Maria Prato

Each new path scares me because it is a new adventure that could be compared to an exploration, and a new step forward that brings me closer to where I want to be.

Now, arrived almost at the end of my first academic year, I realize how much I was scared at the beginning of not being able to reach and face the challenges this year would put me through

Coming from a foundation based on the communication of fashion, I was afraid of being not able to write real essay, about topics far from reviews of exhibitions, events and fashion shows that I was used to do.

I’m personally satisfied on how I approached this year, the results and my approach to the  “new” academic world.

What I reserve for next year is to improve everything I’ve learned this year, to devote myself more into the essays I have to hand in; but especially, I will never get bored to learn new English words, because since English is not my first language, I know that I will always be up-to-date for having a vocabulary large enough.

 -xo xo-

Most people think that to become PR there is no need to study. They think that if you are able to: know how to speak, involve people, and communicate you can feel to be a proper a PR.

What they don’t know is that PR is MUCH MORE!

PR includes marketing, advertising, propaganda, persuasion strategy, management etc.

When I started studying PR in September I didn’t think behind these two simple words there was a variegated world with many years of heastory.

Started the course, we were given a list of books that would allow us to not feel lost in the year, and so it was.

“Exploring Public Relations” is one of the basic books for those who study this faculty, you can safely compare it to the Holy Bible for its importance. It has been published three times, the first one was in 2006 and the latest in 2014.

It was written by Ralph Tench, professor of Communications Education and by Liz Yeomans, Principal Lecturer of Public Relation and Communication, both at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Inside you can find not only the history of PR from its inception to date but also many real examples of the role of PR.

Once you read this book you have a clear idea of who is actually a PR, which is its work and that values that a person who wants to undertake this career, must never lose sight of.

-xo xo-

LCC along with Adrian Crooks at the end of the second term, made a gift to student of PR. Get access to the archives of the University.

The feeling was equal to the one of a child when it comes in an Luna-Park, which is attracted by everything, and he doesn’t know with what to play first, because he would like to use everything at the same time; but very carefully, because he is scared to break what is using.

Yes, the archive had the same effect on me, makes me fell to be in a Luna-Park. Enter in a well-lit room, being little more than 20 people, all around a table where there were many pieces of work that embodied years and years of history.

The current London College of Communication some years ago was called the London College of Printing, already from the name you can imagine that many books were printed in them, and, above all, many collections of magazines, movie films, scripts and photographs are enclosed inside the archive; in perfect condition as if they were made the day before, and treated as if they were living beings.

One of the largest collections within the archive is by the artist Stanley Kubrick, which is one of my favourites, and once I enter in the archive room and I realized that one of my favourite works he created, Lolita, is present in the archive of my University, I believe even more that LCC is where I Belong!

Thanks LCC to be a treasure to explore and be amazed every day.

-xo xo-

One of the reasons for which I am grateful to study inside UAL is that everything you learn in theory it puts into practice during the unit, making the students feel they are almost real professionals.

During the second term, one of the unit to follow, and personally I loved so much, was Event Management, which made us feel little real PR.

Split people into different groups, the aim was to organise a real, but “fictitious”, event agency, which (once decided the name, the logo and the president,) every week should have theoretically produced a plan for an event. Aiming at the end of the course to create a full-fledged press conference, where the guests were the students of journalism course.

Each agency had not only, to organize the event, creating invitations, posters, press releases, business cards and think also to food to offer at the guests; but also, it had to hold the Conference, and the topic that had to be presented, which was: Transport of London “focused on the many accidents involving cyclists from vehicles”.

My agency is called BLOOM EVENTS, and I can feel myself super proud of it.

A really united group, on every choice, and we managed to lead the Conference in an excellent way, (not to because it was my group, but also the professor Ashley Gibbings, congratulated with us)

I personally have had the opportunity, while I did the internship to work on real press conferences, and my ambition was to put the same effort that I put when I did the internship into this event making every guests feel that they were participating at a real press conference.

Now BLOOMS Events Agency can’t wait that the second Year arrives, with other press conference to arrange to blooming again!

-xo xo-

After the first week of knowledge, lessons have slowly become more intense.

As the days passed the more you felt the desire of students to discover and get in contact as much as possible with the mysterious Public relations business.

Every day we discovered something new, something that personally made me realize that this was and is the right solution for me, I would have conquered and enjoyed every single lecture.

Not being initially confident with the new world of the University, each step passed seemed a victory, a goal achieved.

During the first three months, the subjects to be followed were Media & Cultural Landscape, Understanding organisation, foundation of PR and Studying in Higher Education.

In the first issue we’ve both discovered the historical origin of PR, born in America from Edward Bernays, but we also treated the impact and the influence of technology in today’s world;in the second we discovered tools that a PR uses to improve its role, we also learned about the relationship between PR and customer, whether is company or private clients, analysing the strengths and weakness, we also analysed the way in which a company gives to the media and how the media interpret this the same; in the third subject, we analysed the role of PR in 360°, discovering who he is, its role in the world,  and how the profession is seen. And finally in studying in Higher education, we have learned to use the various tools that we have used over the years as Harvard University Reference method.

The first assessment was group presentation, which I was very scared of, because I am not native English speaker; I had a little fear in take to University world with an oral presentation. But I can say that my expectations were from far exceeded by the outcome.

Although it is just passed few months from the beginning, I can say that I am now much more confident with what is happening. With the assessment to prepare, with the timeline and also with friends … and everybody knows that friends are the center of  university life 🙂

-xo xo-

When I opened the door of the LCC for the first time, a feeling of curiosity assails me and opened my mind involving all the senses make me able to discover and capture everything that was out of my self. I can not believe that is already passed almost a year since the first day, but I Can say that it is passed really fast. The first period has far exceeded my expectations, I knew that becoming part of one of the most prestigious universities of art in London I would have met so many interesting people, but I did not think this far. People from all over the world, with different nationalities, with a different past and a different culture but spurred by the same passion, Public Relation. It is always nice to discover the idea that each person has part of this world still unexplored but which attracts all of us.

-xo xo-