Panelists discuss Fashion and Beauty in Public Relations

Published by May 9, 2018 | By Jasmin Kee

The Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle PR panel held, April 24, helped students learn about the skills needed to work in Public Relations, as well as provided tips on how to be successful.

 

The event chaired by Public Relations Professor Jeremiah Sullivan who teaches Public Relations in the School of Communication, Media and Journalism featured Stephanie Scott of First and Last PR, where she had clients such as Grammy Winning Usher; Ilana Zalika, CEO & Founder of Resound Marketing also the Communications Chair of the Public Relations Society of America New Jersey chapter; and Amanda Saphire Billingham who has worked with fashion brands such as Converse, Dr.Marten and Stella McCartney.

The discussion started off with the question of what the panelists thought about the skills that students needed when working in PR and all three of the panelists agreed that they needed to be good writers and good communicators.

“I really like the creative aspect and I like the business side and being able to get my hands dirty,” says Billingham when the panelists were asked about what it was that attracted them to their field.

Students seemed eager to get tips for succeeding in P.R. and Scott said time management is critical.

“What has worked for me is that I now make a schedule of everything that I need to do and I would cross out all of the things that I have gotten done so I know what else I still have left to do,” said Scott.

In an age of  #MeToo, an audience member asked about how these three women can be assertive in their own field. All of the panelist agreed that they have to be able to not be afraid to speak up and ask questions. They also said to realize that you’re not perfect and that you will make mistakes, but that you have to own and learn from your mistakes.

The final question that was asked was about what the panelists thought the traits would be to succeed in the field and all of the panelists agreed that students should be good listeners and listen to their client, be willing to work hard, have a thick skin and be able to take constructive criticism.

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