The first writing sample is from an English class at OU, where I was tasked with writing a persuasive essay on the topic of my choosing. I wrote to the founder of Zara asking to reevaluate harmful fast fashion business practices. This paper was published in the OU South Oval Review and was awarded runner-up in the First Year Composition competition.
This is a sample of an AP style reported news story I wrote about Crimson Cares, a philanthropy week hosted by the OU chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. This was an assignment for the Media Writing and Storytelling course in Gaylord.
This final writing sample is a statement that I submitted in law school applications to help admissions committees get to know more about me. This is an example of creative writing and storytelling.
For more writing samples, please check out my blog! I have used my blog throughout the Contemporary Problems in PR course and is full of posts surrounding current issues in public relations today. These blogs provide insight into principles that I have learned throughout my time in Gaylord and show my understanding and passion for the public relations and media industries beyond just the classroom.
Public Relations & Global Communication
Public relations is no longer just about crafting a message, but also about navigating cultural differences, global stakeholders, and communication challenges when building trust internationally. In an article for the PRSA Public Relations Journal, Kara Alaimo explains that international public relations professionals must first understand a country’s political economy, culture, activism, level of development, media…
Why PR Professionals should be Prepared: Health and emergency awareness
Health and emergency preparedness are critical areas that PR professionals must be ready to handle, particularly in relation to a crisis. This means going beyond reactive crisis communication, but living in a “state of perpetual preparedness,” as described in an article from Ragan PR Daily by Jess Zafarris (Zafarris, 2023). This concept demonstrates the importance…
Incorporating Social Causes and Norms Into Public Relations
Social issues and norms are increasingly becoming a key consideration for organizations’ public relations teams. According to an article by Jon Goldberg on PRSA Strategies and Tactics, research shows that an large majority of consumers expect corporations to take stances on social issues (Goldberg, 2024). This means that it is now more important than ever…
Audience Identification: Why Successful PR is Focused on Your Audience
Successful public relations efforts rely heavily upon connection with your target audience to communicate effectively. As stated in an article from PR News, “who is receiving the message is just as important as the message itself” (Schuman, 2024). PR professionals must understand who they are speaking to in order to carry out tactics and strategies…
Ethical Behavior: What Successful PR Should Be Built upon
Ethical behavior applies to all aspects of daily life, including in the public relations field. It is easy to see that PR is about protecting reputations and organizations, but harder to understand the delicate balance between duty and ethics. PR professionals must keep in mind the importance of keeping ethical behavior at the forefront of…
Communicating CSR: The Role of PR In Corporate Social Responsibility
Consumers today expect more than just products or services from organizations. Instead, they want brands who have clear values that they continuously and publicly support. As explained by Julia Petryk in an article for PR News, this is why corporate social responsibility helps companies build trust, support their community and encourage others to join their…
Heidi Verplank 