plan’s overall success. As each student gathered information on foreign media outlets, an interna-tional database began to appear which CURE can now use for media rela-tions and crisis communi-cation. After completing the media database, the team split into two groups. One group tack-led developing a Crisis Communication Plan while the other conducted a media audit. In regards to the Crisis Communica-tion Plan, McCown said, “Organizations often think a crisis won’t hap-pen to them. Its not a matter of ‘if’ it’s a matter of ‘when,’ particularly for a global organization

Last Semester, a team of six communication ma-jors and one marketing major, under the over-sight of Prof. Nance McCown, successfully researched and devel-oped an international media database for CURE International. Additionally, they con-ducted a comprehensive media audit and devel-oped crisis communica-tion plans.

CURE Interna-tional is a Christian non-profit organization which provides healthcare to impoverished children in third world countries. Currently, they have medical centers in eight different countries in-cluding, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, The Dominican Republic, Afghanistan, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Zambia. They put equal emphasis on both physi-cal and spiritual develop-ment. In order to most effectively aid CURE, each student developed an online relationship with a CURE employee living abroad. This sort of ground-level perspec-tive proved vital to the

Communication Students Assist CURE International - By Nathan Taylor

Messiah College Communication Department

The Communiqué MARCH 10, 2006 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 6

Practical Advice on Internships - by Carla Briggs

You need experience to get a job, and yet you need a job to get experi-ence. This circular rea-soning can be frustrating when trying to land that first post-graduation job. Internships provide a practical way to circum-vent this conundrum. If you are con-sidering an internship, or even if you have not yet begun thinking about one, students who have already completed one can offer some valuable advice on the subject. Jessica Junkins, a senior Public Relations

and Advertising student has experience with two internships. The first was at Tyco Electronics this past summer. During this internship, Jessica worked with Excel to compile information from various clients, went on sales trips, and learned about the com-pany. Her other in-ternship, the one she currently holds, is with Arcus, a small Informa-tion Technology staffing agency. Her goal at this internship is to prove her value as a public rela-

tions and marketing em-ployee by updating the website and giving sug-gestions about how to improve the company. This is in preparation for a post-graduation job that Arcus has offered her. She enjoys this in-ternship especially be-cause she has the oppor-tunity to showcase her talents in a forum in which her opinion is highly valued. Jessica highly recommends the Career and Internship Centers as a starting point for find-ing an internship. She

pointed out that Mike True helped her immensely in se-curing her current internship. She also recommends getting as much internship experi-ence as possible to set your-self apart from the competi-tion. When asked her thoughts about internships Jessica responded, “They should be required!” A second communi-cation student with internship experience is Jeremy Eshel-man, a junior speech commu-nication student. His intern-ship was with Cumulus Me-

working in the medical field. Our student team helped CURE personnel realize their critical need for a crisis plan.” Because of CURE’s lack of media ex-perience, the media audit was met with limited re-sponse. However, the team still found beneficial infor-mation as to how CURE could better meet the me-dia’s needs. Looking back on the experience, McCown said, “This project bridges classroom theory with real life practice, but goes be-yond most internship experi-ences in that it allows the team of students to own a project from start to finish.” The Communica-tion Department will offer this course again during the fall 2006 semester.

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PA Builders Internship The Pennsylvania Builders Association is seeking a part-time summer intern to assist the public relations/public affairs division. Duties may include: writing, editing, desktop pub-lishing, webpage writing and updating, special event promotion and coordination, and me-dia list development. The hours are flexible and the internship can be completed for credit with the possibility of a stipend. Interested Students should send a cover letter and resume to Megan Roby at 600 N. 12th St. Lemoyne, PA 17043 or by e-mail at mroby@pabuilders.org. Philly Internship FCF Schmidt Public Relations, Inc. and Flemming and Van Metre Advertising are seeking bright, motivated, and energetic students for paid fall, spring and summer internships. Job experiences will include media relations, special events, community relations, newsletters, and multi-market programs. For more information on this opportunity visit the FCF Schmidt website at www.fcfschmidtpr.com or contact Dr. Arke. New Internship Opportunity Hershey Philbin Associates, located in Camp Hill, offers internships for fall, spring, and summer semesters. Areas available include marketing, public relations, and government relations. An updated list of summer opportunities is posted on the bulletin board just out-side of Dr. Arke’s office on Boyer 2nd. Check it out for information on these and other op-portunities. It is updated regularly, and is a great starting point to make job and internship contacts.

Summer Work Study Position The Messiah College PR office is seeking a student with excellent written and verbal com-munication skills who is detail-oriented, organized, capable of managing multiple dead-lines, and willing to tackle a variety of responsibilities. This is an excellent opportunity for an aspiring writer, public relations professional, or journalist to build a portfolio of pub-lished work. Interested students should contact Beth Bertram, assistant director of public relations, at bbertram@messiah.edu or extension 7361.

Summer Internship CURE International, located in Lemoyne, is looking for a communication intern for Sum-mer 2006. Interested students should submit a resume to Mike True in the Internship Office as soon as possible.

Messiah College Communication

Information’s pretty thin stuff unless mixed with experience. -Clarence Day

Editors: Carla Briggs and Nathan Taylor

Phone: ext. 4065 and 4937 E-mail: cb1288@messiah.edu, nt1163@messiah.edu

Resources: If you are a senior and the end of your time in college is approaching, a few things have no doubt been running through your mind: Where will I live? What will I do? Who will I marry? And why can’t my parents still pay for my insurance!?! Luckily, we’ve found a website that might help you find some answers (to at least one of those questions). California State University has com-piled an impressive list of communication related job links. Go to http://www.csuchico.edu/plc/communjobs.html for links to job opportunities for eve-rything communication re-lated. And good luck on that insurance.

dia in Harrisburg during the fall 2005 semester. He secured this job after consulting Dr. Arke about possible opportuni-ties. Jeremy’s duties at the internship included writing proposals for

radio giveaways, inter-acting with community members at promotional tables, and working at the front desk, among others. Jeremy noted that there was no typical day at his internship, which provided an opportunity to expand his skills. His advice for success in an internship is to “be flexi-ble!”

If you have not thought about one be-fore, now is a perfect time to start planning for an internship. (The Com-munication Department newsletter is a great place to discover oppor-tunities.) As evidenced by the experience of both students, internship ex-perience is highly valu-able.

Internships Continued from Page 1