Marist Communication Students Host Event to Prevent Child Abuse

According to Marist seniors Jessica Turgeon, Brenna McCarthy and Lauren Hawkins, at least one case of child abuse is reported every 10 seconds. And nearly five children die every day as a result of child abuse. The effects of child abuse mean more than statistics to these young women, however. As communication majors, the women have adopted this cause as a communication capstone course project designed to reduce the threat of child abuse.

The project, "Every Moment Counts: The Truth Behind Child Abuse," involves two special events that will take place on Monday, April 4, and on Tuesday, April 5, at Marist's Poughkeepsie (NY) campus. The events are being organized in conjunction with the Dutchess County Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

First, the women have organized a teddy-bear drive to support children who use the Center's services. Anyone willing to donate a new, unused teddy bear should go to the breezeway between Champagnat Hall and the Student Center on Monday, April 4, between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m., where volunteers will collect the bears. 

The main event will take place on Tuesday, April 5, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., the women will host an informational lecture about child abuse in Marist Student Center's Performing Arts Room (PAR).

The lecture will include presentations by the Kathleen Murphy, the Center for Prevention of Child Abuse executive director; Michelle Taylor, a Center board member and a program director and on-air personality with Hudson Valley radio stations WRNQ/92.1 LITE FM and WCTW/98.5 LITE FM; and Dr. Linda Dunlap, a Marist psychology professor and child development specialist. Light refreshments will be served at the event.

To read more information about the event, RSVP to attend the April 5 lecture, or post questions or comments about the events, go to event sites on Facebook and Twittter.

Marist COMMARTS Internship, PR/Integrated Comm, Fall 2011

APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED


Marist communication majors, take advantage of this unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop cutting-edge social media and integrated communication skills. 


Background, experience, course work (concentration) in public relations highly desired.


Application Deadline: Friday, April 8

To Apply: Send electronic resume with cover letter and list of three references to mark.vandyke@marist.edu.

Selection of best-qualified candidate will take place before April 15 deadline for fall 2011 course registration period, which will allow the selectee to add credits to fall schedule.

Organization: School of Communication & the Arts, Marist College

Type: Integrated Communication Intern

Location: Poughkeepsie (Marist Main Campus)

Qualifications: Minimum of 2.5 GPA; completion of 60 college credits and prerequisite course in employment practicum. Highly motivated with proficiency in online media and social networks. Excellent writing and communication skills; keen attention to detail; outstanding management and organizational skills. Desire to learn and take initiative while working independently. Available to work 10 to 15 hours a week (3 academic credits).

Description: The School of Communication & the Arts houses the largest undergraduate program at Marist College and offers degree programs in art and art history, communication, fashion, media arts and music. The intern will assist with management of public relations, advertising, marketing and other strategic communication functions that help manage relationships among the school its key internal and external audiences. The intern will report directly to a designated member of the staff or faculty for supervision purposes; however, the intern will provide direct support to the school’s dean, various members of the faculty and staff, and contract employees.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design, upload, and update material (text, images, videos, links, etc.) for the school’s website(s). 
• Write, edit, and distribute public relations, advertising, and marketing materials (press releases, fact sheets, backgrounders, video releases, pitches, etc.) about accomplishments of students and faculty, significant events, and other newsworthy items. 
• Assist as necessary with media relations. 
• Write, upload, and update material and membership databases on professional networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc.). 
• Create content, help distribute, and monitor communication on social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs, etc.). 
• Serve as liaison with student communication groups (PRSSA, Communication Arts Society, Advertising Club, etc.) 
• Conduct research and evaluation as needed. 
• Develop a social media strategy for the school. 

Contact: Dr. Mark A. Van Dyke, Associate Professor, School of Communication and the Arts Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-1387; E-Mail: mark.vandyke@marist.edu; Web: http://foxweb.marist.edu/users/mark.vandyke

Marist Alumni Networking Event in NY City, April 6

Hey, Marist College junior and senior communication majors, don't miss this rare opportunity to network in New York City on Wednesday night, April 6, with Red Fox alumni currently working in the fields of television, public relations, advertising, and journalism. Even better, take advantage of the free round-trip bus ride and free food at the event!

Bus seats are limited, so sign up at the Communication Internship Program Office, Lowell Thomas 211-A, as soon as possible -- but no later than Friday, April 1.

For those at Marist traveling to NY City:

• Sign up by at the Internship Office, LT211-A, by Friday, April 1
• Bus departs from front of Lowell Thomas, 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 6
• Event time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 6
• Bus leaves NY City immediately after event to return to Marist

For students and alumni already in New York City:

• To reserve your spot, RSVP via e-mail to Gerald.Mcnulty@marist.edu by Friday, April 1
• Take the 4-5-6 train to 86th St., walk north to the Y. Event will be held in the Warburg Room, immediately off the Main Lobby
• Event time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 6

For anyone needing additional information, contact:

Communication Internship Program
Lowell Thomas 211-A
Marist College, Poughkeepsie,  NY  12601
PH: (845) 575-3655
Fax (845) 575-3696
gerald.mcnulty@marist.edu

Don't miss out! Sign up or RSVP today.

Marist Music Department Announces Spring Concerts

Fresh from its nationally televised band performances during the women's NCAA basketball tournament, the Marist College Music Department has announced its schedule of annual spring concerts at the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie, NY. Please spread the word about the schedule and tickets that are now available through Ticketmaster outlets and the Bardavon Box Office.

Schedule


A Night in Vienna
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.
Featuring: Marist College Chamber Singers, Alumni Choir, String Orchestra, Wind Symphony and Jazz Foxes
Program: A showcase of classic and contemporary sounds of Vienna.
Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com/A-Night-In-Vienna-tickets/artist/803404.

The Sunday Edition 
Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.
Featuring: Marist College Band, Singers, Freshman Women's Choir and Gospel Choir
Program: A concert in the style of your Sunday newspaper. Get your fill of everything from national and world music, religious music and yes, even movie music. Better than your Sunday newspaper, this Sunday edition will provide more entertainment than the Sunday funnies.
Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com/MARIST-MUSIC-PRESENTS-THE-SUNDAY-EDITION-tickets/artist/1572824.

Click the "Read More" link, below, for information about tickets and lodging.

In PR, Some Things Never Change

With all the talk of social media revolutionizing the public relations profession and the very definition of public relations professionals changing, it's comforting to know that some things will never change in public relations -- especially the things we teach our students.

Dr. Michael Posey

Dr. Michael Posey, professor and public relations chair at Franklin University in Columbus, OH, published a recent Op-Ed on PRWeek's website. Read his Op-Ed at http://bit.ly/dSdaAA.

In the Op-Ed, Dr. Posey observed, amidst all of the changes, "Some foundations of the profession will never change and should always be taught."

This means, according to Dr. Posey, we must continue to equip our students with the skills and knowledge in the following areas of competency:

Communication. The ability to communicate well orally and in writing will always be a core function in our field. Only the the ways we communicate (e.g., new media) will change. The basics of communication (e.g., knowing your audience, selecting appropriate tactics and channels, composing messages) will remain the same.

Business and Organizational Management. Just like Ivy Lee in the mid-1900s, public relations professionals still need to learn the value of earning and maintaining a "seat at the table," where we can offer counsel to senior leaders and affect decisions. This requires business acumen, strategic management skill, a sense of the world around us, and executive communication abilities.

Psychology. Finally, just as Edward Bernays taught us, we have to know how people and publics think and behave. Therefore, we still need to teach and learn the social-psychological side of public relations -- especially in the complicated age of social networks. 

Thanks, Dr. Posey, for reminding us of our origins and how our public relations field continues to be nourished from these professional roots.

PR Talent in the Social Media Age

I just read another in a series of excellent posts on the Council of Public Relations Firms' blog, Firm Voice. In this post, the Council reported on the results of their meeting with Sabrina Horn, Founder, President and CEO of the Horn Group; and with Gary Stockman, CEO of Porter Novelli.

From their meeting with Horn and Stockman the Council concluded, "The rise of social media and the erosion of boundaries between public relations and other marketing disciplines is rapidly creating the need for a new kind of public relations professional." This new kind of public relations professional will need to be much more global and digital than ever before. 

From the Firm Voice blog post, I culled the following quotes that describe traits needed by the new breed of public relations professional. Students who are planning their academic programs and internship options would be wise to pay attention. Acquiring these traits will position you to fill important niches in the job market, giving you a leg up on many other job candidates.

According to Horn:

Sabrina Horn

“Recruiting will change over the next three to five years. We’re all becoming digital communications people, not just public relations people.

“We’re already looking for people with a more well-rounded communications background—generalists who are capable of doing many things and floating between specialties, with digital skills as a central core area of competency. But the talent we hire just has to understand marketing strategy, because our clients are demanding that level of thinking as to how to build audiences.”

According to Stockman: 

Gary Stockman

“We’re looking for people who can see around the corner, can figure out where technology and human behavior are going.... But critically, we’re also looking for people who can join this digital thinking with other core skills that exist in the agency.”

"We’re looking for combination thinkers, and we’re actually finding that a lot of talented people are looking to public relations because they see it as the future.”

Stay tuned. Next week Firm Voice will publish another post from its meeting with Horn and Stockman that examines how to prepare for a career and look at the quality of typical university communication programs that feed the profession.

70% of Entry-Level Applicants Rejected For Lack of Social Media Skills

Kevin Bartlett (Marist '09/PR, RTF), events coordinator at American Business Media, noted recently the importance of having social media knowledge, skill, and experience when applying for entry-level jobs in business and communication. According to Kevin, "Up to 70% percent of applications get thrown out right away because of lack of skills in areas including Twitter, LinkedIn, blogging, Facebook, and various other social networking tools."

Kevin also cited the value of gaining experience with social media in our classrooms at Marist College. Kevin recounted, "I learned a lot about the public relations industry [and social media] while I was in [my communication capstone class], and I have been able to carry it over into my current job as event coordinator at American Business Media."

I'm reprinting Kevin's note in its entirety, with his permission. If you would like to read the note, click "Read more" below.