We loved Christian Cerisola’s male perspective on Jazz Chappell’s blog which appeared on Ragan’s PR Daily this morning so much, that we decided to write our own.
Jazz looked at the essentials every woman needs to get by in PR; Christian gave us his masculine view of the same subject. But we decided to turn to two former journalists currently resident here in Chubb Towers for our own ‘essential’ list.
Twelve things a hack turned PR can’t live without
1. A torch – After all, you’ve passed to the dark side.
2. Contacts Book – You never know when you might need the deputy clerk of Oxdown Parish Council for that ‘all-important’ photo opportunity.
3. Shorthand – So clients don’t know the notes you’ve taken are nothing to do with what they’ve just said!
4. Dictionary – To prove your new colleagues wrong when they continue to insist that their grammar is spot on.
5. Spare apostrophe – You’ll need one to correct the press releases written by everyone else.
6. Umbrella – For hiding behind as you leave the office so that nobody from your former life recognises you.
7. Earplugs – To block out the inane ramblings of the annoying exec sitting next to you.
8. Sticky Notes – To post on your computer screen to hide all of those things you don’t want the boss to see, ie job websites.
9. Map of the globe – To show the boss what the real world looks like.
10. Swag bag – You’ll need it to pocket all that extra cash you’re earning now you’ve left newspapers, and stash all the freebies that come your way.
11. Compass – To help you find the credibility that you left at the door on your first day in the new job.
12. Vinegar – For the chips on your former colleagues’ shoulders as they accuse you of ‘selling out’.