4 PR Skills I've Learned from Interning at Curator (that Have Nothing to Do with Coffee)

Audrey Klacker is one of Curator's 2015 summer interns. To learn more about Curator's internship program or apply for a Fall 2015 internship, click here. 

With August right around the corner (scary, I know), I have been reflecting on my time at Curator so far. I’m about halfway through my internship here, and I could write a never-ending list of all the things I’ve learned—from how to hyperlink, to what’s going on in the life of Russell Wilson. But there are a few important things that stand out. 

You are only as strong as your media list

I was introduced to the concept of media lists on my very first day. Media lists are the foundation of public relations. It is so important to be able to put together a current list of contacts in any given region. Without good media lists you won’t get very far in the PR industry. 

You can never take enough notes

Taking detailed notes is a must. You might think you will remember something from a meeting or an email, but taking good notes will save you when you overestimate your memory. You never know when you might need that little tidbit of information later on. 

Research is key

PR involves a lot of research. You have to know your client and the audience your working with, which often means learning about many different topics. The trick is knowing how to research effectively and efficiently with the time you have. You could literally spend days researching any one thing because there is so much information on the internet, but it's the quality of your research that matters. 

Don't ever stop learning

Lastly, I’ve leaned that I still have a lot left to learn. PR is always changing and there are so many aspects that I still have to grasp. I’m soaking up as much information as I can while I am here, but I know I have a long road ahead of me.