PR students perfect the profession with the successful in this field
Students majoring in Master’s degree programs Advertising and Public Relations in Business Management and Marketing and Public Relations in Education, Science and Culture of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" examined successful examples in the combination of "talent and PR techniques". In a dynamic visit in government and cultural institutions, universities and NGOs, which was made in June 2014, they met with statesmen and scientists, managers and experts in the PR profession. The impressions of their internship were enriched with analyses of modern theory presented by lecturers at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski ".
The Master’s students immersed in the specifics of the institutional PR in meetings with experts from the Presidency, the press service of the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly. As between colleagues, the acting PR consultants talked about the requirements imposed to them, their working day, the PR-techniques and the policies they implement, the difficulties and the experience of mistakes. Directly in this conversation they presented the institution for which they work, its prestige and responsibilities. And following the logic of well-prepared "coincidences", in the conference room with the portraits of activists of the Bulgarian Revival in the Presidency Building, the students met and took pictures with the President of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev, and in the conference hall of the Parliament with the Chair of the 42nd National Assembly, Mihail Mikov.
The role of PR consultants for the development of the cultural institutions and the transformation of Bulgaria into an attractive destination for cultural tourism revealed to the future Masters Prof. D Sc Boryana Hristova - Director of the National Library "St. St. Cyril and Methodius," Prof. Bozhidar Dimitrov, PhD - Director of the National History Museum and the legendary archaeologist Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov, PhD. The scientists showed students how combined with erudition and diligence, PR strategies contribute to creating a unique image and product that support the development of industries and the cultural institutions.
Another aspect of PR and autoadvertising outlined Ekaterina Genova - Director of Directorate "World and Regions" at BNT and Hristo Valtchev - Director of Directorate "Advertising" at BNR, who presented strategies focusing on the role of the national media which attract new audiences. The contact withthe radio and TV studios intrigued the students with the atmosphere and the means of expression of their future partners - the media. Meeting with the Director General of the Bulgarian National Radio, Radoslav Yankulov conceived ideas for future joint professional projects.
The students were also involved in the depths of the profession during their meeting with
Annie Alashka - Director of "Public Relations" of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Snezhana Dimitrova - acting Chairman and Chief Secretary of the Union of the Bulgarian Journalists.
Unforgettable impressions of the institutions of the statesystem, emotions with the successful in the field, memories of rushing to the next meeting and loads of practical tips gathered the participants in the Master`s internship. "Always look at the problem from a different perspective, because the closest one can be misleading," pointed out Ralitza Toshirova - expert at the Directorate "Press Centre" of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria. "It`s important to have confidence in your team. The experienced staff is extremely helpful with the memory of past events and with their expertise," said the press secretary of the President, Maria Invanova.
"The concentration of monuments of cultural significance allows archeology to be viewed as part of the economy through the development of cultural tourism. It is a state issue to set the priorities in the advertising of the monuments," said Prof. Nikolai Ovcharov. "Through good communication and good management, the National History Museum has five times more visitors per year," said Prof. Bozhidar Dimitrov. "If you do not believe in the cause, you cannot be a good manager ... When you do not refuse information to the media, you show that you know and you are capable. It is very important to be well-informed in order not to be afraid of questions and there is nothing with which to do harm to the institution," said Prof. Boryana Hristova.
"Experts write scientifically, PR-consultants are like translators, they write comprehensibly, persuasively, more politically" teaches her future colleagues Annie Alashka. And she also adds: "the PR is a self-propelled database. In this profession, you expand your horizons, your interests." The theoretical accents in the internship of the students of the two Master’s degree programs were outlined in the lectures of Prof. D Sc Hristo Kaftandzhiev "Digital communication and advertising," Prof. Ventsislav Bondikov, PhD "Manipulation through empirical research" and Assoc. Prof. Chavdar Hristov, PhD "PR and propaganda."
What the students have learned will become clear at the defence of the individual reports of the participants in the internship on 28 June, 2014 before Assoc. Prof. George Kalaglarski, PhD, organizer of the internship and head of the Master’s degree programs. Then comes the check in practice.
