The Department of Sport and Recreation, Ready, Set, Go!!

I have hit the ground running....

I was nervous starting my first day at The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR), as it was the first time I will have ever used my PR skills in the real world. I suddenly wondered if I had learnt enough in my studies to produce industry level work and had I paid enough attention in class? 

I am working in the DSR communications department, an open office of about 10 people, all working in relation to communications. It is amazing to see first hand how the office works. I have hit the ground running as my boss is great and gives me real work to do. When I come in there are always stories and realease to be written, which requires me to contact the apporopriate people for more information, quotes and approval, definitely something new for me.

 

On my first day my task was to write a news story for the DSR website about an Olympian hockey player who visited one of the camps DSR ran. This was a great first task as I had to interview someone and check the quotes I used. I learnt a lot from this small story; how to interview, what questions to ask, how to turn their answers into a quote and how to write a news story, I have never done any of this before.

 I feel that the one of the biggest things I have had to learn from day one is how to talk on the phone in a professional way. It isn't something we are taught in uni, and when I began it was something that was presumed I knew how to do. Of coarse I have rang people to book appointments and at Bunnings where I work I ring customers and suppliers, but when you a ringing the West to pitch a story or calling a regional officer to check a quote it suddenly becomes very important how you handle yourself. The way I learnt was by listening to other people in the office and then just by ringing people myself. It has been a challenge for me to do this but as I am doing it often it is becoming easier, "Hi, my name is Kristie and I am calling from the department of Sport and Recreation" is usually a good way to start :)

I have done a lot of different things since I have started, but one highlight was on my second day, writing a release on behalf of the minister. It was an important release as it was some good news and had to be written that morning. It was definitely a learning experience as the style of release is different from what we had learnt. I was briefed on the story and then they said "ok, that is the information now go and write the release". For them it was simple but for me it was the first thing I have ever done which was kind of important and I was nervous that what I wrote would be rubbish. I gave it my best shot and it turned out that what I wrote was OK. It did get edited but not completely changed. From that I began to feel a little more confident that I have learnt things in class and I am able to write at the appropriate standard. Here is a link to the final copy of the release and the webstory.

Photo from my release

I am really enjoying my time at DSR, the team here a so nice and friendly and have really made me feel welcome. They are also very encouraging, willing to help me and don't make me feel like I am in the way but more like I am helping them. I am very lucky to be doing my placement here and cant wait to see what else I will learn. Bring it on!

Kristie Post 1