Reflection 1: The Introduction

Greeting to everyone!

Let me introduce myself first. My name is Parvither Preet Kaur and this is my 6^th semester at Curtin Sarawak. My degree is in Mass Communications, Majoring in Public Relations. I’m from West Malaysia and coming to East Malaysia is a whole different experience (people, food, places, culture). Life is very much different here compared to the west, where it is much more hectic over there and very much laid back over here in Sarawak.

The thing about public relations is it deals with challenging ideas. How do you deal with the real world and the issues that arise? How would you assist your company? All these aren't found in the textbooks or lecture slides and you cannot be spoon fed. It is a skill you pick up as you learn in the “real world”.

Today, 21^st May 2013 was my first day at Corporate Communications, a Public Relations Department in Curtin University Sarawak. My day started bright and early at the office. Upon arrival I was greeted by a very warm and welcoming office filled with a lovely team of Public Relations officers. After meeting up with my mentor, I was given a tour of the office and met everyone on the teams I would be working with. It was that moment where I had realized that the communications skill had already started kicking in. Throughout my learning in the classroom, a lot of importance was given to communication skills, especially with the bosses, the staff, the team and the clients and this was applied on my first day.

As I stepped foot in the office, my aim was to be able to answer these following questions once I have finished with my internship:

• ·         How PR companies work with their clients
• ·         What importance PR plays in promoting
• ·         What clients hope to achieve through PR
• ·         Why people and companies employ a PR campaign
• ·         How to write a professional press release
• ·         How PR specialists go about helping a company or person embroiled in scandal or negative media attention

Moving on, Mr. Nicholas briefed on detail information on the departments job. He encouraged me to mix around and learn anything I would like from my colleagues.  As it is the end of the semester, the department is a little laid back from its hectic routine. Ms Marcella recommended that I should start from scratch, which is reading the newspapers (English, Malay, and Chinese); my job begun with media monitoring and press clippings.

At the moment it’s hard for me to say how I feel about my internship, but in terms of the work environment and the office here at Corporate Communications, Well it’s GREAT!  Everything and everyone is just so laid back. Most important, I'm very thankful to have helpful people in the department who are willing to assist, teach and make me feel comfortable in the office.

Here are some links to PR and the real world.

• ·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYAHzgqFnJw
• ·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzfUVnh-Yno

Best regards,

Parvither Preet Kaur

Curtin Sarawak

15131982