What I’ve learned from this class

Four months go by very fast, as it seems I just wrote my “What I hope to learn from this class” blog. A lot can happen over the course of a semester, in in the case of CAP 105, I learned many valuable skills.  Below are 4 things that I have learned from CAP 105:

1. Learning the Adobe suites: Before this class, I had only basic knowledge of InDesign from a previous writing class. I was excited to learn and use InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Audition for my multimedia project. It is beneficial to learn the Adobe suites because they are the industry standard for content creation. I found myself editing video footage, audio tracks, photos, and documents all for one project.
2. Creating a multimedia package: By far my favorite project of the semester, this multimedia package taught me how modern day communicators must handle data and information. While writing is the core of pubic relations, other forms of media are valuable as well. Videos, photo galleries, and podcasts all contribute to a modern press release. When I attended the North American International Auto Show this past January, many of the press kits not only contained text, but also photos and videos. Knowing how to create a multimedia package is a necessary adaptation in today’s digital landscape. Multimedia packages are useful because they can be shared over various different platforms (i.e. photos for Instagram, podcasts for SoundCloud, text for press releases), thus reaching different audiences.
3. Writing for different contexts: Writing is at the core of public relations, and in CAP 105, that idea was reinforced yet again. We wrote a lot in every class. From blogging, to pitching an app design, and to copywriting, this class covered it all. While writing advertising copy is quite different from writing a blog, I did notice a common theme among all the genres. Simplicity is better. While advertising and public relations are known for “puffery” in new releases and promotional materials, readers can sense the puffery, and it sets a good standard to be honest with the audience. Write simply and write well to convey your ideas.
4. Analyzing data: Aside from the multimedia package and the app development project, becoming Google Analytics Certified was one of the biggest (and most time-consuming) projects of the semester. Never before have a thought about why certain links appear at the top of my Google searches, and never before did I wonder why copyrighters chose specific words. The Google Analytics Certification process taught me that internet searches, Search Engine Optimization, and audience analysis are all important topics which communications professionals should become familiar. In today’s digital world, data is power (take a look at Facebook and Netflix, data is their greatest asset). Knowing how to analyze data is a crucial skill.

Beyond the points mentioned above, time management and organization were additional skills that carried me through this class. Along with CAP 105, I was also enrolled in CAP 210 and CAP 220,  which are the introductory classes in advertising and public relations. I was tasked with completing a campaign individually in each class. With a heavy course load, and deadlines putting me under pressure every night, I learned that communicators need to always be on top of their work and deadlines are extremely important. Because as long as people are sharing ideas, our work never ends.

I would like to thank professor Dino for all of his time and effort into this course. The advertising and public relations program here at GVSU is nothing short of excellent and the professors are invested in their students’ work. I look forward to become more involved in my major and make connections both inside and outside of the classroom. CAP 105 gave me a great starting point.

What I hope to learn from this class

CAP 105, here I go.

This semester, I am enrolled in three CAP courses at GVSU (CAP 210: Fundamentals of Advertising, CAP 220: Fundamentals of Public Relations, and CAP 105: Technology in Ad/PR). I have only taken one CAP course before, which focused on research-gathering technique in the industry. I am excited to finally take more courses in my major, but I am especially excited for this class in particular. I hope to learn __ things during this semester:

1. Creativity: An often overlooked skill in the classroom, creativity in the AD/PR industry is crucial. From graphic design, to copyediting, to blogging (hey, I’m learning already!), to digital photo and video, I will have to tap into my right side of my brain (the creative side, right?) and apply those ideas into real-world contexts.
2. Tech Stuff: As you can probably tell from the title of this item, I am not particularly tech savvy. While I am concurrently enrolled in WRT 351: Writing for the Web, in which we learn basic coding, technology still confuses me. I hope to gain more of an understanding for basic software and applications that industry professionals use. Additional tech skills, which are vital in the 21st century, can make me more attractive to employers.
3. Time Management: The communications industry never sleeps. New developments, trends, and events are constantly occurring. PR specialists may have to juggle several projects simultaneously. I believe that time management skills are crucial in my future profession, and I think this course will introduce me to advertising and PR-specific time management issues. For example, this blog (along with its social media promotion) are carefully scheduled and monitored. Already, I am getting a light flavor of working with deadlines and managing my time accordingly.
4. Writing Skills: While I write on a regular basis, more writing can’t hurt. A stronger emphasis on blogging and social media will not only improve my writing, but it will also introduce me to other forms and applications of writing. The more, the better.
5. Analytic Skills: While content creation itself is very important, gauging the content’s performance is equally important. Analyzing data will reveal whether or not if something is working, thus saving time. By scheduling content on Hootsuite and using Excel spreadsheets to track posts, I hope to gain analytical skills that so many industry pros use.

With those four points in mind, I am excited to see where this semester takes me during these next four months. This blog will act as my journal, so the transition from start to finish should be apparent.

Here’s to the next four months!