Roger Williams University Career Center and PRSSA is sponsoring a day trip to tour some of New York’s advertising and public relation’s firms! Learn about what after graduation careers and internships await Advertising, Communications, and Public Relations majors. Students will have the chance to see firms such as JWT, Ketchum,  Red Light PR,  Fusion,  Seventh House and more.

The bus will be leaving at 5:00 in the morning of November 8th and will return that night at 9:00pm.  There may be a few seats still available, so contact  contact the Career Center if you have any questions or concerns regarding this event. https://www.myinterfase.com/rwu/event_view.aspx?token=CrP1lnbJDUeHswB1Dp…

A special offering in the Media Communications/PR major this spring, this course examines the relationship between organizations and the media. Students will learn how to develop a strategy for getting the correct message out, how to provide the media with the contacts and context they need, and how to prepare your organization for its inevitable contact with the media. Students will be introduced to practical applications such as radio and TV mock interviews, as well as how to plan press conferences and communicate in crisis. The media relationship is key to successful public relations, whether it’s for a corporation, non-profit or advocacy organization. See more information on the course.

Each year the nation’s PRSSA Chapters get together for five days of networking and professional seminars at National Conference. This year our Chapter will be traveling to San Francisco not only to attend conference, but also to present! Kitty McTeague, Chapter President, expressed enthusiasm saying,

“We are thrilled to not only be presenting on behalf of RWU, but on behalf of our chapter.”

McTeague, along with Theresa Agonia, PRSSA VP, and Alexa Roberto, PRSSA Member, will be the presenting on our wonderful alumni relations work. Roberto says:

“It’s great how suc­cessful our PRSSA Chapter is at maintaining relationships with former members. I am so proud we are being recognized for our hard work and are able to teach other Chapters how to be as successful as we are.”

RWU PRSSA was chosen to be one of eight to speak at conference. The process of becoming chosen to present is tough.  You must write a polished proposal that includes speaking points, visuals and a compelling argument explaining how your idea impacts the thousand of other PR students across the country. RWU joins schools such as Boston University, Brigham Young University and Illinois State University. In fact this is the second time in four years that RWU has been chosen!  The last presentation was about the chapters’ annual Formal Gala, and RWU students presented to over 450 people. This year the team hopes the presentation inspires the other students and chapters to include their alumni in their PR program, because it pays off.

“There are so many of our alumni that keep in touch by sending us jobs and internships.  In fact over 25 came back to visit last year and participate in the PR Career Week and Formal Gala,” reports Agonia. “We are so lucky to have a dedicated alumni group.”

The conference will be held October 12-16. Make sure to follow the hash tag #PRSSANC on Twitter to stay up on the action!

PJ Patterson, left, chats with author Dr. Hume Johnson, middle, and Andrew Holness, right. Photo: Courtesy of The Jamaica Observer

Roger Williams University communication professor Hume Johnson released her first book entitled Challenges to Civil Society: Popular Protest and Governance in Jamaica on June 28, 2012. The book earned the endorsement of former Prime Minister of Jamaica, P. J. Patterson, who also gave the keynote address at the book launch and signing.

Dr. Johnson’s highly praised book considers the challenges to creating a more authentic civil society in Jamaica. By examining popular protests, Johnson touches on whether civility and governance can be maintained within protest and violence.

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The Communication Program is now Facebooking and Tweeting!

Our Facebook™ page (RWU Communication) is our “virtual common room” and features announcements from the department faculty, students and alumns. It’s new so we need you to find it and LIKE it! And then contribute to the conversation.

Our Twitter™ handle is @RWUCOMM… and we invite you to follow us.

This is the first year we have engaged the services of three workstudy Comm students to move our social media along. In addition to these two sites, we also list upcoming campus events at Events@RWU, which features speakers, film screenings, cultural and arts events so you can always find out what’s happening on campus.

So Tweet or Facebook your news to us and we will share it with the whole RWU Comm community!

Congratulations to Dr. Kamille Gentles-Peart and her husband Prince on the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth, on July 18. Everyone is happy, healthy and full of joy.