Love that Media

Hello 393ers,

I would like to share to recent and exciting experiences that have happened during my prac. (I am completing my placement at the WA Museum in their PR/marketing department and my job at a local PR consultancy called hopscotch).

Both of placements are heavily involved with media activity, I have been working on media databases (severely mundane, but I semi-enjoy it because it means I get to know the Perth media), writing media releases, and pitching product and interviews to the media, then following up with those pitches.

Two exciting recent media experiences I have had include a photoshoot with the Sunday Times and a visit from Channel 10 news.

At hopscotch we have several fashion and entertainment clients in Perth. One of them recently featured in The Sunday Times and on an image slideshow on Perthnow.com, and I was very excited to be able to attend the photoshoot. We had to meet with the models in the morning for hair and make-up then travel to the photoshoot location where we spent the afternoon. The whole day was a great networking opportunity. I met the journalist, photographers, models and the make-up artist who had a great amount of experience in the film and television industry. Then seeing the images afterwards gave me a funny sense of satisfaction!

My second cool experience with the media was at the Museum. The Museum's Welshpool facility holds the most amazing stuff! Most of the scientific research is undertaken there as well as the storage and preservation of items to be put on display, that didn't make it in to a display etc. A new species of frog was recently discovered by one of the Museum's resident scientists and after sending out a media release, Channel 10 paid us a visit to cover the story. I was able to meet the scientist from the Museum, the journalist and the cameraman from Channel 10 and watch as the interview and filming took place. Though I wasn't involved in the initial process of getting Channel 10 there, it was great to meet everyone and be involved in the fun stuff!

So, there are just a couple of cool media experiences that I have had in recent weeks. I sometimes forget that there is more to PR than media! but I really enjoy the media relations and publicity side of PR, and it is great to get the experience in interesting and fun organisations.

- Ellie