This summer brought one of the worst storm systems in recent history to the Midwestern United States with the August 2020 Midwest derecho. Iowa and Illinois were hit particularly hard. With large storms comes lots of power outages. These storms happened in the last week of my internship with ComEd, who provide most of the electricity to the Northern Illinois Region. These storms resulted in the second largest total outages in the company’s history.
     With their internet channels being relatively new and having never seen the high-volume flow of customer concerns and questions, they were required to implement new methods to reach all customers on the fly. The outage map that customers are typically directed to for outage restoration estimates crashed. The IVR phone system crashed and customers calling were not able to speak to a customer service representative. The feature on the website to report an outage went down. The only way left for customers to contact the company ended up being through social media. This began a rapid training of employees and interns from other departments, to respond to public and private social media mentions and messages. All that was able to be communicated to the public by the company was that the universal restoration time would take six days. Having interned with the social media team previously, I was able to reference my past training and used it to help respond to as many people as possible who reached out with their concerns  escalated the tickets of those in high-risk and vulnerable situations. The social media team trained over 50 employees from other parts of the company to respond to messages on their social media platforms so they were able to help escalate customer issues and relay information pertaining to how the company was moving forward given the situation they were in.
     It was an eye opening experience for me to be able to work during such an unprecedented time for ComEd. It taught me a lot about what is necessary to stay calm, prepare yourself and lead others during a communication crisis.

By: Josh Pozniak

     In the early weeks of the 2020 spring semester, like many other students I thought I had a set plan for how my college experience was going to go. COVID-19 at that time was still in the beginning stages, and I never imagined it would impact us in the way it has. Once all  classes went online, and I was introduced to the new world of zoom, I found my once eager and motivated Freshman year self slowly slip away, and school had sadly felt like a low priority when it came to learning how to live through pandemic. 
       Amidst all the fast paced change, I had just applied and gotten the position of Secretary on the executive board for PRSSA. It was an impulsive decision, and although it seemed daunting at the time, being a part of the executive board for  PRSSA would be my one saving grace from making my new college experience feel completely hopeless. In normal circumstances, I thought that creating a successful college career was going to be scary and difficult, but trying to meet those same goals all while not being able to have in person social interaction with my professors and classmates seemed next to impossible. 
       At the beginning of this fall 2020 semester, I had a pessimistic view of how the rest of the year would go. In normal circumstances, I thought that navigating college was going to be difficult, but trying to meet those same goals all while not being able to have in person social interaction with my professors and classmates seemed next to impossible.  I felt like I was being robbed of crucial opportunities that would guide me toward a successful career in PR, and questioned many times if all the work I was putting forward was going to be worth it. 
        Being a sophomore, still trying to adjust to the PR major as well as a leadership position for a club revolving around PR came with more struggles than I would have liked. I’ll admit in the first few weeks of meetings for PRSSA I had a lot of doubt in myself and wondered if I was actually qualified for the position I had earned. But over these last four months and after I started to get to know everyone else on the executive board, it has completely changed how I view my future. PRSSA gave me back the motivation I thought I was losing and made me feel like my work had a purpose again. I am still very new to PRSSA, and still have a lot to learn, but this organization, in just a short amount of time, has allowed me to learn more than I could have ever imagined from just being in a classroom.  I know that the future is never guaranteed, and unexpected change is inevitable, but it’s much less scary now that PRSSA is a part of my life.

​By: Grace Huff

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     Growing up I had so many dreams to be so many things and when I came to college, I still had all those dreams. When it came to me choosing a major in college I didn’t know what major I wanted to commit to because everything interested me. When talking to my roommate about it she mentioned how much she loved the flexibility of being a communication major. 
     I didn’t take her comments about her major seriously until my sophomore year of college when I realized that I really needed to start to figure out what it was that I wanted to do with my life after college. I started to research different majors inside The School of Communication. That is when I found Public Relations, and fell in love with it. 
    While Public Relations is my major, I’ve noticed how much all the majors in The School of Communications are similar to each other. They all have their own unique quirks but they are all so similar at the same time. 
     Here are some of the things about being a communication major that appealed to me: 

1. It’s needed for all companies: The nice thing about communication is that without it a company will fail, which means that there are always going to be jobs in the communication realm. This was especially shown during this year with the global pandemic. Companies needed to be able to respond and show their support to their customers but they needed to do it in a responsible way. Without a communication team they would not be able to get their message out in a prompt and clear way. 
2. The job flexibility: Working in public relations, you have so many different options for jobs. You could do things like crisis communication all the way to event planning. This is such a great thing for people like me who have a hard time knowing what exactly it is that they want to do. With so many options if you aren’t happy with one, you’ll be able to find another job option that you will be happy with. 
3. The flexibility within the major: Most communication majors have some flexibility within the major to allow you to make it your own. The classes are fun but you also have the opportunity to add a minor if you have multiple different interests, or to take other classes that might be more out of your comfort zone. Doing this for me has really allowed me to find what I love to do and has given me a chance to be more creative. Following a strict plan of study might be good for some people, but I like to think communication majors are creative and having flexibility in what we do is a good thing for us. 

     I know being a communication major isn’t for everyone, but it has allowed me to reconnect with the creative kid within me. I am so thankful that I found The School of Communications at ISU. 

By: Sarah Johnson

     I have come to learn that the field of Public Relations (PR) is similar to theatre. Just like theatre, PR is all about knowing your audience, telling a story, daring to be creative, and knowing that the show must go on. I can attribute much of my personality and success throughout my time at ISU to my background in the performing arts. As I near the end of my undergraduate career, I am still finding ways that my nearly two decades of theatrical performing experience have equipped me with tools necessary to be a successful leader in the world of PR.
     At the start of the pandemic, I seized an opportunity to edit virtual and hybrid productions for a local Children's Theatre Company. Though I had little to no experience working as a video editor, I rose to the occasion and knew that the show must go on! Through this role, I have become an expert at using Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Audition, two softwares that I may use in my career in PR.
     Though the arts may be dark at the moment, there is still hope, and that is shown through the hard work of these children. People in all walks of life within the arts and entertainment industry are out of a job right now and need our help. Actors, crew, publicists and marketers and many more need emergency financial assistance. To donate to these workers during these difficult times, donate to The Actors Fund at www.actorsfund.org.

By: Alana Guggenheim 

When it comes to voting it may seem like one of the simplest acts to do because all you have to do is fill in a circle, however that is not the case. Voting has changed over the course of each decade from allowing colored people, to vote to allowing women to vote, to changing the age from 21 to 18 and things continue to change.
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The question now may be what makes me qualified to talk to you about voting? I have been an election judge since the primary election of 2016, and I have worked a total of eight elections. 

The general election of 2020 will be the first election that I do not work since I am away for college. Throughout these past four years, I have voted in every election. I have attended numerous trainings. I have worked every station that you see at your polling place. I have done voter check in, on-site voter registration, ballot distribution and the provisional table. 

The last election that I worked was on March 17, during those times the coronavirus was a huge concern. We wiped down every ballot box after it was used and every pen as well. Every voter entered their own ballet into the tabulator. Voting booths were six feet apart and when waiting in line voters were six apart as well. The pandemic is no excuse to not vote. We have held an election during a pandemic before and we can do it again. Just make sure you wear your mask to this one. 

Here are my tips and requests you should consider when going to vote. 
#1 Get there early. Polling places open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. in the state of Illinois.  
#2 Expect to wait in line. This may not always be the case but with the pandemic, the number of booths is limited along with space. My recommendation is to go as soon as the polls open 
#3 When checking in, please consider that over 90% of election judges are citizens that are now retired. Please be loud and clear when giving them your first and last name 
#4 Please follow all signs too allow voting to run smoothly within the polling place 
#5 Do not interrupt other voters in their ballot booths 
#6 Be kind to your election judges. We love it when you ask us how our day has been so far. 
#7 In the state of Illinois it is illegal to ask for an ID when checking in at your polling place. HOWEVER, if the election judge is having difficulty searching your name in the database, I recommend that you give them your ID. Unfortunately, names may be registered incorrectly or in a different format that the system does not recognize. By providing your ID, we can search up the correct name and allow you to vote. 
#8 My biggest tip of all is to take your time. You are not being timed, it is not a race, take all the time you need. 
#9 May be the most important one; it is illegal in the state of Illinois to talk about the individuals on your ballot when inside of your polling place. If you do so, you will be asked to stop. If you continue, you will be removed by the police and be arrested. You may bring information with you however it cannot be out in public, it cannot be on any clothing, on your head or on your face. You may search up candidates when at your voting booth and can search any other questions on your ballot. 
#10 Brag to your friends about voting. Because did you really go and vote if you did not post it on social media?  

We are currently living in times where we question if our vote matters and if our vote will be counted. As an eligible voter you have the right to do everything you can to be able to vote. You can register and vote on Election Day, all you will need is two forms of ID, one with your current address. If your polling place is giving you some difficulty, please call your Board of Elections office.

Happy and safe voting!

By: Yasmin Carrillo 

      ​On September 9th, the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter at Illinois State University invited Don Kronberg, the President of NiteLife Promotions, to speak with its members about his experience in the entertainment industry, how the coronavirus has changed the world of entertainment and answered a few questions.
      Kronberg attended Columbia College in Chicago. Then in 1989 he became a DJ for WZOK radio. As an air personality he hosted various shifts and radio station concerts and events. He began working for NiteLife in 1990, where after 30 years he manages the Concert Promotions and the Event Management Company that has put together nearly 1,000 concerts throughout the United States. 
      NiteLite Promotions is an independent concert and event promoter. Bringing all aspects of live entertainment events. They cover music ranging from classic and active rock, to adult contemporary, jazz, blues, country and urban. They also host comedy shows.
      Kronberg shared experiences with working different artists shows'. From his first show with Jerry Seinfeld, to artists that have performed at ISU, such as Snoop Dog. His development of skill sets improved as shows went by.
      A few of the most desired and needed skills in the marketing business are communication and computer skills. Kornberg share, “when you are able to find something that is really interesting and that appeals to other people changes your direction on how you converse with someone…it is important to me to put my best foot forward to end up with a positive experience. If they remember me and remember the show, chances are they will book another show.” Computer skills come into play when working with multiple offers. With the transition of paperless, making excel sheets and generating documents are the largest tasks.
      The Coronavirus pandemic has had a great impact on the entertainment industry. With show cancellations concerning the artists health and the general publics’, the entertainment business has come to a halt. Unfortunately, seeking jobs in the entertainment business right now is not ideal. As someone within the industry, Kronberg recommended, “that the best thing to do, is to establish relationships with anybody and everybody that you can… not forcing yourself onto anybody because right now is not the time to be doing that.”
      Kronberg finished off by talking about how the unprecedent is no excuse to not develop ideas and work behind the scenes. Having an unpaid internship with minimal hours can help in allowing your knowledge in the industry to grow. Thinking positively will bring good to you, the entertainment industry and every other industry affected.
      Thinking about, “what can I offer when the opportunity comes to me?” will prepare you for the future. The entertainment industry affects us whether it is on a professional level or just as a consumer. Attending shows, concerts, events are a huge part of our lives, because such experiences guide us personally and professionally. His final recommendation, if interested in the concert business is to join the TV and Concert Committee on campus. 

By: Yasmin Carrillo 

November 3rd is Election Day! This means there will be people voting for the first time and voters that have actively exercised their right to vote. The General Election of 2020 will determine the 59th President of the United States along with state senators, representatives and judges.

Here are some of the most common questions people have when it comes to voting.

Why should I vote?
It is your voice. When you do not vote, you allow others to make decisions for you. Decisions that will affect you financially and personally. Vote because you hold the power to be heard and express your stance on who you wish to represent you.

You are a taxpayer. Some elections hold questions to pass if you should pay more in taxes or where your tax dollars get to be spent. Whether it is for construction, schools or healthcare. You get to choose, yes or no.

It gives the opportunity for change. If there is something that you do not agreed on or feel the elected officials are not carrying out their duties as they should, if they are up for re-election you can vote them out.

To better your city/community you must vote. When you vote, you are not only voting for yourself. Your vote affects you, your neighbors, other adults, children and businesses. Some do not have the privilege to vote and your decision will create change over time that affects those around you.

Does my vote really matter/count?
Of course it does. Popular vote does not elect the president, but the electoral college does. But who votes for the electoral college? WE DO! Because we vote for state representatives and senators. Your vote counts for more than the elected president. The people that will represent you, fight for you and your city matter just as much (and even more). That is where you see and are affected the most by the decisions they make.

How do I register to vote?
There are a few ways to register to vote in the State of Illinois. You will need to two pieces of identification, one with your current address. You can do it online, just follow their instructions. You can register to vote at your local Board of Elections Office. Universities, churches and non-profits hold voter registration days where in specific places you may register to vote. For new voters when you go get your drivers license you may register at the DMV. Also, you may register to vote ON election day, at your assigned polling place. Just like the other registrations, you must bring the two pieces of identification.

Where/how do I vote?
Voting can be confusing for students. If you are away for college, there used to be an absentee ballot. Where you could vote via mail, however that has been taken away and it is now just referred to as early voting. You may request that your ballot be sent to where you are residing while away for college. Then you just mail it back. The early voting period is 40 days long. Starting on September 24th, voters have the capability to vote at their Board of Elections office. This option is available for those that wish to get it out of way, if you will be away on election day, if you are an elected official, work for the city or are incapacitated. The early voting period ends on November 2nd. In order to vote on November 3rd, you must go to your assigned polling place and vote there.

Happy Voting!

By: Yasmin Carrillo 

We are three weeks into the Fall 2020 semester and with McLean County having a rise of COVID cases, classes are slowly transitioning to an online format. Currently, McLean county has a total of 2,312 confirmed cases. The Normal-Bloomington area takes 1,189 of those cases.
 
The rise of case count is no secret as universities across the country welcome students back on their campuses. Multiple universities have made national news as students struggle with quarantining themselves. Through the use of their social media, students are sharing their experiences while attending college during a global pandemic.
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From quarantine meal shows on TikTok and an on-going bingo game involving controversial news reports on various school. The global pandemic is on the rise with no signs of coming to an end. The platform has allowed students to share their struggles, their advice and has allowed them to share their personal opinions about their peers and university.
 
Unfortunately, Illinois State University is not safe from this. At the moment, we are ranked number five in the top schools with the most confirmed cases in the United States. Within the state, we are number one. As instated, no more ten people may gather in one place and face mask use when in public is still mandatory.
 
One TikTok user, kikii0088, shared her opinion on the face masks given out during Welcome Week, “has  3 splits and two miscellaneous slits at the bottom and when I breathe you can see my whole face.” Her video also had a written statement about Illinois State University not requiring it students to get tested prior to coming to campus. She ends her video by saying, “they really put us on campus and said survival of the fittest.”
 
Another TikTok users, dannyflor26, shared his opinions on the breakfast and dinner food given to students that are in isolation. Danny stated that, "They actually give us a lot and I’ll be doing this for a few days”. His overall rating was a six out of ten and in his video, he listed all the food given.
 
The use of social media has created a new side of sharing information. Some urge others to stop partying while on campus, while others showcase their gatherings. In Illinois fines up to $750 dollars have been instated to urge college students to stop gathering in large crowds.
 
 Illinois State University strongly encourages the members of the campus community to follow CDC guidelines in helping to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Link here.  

By: Yasmin  Carrillo

    My fellow members and I recently had the opportunity to experience an event like no other. We took a journey in hopes to expand our knowledge and learn more about the world of Public Relations. Our PRSA international conference was held in the beautiful city of San Diego, California where we not only got to be tourists but also meet professionals that would inspire some of us overall. My team and I were able to connect with professionals in agencies and interact with other PRSSA chapters from different universities across the country.

We each attended different panel discussions based on interest and made a personal connection with keynote speakers. Each of us found it very important to brand ourselves and to always have our profile ready to go. Due to the fact that we are all apart of generation z, we were given insights into how to use algorithms, metrics, and creativity effectively. Since the movement of social media began it has shifted the way we communicate with people, so new markets have designed strategies and cults to gain their audience’s attention. I was given information and employee insights into what working inside some industries may be. I found it very beneficial to understand internal and external communication, and how it is used to strategize audiences and brands. Not only was I given an opportunity to meet professional individuals, but I was also given a chance to get to know my fellow group members more personally which would result in us growing amongst each other.

I truly feel that teamwork is very important, and after this trip, I now understand them more. Although we are all still young developing professionals just trying to make success for ourselves, we still must be aware that our audience is people; we are people. It is important that we listen, and use our knowledge to build relationships.

By: Damian Juarez

As many public relations majors know, a degree in PR is highly versatile. While there are the pros of being flexible within different companies, for me, it just furthered my struggle with finding my niche. Within PRSSA, I had opportunities to visit various PR agencies and hear from both corporate and institutional PR representatives. As informative and engaging each session and meeting was, I still needed to fully become immersed in the culture of public relations to understand precisely where I would fit post-graduation, and that’s when I decided to take a leap and start searching for internships.

In all honesty, my internship search was based entirely on proximity. I applied to any internship that was close by, no matter the company, and as risky as that was, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. The company that gave me the best offer was Marcfirst, a non-profit organization working to provide independence and acceptance to children and adults with disabilities. Beginning the first day of the job, I came in greeted with smiles, hugs, and cupcakes (my supervisor was a big sweets person)! Each day was new and exciting, whether I started the day spending hours creating design templates on Canva or measuring the increase/reductions of donor and donation amounts. I learned so much in just the four short months that I dedicated to the job, but not all of what I learned showed off my skillsets in PR. The majority of what I came to understand was what interns, employees, and management deserve within the workplace. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that spending countless hours sorting through excel files or working with numbers would be enjoyable. The culture of Marcfirst is so welcoming, dedicated, and inspiring. Marcfirst is the only company where an intern, like myself, could have lunch and build a friendship with the CEO of a company. My supervisor would have snack bins in her office that she would fill daily so that every time someone would come for a meeting or a quick visit, they could grab a snack or “pick-me-up” for all their hard work. The vice president would make sure each person working at Marcfirst was given a shirt and goodie-bag from the CEO to the custodians and interns.

Marcfirst is a caring group of people who are genuinely working to better the lives of the residents and make the community a more welcoming and accepting environment. I am so thankful that I was able to understand my worth as an intern while also learning valuable skills that I will take with me in my career. I highly recommend looking at the company’s goals and culture before accepting an offer. If I hadn’t been so lucky, I could have ended up with an organization that didn’t value and respect me, and it would have entirely shaped my idea on the world of public relations.

By: Gabriella Solis