“The Future of Global Communications: From Blogs and Wikis to Newsrooms and Sound Bites.”

Don Browne, President of Telemundo Communications Group, will kick-off our 2010-2011 Hearst Distinguished Lecture Series.

Mr. Browne is a visionary and an inspiration to the communication industries in which he oversees in his role at Telemundo. We are pleased to welcome him on Wednesday, September 22, 3 p.m. in the Mary Ann Wolfe Theatre as he discusses the direction of digital media, the endless possibilities for young people and his optimism regarding global communication.

The Hearst Distinguished Lecture Series, made possible by a generous gift from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, brings visiting communications professionals of exceptional accomplishment to FIU to provide insight into real-world challenges and issues.

This event is being co-sponsored by Student Government Association (SGA) and the William C. Adams (FIU SJMC) chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). As part of the SJMC’s Hearst Distinguished Lecture Series, the event is free and open to the public.

FIU PRSSA will be having it’s FIRST meeting of the 2010 Fall semester Tuesday September 14th 3:30-4:30 PM inside WUC 254. On the agenda, we’ll be discussing National Conference in Washington D.C., PRSA opportunities, the mentoring program and the details of our non-profit workshop! You don’t want to miss out! Bring a friend!

Congratulations to PRSA Miami’s Newest APR!

Charlotte Donn, Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communications for YMCA of Greater Miami

Here’s what Charlotte has to say about the process. She offers some practical advise for professionals who are interested in obtaining their APR:

How important for you was it to obtain your APR?

It was important to me personally so I could prove to myself that I actually do know something about Public Relations. I am not university trained, and joined PRSA 8 years ago on the advice of my CEO when I admitted I didn’t know anything about PR. He suggested PRSA as a way to learn. Between PRSA, working in PR for the Y, and working together with some great PR firms, I final felt I had the experience necessary to sit for the exam.

What was the experience like?

I waited a long time to consider it. As I am a “client” I didn’t think APR was intended for me. It seemed it was for people in PR firms. So I went to the orientation and asked, and was assured that it was appropriate for me as well. Sandra Fine, APR was there, and offered to help anyone who needed it. I did reach out to her on several occasions through the process, from the Readiness Review and Panel Presentation, to how much to worry about the book study. I also posted a couple questions to the PRSA’s national web site and accreditation groups. I did not do the online study course, instead using the free resources, 2 books on the list I purchased used on Amazon.com, and one book from the library. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, just be resourceful. From start to finish, I took about 6 months. I took the week off from work before the exam to do intense study after several months of reading and note taking. I finished the exam with plenty of time, and they give you initial results as soon as you complete it. The whole process was reassuring, and I learned a lot about the planning for and scope of public relations.

Any tips and recommendation for anyone interested in pursuing their APR?

Take it seriously, and take your time. Don’t count on the books for the digital / technology parts of the exam. Books are very outdated on this subject. Use the Readiness Review as your learning process for the bulk of the exam. If you nail that, you are half way home. In a professional world where jobs are still being lost, take every opportunity for an edge on your competition. APR is one was to put yourself ahead of the rest.

Original Post found on PRSA Miami Chapter Blog