Archive for the ‘PR Careers’ Category

It's All a Part of The Job

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

There are many facets of the PR profession. There are also many interpretations of the job from people who aren’t “in the business.” Television has given most people a sense that PR is nothing but restaurant openings and red carpet photo ops, however most PR professionals will say their job is not that glamorous and about 90 percent writing.

Depending on the time, day and person, both of these descriptions can be correct. Yes, there are events. Yes, there is a lot of writing involved. But in-between these ends of the PR spectrum are little moments that make even the most seasoned PR practitioner think, “What in the world am I doing?” However, being the professionals, PR pros will just smile and say, “It’s all a part of the job.”

Here’s a sample of MSL Chicago’s wackiest PR moments:

“I appeared on NBC Chicago’s morning news wearing a hard hat and holding a shovel with Ronald McDonald”
– Diana Rostkowski, Assistant Account Executive

“When I was working with a Chicago real estate developer I had to pretend to be a homeowner for an advertising opp they were filming that day (the real model didn’t show). I had to take a fake tray of cookies out of the oven about 10 times until they got the perfect shot (which they didn’t even use)!”
-Sarah Marseille, Senior Account Executive

“I judged a doggie costume contest for Halloween for an outdoor shopping center client, ruined a great pair of heels standing in the mud in the middle of a garden in Lincoln Park for a photo shoot that was part of a new business pitch, and modeled a dress on ABC7 when a model was a no-show for the taping.”
– Susie Schreiber, Senior Account Executive

“For a client, I basically spent the summer as a handyman and it put me in the hospital.”
– Matt Koppelman, Account Executive

“During my tenure as an intern at MSL, I was required to dress up as a lemon to help promote our Metamucil Pink Lemonade product. I was up bright and early around 4 a.m. to make a scene at Chicago’s NBC studios, accompanied by a lemonade stand. The great news is that we made the air — but I never thought my first TV appearance would consist of me dressed in a lemon costume!”
- Angél Hakim, Account Executive

“When a hotel lost my client’s reservation, I let her stay with me in my hotel room. It was an awkward business trip.”
– Joan Cetera, Senior Vice President, Consumer Practice Leader

Do you have any wacky PR moments?

Tags: , , ,
Posted in PR Careers, PR Industry | 1 Comment »

Being a Stressed PR Professional and What Makes it All Worth It

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

As the HR manager at MSL Chicago, I get to hear a lot of stories from the account teams in the trenches: Waking up at 3 a.m. to be sure the monitoring report is complete and detailed before deadline, pulling an all-nighter to put the finishing touches on a top-notch new business pitch, and managing expectations across several client needs and programs. As PR professionals, folks are pulled in a lot of directions, manage a ton of relationships and are on call 24/7. But should the PR profession be listed as the second most stressful career?

According to the annual survey completed by CareerCast, PR officers hold the second most stressful salaried position. Over the past month, folks in the industry have been responding to the survey and subsequent follow-up articles. PR careers can be demanding and many PR professionals struggle with the challenge to achieve work-life balance– however, after reading the comments, it seems several people agree that the PR industry shouldn’t be listed as the second on the survey.

I think we can all admit that the industry is fast-paced, deadline-driven and demanding. But what about the excitement that comes with the client wins and successful implementation of programs? These are definitely experiences that make the profession fulfilling, and here are just a few examples of what leads to congratulatory cheers around the office:

• Winning new business. The rush and excitement of pulling together a successful pitch.
• Opportunities to work on an array of clients, on a local, national or global scale.
• Working on programs that bring communities together, like our efforts with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
• The thrill that comes with every media hit you receive and building those relationships with reporters, bloggers and influencers.
• The team environment. Let’s face it, the majority of PR professionals love being around people and are always looking to drive a conversation, get the latest news or gossip and work together to produce results.

It’s easy to see that the PR industry never has a dull moment. Being strategic, dedicated and diligent are definitely must-haves when it comes to the PR professional—these are qualities that I look for when I’m reviewing resumes. And, although the job can bring with it long hours, quick deadlines and intricate relationships, these can also lead to gratifying placements, award-winning programs and initiatives that can have a wider positive effect on communities, organizations and individuals.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in PR Careers, PR Industry | No Comments »

In the Loop News Roundup

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

What does PR look like today? Is it really that stressful? What about the Osama bin Ladin news and the Royal wedding? These are just some of the topics that have been crossing our RSS feeds this week.

AdWeek, “Bin Laden and Royal Weeding Break Online Records: Osama Had the Bigger Audience” – Data shows that while the Royal Wedding was far more captivating with more Twitter mentions, while Osama Bin Laden’s death attracted more attention online overall.

PRWeek, “Is PR the Second-Most Stressful Occupation?” – PR professionals reflect on their industry, after CareerCast names PR the second-most stressful occupation.

The Holmes Report, “A 21st Century Definition of Public Relations?” - The industry reevaluates PR today, including advertising as a process under the PR umbrella.

Bulldog Reporter’s Daily Dog, “What are Companies Doing – and Not Doing – About Social Media Workplace Compliance” – A new study shows that social media usage is on the rise in and outside of the workplace. So how are companies responding to this?

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Digital, News Roundup, PR Careers, PR Industry, Social Media | No Comments »

MSL Chicago Shares Advice with Loyola University Chicago Students

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

MSL Chicago’s corporate branding team shared career insights and experiences with the students of Loyola University Chicago’s Beta Rho Honor Society in the School of Communication. Senior account executive Susie Schreiber, and assistant account executives Kelli Hartsock and Sean McCarthy discussed maximizing an internship experience, differentiating yourself in the industry, and diversifying your resume across smaller and larger agencies.

“Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try different divisions of PR,” says MSL Chicago’s Kelli Hartsock. “Whether that means going from big agency to boutique agency, or getting your feet wet in crisis communications or event planning…expand your mind and skill set as much as possible.”

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in PR Careers, PR Industry | No Comments »

2011 Intern Challenge Day

Friday, April 1st, 2011

MSL Chicago held its annual Intern Challenge Day today, in conjunction with our national MSLGROUP offices. Young PR students and professionals from across the country were asked to send in video applications for a summer internship; and from the submissions, select candidates were offered the opportunity to visit the Chicago office, interact with the account teams, and learn more about the industry.

Throughout the day, MSL Chicago staff shared an overview of media relations strategy, account operations and programming to offer a more in-depth perspective of agency life. Candidates also participated in a variety of challenges to test their skills and build discussion from the key learnings presented during the day’s events. Below are a few pictures from the event. Thanks to all the talented candidates who competed in the Intern Challenge!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Events, Media Relations, PR Careers | No Comments »

Challenge Accepted

Friday, April 1st, 2011

Today is our annual Intern Challenge Day at MSL Chicago, when we host several bright candidates for a day-long interview for internship positions at our office. Our assistant account executive, Stephanie Oyer, tells her story about her Intern Challenge Day experience two years ago. 

Intern Challenge Day, May 2009
I’ve never been so anxious, excited, nervous, and determined all at the same time. The mix of emotions consumes me as I approach the Merchandise Mart for the first time ever. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs so I had ventured into the city many times throughout my childhood and young adult life. But, I had never stepped foot into the historical building that is so large it has its own zip code.

Was I intimidated? I would be lying if I didn’t say yes.

The day flew by as I, along with the other challengers, listened to presentations, brainstormed, interviewed, and tested our skills. At the end of the day, one of the other participants gave me a big bear hug and wished me good luck. I will always remember that moment – standing outside of the Merchandise Mart hugging and reassuring another hopeful young woman who was just as determined as I was to become a member of MSLGROUP.

Even though I was not one of the first interns selected, it is simply in my nature to believe that everything happens for a reason. I was disappointed and discouraged, but knew that if it was meant to be then I would have another opportunity. A few months later, as I found myself in another crossroads in my professional career, I received a phone call from MSL. Two weeks later, I was a consumer team intern.

Present Day
Last month marked my one year anniversary as an Assistant Account Executive at MSL. I think back on my first day in the office as an intern, and can’t believe how much my experience at MSL has helped me to grow as a professional. Through my time here, I’ve honed my writing skills, learned the logistics of media monitoring, developed my media relations skills, and delved further into the digital realm as a professional. More importantly, MSLGROUP has taught me a lot about myself as a person. It might be cheesy and slightly sappy, but it amazes me that I am still growing and learning every day.

In a fast-paced industry that is continuously changing and evolving, there is one thing that remains constant. A worldwide agency, such as MSLGROUP, is a place that will never stop challenging you to be the best at what you do.

The opportunities are boundless.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in PR Careers, PR Industry | No Comments »

Looking Back at 2010

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

To say 2010 was a busy year for MSL Chicago is a major understatement. It was a great year, but busy. Since Top 10 lists are always in style at the end of the year, I thought it would be appropriate to create our own. Here is a quick recap of some of the MSL Chicago 2010 highlights:

1. Going Green. In September, we hosted the Sustainability Leaders event with colleagues from NativeEnergy, Motorola, and Natural Capitalism Solutions to share thoughts and best practices on communicating a strong sustainability story to internal and external audiences.
2. Silver Anniversary. Senior vice president, Nancy Brennan, reached the 25-year milestone of working at MSLGROUP, an unheard-of accomplishment in the agency business.
3. Adding to the Trophy Case. MSL Chicago won numerous awards for our work on the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and other clients. Our managing director was also named PR Professional of the Year from PRSA’s Chicago chapter.


4. Libations and Learning. We sponsored the Social Media Club event in September at the Palomar Hotel. Jason Steinberg, vice president of digital strategy, presented and discussed social media trends, infographic design, and intersections with PR, followed by cocktails and networking.
5. A Fond Farewell. Congrats to our finance manager of 38 years, Judy Huisman, who is now enjoying retirement and some extra time with the grandkids!
6. Digital Roundtable. We hosted an expert panel from the MSLGROUP network to share digital insights and real-time engagement best practices, including Jason, Lori Laurent Smith and Webster Lewin.
7. Moving on Up. Our staff has gone through a number of well-deserved promotions— most recently Christiana Brenner, to vice president, consumer practice, and Dawn McKenzie to vice president, corporate branding.


8. New Brand. This fall, the company launched the new MSLGROUP brand to tightly unite our capabilities and resources across the agency to meet the rapidly changing needs of clients and marketplaces.
9. Growing the Client Base. The Chicago client list continues to grow with the addition of Sealy, Masco, Verve Living Systems, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, and many other leading organizations and brands.
10. Growing the Leadership Team. Adding new clients means adding new leadership, and we’re very happy to have brought on Joan Cetera (SVP, consumer practice), Jason Steinberg (VP, digital strategy), Kevin Metz (VP, corporate branding), and Katie Feltz (VP, consumer practice) to lead the account teams!

Highlighting a year’s work in one blog post doesn’t seem to capture all of the accomplishments of 30 people…but reflection is an important step in assessing our focus, our direction and our opportunities for the future. We’re looking forward to 2011—and happy holidays to our clients, colleagues and friends.

Tags: ,
Posted in Consumer Home/Wellness, PR Careers, PR Industry, Reputation, Social Media | No Comments »

Congratulations Nancy, on 25 Years with MSLGroup!

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

Today, we are celebrating a rare milestone in the agency business: an employee celebrating her 25th anniversary…with the same firm. 

Nancy Brennan, who leads our corporate branding practice, started her career with MSLGroup in the Washington, D.C. office in 1985, then spent a short time in our New York headquarters before settling in Chicago with her husband, John.  Nancy, a  native of New Orleans who went on to graduate from Brown University, is one of the few across our industry who has been able to spend nearly all of her career with one agency.  Anyone in this business will tell you that to accomplish that remarkable feat, you have to make yourself indispensable to your clients and your firm year-in and year-out.  She has been a great counselor to clients, a wonderful mentor to employees and reliable partner to her management colleagues across the MSL Group network. 

In honor of Nancy’s milestone, we arranged for the Saints to win the Super Bowl earlier this year.  Actually, there will be more practical expressions of our gratitude going to Nancy.  Let us know what you think by sharing a post below. Geax, Nancy!

Tags: ,
Posted in PR Careers, PR Industry | No Comments »

My Experience: Networking in the Public Relations Community

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010


Moving to a new city can be very challenging both emotionally and physically. When I first moved to Chicago, I only knew a handful of people. Luckily, I had brought with me valuable networking skills that I had learned from my travels abroad.

So how do you go about networking? One way is to get involved in your local community. See what’s going on in the neighborhood; attend hobby-related events that interest you. For example, my interest in technology led me to several networking events ranging from topics such as mobile technology to strategic marketing. Typically, those who attend these events are interested in meeting new people, so it’s a great place to start. Whether you’re pursuing a passion or simply expanding your professional knowledge, you’ll find like-minded individuals at networking events. The key is to network with individuals outside your particular industry, as well as your own, because you never know when a connection could turn into an opportunity.

Getting involved online is another fantastic way to network and has quickly become the meeting place for millions of people. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting down for coffee with people you met at an online networking event. Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are all wonderful social networking applications. Personally, I use them all. In today’s world, it is quite easy for people that share a common interest to initiate conversations with one another. While you may not meet these individuals in person, they can still serve as a great resource and stepping stone into a larger network. I find myself using Twitter frequently to keep an eye out for networking events that appeal to my interests in public relations. Although it may be daunting at first, maintaining an online presence is worth the extra effort to get ahead in the networking game.

Regardless of your passion, do not be afraid to get out there and meet people. Utilize the right resources and you’ll have plenty of events to attend and people to meet. Don’t forget the social networking applications– they are a great place to discover like-minded individuals and to stay in touch with those contacts you’ve already made. Now you have the knowledge, hit the road and start networking!

Back to In the Loop Home

Tags: ,
Posted in PR Careers, PR Industry | No Comments »

Crisis Communications in a World Run by Media

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

I am always on the prowl to get my feet wet (perhaps the correct term is dive in) when it comes to meeting other PR professionals. I believe every opportunity is a potential learning experience, when I was invited to attend a local PRSA Chicago meeting last week, I couldn’t resist.

The conference began with three distinguished guest speakers, all selected because of their strong PR background and expertise. The big topic everyone kept coming back to? You guessed it- British Petroleum. Lately, it’s been difficult to avoid coverage of the company since nearly every media outlet has run some sort of story on them. I’m sure you’ve seen how many of the major television news outlets run video of the oil gushing out two miles below the ocean! Interestingly enough, the public relations professionals at the event were all asking themselves the same question: What was BP thinking?

Our job as public relations professionals is to be both the strategist and the builder– we‘re supposed to make sure our messages are clearly communicated to our clients’ target audiences, while helping to manage their reputation through crises. In addition we protect them from controversy and negative media coverage, and ensure that they are entirely transparent with both the public and the media. British Petroleum unfortunately failed to disclose enough information and broke one of the most important rules in public relations: don’t lose the media’s trust. Unfortunately for BP, this error will likely keep the company on the defensive for the foreseeable future.

Several guest panelists at the PRSA event noted that they couldn’t understand the decisions made by the PR team at BP, especially when they allowed their CEO to go on a “yacht racing” trip. However, one panelist made an excellent point: it’s easy to criticize another company when you’re not involved in the situation. The key is to realize that being on the outside means that we don’t always know all of the variables.

Ultimately, we have to find that fine line between meeting the media’s needs, while simultaneously promoting our client’s messages. As I left the luncheon with a stomach full of ravioli and tiramisu, I came away with a deep respect for the work done by public relations professionals, and a new understanding of crisis communications.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Brand Recognition, Issues and Crisis Management, PR Careers, PR Industry, Reputation | No Comments »