Public Relations and Internet Marketing jobs are on the rise. It is a consumer revolution, where people get their news, information on demand, when ever and where ever they want it via social websites such as Facebook, MySpace or elsewhere Online.
The entertainment and advertising agencies are realizing there are billions of dollars to be had on the Internet. Broadcast news has made the switch, but not without challenges, and now the Writers Guild and TV and movie industry, and even high tech customers are switching to PR.
Each year I speak to the fall 2007 UCLA Entertainment Publicity class, Tuesday, October 23 at 8:00, Geology Building, room 3656. The class is endorsed by EPPS, the International Cinematographers Guild, Local 66 and it is taught by one of Hollywood's famed Entertainment Publicists Julian Myers. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking to go into this business.
The course provides a practical approach to the current world of entertainment public relations with the latest guidance and blog-site opportunities from leaders in these areas. I usually present state-of-the-art PR techniques that have earned MAYO Communications "Best Media Placement", Best Education Campaign" and "Best Online Tactics" from Public Relations Society of America, LA Chapter. I will specifically reveal trade secrets, how to prepare for what I describe as a "sometimes cutthroat" business, and "dog-eat-dog" world. I'm amongst a list of Hollywood's 30 top entertainment publicity pros schedule to speak to the UCLA class this year, which makes this class even more valuable. There is nothing like hearing great advice from the president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to entertainment publicity pros who have been practicing for four or more decades.
At every university campus the best advice I leave students with: if they major in Information Technology they'll become a millionaire overnight, if they minor in it, they'll become rich in five years. Just about everything from broadcast news to "how to find or do whatever" is discovered Online. The news media has finally caught up with technology, but now consumers are sometimes even more knowledgeable, and expect more from information resources. There are more than 2,000 widgets Online, or what I describe as your life on a desktop, where you can obtain info on just about anything your heart desires thanks to Google.
In addition to the challenges of technology, budding entertainment PR and marketing pros are soon discovering that after they enter college they need a wider skill set. I recommend to anyone majoring public relations or marketing to also take business, photography, computer science and especially creative writing classes. It just makes you that much more valuable, and you can fit into more jobs available. There are lots of new media jobs today. The career opportunities and resources are endless. Only 10 years ago when students applied for jobs they had to request company information ahead of time. Now, students can surf the employer's website and read everything from annual reports to the mission and goals of the corporation. Sometimes they know more about the company than the person interviewing them.
I also recommend networking and finding a mentor before students graduate. When you graduate, you should decide where you want to live, take an entry level job in that city and just move there. Check in with your mentor as you make your moves up the career ladder, and listen to what they say, because your mentor can save you the heartache of making same mistakes we did.
For More about MAYO Communications visit http://www.MayoCommunications.com or http://www.LAentertainmentPublicity.com or contact Aida Mayo, MAYO Communications.
Mc Quade also writes a monthly column as the West Coast Bureau Chief of O'Dwyer PR News, http://www.Odwyerpr.com, NY.
