VOLUME I I , I ssue I I , November 2015

Hey Alumni,Have Some

Tips?

INTERNSHIPSWHO, WHAT, WHEN,

WHERE, HOW& WHY

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p. 6

Table of Contents3 Alumni Night Takeaways Kristi Mak

6 No Experience? No Problem! Thais Stewart

7 Help, I Need An Internship! Thais Stewart

7 I Have An Internship, Now What? Amberleigh Farrell

8 What I Learned From My Internship Sarah Jackson

9 Client Spotlight - Bonneville Community That Cares Rod Peterson

10 Ogden Peak Communications - Fall 2015 Members

11 Calendar of Events11 Ethical Question of the Month11 Internships and Opportunities

Hello Wildcats!We finally have a picture of everyone in Ogden Peak Communications for Fall 2015. Many of the members will be graduating in December but for those who are not, we will hopefully see them in the following semesters. We also hosted an awesome alumni night where we got some tips and tricks from WSU alumni and I hope you gain some information from them because I know I did. This month, the theme is internships. There are many different articles on how to get one, where to get one and why do we need one. Best, Kristi Mak, Editor

From the Editor

Ogden Peak Communications is a Weber State University (WSU) student-run public relations agency. It is affiliated with WSUs chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

PresidentKylie Coats Saunders

Publications/Brand Content ManagerKristi Mak

Digital/Social Media Brand EditorKelsey Kingdon

Recruiting/Event Planning SpecialistAmberleigh Farrell

Creative Team LeadNathan Bennion

Account Executive(s)Sarah Jackson, Rod Peterson,

Caysem Johnson

Leadership

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Tell Me Your Alumni WaysBy Kristi Mak

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Publications/Brand Content Manager

1. Do not ever network. Make friends. No one likes to be networked. It is self-serving and they totally know.

2. Know your audience. Is it the media or the company? Understand their needs and know how to communicate with them.

3. Read publications. Read everything all the time. Know what is going on. Especially when you are in-house, you need to know what is going on.

4. Google calendars. Learn it. Your whole life will run on it and if you do not know your time zone, then you might get shot.

Chelbie HungerPhoto courtesy of LinkedIn.com

Chelbie Hunger graduated from Weber State University (WSU) in Spring 2014. She first started at Summit Powder Mountain in July 2015 as the Community PublicRelations Coordinator and Liaison. She has also been Assistant to the Director of Marketing and Partnerships since March 2015. Hunger has been creating content, media outreach and curation of Summit Series and Summit Powder Mountain. She has secured feature media placements among top-tier media outlets, assisted in event planning and procured attendance to conferences.

Chelbie Hunger

To hear Chelbie talk about the benefits of PRSSA, click here. Photos courtesy of:

Kelsey Kingdon

1. Play the student card. For example, if you call up a PR professional, say you are a student and ask: Can I come down and meet you? Chances are that pro will say Yeah! However, if you have already graduated, and ask the same question, it is more likely the pro would say no because he or she feels pressured to offer you a job. Know how the agency works and the meeting will go over better and be more accepting of you as a student. Get in that way!

2. Network. If you go up to someone blindly, it does not come off as friendly. Build a friendship with them. Two ways of getting involved are by joining Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and then Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

3. Create your own opportunities. If you seek out ways and opportunities to apply what you are currently learning in class to your current positions, then you can create content for your portfolio. Be self-driven, have self-initiated projects, be creative and have something that you can say you made for yourself. Reach out to a local nonprofit if your job does not have these opportunities. They are always looking for free work.

4. Compete. Compete in the PR Student of the Year competition. Being active in PRSSA helps you get more exposure to events and opportunities.

5. Write well. Write really, really well. If you cannot write, you might want to change your major. If you do not like writing, you might want to change your major.Writing is something you do every day and you need to know how to organize your thoughts.

Jason Carlton graduated from Weber State University (WSU) in Spring 2004. Carlton is an APR and social media/

traditional media manager with the Intermountain Healthcare hospitals in the Salt Lake Valley. Since 2012, he has worked with journalists to arrange experts to speak on

various healthcare topics. Carlton also coordinates, monitors and grows social media channels throughout the

Urban Central Region.

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Jason CarltonPhoto courtesy of LinkedIn.com

Jason Carlton

To hear Jason talk about the benefits of PRSSA, click here.

51. Media/Distribution lists. I thought it was just a cool list. One time, I needed to send out a major release to get my story in a publication and the release got bounce backed. The message said the person cannot be reached and it finally clicked. I thought the distribution list was updated and then I figured out that, Oh, this is why we do it.

2. Reading in portions. You will be doing a lot of clipping. You will be reading, doing searches for clients in the news and picking up stories they are in. My team and I cycle through news and read over everything. I want to know what is going on all the time.

3. Keep looking. It might take forever to get a job so just keep looking.

4. Practice writing. Practice, practice, practice. I would suggest picking a topic and writing something about it and then do it three more times. You are going to be in contact with all different types of media and you are going to need to find all angles of a story. You do not want the same story in each media so find different ways to tell it.

5. It is okay to feel really dumb. No amount of class work will fully prepare you for the workplace: being in the trenches, building relationships, pitching, writing and all the other crazy things a million times over. Setting these types of things up is the real work experience.

6. Always do more. Always take the opportunity to do more. There is always going to be a project that you are working on and one more step you can take. Is there another way to sell the story? Even within the company, in house, see if there is anything you can do internally to boost morale or take development to the next level. Better yourself and the work place.

Thomas Judd graduated from Weber State University (WSU) in Spring 2014. After being hired by Kirvin Doak Communications in Las Vegas in December 2014 as an Account Coordinator, he has been involved in the management of multiple entertainment-related accounts. Judd is in charge of five different shows and one nightclub, creating and distributing materials to further promote his clients. Magic shows, concerts and nightclubs are just a small example of what Judd has been involved in so far in The City That Never Sleeps.

Thomas JuddPhoto courtesy of LinkedIn.com

Thomas Judd

To hear Thomas talk about the benefits of PRSSA, click here.

Internships can be intimidating. Experience is important when looking for a professional career. The way to get that experience is through internships. Here are some professional tips that can assist you when attempting to obtainan internship.

Use your resume to your advantage. When applying for an internship, learn what the job entails. Look for examples from school or previous work. Even with zero experience outside of school, there are still ways to show you capability through your efforts inside the classroom.

Apply for everything. The chances of getting a desired position increases when there is a higher number of internship opportunities. Just keep applying until you get the job. Be persistent and do not give up.

Google yourself. It is probably time to delete that old Myspace account. With the amount of influence that social media has on society today, the best thing to do is to clean up all of your social media outlets and always be aware of what you post. Hopefully your future employers will not find anything that is too embarrassing.

A smile really can go a long way. Be friendly and warm when speaking to potential employers. Use small talk to find similarities.

Be confident in your own skin. The best way to get an internship in a place that

No Experience? No Problem!By Thais Stewart

will fit your needs and personality is by being confident.

Convince yourself that you are the perfect fit for the position. Once you have done that it will be much easier to convince others of the same thing.

I suggest reading a book called Start with Why by Simon Sinek. This book explains that knowing why you do what you do is the most important aspect of a career. Show your future employer the passion that you have for that subject. Passion can be translated into drive which will show them that you will strive to accomplish various tasks.

The only thing holding you back from the perfect internship is yourself. Do not allow that to happen. Be confident and allow yourself to succeed. Find internships that you are passionateabout and do not shy away.

Thais StewartPhoto courtesy of Thais Stewart

Guest Writer

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Update Your

Resume

Look Yourself

Up

Smile

Be Confident

ApplyFor

Everything

Start WithWhy by

Simon Sinek

Graphic courtesy of Kristi Mak

DO seek out internships with organizations that you would like to work for after graduation. Be mindful of the long term full-time positions available. The knowledge you gain during your internship will help you stand out from the other candidates.

DO behave professionally at all times. Be punctual. Dress appropriately. Always present yourself well to your colleagues.

DO plan to meet with your internship advisor half-way through. Keep a weekly log of your work at the internship and plan to discuss your progress once you have completed 90 hours of work.

I Have An Internship, Now What?By Amberleigh Farrell

Recruiting/Event Planning Specialist

As defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an intern is a student or recent graduate who works for a period of time at a job in order to get experience. Finding internships can prove challenging at times. There are many useful resources available to students here at Weber State University (WSU) that will assist you in taking advantage of various opportunities.

ClassroomThe professors at WSU have many years of experience in their field. Throughout their professional career, they have made many connections and these connections can be beneficial. If you enjoy the class that you are in do not be afraid to ask your professor if they know of any internship opportunities. Another way that you can utilize the classroom in the search of internships is through guest speakers. Professors and speakers alike will be pleased with the interest shown for their subject.

Counseling CenterWhen companies are in need of interns, they will usually contact local universities as their main source of advertisement. If you have not met your counselor, send them an email and introduce yourself. Set up a meeting with them and be prepared for all the information that they will give you.

Your Top Five Ideal Places of EmploymentEveryone has an ideal place of employment. Research yours. Start making a list of the companies that you admire. Find out what it takes to get to the position you desire and work towards it. If it seems as though your ideal work place does not offer internships, send an email to the secretary. The secretary is one of the most important contacts that you can make. They normally have all of the schedules and are the closets to the head executives in the company.

By following these steps, you will hopefully find something that interests you. Get out of your comfort zone and always be on the lookout for different opportunities. Good luck!

By Thais Stewart

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DONT take things personally. You are there to learn. If you receive negative feedback from your supervisor, learn from it and move forward. The workplace environment can be stressful. It is not a personal reflection on you.

DONT wait for assignments to be given to you. Be proactive and ask for additional projects. Create opportunities to serve the organization and share your talents.

DONT eat lunch alone. Use lunch time to network with your colleagues whenever possible. Getting out of the office to talk about professional goals with your boss can be very beneficial.

Help, I Need An Internship!Guest Writer

During my time at Weber State University (WSU), I have been lucky enough to have twointernships. One internship was with Madison Square Garden Entertainment and the other with the WSU Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities. Both internships have been amazing and exposed me to opportunities and experiences you cannot get in a classroom. I gained first-hand experience and insight that I reference back to on a regular basis. While I could talk for days about lessons I learned, I have narrowed it down to the five I think are most important:

1. The AP Stylebook is your best friend - There is probably no other resource that is as vital to your success as the AP Stylebook. Study it, flip through it, highlight it and memorize it! You cannot correct the problems you do not know exist. Regularly read through the stylebook and make sure you are up to date on this writing style. One AP error can be the difference between becoming a respected professional or a never-ending job search.

2. Find a job you love and you will never work It is an exaggeration, but to a degree, it is true. After I completed my first internship, I knew without a doubt that I needed to be a part of Public Relations. I had long days and was oftentimes exhausted, but at the end of the day, I did not want to leave. I genuinely enjoyed my job and the people I worked with. Not every day will be fun and easy, but if you are doing something you enjoy with an organization you believe in, life will be much easier.

3. Be outgoing Fake it until you make it. The faster you meet your coworkers, the easier navigating the office will be. It was true as an intern and it is true in any professional situation. As the new person, nobody expects you to know everything right away, but your ability to pick up new information quickly will make all the difference. When I decided to finally meet my co-workers, my job became easier. I knew who to ask when I had questions and I knew where to ask for help. I also expanded my web of professional connections.

4. The importance of networking - I was the student who rolled my eyes when professors talked about the importance of building a professional network. Maybe rephrasing it to expand your circle of friends would have made more sense. Watching my supervisors navigate their way through major media outlets really opened my eyes at how important having a professional network is. It is not terrible to make connections where both parties benefit from each other. It is smart.

5. You will crash and burn, but know how to learn from it - Nothing can be more discouraging than putting your heart and soul into a project only to have it fail. Unfortunately, that is something even the most successful people encounter. What you do with that failure is what is most important. My supervisor gave me a piece of advice that has stuck with me, Never let a failure be a loss. Just because something did not go as planned does not mean you cannot learn and become better from it. Figure out exactly what went wrong and why. Examine how it could have been prevented and make notes. If you can take a setback and learn from it, it was not a complete loss and that can make you a better employee.

What I Learned From My InternshipBy Sarah Jackson

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How do I use a preposition?A preposition describes a relationship between other words in a sentence.

Do not end a sentence in a preposition. They make sentences longer because they cannot stand alone. Try to cut out the

preposition or replace it with a direct word.

Style Tip[ ]

Account Executive

Our team is working with Bonneville CTC this semester, and we are handling certain aspects of the organizations marketing campaign to achieve their goals. The team consists of Jamie Winchester, Kacie Chappelle, Gregory Timothy, Josh Stephens and myself.

Initially, Bonneville CTC had no set plan that they wanted our team to accomplish. We had to develop strategies and tactics that suited Bonneville CTCs needs based on research and client input. The coordinator of Bonneville CTC gave us the freedom to focus on the areas of marketing where our team felt the organization had the most deficiencies. After analyzing Bonneville CTCs current operations, the team realized the organizations marketing plan needed adjustment. The team is emphasizing on developing original content for Bonneville CTC and engaging the Bonneville Cone area on the Internet.

Client SpotlightAccount Executive

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Rod PetersonPhoto courtesy of Rod Peterson

Bonneville Communities That Care (Bonneville CTC) is a coalition of individuals from local government, families, law enforcement, schools, volunteer organizations, local business owners and service groups. These individuals dedicate themselves to addressing issues that are affecting youth in the communities that feed into Bonneville High School. The goal of Bonneville CTC is to discover and prevent youth behaviors that have negative consequences like substance abuse, violence, delinquency and teen pregnancy. Bonneville High School students fill out Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) surveys to determine the most prevalent issues in the community. Bonneville CTC uses a nationally tested model that incorporates events, classes, workshops and seminars to educate and support families in the Bonneville Cone area which covers the Utah cities of Riverdale, Washington Terrace, South Ogden and Uintah.

By Rod Peterson

MarketingPLAN

SocialMedia

Print &Research

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Research

Analysis

News Releases

Feature Stories

Graphic courtesyof Kristi Mak

Back Row: Dakoda Anderson, Amberleigh Farrell, Marc Bybee, Jeff Cutler, Riley Smith, Joshua Stephens, Nathan Bennion

Middle Row: Caysem Johnson, Sarah Jackson, Kylie Coats Saunders, Lauren Houskeeper, Rod Peterson, Kyle Froerer, Greg Timothy

Front Row: Dr. Nicola Corbin, Kacie Straw, Brianna Edwards, Kristi Mak, Anthony Pham, Thais Stewart, Michelle Strickland, Kelsey Kingdon

Not Pictured: Morgan Davenport, Jamie Winchester

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Ogden Peak Communications - Fall 2015 MembersStudent-Run Firm

Mark Your CalendarsNov. 6-10:PRSSA2015National Conference Rethink, Rebuild, Renew Atlanta, GA

Nov. 17: AlumniExpertise Kirsten Stewart Elizabeth Hall, Rm 406 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 15: PRSSAApplicationsDue ExtendedDeadline Elizabeth Hall, Rm 341 PRSSAapplicationscomplete with receipts of deposited fundsduetoDr.Corbin

Nov. 24: Social Media Strategy Workshop Jason Carlton Elizabeth Hall, Rm 406 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m.

Communication Internships and Job Opportunities

Connect with us:

http://www.weberstateprssa.com

facebook.com/WeberStatePRSSA

@WeberPRSSA 11

World Trade Center UtahMarketing and Communications Fellowship PaidThis position is for a recent college graduate. The incumbent will work closely with the marketing and communications director to promote World Trade Center Utah and its services. To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, three writing samples and three references to Jessica Nield at [jnield@wtcutah.com].

Ogden Surgical-Medical SocietyConference Planning Intern - PaidThe intern will create and implement social media announcements and have opportunities at every step of the conference planning. Preference will go to candidates who can start now and continue through May 20, 2016. To apply, please email a resume and a cover letter to Teresa Puskedra at [teresapuskedra@ogdensurgical.com].

SLUG MagazineSocial Media Content Intern UnpaidThe intern will be responsible for managing the Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram accounts of SLUG Magazine and making daily posts. To apply, please email a resume to Angela H. Brown at [hiringdept@slugmag.com] with Social Media Content intern as the subject line.

Deseret NewsMultiple Intern Positions - PaidFull-time and part-time seasonal winter internships are being offered by the following departments: News Division, National, Mormon Times & Features and Church News. For more information and to apply, please visit .

Ethical Question of the Month

You overhear a coworker telling a lie in the break room. Do you

confront them or just leave it alone?

For more information on these and other job opportunities, please visit:

http://weber.edu/Communication/jobs.htmlTo contribute to the debate,

head over to our Blog, http://www.weberstateprssa.com/blog/