Date: October 25, 2012
Author: Suzanne Rutledge
Contact: Suzanne Rutledge, SRutledge@JACKSONSPALDING.COM

More than 480 students and 100 professionals attended the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication’s second ADPR Connection on Tuesday. The event gave students the opportunity to network with some of the Southeast’s most influential communications professionals.

Sponsored by PRSSA, AdClub, Porter Novelli and BBDO, ADPR Connection kicked off with a senior luncheon featuring speakers Jodi Fleisig, senior vice president of media and relations for Porter Novelli, and Mark Strassmann of CBS. Fleisig, recently named 2012 Media Professional of the Year by Bulldog Reporter, discussed the media industry with Strassmann, covering topics such as media pitching, covering events and how to tell a compelling story as a communications professional.

Fleisig launched her career at CNN, where she worked as senior executive producer and supervisor covering the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina and national elections. Strassmann has also covered some of the world’s most impactful stories, including the BP oil spill and the Trayvon Martin story — a story that was first reported nationally by Strassmann.

Fleisig provided advice for public relations practitioners, as well as graduating seniors.

“You don’t have to go to New York City or another big city for your first job,” Fleisig said. “You want to go where they are going to let you do things. You want to be able to make mistakes and learn.”

Strassmann spoke on the importance of creating captivating stories. 

“The story has to be relatable, interesting and different,” Strassmann said. “It also needs strong characters that help tell the story.”

ADPR Connection also included workshops and a career fair with companies such as Coca-Cola, Studiocom, Ogilvy, THINK and more.

Students and professionals both agreed that ADPR Connection was a beneficial and successful event.

Christina Schrempp of three, an Atlanta public relations and advertising agency, provided advice for students at the “Reality Check — Life Post Grady” workshop.

“Having attended ADPR Connection both as a student and now a professional, I’ve been able to appreciate the fantastic opportunity it presents to both students and employers alike,” Schrempp said. “ADPR Connection provides an open, comfortable environment for students to learn from and interact with professionals, while the professionals themselves are thrilled to be exposed to so many driven, talented intern and employee candidates.”

Michael Gray, Dana Johnson, Ashley Biondich and Christina Schrempp discuss life post-Grady

Co-directors Stephanie Wright and Rebeka Geer were pleased with the event’s success.

“ADPR Connection was quite the success,” Geer said. “Professionals couldn’t stop talking about the high caliber of students Grady offers, and we had a mix of seasoned professionals and recent graduates that offered valuable insight in to careers in the communications field.”

Fore more information about ADPR Connection or to view photos from the event, visit ADPR Connection’s Facebook page here.