The Bright Side of PR

Photo from http://www.contentfac.com/

During my interview with The Director of Communications for The St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, Laura Ruddock, I had the chance to get a look at the brighter, lighter side of PR. After a lot of talk about ethics, morals, and the dark side of PR, it was nice to speak with a PR professional who works daily on projects that help people in need.

Laura Ruddock has been working in the PR field for six years now, four of which have been spent with The St. Boniface Hospital Foundation. How did she get here? She started at Red River College by taking their Communications Program, and then continued on to take the joint program through The University of Winnipeg.

What’s a typical week like for her? As we should all know by now, PR is a fast paced career choice, and Laura confirmed that what our instructors have been telling us is very true. Laura does a variety of work, in several areas, and wears many different hats. Some of her daily tasks include media relations, donor announcements, marketing communications, media planning, writing press releases, and media buying.

One of the projects that Laura is quite proud of is The Compassionate Care Program. The Compassionate Care Program is a fundraiser that involves past patients, and families of patients who have been affected by the hospital in a positive way.  They are asked to recognize an extraordinary care giver at St. Boniface Hospital, write them a thank you card, and give a donation to the hospital in their honour. The program was launched in October of last year, and there has been a very positive attitude towards the program by everyone involved. The program has been quite the success, and it is a project they will continue to work on each year.

Does Laura enjoy working at the hospital? Yes, Laura loves her career. Although she has worked in the corporate atmosphere before at MTS, and enjoyed that as well, she explains that the fundraising atmosphere is very different, and she really enjoys being able to work on projects each day that have meaning to her.

As we know staying current in the PR industry is very important. To keep current Laura reads the news daily, focusing on PR and Communications news. She is also a current member of IABC, she sat on the board for CPRS for two years, and is a member of the AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals). She explains that she tries to go to events and conferences as much as possible, and she is always working on her professional development.

Some tips for success from the successful PR professional? Firstly, Laura says to be prepared to work hard! When asked what she wishes she would have known before starting her career in PR, she explains that PR is not your normal nine to five job, and she wishes she would have known the level of commitment that is involved. Second, Laura confirms what our instructors have been telling us by explaining that it is very important to develop and maintain connections. Lastly, she says to learn to take criticism, something I will definitely have to work on.

It was great to speak with a PR professional who has many years of experience under her belt, and it was especially nice to be able to hear how PR can be used as a very positive tool.

After my interview with Laura I am still very certain that PR is the right career choice for me. I was happy to hear that I will be able to potentially make a difference with a career in PR, and although it will be a lot of work, and I will have to be extremely committed, I feel it will be worth it.