How My PR Career Has Evolved
Chicago, IL
My first job out of college was in the Windy City, AKA Chicago, at a renowned, global Independent PR firm, and times were rapidly changing in the media industry.
This was the year before the market tanked in 2008, so I was very fortunate to get my foot in the door with such a reputable company. I worked alongside awesome, whip-smart people that would reflect on their PR days, "before the bust in 2001." After that, budgets were cut, dot com companies disappeared, and the Tech practice shrunk. Thankfully, by the time I was hired, the B2B/Tech practice was growing again...right as social media was taking off as a strategy for businesses to reach their respective audiences.
Daily duties for my teammates and I expanded to include not only press releases and media relations, but also the management of social media channels on behalf of clients. Our goal was to help them listen to conversations about their industry, establish a "brand voice" online as well as respond and field customer inquiries. Over time, and a couple of jobs later working at boutique agencies that also managed advertising and creative, it became increasingly clear that traditional storytelling was evolving to be more than words, but a very visual representation that embodied a brand.
Technology has propelled us forward, impacting every industry and organization, changing the way we communicate and reach people, and altering the way we spend our time at work. If one thing has been constant with public relations, it is the value provided by not only sharing a message that is supported by data and facts but also listening to understand and move forward with actions that develop relationships and build trust.
Best,
