Uncovering - West Virginia University

GolinHarris
internship
offers
real-world
opportunities
By ERin WooDDEll
tThey served McDonald’s newest coffee to
passersby as part of a photo-op, persuaded
companies to reduce their carbon footprint
and brainstormed brand marketing ideas.
Three SOJ students were putting their
public relations skills to work as part of the
Mountaineer in D.C. internship program
with GolinHarris.
Graduate student Cara Slider and public
relations seniors Bonnie Thomas and Katelyn
Culver interned at the firm’s D.C. office in
Summer and Fall 2008 and Spring 2009,
respectively.
Slider had never worked at a public relations
agency before and was a little unsure of what
to expect. But she soon found that to succeed,
she needed to have confidence to do things on
her own.
“Instead of asking if you’re doing it right, dig
in,” Slider said. “Embrace it wholeheartedly.”
The Mountaineer in D.C. internship,
launched in 2003 by SOJ alumnus Michael
Fulton (BSJ, 1979), gives SOJ students the
opportunity to gain hands-on experience in
an international public relations firm. The
program provides a $2,500 stipend and an
hourly wage for students who are selected in
a competitive appli-
cation process. Intern
supervisors encourage
students to
approach their work
as professionals.
“Unlike most internships,
GolinHarris exposes our interns to a
wide variety of client work and allows for the
opportunity to make real contributions,” said
Emily Rieger, 2004 SOJ alumna and account
supervisor at GolinHarris.
The interns are treated like full-time employees,
working at least 40 hours a week. They
are included in brainstorming sessions, client
meetings, conference calls and more.
12
Public relations senior and GolinHarris intern Bonnie Thomas puts her people skills to work
during Fiesta D.C., a large Hispanic heritage festival in Columbia Heights in Washington, D.C.
Slider worked directly with Lane Bailey,
GolinHarris’ managing director, on a geoimpact
account that measured clients’ carbon
footprints. She researched and developed
materials to pitch to clients on how they
could incorporate economical and environmentally
friendly initiatives into their work
practices.
Fall 2008 participant Bonnie Thomas said her
GolinHarris experience was “phenomenal.”
“It’s been a jump into the real world,” she
said. “It’s 120 percent better than I ever could
have imagined.”
Thomas interned in the market brand
strategy sector of GolinHarris, where she
worked on three different accounts, including
McDonald’s. Thomas tracked the news, researched
and updated media lists and pitched
stories to the media.
Before her internship, Thomas was interested
in non-profit marketing, but after working
in market brand
“Our firm’s partnership with
WVU’s School of Journalism
has paid huge dividends.”
— Michael Fulton
strategy, she realized
brand image
was more in line
with her personal
career interests.
“Bonnie Thomas
has been a great asset to our team at Golin-
Harris,” said Rieger. “Her creativity, critical
thinking and well-honed public relations
skills have helped to ease our demanding
client load. I truly believe that the School of
Journalism has prepared her to contribute
meaningful work to our firm and clients.”
Spring 2009 intern Katelyn Culver said the
experience taught her aspects of public rela-
Submitted photo
tions that can’t be learned from a textbook.
This included face time with major clients,
something she never thought she’d be able to
experience as an intern.
She also learned the importance of communication
and team work.
“The teams aren’t afraid to pull me into any
project they are working on,” Culver said.
“They take the time to explain to me what
is going on. Each person has an important
role in the team … a strength, and we take
advantage of that to get the best possible
outcome.”
GolinHarris Executive Vice President Michael
Fulton said the Mountaineer in D.C.
program is one way of giving back to the
School of Journalism and WVU.
“We could write a check and feel good that
we have contributed,” said Fulton. “Instead,
we give WVU students real-life experiences.
We depend upon our interns year-round for
fresh eyes and new ideas in every phase of
our business, and our firm’s partnership with
WVU’s School of Journalism has paid huge
dividends. Seven of our 55 full-time employees
are Mountaineers, and I am so proud as I
watch them grow and lead accounts and win
new business.”
GolinHarris recently made a new five-year
commitment to continue the program beginning
in Spring 2009. The intern for Summer
2009 is graduate student Nicole Fernandes.