Where I Was,
Before taking JOUR 227: Public Relations Writing, I understood the basic idea of strategic writing but had very little sense of how to execute it. I knew that writing for public relations involved elements of journalistic writing like clarity, accuracy and conciseness, but I did not yet understand how those skills translated into communication that truly serves a client.
Before this course, my writing style leaned toward academic and creative forms, shaped more by what I wanted to say rather than by specific audience needs. Although I had already acquired the foundational tools for strong writing through my other journalism coursework and writing classes, I lacked the strategic mindset that makes PR writing targeted, purposeful and effective.
Coming into the term, I expected to learn formats and conventions, but I experienced something more transformative. PR writing forced me to rethink how I approach communication at its core. Instead of writing to express my own perspective, I learned to write in service of a client’s goals. This required understanding not only what a client wants to communicate, but how to communicate it to audiences with different worldviews and experiences. Strategic writing involves more than creativity and wit; It demands precision, intention and audience-centered thinking.
Beyond strengthening my strategic writing, I aimed to gain real collaboration experience on client-facing work. Unlike my prior journalism courses—where I researched, interviewed, wrote and produced content independently—this course required shared responsibility across a team.
Before the course, short-notice assignments often overwhelmed me, and I frequently lost sight of broader objectives while getting caught in minor details. My work as a communication associate for Trident PR changed that; I grew to appreciate the agency’s fast pace and began to feel energized by tight deadlines. The rapid brainstorms and quick turnarounds challenged me, but they also motivated me and sharpened my ability to perform under pressure.
Moreover, I sought experience that would prepare me for a future career in marketing and communications through my work at Trident Public Relations. The simulated agency environment demanded steady, forward-looking project management while maintaining close attention and keeping the client's goals at the center of every decision.
Where I Am Now,
Over the course of working at Trident PR, my writing transformed into communication far more specific, goal-oriented and intentionally-shaped for a target audience. I now know how to adapt my voice to meet a client’s needs while maintaining thoughtful, precise language that supports their objectives.
One of my most valuable skills involves balancing originality with strategy: allowing room for creative expression but always grounded in purpose. I now communicate with discipline, structuring messages with clarity while crafting content that feels authentic and relatable.
A major breakthrough for me involves my approach to drafting. Earlier in my academic career, I used to write a full draft, immediately revise it and consider the work complete. Now, I approach writing as a multi-stage process. After writing a first draft, I deliberately step away from it to reset my perspective. When I return, I read it as my intended audience would—someone unfamiliar with the subject and the client’s goals. This practice helps me identify where clarity is needed, what information the audience cares about and how the client’s objectives can be communicated more effectively.
The simulations I worked in as a communications associate played a particularly meaningful role in shaping my interpersonal communication skills. A variety of our deliverables required small-group work within the agency, allowing me to hone my interpersonal communication skills through peer-to-peer communications, pitch and update emails and ultimately, an agency-wide newsletter.
Producing materials that mirror real public relations outputs like press releases, success stories, pitch decks, media alerts and pitch emails gave me a firsthand understanding of how communication professionals operate. These experiences strengthened my confidence and made me ready to face the real-world expectations placed on PR communicators.
Although I’ve made significant progress, I still have room to grow. I intend to continue sharpening my specificity and ability to anticipate client needs and audience reactions. Still, I can say with confidence that I now write with intention, approaching every deliverable by asking: Who needs to hear this? What do they need to know? How can I motivate them to engage? What can I improve in my own strategy?
And Where I'll Go Next.
Looking forward, I intend to continue building on the foundation this course gave me and further develop my skills as a strategic communicator. I know that professional growth requires continued education and hands-on experience, so I plan to finish my major in Strategic Communication with courses in public relations campaigns, integrated marketing communications and media ethics.
Additionally, I plan to complete my minor in Entrepreneurship through coursework in design thinking and cross-cultural leadership. These courses will help me strengthen my leadership abilities by drawing on diverse cultural perspectives to develop human-centered solutions.
This summer, I hope to secure an internship in marketing, PR or advertising so I can apply what I’ve learned in real-world settings. Working with actual clients, facing real deadlines and contributing to meaningful campaigns will give me the exposure I need to continue refining my voice and strategic thinking.
Professionally, I want to grow into someone who can blend analytical thinking with creativity. I see myself becoming a communicator who not only writes well but understands how messages function across platforms, adapt to audiences and align with organizational goals. I want to continue becoming more confident in shaping narratives that reflect the values and aspirations of the clients I serve.
I am especially excited to learn more about the visual side of communications through future experiences in advertising strategy, branding and digital storytelling. I aim to advance my skills in applications like Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud to showcase the creative side of my work. These skills will help me communicate more holistically and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
The experience of working in a mock-PR agency showed me that I thrive in environments where communication moves quickly and requires thoughtful decision-making. It gave me a realistic glimpse of what agency work looks like, including navigating deadlines, delegating tasks and tailoring content for diverse stakeholders. This experience encourages me to pursue similar roles in the future, whether in an agency setting or a corporate communications team.
Above all, I want to grow into a professional who writes with clarity, purpose and empathy. I hope to contribute to campaigns that make a meaningful impact, and I am committed to continuously expanding my skills to serve clients with creativity, intention and strategic insight.