Back to Basics, Forward in PR | A PR For Newbies Overview

There are several things I love about working at my current agency, RJ Communications: the remote flexibility, the variety of tasks I get to do, and the opportunity to learn in a safe working environment, which not everyone has. Keeping with that spirit of exploration and discovery, I was pleasantly surprised when Robyn enrolled me in the PR For Newbies course, taught by industry veteran Joshua Kail.

The class, which took place over the course of four weeks, had a different focus each week: Week 1 was a deep dive into PR and its nuances; Week 2 focused on the various types of PR writing (press releases and pitches); Week 3 covered the press and pitching strategies; and in Week 4 we explored career success and how to remain fulfilled at work.

Having worked in PR before, the course was a comprehensive, back-to-basics learning experience for me. Sure, I already knew what PR was, the different types of agencies you can find yourself at, and had my own stories to share (which, trust me, I did with gusto). Still, it never hurts to keep yourself fresh on the fundamentals, especially in the ever-evolving landscape of the comms industry as a whole.

One thing that was particularly enjoyable for me was the writing exercise, in which we had to create a press release and a pitch that we could then review on a one-on-one call with Joshua. While I knew how to write both of these materials, it had been a couple of years since I had written a release (my last agency didn’t really do those), so it was nice to dust off the cobwebs and tap into my creativity that way again. Plus, given the feedback I received from the maestro, ya girl has still got that skill with the pen!

Lastly, I appreciated how the class provided all of us (especially me) with the opportunity to ask questions, probe, and share our experiences. Not only was Joshua a knowledgeable teacher, but he also gave us room to contribute to the discussions rather than just being mere sponges of the material. I very much appreciated that.

As a whole, whether you’re exploring PR as a career opportunity, are a veteran looking to keep your base knowledge fresh, or want to learn the fundamentals of the industry, I highly recommend taking PR For Newbies during the next cohort. Moreover, I’d love to give a massive shout out to Robyn Malone and the rest of the RJC crew for investing in their talent!