PR Plans

Social media, data science, predictive analytics, news releases and comms plans – what do young communicators need to learn?

In this month’s #PRStudChat, featuring Spin Sucks CMO and social media Professor Martin Waxman (@MartinWaxman), we examine the current PR and communications curriculum, ask what’s relevant, what’s a bit outdated, and what needs to be added to or changed.

Martin will lead a discussion on Thursday, March 21st at 12:00 p.m. ET on PR Curriculum 3.0 — What Communicators Need to Stay Relevant. Several of the questions Martin and our #PRStudChat community members will answer include:

Q1. What one word would you use to describe the state of the current PR/communications curriculum and why?

Q2. Which of the current core course offerings are essential? What would you drop and why?

Q3. Should PR programs be more integrated with journalism, marketing, or business, or stand on their own?

Q4. News releases and their place in 2019. Discuss.

Q5. What are the key skills communicators should have and where are they learning these skills?

Q6. How important is multimedia storytelling (video, design and photography)?

Q7. Where does coding and predictive analytics fit in?

Q8. What do communicators need to know when it comes to AI?

Q9. How important is it for communications students to know the essentials of business, entrepreneurship?

Q10. What does the PR curriculum of the future look like?

We’re looking forward to another dynamic #PRStudChat conversation. See you on Thursday, March 21st at 12:00 p.m. ET!

As always, you can tweet in advance to @MartinWaxman @PRStudChat, @SpinSucks, @LKPetrolino, @ValerieSimon, or @DBreakenridge with any questions you would like answered.

About #PRStudChat

It began with a simple question asked by Angela Hernandez, then President of PRSSA at Central Michigan University (CMU). “Is PR Right for me?” A follow-up blog post by Communication Strategist Deirdre Breakenridge inspired a series of direct messages on Twitter between Breakenridge and fellow PR industry pro, Valerie Simon. This was an important question and one that should be explored beyond one student or one blog post. Why not build a community to help students across the country, and even the globe, learn from the experience and perspective of industry professionals … A community where everyone can learn and grow together.

About Martin Waxman

Martin Waxman, MCM, APR, leads digital and social media training and workshops, is a communications strategist and teaches digital strategy. He’s CMO of Spin Sucks, co-founder of three PR agencies, and runs a consultancy. He’s worked in the industry for 25+ years.

Martin is a LinkedIn Learning and Lynda.com author, one of the hosts of the Inside PR podcast, a past-chair of PRSA Counselors Academy, and past-president of CPRS Toronto.

About Spin Sucks

Spin Sucks was started in September 2006 by Gini Dietrich, the founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, an integrated marketing communications firm. Its mission? To change the perception or PR. What started as a simple blog, soon became a movement. Spin Sucks is the number one PR blog in the world, the go-to resource for PR professionals to learn new strategies and tactics, to share and receive expert advice. It’s also the place where people have fun discussions, brainstorm, ask for help, and make new friends.