Strategic Communication Major, Public Relations Intern, SBC Advertising

Public relations: what does it even mean? That’s a question I get a lot. Honestly, it means so many things in so many ways that it’s hard to ever pinpoint when explaining it to someone.

The Work
For one of SBC Advertising’s clients, public relations is spreading their message through social media and coming up with wacky new ideas for videos and gifs. For another client, public relations is getting in touch with the public and making them aware of safety protocols around their homes. For another client, public relations is sending out media kits to construction companies and sharing their story in magazines potential customers might be subscribed.

PR is everything: promoting, planning, monitoring, researching, writing, reporting, brainstorming and more writing. Thanks to my internship at SBC, I have truly learned all of that.

Now don’t get me wrong, my classes at Ohio State have taught me a lot also – like how to properly execute the writing of a press release, feature article, media plan and more. But at SBC, I write these PR materials every single day. I research every single day. I monitor every single day. I report and plan and brainstorm and promote and on and on.

This internship has blown all of my expectations away. I don’t fetch coffee; I don’t run errands. Instead, I write feature pieces for magazines. I am invited to brainstorm sessions where my thoughts and opinions matter. I am expected to give quality work, day in and day out. And I love it.

I have always enjoyed working. Having someone ask me to do something, performing the task and doing it correctly has always made me feel spectacular. That’s why having this internship simply makes me feel good – and my coworkers are a big part of that.

The Culture
At SBC, we have free breakfast on Mondays and Food Truck Tuesdays. We also have lunch together almost every single day. And this doesn’t always consist of going out to eat; we often go into our conference room with leftovers and just chat. It helps everyone get away from his or her computers and desks for an hour and let out all of their frustrations from the day. But it’s more than that.

I feel like this agency really knows how to create a culture that is welcoming to all who are a part of it, whether client or employee. And that is what public relations is all about.

Creating a work environment where even interns feel a part of the team means more than anyone will probably ever realize. My summer internship is more than writing press releases, compiling media lists and researching a new client.

My summer internship is learning new things and implementing them in the best ways possible. My summer internship is working in a culture that includes all of its members and has fun. My summer internship is agency PR and I love it.

If I get to work at a place like SBC after graduation, I will consider myself very lucky.

Meet all of the 2016 summer intern bloggers and read about their experiences.