June 23, 2016
As my internship comes to a bittersweet close, I wanted to take the time to reflect on the amazing and rewarding experience I had here at Aria Marketing. Through the Northeastern University co-op program, I was able to join the Aria team as an intern, eager to begin my PR agency journey. Right away, Aria exposed me to every aspect of public relations, and I was immersed into the Aria culture.
Prior to my internship at Aria, I had taken a number of public relations courses, and I was convinced I knew all there was to know about the PR industry. I was wrong. I can definitely say that I now have a deeper understanding of what it really means to be a “PR Pro,” all thanks to the team here at Aria! Through this internship, I was able to learn the inner workings of a public relations agency. I was given so many opportunities to expand my public relations skills and was even given the chance to create content such as Tweets, blog posts and press releases. Aria allowed me to become fully integrated into the team, and completely supported me during my experience.
In some ways it feels like I just walked through the door for my first day at Aria, yet now I’m leaving with more experience and a deeper knowledge about public relations and the healthcare industry than I could have imagined. If you told me back in January that I would contribute to the day-to-day tasks on client accounts, assist in preparing for two big industry conferences, and have the opportunity to directly pitch the media, I would have never believed you.
My time at Aria exposed me to many things, but the one takeaway that sticks out most to me is learning about the true nature of public relations. I always imagined PR was about convincing my peers to buy the newest product on the shelf, or using a celebrity to promote a brand. However, Aria taught me that public relations can also be about developing thought leadership, building a strong editorial presence, and managing the public face of an entire organization.
Thanks to Aria, I have a truly valuable experience to look back upon and I look forward to using my developing PR skills in my next endeavor. At this point, there’s only one thing left to say: thank you, Aria, for such an impactful internship!
Do you want to learn more about the co-op and internship program here at Aria? Reach out to us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, or email Katie Schur kschur@ariamarketing.com for more information.
