Goodbye and Good Luck

It was my final week this week and I have learnt more then I expected at my placement....

This internship has taught me and showed me a deeper insight into the public relations industry in the events field. I got to be apart of a creation, the commencement and the running of an event. Before I started my public relations internship, I didn't know or appreciate the amount of time that is put into making an event.

Working in a not for profit organisation is so different to working on an event that is already well known and for - profit e.g music festivals, food festivals, expos.   You're signal handily  relying on the fact that people are going to want to spend money support a cause that may not even affect them. To reach into their own pockets and spend their disposable income on ticket for a ball in support of charity rather than going out to a lunch with friends or even a weekend away.  You would think that people would obviously opt to donate out of compassion and humility but how many times have you walked past a person collecting money for charity and not given a gold coin donation?

Convincing the general public to financially and emotionally support an issue you think is a worthy cause is a a lot harder then it may seem. The amount of advertising and communicating can almost seem like a drop in the ocean when people are not responding the way you would like them too!

But and there is a but... when people do start responding and giving the cause you have worked so hard to bring awareness too, it really does feel like an achievement.  All the hours of calling, researching, drafting and sending media packages starts to pay off.  It feels even better when your boss recognises your efforts and personally congratulates you.

Barbara Mcnaught has been an amazing supervisor and employer. She understands that you are here on a potentially short term basis and goes out of her way to give you the best and most educational experience she can.  She's eager to teach as long as you're willing to learn. My hat goes off to her that every day she continues to be optimistic a fights to bring awareness to issues that effect the community rather then making events for a pocket profit.



I have left this internship feeling relieved but optimistic. As much as I have found the experience enlightening and fulfilling I don't think my flare is in the events field of public relations. I think I will really grow and shine in crisis management as I believe that I am great with communicating with publics and providing a solution to a businesses needs.

I am glad I completed my internship at Momentum Forum Events as sometimes you need to experience  things to know what you DON'T want to do to, to  know what you want TO DO.

I hope your experience of your internship has helped shaped  an understanding of public relations and that you can step into the world of PR with knowledge and ambition.



Thanks for following me guys goodbye and good luck!

Put a spin on it!

 Im more then half way through my internship and I have learnt that public relations requires you to be:

-Creative
-Efficient
-Effective
-Appealing

Now thats its easier said then done. Coming up with an original idea that know one has ever though of is really quite difficult, especially in public relation events.  However what is easier, is learning how to develop an existing idea and make it bigger and better then it was before. 

Interning at Momentum Forum Events has taught me to work with sources previously available and put an alternative spin on it.  Barbra my CEO is extremely good at developing contacts, sponsors and prizes  out of the original sources, which has obviously now rubbed off on me!

Another event I have been fortunate enough to work on is The Men in Black Ball for 2015. The Ball is a charity event in support of mens mental health. Just like other events Momentum Forum has hosted, this event also has a live auction to raise money for Momentum's charities.  Barbra required me and another intern to brainstorm a live auction prize that would be different to all the others.  However we had to use original contacts and relationships with businesses we already had developed. 

Barbra had received an offer from  The Gelati Family owners of Spud Shed in W.A. They said they would be willing to let people come and pick mangos off their mango field in exchange for exposure at the Ball. Hardly a glamorous auction prize right? Then a thought came to my mind. I thought back to the media releases and facts sheets I had prepared as part of my assessments for PR 250.  I had practiced writing  creative media releases for journalists from simple information.

I  suggested a Mango Race.  A race that would involved a group of 10 (Same size as the  guests tables at the ball) to race each other and pick as many mangos as they can. The person to pick the most Mangos wins a prize.  Not only did Barbra loves this idea she is now going to use it!  Of course she has tweaked and developed the idea (I'm not a PR professional just yet) but the spin I thought of she loved.

Barbra then developed the race into a weekend away with prizes for the people who came first, second and third in mango race.  Adding a bit more glamour and fun to it all!

This internship is pushing me to use my creativity more then I ever expected.  I have been pushed to act efficiently and diligently to meet expectations set by Barbra. 

Using public relations in work place is very different to using it in class. In class your given a reasonable amount of time to develop an idea and apply your public relations knowledge to put it to action. In the workplace you're not necessarily going to be given a comfortable amount of time to develop these ideas. Your client is going to an expect a fast response and your employer is going to expect you to work diligently and efficiently to meet these demands. If you can't provide a strong skill set your employer may look elsewhere for a PR practitioner that can.

This pressure my seem daunting but I have realised that it's actually very beneficial. It creates healthy competition in the work place and pushes you to develop your skills and be the most efficient, diligent and creative public relations employee you can be.

Heres the advertisement for the prize my creativity influenced !

What you will also notice is relationship that has grown between The Gelati Family (Spud Shed owners) and Momentum Forum Events.  Both have gained an outcome that is beneficial to them both and sends a positive message to the community due to the charitable cause it supports!  Hats off to the power of Public Relations.

Till next time