that I am taking away valuable memories and experiences from having been a part of it. Many deserved thanks go out to Lisa Sisk, who taught the class and coordinated the trip, Mrs. Dominick, Stephen Brown, and everyone else who opened their doors to our class while in Atlanta.

The days were hot, the nights were exciting and the overall trip was unforgettable.

Last stop...UPS

2008-06-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

By Brent Duncan

Our meeting with UPS public relations professionals on May 30 was a terrific way to end a week of very informative and valuable meetings with public relations practitioners around Atlanta. Our class met with two officials from UPS, Ken Sternad and Dan McMackin. Both Sternad and McMackin have more than 30 years of experience with the UPS communications department.

UPS has a specialized way of balancing its goals as a corporation with the needs of the communities they serve. For example, UPS partnered with the Georgia Aquarium to provide free transport for two whale sharks from Taiwan to Atlanta. The company had to plan the entire process, including reconfiguring a Boeing 747 with containing units. They also constructed a marine life-support system to ensure the animals’ safety across the Atlantic.

Sternad and McMackin said UPS maintains open communication with their publics by being consistent in how they deliver their messages. Through consistency, UPS is able to give the attention to details that go into public relations planning. As a class, we learned UPS divides its communication efforts into several areas. Those areas include media relations, message development, crisis management, sponsorship and product publicity.

The class also learned how important it is to tailor public relations practices to a certain area. McMackin gave an example of how UPS worked closely with Chinese officials to plan for the delivery of Zoo Atlanta’s new pandas from Beijing. UPS had to show the Chinese people that the pandas would receive great care on their trip to Atlanta since they have deep respect for the animals. Also, McMackin told us that within this unique opportunity, UPS could use branding as an advantage to gain international support and recognition.

Personally, I enjoyed visiting UPS because they have very strong ties to the city of Atlanta. They support many causes that are important to the community in which their headquarters is located. This adds to my respect for them as a major corporation that promotes equality.

NOTE FROM LISA SISK: While I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the valuable information Ken and Dan shared with my students, I must say one of my personal favorite parts of their presentation was learning about UPS’ sponsorship of Big Brown's jockey. Big Brown is the horse who won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Can he win at Belmont and become the first triple-crown winner since Affirmed in 1978? We all received special-edition UPS/Big Brown buttons to wear while we cheer him on at the Belmont Stakes on June 7.

The Place to be if You are a Fish!

2008-06-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

By Rose Robson

We packed up and boarded the bus bright and early Friday morning, ready for our last day in Atlanta.

At the Georgia Aquarium, Communications Manager Meghann Gibbons welcomed us with her bubbly personality. Meghann and her intern, Mallory, gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of the vast facility. While walking, she commented on how special the aquarium and its residents are, also focusing on the public relations efforts of the organization.

The Georgia Aquarium is the only facility in the United States that has a whale shark exhibit. This exhibit is a huge benefit, but also presents some challenges. In the public relations department, Meghann must be sure to inform the public with honesty and in a timely manner in case something goes awry with these delicate and amazing creatures. When two of the whale sharks died from a tank-treatment mistake, Meghann acted to quickly to let the media and the public know that this was a tragedy, but at the same time a necessary learning experience since so little is known about these animals.

As part of our private tour with Meghann, we went to the top of the aquarium and out on to a bridge spanning the whale shark tank, gazing down into millions of gallons of water. We even got to witness feeding time, and watched as the sharks came to the surface for their mid-morning snack.

Meghann spoke with us about the recent live “Today Show” broadcast at the aquarium in which they designated 54 minutes of the four-hour show to the aquarium. This is a prime example of a loyal friendship between the “Today Show” and the Georgia Aquarium.

Meghann stressed never to burn bridges because it is important to have the media cover stories in a favorable light. She also said, “Media makes other media”. Once CNBC saw the “Today Show” aquarium spot, they too wanted to do a story at the facility. CNBC did interviews with the top CEOs in Atlanta in the aquarium using it as an aesthetic backdrop.

The public relations department in the Georgia Aquarium is known more as a communications department because it works with all sides of communication. The department handles events, press releases, the Web site, e-newsletters and the intranet.

While on the tour, she also gave us valuable information about internships and applying for positions with the aquarium. Meghann warned that if she receives a resume or cover letter with three misspellings, she throws it out. She also stressed the importance of showing personality and tailoring your documents to the organization and position.

The Georgia Aquarium is a landmark in Atlanta, and a place where young and old are able to play and explore. When in Atlanta you must visit this living wonder!

Centennial Olympic Park

2008-06-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

By Ivy Walker

On Tuesday, May 27 we visited the Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. We met with AJ Pace, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator, in the amphitheatre in the park. AJ is a recent graduate and enlightened us on what steps he took to get his position and the importance of internships.

He started out with an internship in Las Vegas and found a love for public relations within the hospitality industry. Now he helps to plan sponsored events in three different venues—Centennial Olympic Park, The Georgia World Congress and The Georgia Dome. He also does all of the graphic design work for their publications. AJ oversees public relations and marketing in all three locations. He told us about the internship opportunities in all of the locations and a little about what happens on each property.

Since the park is located in downtown Atlanta where a tornado hit recently, AJ explained to us how they dealt with crisis management. The tornado hit the Georgia World Congress building and there was significant damage. His staff made efforts to assure that the facts the press received were accurate and given out quickly. Also as a part of their crisis management plan, the governor came and gave a press tour of the building so that everyone got the same information and that information was corroborated by the company.

AJ was a wonderful speaker and really gave insight on what it’s like to be right out of college and the best way to seek out a job with success.

The Carter Center and Presidential Library

2008-06-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

By Amy Beth Franks

Our class was greeted early Thursday morning by Tony Clark, Director of Public Affairs for the Carter Presidential Library and Museum and a former colleague of Dean Bierbaurer at CNN. He gave our class a brief tour of the Center which is located in a wooded, 35-acre park just five minutes from downtown Atlanta. The Carter Presidential Center’s spectacular grounds include formal gardens, sculptures and waterfalls tucked between two small lakes. Visitors can stroll through the Rose Garden, which is home to 40 varieties of flowers or view the serene Japanese garden, designed by Kinsaku Nakane. Inside visitors can walk through a mock Oval Office and view the 27 million pages of documents from the Carter Administration.

After the tour, Mr. Clark turned the presentation over to Lauren Delaney, Director of Education for the Carter Center. Ms. Delany showed a brief presentation explaining the fundamentals of the organization and some of their principles for peace.

The Carter Center is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization founded in 1982 in Atlanta by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in partnership with Emory University. The Center seeks to wage peace, fight disease and build hope in a world where people live every day under difficult, life-threatening conditions caused by war, disease and famine. The ultimate goal is to help create a world where every man, woman and child has the opportunity to enjoy good health and live in peace.

I am very grateful to the staff of the Carter Center for making such wonderful accommodations for our class. It was an invaluable experience and one that I am sure our class will not forget.

Coca-Cola Headquarters

2008-06-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

By Alyse Lovett and Meredith Stringer

The Coca-Cola Company is truly a magical place. The vending machines located in the company’s Atlanta headquarters offer employees (and certain special visitors) a free Coke at the touch of a button. The company prides itself on a product that people the world over can agree to love. Jonathan “Rocky” Rief, director of Public Policy, Trends, and Insights at Coca-Cola, gave us an inside look into research the company has done on several contemporary issues that affect public perception of the company.

Rief brought up the issue of the public’s lack of confidence in large corporations — a major challenge for the company. The company has counteracted this perception through its work as a socially responsible organization. Coca-Cola prides itself on making the world a better place by producing 100% recyclable materials, working with environmental organizations like the World Wildlife Federation, donating money toward education, and aiding in the efforts to combat childhood obesity.

In terms of the objectives that Coca-Cola strives to reach, Rief explained to us that there are several important things one must keep in mind. He admitted that one should “be proactive in neutralizing health concerns, but recognize that there are borders around the product.” Coca-Cola has reacted to Americans’ concerns about childhood obesity by offering beverages like Coke Zeroä. Nevertheless, the company acknowledges that they cannot single-handedly end childhood obesity. The most beneficial tactic is simply to offer variety and options in Coke products.

Rief went on to advise, “When it comes to corporate social responsibility, less is more.” Though the endorser of a product must know what its customers and potential customers value and dislike, as well as the public’s general mood, they cannot make everyone happy. Rief and his team at Coca-Cola have an extensive knowledge of what the American people are thinking and feeling, but, as Rief contended, addressing all of the issues may lead to problems. The more effective method of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is to address select issues and address them well. As Rief explained, “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow: communicate Coca-Cola’s core values.”

Coca-Cola offers internships primarily during the summer in the areas of internal communications, media, healthcare, governmental affairs, environmental policy and brand public relations. For more information about applying and a list of possible placement opportunities, you can visit Coca-Cola Internships.

High Times at the Art Museum

2008-05-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

By Caroline Pollard

After a long trip to the Carter Center and a quick run-through of the King Center, the class split up into two groups to continue the second-to-last day, May 29, of our Atlanta experience. Because of a schedule mix-up, half of the class went to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the other half went to the High Museum of Art. I went with the group that got to go the museum.

We met with Manager of Public Relations Cassandra Streich and Public Relations Coordinator Jennifer Maley. We were taken to an auditorium where we were able to pick both ladies’ brains about their jobs and what goes on in the museum before walking around to look at the artwork. Cassandra did most of the talking and told us about what she does as manager of public relations of the museum. She talked about what she does on a day-to-day basis, like staying in contact with reporters, writing press releases about anything she can think of for publicity, working with other departments to organize and manage the image of the museum and researching people in other cities up to four hours away in order to reach out to visitors who drive from out of town for a tour.

We also found out that Cassandra had a personal hand in bringing “The Louvre Atlanta” to the High. She speaks French, so three months into her job she was asked to go to Paris, France to help communication and organization between the High Museum of Art and the Musee de Louvre. She spent a month helping coordinate what was going to happen when “The Louvre Atlanta” came to the United States and how the two museums were going to promote this innovative partnership. The drawings, sculptures, paintings and other antiquities were flown over from Paris to Atlanta. In Georgia, the art was taken out of its packaging and checked by curators for damages, then re-packed and transported by trucks to the museum.

To end the discussion, she gave us advice about getting internships, being interested in the job you are doing, reading several companies’ press releases to pull from their style and make your own, knowing a foreign language and how it helps public relations practitioners and being organized and able to multi-task.

Near the end of our time at the museum we were free to roam about and look at the artwork that the museum had on display. We saw American and European art from centuries ago through the present. It was a great way to end the day and our amazing experience.

USC at CDC

2008-05-31T09:44:00.000-07:00

By Chris Harvie

As our last stop of the day on Thursday, May 29, half of the class headed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After going through security we were greeted and escorted to their press room. Divya Nair, Press Assistant for CDC, informed the class that this room was used for all of their press conferences; most information was communicated over satellite or telephone.

The first to speak to our class was Dr. Eileen Farron who was in the Special Pathogens Branch Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases. Dr. Farron told the class about some of the research CDC does in other countries, focusing on Ebola. Dr. Glen Nowak, Chief, Division of Media Relations, was a former public relations and advertising professor at UGA, and he earned his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin. He spoke to the class about working with reporters and communicating with the media. Our last speaker of the day was Von Roebuck, Senior Press Officer of Media Relations for CDC. Mr. Roebuck’s degree is from Purdue, and he spoke to the class about how CDC handles crisis communications.

The last stop at our visit to the CDC was a tour of DEOC. We were escorted up and down elevators and through security until we arrived at the start of our tour. Our tour included stopping at the JIC (joint information center) and ending in a large room filled with chairs, computers and televisions. The televisions in this room were all on a giant screen and called the standard information display. These screens give the people of the CDC a “snapshot of significance.” A few of the screens were used to monitor public health events like earthquakes and forest fires. The other screens were used to monitor other situations like global disease outbreaks.

Our time spent at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was very well spent and extremely informative. The opportunity to actually sit in CDC’s press room and tour their campus is once in a lifetime. After returning from our visit to CDC, everyone realized this trip would be one we would never forget.

Wednesday evening's alumni reception

2008-05-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

By Lauren Fabian

Wednesday night we went to the Alumni Reception at the international law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge. Kathleen and Jeff Haidet hosted the reception, and we appreciate their willingness to let us spend the evening with them. We enjoyed decadent hors d’ourves and a breath-taking view of Atlanta from the 53^rd floor. We met a variety of USC alumni currently working in the area. Everyone was very welcoming and I enjoyed learning tips and tidbits from each of them.

Stephen Brown, senior vice president, media relations for Manning, Selvage & Lee, told us further about what a day in the life of a public relations agency is like. He stressed the importance of experience and finding enjoyment in what you do. His demeanor showed how passionate he was about the job he does and the industry he’s in.

Alison L. Carnes, edit operations supervisor for Turner Studios, drew us in with her contagious energy and gave us advice about entering the work world. It was interesting to hear advice from someone who works with television and works for such a large, successful corporation.

The other alumni were fun to talk with and eager to share their experiences with us as well. They offered advice for different types of professions in the public relations field. Aviva Hoffmann told us about her unexpected career path that went from being a real estate title searcher in Hawaii to working in broadcast at a government television station in Georgia. Many of us got to see Varion Hunt again the next day when we visited the CDC, where she works. Ms. Hunt earned her M.M.C. degree from the J-school.

The alumni were interesting to talk to and offered their experiences to help us prepare for and better understand the world we’re about to enter. They gave us unique and personal looks into the different public relations professions as well as the professions that deal with public relations.

I realized that career paths are unpredictable and can be very exciting. I learned that it’s good to be open to new possibilities, and every possibility. I learned to find and pursue what I’m passionate about (even if it changes) with determination and an open mind.

…And the dessert display wasn’t half-bad either!

Georgia Tech

2008-05-30T20:03:00.000-07:00

By Adam Takach

Today our group arrived at Georgia Tech. It is Memorial Day and it is very hot—it is one of those days that when you step outside you are immediately covered in a glaze of sweat. The campus is absolutely gorgeous, especially for being located in a major metropolitan area. We are all glad to finally lie down and relax after a long day on the bus and at the zoo.

The food here at cafeteria is surprisingly delicious; they offer a wide variety of different foods to appeal to everyone. Our group decides to eat as a family at one big table, and the bonding begins. The drought in Atlanta means that we do not have trays to carry our food on, and the various fountains located on campus are not working.

Our group is staying in a residence hall, which was a great idea compared to staying in a hotel. It allows most of us to relive a lifestyle we hadn’t experienced for quite a few years. It really is the centerpiece for our bonding, with people coming and going out of rooms, sharing various items we had forgotten, and just being able to chill out with each other in the common areas. Georgia Tech is a beautiful campus that accommodates our group of characters to the utmost.

First Stop—Zoo Atlanta, Monday, May 26

2008-05-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

By Adam Takach

Our group began our public relations adventures at Zoo Atlanta. Although we did not meet with someone who represented the Zoo, we all looked at things that we as a group could do in a public relations situation, from promoting various new attractions in the zoo, like crazy looking naked mole rats, to getting more people to attend the zoo in the Atlanta area.

The zoo had great things for us to look at from amazing animals to the not-so-amazing. What many of us found interesting were the gorillas. There were many of them in the gorilla exhibit and the main attraction for us was the twins. For the not-so-amazing there were many of the reptiles in the World of Reptiles exhibit. Not too many exciting things happened here, just a lot of lying around. Lastly there is just the plain weird, the naked mole rats. Our group came to the conclusion that they are the ugliest creatures that we ever encountered.

Zoo Atlanta was a great place for our group to explore, but the sun belting down on top of us tired us with each step forward. Though it was fun we had to board the bus to make our check-in time at Georgia Tech.

CNN--Tuesday, May 27

2008-05-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

By Megan Dunn

After a long day of heat and waiting, we finally began our tour of CNN on Tuesday afternoon, May 27. We met our two tour guides, Nick and Chris. The adventure began on the world’s highest freestanding escalator. After the two-minute ride, we stepped off into the world-shaped dome. While viewing live footage from a theater inside the dome, we were informed of CNN’s history. Before it became a news center, the building was an indoor amusement park. The park had a human pin ball game in which people were launched through a human-sized pinball machine. However, for safety reasons, this did not last long. In addition to the game, there was a skating rink where the food court now is located. After the skating rink was removed, the food court was built. When viewed from above, the tiles form the shape of the world and gold plates mark the 39 bureaus.

After the theater, the group split up. Half went with Nick while the other toured with Chris. Chris’s group went behind the scenes and viewed Nancy Grace’s studio. The background of the set is the replica of the one that is used in her New York studio so she is able to shoot from New York or Atlanta. Her studio is smaller in person then it appears on screen, but a comfortable setting. Behind her desk, she has hairspray, make-up, and a brush in case she needs a quick fix before going on air. After the excitement of Nancy Grace’s studio, we were able to do more behind the scenes activity. We went into the newsroom where the on-air action occurs. People were rushing through the room from one desk to the next, while two news anchors were sitting on stage prepping to go on air. The atmosphere was exhilarating and more exciting in person then how it is depicted on television or movies.

Once we completed our tour, we gathered in a conference room with Nigel Pritchard and Paul Ferguson. Public relations vice president Nigel Pritchard commented about CNN. “Our proudest moments are what we keep out of the press.” CNN prides themselves on their dedication to the job and that the day of your everyday journalist is gone. Journalists now are on call 24 hours a day. Regardless of the topic, CNN is devoted to each subject. Even though one story may be more important then the next, CNN takes pride in their dedication to each subject.

Technology allows CNN to keep a steady pace in each story. The technology world is evolving at a fast pace and CNN is strategically keeping up with it. They claim that blogging is the future and it is here to stay. Through blogging, the world is able to express their thoughts and even teach the community and journalists at CNN. Through the changing society, CNN works hard to be able to craft stories for its people and maintain that they are the most trusted name in news.

We're Out of Order :(

2008-05-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

By Lisa Sisk

We’ve run into some trouble with Internet connections, e-mail issues and uploading photos, but I think we have solved our problems. However, our entries will not appear in the order in which we experienced our adventures. I’ll add the dates of our visits to each entry, and I hope you can follow our progress easily.

Keep reading and checking back. We’ll cover each day’s schedule fully—from the first two weeks in the classroom, to our first stop at Zoo Atlanta, and all the way through our last exciting day at the Georgia Aquarium. In addition to information from each visit, we’ll even throw in some info on the alumni reception, the nightlife in Atlanta and a wrap-up of the total experience.

Thanks for reading!

Our Morning at Turner Studios

2008-05-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

By Kelly Eisenhower

hour of 10 a.m.Anticipation was high as we headed to Turner Studios at the oh-so-early Wednesday. After passing by the building several times (both walking and driving) we all wondered what was behind the walls. From my experience and what I heard from everyone else, we all had a great time.

First thing, we had a quick five- minute marketing lesson that was extremely informative and interesting, which is a lot to say coming from a public relations major. After this, we quickly made our way to the studios where we toured in two separate groups. The group I was in went to the control room first. This room was surprisingly dark, filled with about twenty different television screens and what seemed like thousands of buttons. The two gentlemen spoke about our generation being one stuck between Hi- Def and SD TV. So until February 2009, some of our shows may not sync up between sound and picture. Either way, we thought it was very cool, although somewhat technologically advanced for us.

The next place we went were the sets of MLB on TBS and Dinner and a Makeover from TCM. It was all very apparent to us when we walked in, and of course we were all saying “ooh, ahh” and recognizing and remembering episodes of shows we had seen. The coolest part of this trip so far (in my opinion) was the set of the NBA show on TNT. It cost a total of about $5.2 million to build and was amazing. I got to sit in Charles Barkley’s chair! So of course I was extremely excited about this.

Next we broke up into three groups and saw various other parts of the studio. My particular group went to the Final Cut suites and editing rooms. One of the rooms showed us a project they had been working on since the previous day. It was an advertisement for the NBA playoffs on TNT and it was Madonna and Justin Timberlake video and clips of NBA games. It was a really well put together commercial, and I had NO idea that it took so much work to do something like that. The music library has 13,000 CDs in it, none of which are mainstream music, which I thought was really interesting. My group saw sound editing last and again, we were amazed at how much work it really takes for something that lasts about 30 seconds during a commercial break.
I know this is probably a longer blog than most, but I felt like there was so much to tell about Turner Studios. We all left saying how great it would be to work there because almost everyone had smiles on their faces. They also wore casual clothes, which was very attractive to all of us. Alison Carnes, an alumna of the J-school, was a fabulous hostess and we all got the opportunity to speak to her again later that night. This was definitely a great experience that I hope other classes will be able to have in the future.

Our First Visit

2008-05-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

by Emily Ohnstad
Our Tuesday visits began at Manning, Selvage & Lee, one of the world’s leading public relations agencies. We met an alumnus of the University of South Carolina Honors College, Stephen Brown, Senior Vice President of Media Strategy. He described the past, present and future operations of the company, such as the recent launch of McDonald’s Southern Style Chicken Biscuit.

His down-to-earth attitude allowed for fluid conversation and intriguing questions from the class. With his advice, we are all encouraged to apply for as many internships as possible and network with local reporters.

The class participated in a brainstorm to create a headline for the new dark chocolate candy, Dark Knight Reese’s Cup. The candy will soon appear in stores to promote the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight. Lauren Fabian’s example was “Now the chocolate is as dark as Gotham.” We then decided which medium was best for the new Reese’s. The exercise gave us a chance to participate in a real life example of what public relations professionals do as well as jump start our creative minds early in the morning after a long night of fun.

Overall, the students enjoyed the presentation and found Mr. Brown to be a helpful and charming professional. Many plan to contact him in the future.

Getting Ready in the Classroom

2008-05-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

By Megan Richardson and Shelley Davis

No college student prefers school over the pool during the summer, but if you’re in Lisa Sisk’s Journalism 463 class you won’t mind at all. This class offers the thrills and frills of Atlanta, valuable hands-on experience, and class credit, too!

During the first two weeks of class we learned about different aspects of public relations. We each put together presentations about organizations we plan to visit in Atlanta. Each informative report helped us understand the background of each business. Some of the reports included Manning, Selvage & Lee, UPS, Atlanta Braves, Chick-fil-A, and Coca-Cola.

Beverly Dominick, the internship/placement coordinator for the journalism school, came by to give us good resume writing and interview tips, and shared some of her professional experiences with us. A research paper was due during the second week of class. We chose a topic and related a public relations case study to it. After a short presentation of our research papers, the second week of class was over and we headed home to start packing our bags for Atlanta.

The King Center, CNN, The Georgia Aquarium, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Turner Studios are just a few organizations we have the pleasure of visiting next week. We are all very excited about spending a week in Atlanta and taking a closer look inside each of these organizations and their public relations practices.

Atlanta, here we come! First stop: Zoo Atlanta.

Come Along to Atlanta!

2008-05-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

By Lisa Sisk

It’s back by popular demand! Since 2006, a unique Maymester course has taken students to Atlanta to meet public relations professionals from major corporations, agencies and attractions, and this year’s promises to be the best ever.

I invite you to come along with us as we visit public relations practitioners at major Atlanta organizations. They share their insight and advice with the students, who soon will be embarking on public relations careers of their own. It’s wonderful to see how they relate to the students, giving them valuable tips, regaling them with “war stories,” and encouraging them to embrace the exciting world of public relations.

For the last several months, I’ve been busy making connections with an exciting array of people, including top-level professionals at CNN, Coca Cola, UPS, Turner Studios, The Carter Center, MS&L, The High Museum of Art, The CDC, Centennial Olympic Park and many more. I’m deeply humbled by their eagerness to give up time in their busy schedules to meet our students.

The arrangements haven't stopped with the itinerary, obviously. I've worked hard to arrange our transportation, lodging and meals as well. We are staying at Georgia Tech, in the apartment-style residence hall area originally built for the Olympic athletes, and we have two meals a day in the dining hall. Waaaaay back when I was in college, we didn’t have such healthy, delicious choices in our dining hall. I was hesitant about those meals the first year we went to Atlanta, but I was delightfully surprised at how much I enjoyed them! Where else can you get soft-serve ice cream at every meal?

For the past two weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching the 20 SJMC students enrolled in the class. They’re a very interesting group, and our class discussions have been thought-provoking, deep and lively. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it! Megan Richardson and Shelley Davis have written the next entry, which describes our class time before we take off for the booming metropolis.

Each day, students will post entries about our visits and the professionals who are hosting us. Check back every day to learn more about our adventures and see our photos! I’ll chime in periodically, too.

We sincerely hope you enjoy sharing our experiences.

Thanks!
Lisa