Summer
internships are designed to give students approaching the end of their academic
career a time to apply what they've learned in the classroom to real situations
with real organizations, real businesses and real people. They're
nerve-wracking, challenging and unrelenting, but they're also invaluable,
rewarding and sometimes fun.
I spent
my summer working as an Account Services intern at PAPA (pay-pa) Advertising in
Erie, Pa. PAPA is a full service advertising agency that offers services in
advertising, branding, interactive design and public relations. With only six
full time staff and three part time, the office environment was very hard
working, but very laid back and causal at the same time.
I was
given my own office with a view, which was fantastic. I was one of two interns,
the other being a graphic design intern. I reported directly to the vice
president who is also the primary PR person at the agency.
While I
was at PAPA, I worked on average thirty hours a week. While I worked, I was
primarily responsible for a number of things, including:
•
Assist
in conducting and reporting brand discovery focus groups.
•
Create
and distribute press releases for multiple clients.
•
Write
white papers discussing current trends in the marketing and public relations
industries.
•
Establish
and maintain social media presences.
•
Serve
as client-to-agency liaison for a local nonprofit organization.
•
Create
and distribute agency & client e-newsletters.
•
Write
and update copy for online banner advertisements, paid search advertisements,
and online business listings.
•
Review
and proofread proposals and various client material.
•
Utilize
AP Style.
•
Serve
as receptionist; greet clients, answer phone calls, emails, etc.
For the
most part, I really enjoyed working at PAPA. I've worked in a corporate office
setting and at Waynesburg University's Office of University Relations, and I
definitely enjoyed working in a creative agency space and working with multiple
clients at the same time. Each day is something new, and there's never enough
time to get bored with something! I also enjoyed the informal setting at PAPA.
Skip, the owner and president of PAPA, loved to bring his dog Bella into the
office. On select Fridays, the guys at the agency would pitch money together
and split a six-pack amongst everybody, which is something I've never
experienced before, and was shocking to me at first. All in all, I loved the
creative, laid back style that the agency fully embraced.
Overall,
I would recommend any PR major to intern at an agency at some point in their
career. The creative energy, unique and hard working, fast paced setting is
unmatched in a corporate setting. I thoroughly enjoyed my internship at PAPA
Advertising and would not mind working there again in the future!
-Mitch Graham, senior public relations major
