After reading the book, John Bell’s blog posts about 13 Skills of the PR Pro of the Future, talking with Kevin Dugan in class and some outside research I have complied the following list of important skills for future PR practitioners:
- Always be aware of your publics.
- Be technologically savvy; know how to use current media such as: blogs, messgae boards, wikis, directories, multi-media, and social networks.
- On-line tools are the first responders; know how to effectively communicate with your publics through these media.
- Be prepared for change and be able to handle it effectively. Time management and stress management is a must when you are a PR practitioner.
- Professionalism is a must! This is expressed in the way you dress, speak, write emails, and also your overall disposition.
- Excellent writing skills are also a requirement. PR practitioners need to be able to write clearly and efficiently.
- A PR practitioner also needs to exhibit that he/she can think critically and bring a fresh perspective to an organization or company.
- According to Kevin Dugan, passion is also a must. You need to love what you do and show others that you are willing to put in the extra work to go the extra mile.
A few of these skills that I feel I still need to develop is my knowledge of on-line media and tools. I just recently learned to blog, thanks to Dr. V, but I still have so much to learn about the online tools of a PR practitioner. Although I feel I am a good writer, that is an area which can always be improved. The more experience I have with writing the better I will become. I also feel that I have the drive and passion for this field. I have enjoyed the internship experiences I have had with PR and also this class. I feel like this sets me apart from other young students and potential internships.
I feel like the best way to develop these skills is through practice and experience. I plan on doing a few more internships before I graduate. Also, this class and PR classes in the future will help me to develop these skills. I really enjoy writing, so I plan to further this ability by writing on blogs and possibly for The Tiger, our university newspaper. I am a very determined young woman and have big dreams for my future.
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