Everyone talks about a defining moment in their lives – I vividly remember in my 9^th grade Junior High school public school class in the Bronx a teacher calmly, and clearly explaining to me – in front of the whole class how I’d never be anything in life and should recognize it now.  When I cursed her repeatedly with 4 letter words, I was sent to the Principal’s office.  When the school called my mom to tell her I’d been kicked out of class, she asked me why, and when I explained, she let the school know I was right.  And I was.

Words matter – and last night when I spoke at New York University in front of a Masters class, where “For Immediate Release” by Ronn Torossian is required reading, I thought of that teacher.

 

If you can’t fly then run.

If you can’t run then walk.

If you can’t walk then crawl.

But whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.

Onwards and upwards – To see some of the video footage of Ronn Torossian speaking at NYU please go to the 5WPR Youtube Channel.

Ronn Torossian

5WPR

I am a student of Public Relations and Marketing in Scotland, day in and day out I work with Scottish issues and I am heavily involved in the political scene in Scotland – however something I can’t escape is the brand of America.

Now I’ll be clear, when I say “the brand of America” I’m not referring to Jersey Shore and Big Macs. What I refer to is the pull America has as a nation. A nation built on immigration and integration – eventually. Around this time last year I visited one of the top Public Relations firms in America with my Scottish college that firm was 5WPR. Now to say I was impressed is an understatement; I was overwhelmed.

I had never experienced America really in person and only had TV shows to go on, but the design of the offices, the friendly nature of the staff and the knowledge of the impressive character who showed us around. Juda Engelmayer was clearly one of the best in the Public Relations industry and he in the matter of minutes had us all open jawed at his prowess and the popularity of 5WPR as a firm.

Now whilst studying in Scotland it seems we cannot escape PR cases from the states. It seems clear to many of us, that the most exciting PR industry is present in America – now of course our home country has many different clients – but what really gets our blood pumping is America. America has such an array of sectors within PR and is at the frontier, yet again in the Public Relations industry. The key advances are being made in America, the biggest cases develop there and of course – the biggest array of skilled PR professionals is there.

I am now in my 3^rd year of study and it is clear to me, I want to work in America – to pursue that American dream, the “dream” that was surely one of the biggest PR scores for a country, ever.  Why though? Besides the fact that every day in university we are given case studies of American firms, we are told to look at firms like 5WPR and Weber Shandwick for the right way of doing things? Well to put it quite simply – it’s the brand.

Every PR expert knows about branding and attempts not to be pulled in – but America, you have pulled many of us in. In fact I can assure you almost every PR student I have spoken to looks at America in awe and aspires to make it there.

Sure there would be differences, sure it would be a challenge and sure it would be galling; but surely as someone who works in PR that is qualities that should be there anyway? The willingness to overcome challenges, that sheer passion for your industry – and of course networking and taking advice from professionals like Ronn, buying his book (which is better than most textbooks I’ve read recently) and subscribing to his videos.

Dear America, you have one student here – the most influential PR student in Scotland according to the Behind the Spin blog, run by the Chartered institute of Public Relations in the UK and he has fallen for you.

How have you fallen for the brand of America? How do you think it could be improved?

 

–

Thanks, Kenneth Murray – @Kenny_murray

 

 

 

5W Public Relations, will be hosting a career fair on Tuesday, September 13th from 10:00am – 3:00pm at the Park Central Hotel at 870 7th Avenue (55^th & 56^th St.) 5WPR is experiencing rapid growth and hiring Public Relations professionals at all levels. Attendees will have the chance to learn more about PR Careers and what it is like to work at one of the Top 25 US PR Agencies.

5W Public Relations is headquartered in New York, with an office in Los Angeles. Named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies, the agency was founded in 2003 and has grown very quickly. The agency is an aggressive full-service communications firm with core competencies in all aspects of public relations. From media relations to corporate communications, technology marketing, consumer goods, Beauty PR, Health Care, Crisis PR, Lifestyle PR, public affairs, social media and special events.

 

We hope to see you and are always accepting resumes at careers@5wpr.com

 

Ronn Torossian

5WPR

Interesting read I came across at: http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/9194.aspx which speaks of optimism that PR Firms will possibly grow even if there’s a 2^nd recession. Great stats in the article which found that annual spending on public relations services in the U.S. will increase 55 percent between 2008 and 2013, to $8 billion.

 

We at 5WPR certainly hope its accurate and we have a number of PR jobs available and listed at:

http://www.5wpr.com/about5wpr/prjobsprcareers.cfm

 

Seeking all PR Agency pros – recession or no recession we are always seeking focused, talented folks to work at 5WPR.

 

Ronn Torossian

5WPR

It has been a personally rewarding experience to watch the brightest and most ambitious young leaders and future PR pros from across the country interview for internships at 5WPR. So many of these kids are hungry and ready to succeed – it’s a similar energy that we foster here at 5W.

I am very proud that we have developed one of the most competitive and highly sought after internship programs in the PR industry. Many prospective interns came to our office telling us that their professors or friends in the field advised them to apply here. The success of our internship program is predicated on the same philosophy that led to the unprecedented growth and success of 5WPR. That is, we always encourage our interns to work harder, to be aggressive, and to take on and appreciate greater responsibility.

Unlike many other companies, an internship at 5WPR is not about getting your boss a cup of coffee. Rather, we’ve fostered an environment where our interns will learn, practice, and execute the fundamental skills required in the public relations industry.

While I cannot stress enough the importance of a formal education, in many ways, we’ve geared our internship program at my company to create a “secondary education” for our interns so that they can learn firsthand about all facets of the public relations industry. We believe that interns are part of the workplace and that all great companies must understand how to tactfully combine their corporate objectives with the goals and interests of the interns themselves.

5WPR has developed a reputation throughout the PR industry for representing hungry, passionate, and relentlessly driven clients. The best way to cater to this type A personality is to imbue our company with an intense energy that starts with our interns and moves upward to the corner offices.

I look forward to meeting each of the 14 interns who are currently working at our NY office this summer. Furthermore, I’d like to dispel the rumor that we never hire our interns for PR Jobs – over the past few months, we’ve hired eight as junior associates.

Ronn Torossian, CEO and President of 5WPR.