Chicago Trip Update

by Merrit Landsteiner


PRSSA activities board predicts about 30 members to go on the Chicago trip. The activities committee is still searching for a non-profit organization to visit but is confident they will find one by the time the trip comes.  The Chicago trip is a great way for members to see what kind of PR they want to go into and get connections if they ever want to live or have an internship in Chicago.  You could also compare the information to the Twin Cities area.  All members are encouraged to go!


When: December 2 &3, 2010


Lodging: Comfort Inn & Suites
               320 North Michigan Avenue 
               Chicago, IL 60601

Tours: Three have been confirmed - The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Cubs, and Weber Shandwick

Price: Around $60 per person for the hotel plus transportation and food. Four people to a hotel room.

Transportation: You are responsible for your own transportation. The activities committee recommends the Mega Bus. Mega Bus rates and schedules can be found online at http://us.megabus.com/.

**For more information, please contact Clark Rahman (rahm0068@umn.edu) or Kelsey Darnall (darn0026@umn.edu). 

BP sets out to rebuild reputation

In school, we are constantly learning how to prevent crisis and be prepared for a crisis. What does it take for a corporation to rebuild it's reputation after a crisis? In Check out this article from BBC News about what BP is doing to rebuild a positive reputation after the oil spill.

Where was PR leading up to President Obama's visit?

By:  Merrit Landsteiner

President Barack Obama is the first sitting president to visit the University of Minnesota and make a public appearance since William Howard Taft visited campus in 1911. With that being said, where was the public relations surrounding Obama’s visit?  

President Obama visited Saturday October 23, 2010; I did not receive a single e-mail about him coming to the University until Thursday October 21, 2010. Granted, in those three days I did receive several e-mails about the president’s visit; however, what about creating buzz weeks before the president’s arrival? Before the twenty-first I had heard the President was coming Sunday night through a friend. I was very surprised and excited by this news and passed on the information to several friends. Initially no one had heard of the President coming but soon everyone I knew had heard about his upcoming visit -- yet it was all through word of mouth. Before Thursday, nobody knew exactly what the set up was going to be, the exact location or time of the event; everything was speculation.

With the President of the United States not making a public appearance since 1911, I expected big signs to surround the campus in addition to flyers, e-mails, promotional items, etc. A three day's notice that might have reduced the turnout.  

We are college students and we know how to take the initiative. Many people, still showed up and waited hours in line to see the President.  There was a very good turnout; however, it could have been much bigger with more PR surrounding the event. 

What are your thoughts? Do you think the University should have advertised more? Do you think they didn't heavily market the President's visit for a reason?

Welcome to the Link!

Welcome to the University of Minnesota PRSSA's new blog! The Link committee decided that we should break free of our paper newsletter and jump on the social media train and here we are. This is the first blog for the Willard Thompson Chapter that will eventually be integrated into our new website, mnprssa.org. Check out the blog daily to find announcements from meeting, job and internship opportunities, YouTube videos, news from the public relations industry, and more. 

We will be updating the content frequently and want your posts! This is your place to share interesting articles, comment on something happening in the media, advertise for other student groups, post videos, etc. Plus, blogs are great portfolio pieces to show to potential employers. Please feel free to email me your pitch at hilary.baril@gmail.com or talk to the Link committee at meeting on Wednesday nights.