Do You Think PR is Glamorous? Think Again!

Hello fellow interns.

I can’t believe I’ve already completed my first week of internship at Omnicane, a company involved in sugarcane and food crop cultivation, bioethanol and electricity production. I’ve been placed in the Internal News Edition & Events Coordination department and what I really like about this department is that I’m constantly on the move.

I discovered places that I did not even know existed in Mauritius. I’m actually working on the annual newsletter and since Omnicane is really active in terms of community involvement, I had the opportunity to interview a few people that received support from the firm. It may sound weird but the company engages so much in CSR that I tend to feel like I’m interning for a non-profit organisation.

I went to Mahebourg Espoir Education Centre, a place where students who failed the Certificate of Primary Education, are given a second chance. They often have a difficult family background, are aged 12 to 16 years old and go there from Monday to Friday, from 08.15 to 16.15. Apart from the academic studies, they are also able to develop other skills since they learn cookery and how to play instruments such as the Djembe and guitar. Moreover, they practise sports like football and judo. The centre’s director as well as an ex-student were interviewed so as to gain a deeper understanding of their experience there. I then assisted my supervisor in the editing of the article about the centre, which will be included in the annual newsletter. 

Students preparing pancakes at Mahebourg Espoir Education Centre.

I also went to Batimarais to write an article about the needy residents’ situation three months after Omnicane gave them laying hens. Many of them have started to sell the eggs and hence, they can now earn an income. After talking to these people, I was reminded of a Chinese proverb that comes from Confucius, a great philosopher: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime".

Gloria Joorun, a resident of Batimarais, feeding her hens.

From a new perspective, I can tell you that PR is not as glamorous as some people tend to think. My short experience has nevertheless taught me that to be a PR professional, you cannot afford to be too emotional. Believe me, it IS a challenge to witness such misery and not break down. However, professionalism is also about maintaining a smile even when the heart is not there. I indeed feel like I just stepped into the real world, already so far outside of my comfort zone. What about you? In what way do you feel that you have stepped out of your comfort zone?

Looking forward to learn about your own experience, be it positive or negative.

All the best,

Haddiyyah Tasneem Futloo

Being a part of something big

Hey everyone!

In the next couple of weeks, Asuar Design is going to be really busy preparing for the upcoming events. For example, the next big event would be the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival!

Any of you guys attending the event; TPFF? 

There are loads of greater things on our list, I can't reveal it to you just yet, but, stay tuned :)

Being a part of something, no matter how big or how small it is, feels amazing. The best part of it is when you see the outcome, and when you can proudly say, that is your own work feels absolutely phenomenal. If you have read my previous post, I stated that I have been helping out with the preparation of the Asuar Autumn Winter Campaign. Apart from helping out with organising the campaign, I also helped Lauren with the artistic side of the campaign, such as being the "behind the scene" photographer, flat lay photographer and look book layout graphic designer.

My name printed in the look books :') *proud moment*

Apart from that, I have been dealing with PR work for Asuar Design. I have been making contact with celebrity agencies. To be honest, my first call to the first agency, I was nervous but slowly I got used to it. Some of the management agencies have really nice people, some are pretty mean :( I guess, that is because people call them too much dealing with the same thing I am trying to do, promote and create awareness for my brand. I have been sending out emails, media kits, look books to agencies hoping they would reply, and collaborate with us. I am proud to say, Asuar Design will soon be dressing the gorgeous Melanie Vallejo. Hopefully, in time, we will be dressing up more celebrities!

My advice in regards to making calls to agencies, do not be afraid. Just make sure you have a solid knowledge of your brand, be confident and you are good to go!

In addition, I have been designing postcards and gift cards to present to the attendees at the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival. I can't wait to see the product I have created being physically printed! Furthermore, I have been sending out newsletters and keeping new subscribers updated with the latest of Asuar Design. Meanwhile, Lauren had gone through with me about how to beautifully package our garments, and what is needed to be included and written down in files when a parcel is sent out.

Asuar Design gift wrap

Follow @asuar_design on Instagram *hearts*

Much more coming soon!!

Till then...

Warm Regards,
Camy xx

Putting On My Big Girl Pants!

During my time at Momentum Forum I have had the chance to put my writing skills to good use. Under the watchful eyes of my supervisor and mentor Barbara McNaught (the founder of the organisation) and her beautiful daughter Kasia, we have worked together on countless media releases, Facebook posts, Linked in updates and editorial pieces leading up to the Men in Black Ball…. and I have to say we are a dynamite trio! Continuously bouncing ideas from one another, "what's a better way of saying this?", constructive criticism, positive encouragement - a recipe for fantastic writing!

This week I was given an exciting task: to prepare a newsletter to send out to all of Momentum's contacts (over 5000!) with information about the upcoming Men in Black Ball.

The best bit?

I GOT TO DO IT ALL ON MY OWN.

It might not seem like much, but like most of you, this is my first time in the "real world" as they call it, writing real material, sending it to real people, who might end up coming to the event IM working on! Excited is an understatement let me tell you.

So, while Barbara went to meet with a potential corporate sponsor, I was left to write a newsletter. Barbara had given me a couple of pointers/topics she would like in the newsletter and the rest was up to me. It was to be short and sweet, interesting and attention grabbing, not too much writing…you know the drill.

By the time Barbara returned the newsletter was finished.

The verdict?

SHE LOVED IT!

After a few minor tweaks here and there, it was ready to send out…. and wow I didn't know such a small project could bring such a huge feeling of personal achievement. I was so proud of myself, and it felt even better that Barbara appreciated the effort I had put in.

Guess it looks like my "big girl pants" are here to stay :)

Stacey Morrison
14862663

Meet the interim Public Relations Assistant of Mamba Advertising!

Yes I know! From not having an internship a month ago, I now have a title at my new job! Let me explain to you guys the importance of this title. My boss gave me the task of emailing some potential clients about the services that the company proposes and while we were discussing about the content of the emails, he told me to sign the email by this particular title. 

One important thing we have learnt in PR (it has become a rule now!) is that image is very important. When you deal with your stakeholders, you have to be on your best because you are representing an organisation as we have been seeing in nearly all PR units. Whenever I was dealing with clients addressing myself as the PR assistant, I could sense their interest and attention and I can bet my life that I would not have received the same treatment if I had said “Hi, this is the intern at Mamba!” So far, the last ten days or so I spent at Mamba have been prolific. My first task was to target clients, existing and new, about the new services that Mamba Advertising was offering. 

Exterior shot of Mamba Advertising

Reception area!

We're all hoping to have some fresh coconut juice and cream soon!

A few days and some in-depth research later, I was assign to create a business directory on stakeholders. Since, the agency was mostly known for advertising rather than PR/Communication, I suggested my boss that we could create a newsletter that would clearly explain the range of services to the clients. I’m grateful that my boss trusted me enough to let me in charge of the newsletter and I thank god that I haven’t forgotten my design skills (though, I still had to refresh my memory on how to use Adobe InDesign and Illustrator!). 

Vincent, my boss, also announced that we would be doing a media plan (that’s how they call it by the way!) and asked me to do the media placements. I will talk about that in my next post since clearly my words are exceeding the space I have! Oh wait! Have I told you guys that I have to speak and write in French, English and Mauritian Creole everyday! Now that’s something!   

See y’all later! I hope you guys are having a great time at your internships!

Kritina Sungkur

15886486

Charles Telfair Institute

The workplace can never replace your university classroom!

Hello everyone!
This second post is about my first week at the headquarters of the ECCEA. The area is very much peaceful with a beautiful scenery and a huge garden. The day I was heading to work, I was actually very pleased with the charming surrounding. But I soon lost notion of what is around me when I was introduced to my second task which was the setting up of a newsletter. As easy as it is to say newsletter, as difficult it is to produce especially when you do not have any other PR staff. The newsletter was expected to be completed by A to Z and to really reflect the organisation.

I was given files which contained media releases and other documents related to past events to write articles. This also included writing articles concerning Rodrigues education sector and the events that were organised by the ECCEA (Rodrigues is a constituency of the Republic of Mauritius). Sometimes I could be writing three articles within three hours and sometimes due to the lack of guidance, I could be writing one single article for 3 hours. The process of looking for photos was even more tiring because the government filing system consists in contacting several people to have information and seek approval about the information that is going to be made public.

Also the theme of the template, the colors and the placement of the articles was very important. I had to do a newsletter three times so that it corresponded to what the Director was seeking. These were the times when I missed University, my friends and my PR lecturer because believe me, when the task that you have been assigned to takes half of your time and you dedicate all your hard work to make it up to the standard and at the last moment your supervisor does not appreciate the work, it is very disappointing. The approach at university level is very different to that of the workplace. The newsletter took me up to two weeks to complete but the motivation that it was actually going to be published kept me on the edge.

During these stressful days, what I found as an escape in this internship was to do media clippings. I volunteered to do the media clipping of the day and I was given a pile of newspapers to read and to find anything related to the Ministry of Education. The related articles would then be photocopied and filed accordingly.

Yes, media clippings can actually turn out to be something fun to do!

Regards,
Divya.

Kirby Scanlan Blog Post #3: Becoming Barbara’s “right hand man”

It is now coming into the middle of my placement and Barbara is due to take her annual month off to fly home to Poland to visit her family. At this point one of my main jobs is to solely be in charge of the weekly newsletter, which is a great job to do. Today Barbara asked me to basically look after the company while she was going to be away. My jobs were to be on call if she needed me to send someone an email or phone call, do two newsletters and check on the social media as best as I could. I felt very proud to have been given this responsibility and felt like that was some positive recognition that Barbara was happy with my work.

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For the rest of the day we brainstormed ideas for the two newsletters, and I registered a new business name including an IP address, trademark/patent and Eway account for Momentum's new campaign/charity “ Your Kiss Counts” which was launched at the IWD earlier this year. I also assisted with setting up social media accounts for the same campaign. 

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The rest of the day consisted of returning emails and tying up as many loose ends as we could before Barbara left for her holiday, I am starting to feel very comfortable here at Momentum and although some days are definitely more exciting than others, I really feel great about what we are doing (or trying to do) for the community and some very worthy causes and that makes those less exciting days all the worthwhile.

Kirby Scanlan Blog Post #2: Back to Reality

There’s no rest for the wicked here at Momentum, my first day back after their first event and its straight on to the next one, well almost. I got straight into updating contact lists this morning, adding the entire guest list from the event onto our database, and once that was done that event was in the past and forgotten about and the next event was on the ‘horizon! My first job was to start sourcing mining sponsorships for the next major event; The Men in Black Ball, which included me ringing up mining companies to collect appropriate people to send the proposal too. I then sat down with a graphic designer that Barbara sometimes works with and got taught how to make a newsletter on Mail Chimp so we could do these in-house from now on. While being taught all about Mail Chimp I also made a step by step how to guide for future interns on how to do the newsletter.  I then made my very first Momentum Newsletter.

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Issues/ I found this week:

• ·         No evaluation plan in place for events
• ·         The Momentum Brand itself is very confusing, there are a lot of Campaigns and charities/companies within Momentum and they all have different logos etc, it was very confusing for me, so I’m sure very confusing for clients and consumers, and the public.
• ·         Momentum is found on page 5 or 6 when you Google them – which isn’t good!
• ·         Items on their website are from months ago and the website itself is very dated and messy and does not represent the Momentum brand
• ·         It has already been one week since the IWD (International Women’s day) launch and there are no photos on the website from the event.
• ·         The Sponsorship proposal is also dated and unclear  - However, I suggested this and later worked on updating it with Barbara.

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Suggestions I made this week:

• ·         Make an evaluation survey to send out to event guests to help improve future events and get a better understanding on what promotion avenue works best for the consumer
• ·         Create a face book link to subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter
• ·         Suggested small design changes to the newsletter