Combating ennui in virtual internships
Junior Cameron Garber has several strategies for make a virtual internship feel more like a traditional one.
Last spring, I had the opportunity to take the first step in fulfilling my career aspirations by interning at Narrative, a Los Angeles-based personal publicity agency. While the pandemic cut my time there short, I learned plenty and returned home excited about my future in entertainment public relations. With the world still recovering from the events of last year, virtual interactions have been a staple in routines, including for the Public Relations Student Society of America. With all of our usual guests coming to us virtually, I realized I could extend an invitation to my former L.A. employers to come speak to other students about their careers.
On Feb. 19, I brought Narrative home to the Hoosiers in the form of senior publicist and founding partner Liz Mahoney, senior publicist Tori Kob and assistant Brett Levine. For one hour, they regaled us with stories of representing some of the most recognizable names in Hollywood and gave advice to the aspiring publicists at the meeting. The morning was relaxed and informative, with plenty of opportunities for attendees to directly ask questions to those who could provide them with the best possible insight.
The event ended after an hour of Q&A, and all of the students left more informed about a life in entertainment public relations. The chance to speak with some of the best in the business was a silver lining in our COVID-19 college experience. PRSSA prides itself on exposing members to public relations in all capacities and always welcomes the opportunity to increase the scope of offerings available. Bringing entertainment PR back to the club was an exciting moment for all of us, and hopefully the ease of connecting with faraway experiences continues even after this pandemic.