Campbell University’s PRSSA is making connections

     Campbell University’s department of Mass Communication has an outstanding history of preparing students and making connections with the mass media industry. The Campbell chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) sent the largest collegiate delegation (18 students) to the North Carolina Public Relations Society of America’s 2005 Public Relations Seminar, September 22, at the University of North Carolina’s Friday Center in Chapel Hill.
     Professor William Boatwright, Campbell’s Professional in Residence in the Mass Communication Department and faculty adviser to the student chapter of PRSSA, reported that he was pleased that a number of students were exposed to a wide range of options available in the field of public relations. Boatwright maintained that several students had confessed that they were unaware there were so many different opportunities at diverse companies.
     Dr. Dean Farmer, assistant professor of Mass Communication and PRSSA faculty adviser, noted, “Campbell students easily outnumbered attendees from other universities in the state that have 10 times our enrollment. This seminar was a good step in both getting our students exposed to the profession of public relations and getting the professionals introduced to our students. Companies and PR firms around the state now know that Campbell is the place to go for new practitioners.”
     This year’s NCPRSSA seminar designated “The Big Push,” brought together public relations professionals from across the state. The keynote speaker was Julia Hood, editor-in-chief of “PRWeek.” Hood’s presentation concerned trends in public relations for 2005 and 2006.
     Campbell students also participated in panels conducted by leading practitioners on such varied topics as media, investor and community relations.


Photo Copy: Professors William Boatwright, left, and Dean Farmer, right, and the Campbell PRSSA delegation to the 2005 North Carolina Public Relations Society of America Seminar.