INTERNS PERSPECTIVE BY CAITLIN HYNES

Studying public relations and digital media, the need for an internship is not always essential or required to produce a degree, but there would be few people you could contact who wouldn’t push you to the farthest degree to actually undertake an internship to achieve the best experience and respect for professionals in your desired field.

Having the door open at Dawn til Dusk Publicity in 2016 for myself was beyond invaluable. From day-one hour-one I was expected to work and present myself professionally, and undertake responsibilities far beyond what is taught at university. There is no hand-holding here and the expectation to have confidence in yourself and your skills ensures you work to the best of your ability and seek new challenges to better yourself.

From learning the typical media release template (which is surprisingly so different to university), to visiting clients and learning how conversations are formed and directed and decisions reached, you learn far more through your internship than you could ever dream. At Dawn til Dusk Publicity you also have the pleasure of being seated right next to the CEO and founder, who provides immediate feedback and support so you feel like a valuable team member rather than an intern dreamt up on The Devil Wears Prada.

If you love your social media accounts and keeping up to date with the best products, brands and social media influencers, this internship is the dream! Considering that social media is such a powerful communication tool in our society, so much emphasis and care is taken to researching who is a social media influencer and thanks to this internship I have a greater respect and understanding for how valuable this communication tool is.

An area of public relations that is rarely discussed is the relationship between publicist and journalist. Thanks to the inclusion performed by this internship I have learnt how the best approach in communicating and working with journalists, respecting their interests and the need to be as knowledgeable and respectful as possible.

The icing on the cake for me, and a highlight to my 2016, was working to help create, fine-tune and complete an event with Dawn til Dusk Publicity. The Red Ball 2016, an event to raise funds for Fight Cancer Foundation, was the most decadent and delightful event, where you’re right there with your TV and film idols, guiding them through the red carpet and interviews whilst also maintaining a level of cool to keep your head. This event undoubtedly exceeded my farthest expectations, and I’ll cherish how Dawn til Dusk Publicity trust you to become a true member of the team in ensuring the night runs smoothly and that you look and work to the best of your abilities.

If you’re looking for an internship with empowering, hard-working individuals who combine creativity and professionalism into their daily tasks, look no further. If you’re not researching products or drafting media releases, you’re out there in the field with experienced professionals meeting clients, watching a photo-shoot, meeting and networking with others in this field or just plain old having the time of your life.

My skills and competence in public relations and specifically publicity are beyond what can be taught at university, and I even had the luck of learning about event management and talent management! You can’t buy experience like an internship at Dawn til Dusk Publicity.

~ Written by Caitlin Hynes.
She completed her internship with us May – July 2016.