Intern Diary: Shelby
I had started following Jenna Guarneri and JMG PR during the pandemic in 2020, as I was taking some time to follow and learn from some highly rated public relations agencies in New York City. What had caught my eye really was the public relations education and the insight into the industry that it offered. I took my opportunity to apply during the summer of 2021 when I had caught a post on their story saying they were looking for Fall interns. I immediately sent in my information and with each step of the process, I was ecstatic to find out I had been selected as an intern. Coming to the end of my time here has given me a chance to reflect on all the incredibly valuable skills and information that I’ve gained through just a few months.
Through the careful guidance of Account Executive, Kristen Aikey, who took the time to bring me through each step and question as I started to learn, I was able to realize what public relations really entailed. An area in which I feel I’ve grown the most would be my attention to detail in every task, which can make all the difference in order to do quality work and in turn make the client happy. A main takeaway I had learned from this is the need for highly developed organizational skills in order to successfully complete every goal for the day, as well as being able to do extensive research on any given subject. I learned to be adaptable and open to new subjects through educating myself in the genre of every different client- whether it was the food and drink industry or technology. I’ve also been able to become well versed in Coverage Book to make press reports and MuckRack to research media contacts which are core necessities in public relations. I feel that the experiential learning that this internship has offered me has taught me more than I have ever been able to learn in the classroom.
My time here these past few months as a JMG PR Intern has been a truly unforgettable experience. Everything that I’ve learned here from the beginning has become invaluable to my transition not just into my career within public relations and communications, but my professional life in business as a whole. It has been a privilege to work under Jenna and her team of talented executives and coordinators, and to have the opportunity to learn within an award-winning firm.
