NCU PR Students Get First Taste Of "The Real World"

Third Year Public Relations Students from the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) got a taste of the real world when they presented their PR and Advertising Campaign for their clients, the PRSJ, this morning (December 9) at the offices of Innovative Ideas in Kingston.

Four members of the 12 member squad from Kre8tive Ad Dynasty delivered a proposal that included an advertising campaign concept with mock ups of a printed poster and a brochure.

At the end of the one-hour session, the students and practitioners came away with useful insights. Spokesperson for Kre8tive Dynasty, Keshann Watson said of the exercise, "We are quite happy and we took the recommendations very seriously to enhance the project. It gave me the opportunity to think of ideas for other topics. We will employ the advice in how we do research...we have to step it up a notch a whole lot more."

President Mark Thomas noted that he would be willing to meet with the students again, on their home turf in Mandeville, and continue the counselling and guide them towards establishing a student Chapter of the PRSJ on their campus. The initiative of the students followed an address that he made to them during a recent Careers Day event at NCU.

Past President Keith Brown says of the morning that it was an excellent session. "These students are definitely with it and are being well taught (thank God). They are to re-do the proposal based on this morning's discussions."

The intrepid participants from NCU Kre8tive Ad Dynasty, who took came by bus and then car to keep their appointment, were Keshann Watson organiser; Monquie Powell, CEO; Tashanya Traile, Creative Director and Simone Powell.

PRSJ Participants were: Heatha Miller, Communications Manager, STATIN; Keneshia Nooks, Communications Officer, JCDC; Mark Thomas, Communications Director, Jampro; Keith Brown, Director, Keith Brown and Associates; Christine Bell, Director, Innovative Ideas (hostess); Gwyneth Davidson - PR Manager, OPM. The project will go towards the students' end-of-year final grade.

Practitioners were pleased to hear of the reasons why the students chose PR which included, being "excited by what media can achieve" and "loving research". Not one of the four affable ladies said that they chose the profession to socialise and meet people. Folks, one more bit of proof that hope rises strong in our young people.