AKCG welcomes interns each semester to gain hands-on public relations experience. Our interns work directly to support the AKCG team and our clients in proactive media relations efforts. Take a look at what some of our recent interns had to say about their experience with us.
Name: Rhianna Davis
School: Rowan University
Year: Junior
Three words to describe your internship experience:
- Challenging
- Supportive
- Rewarding
How did you find out about AKCG?
My favorite professor and mentor, Dr. Basso, told me about the agency. I talked to him about my interest in crisis/issues PR, and he told me about an agency that did crisis PR, where a lot of Rowan graduates worked. He put me in contact with AKCG’s president, Chris Lukach, and we talked about crisis PR. A month later, my advisor, Lori Block, sent out information about the internship at AKCG, so I applied and got the internship.
Describe your internship experience at AKCG.
I worked at an agency in Philadelphia before AKCG that was very different, so I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay in the field of PR, but my internship at AKCG reaffirmed that this is what I want to do with my life.
One of the most important things I learned from AKCG is that it is important to build strong relationships with reporters and the media to be effective at media relations. I also discovered a passion for health care PR by working with the team on clients such as St. Mary Medical Center and Mercy Health System. I came in with decent writing skills, but I still needed a lot of improvement. The team members’ editing process is great, and they will always sit down with you and explain their edits. I learned to write better news releases, pitches, articles and quotes, thanks to them.
What information/experience did you find most rewarding during your time at AKCG?
The most rewarding experience I had was actually the first draft of a news release that I ever wrote for AKCG. It was a news release about breast cancer recurrence clinical trials. This was when I first discovered a love for health care PR because it felt like I was communicating something important that would make a difference in people’s lives.
Where do you hope to end up in the future?
Honestly, there’s a lot I want to do, so it’s hard to decide. I absolutely love Philadelphia, so I want to start my career there and work at an agency that specializes in health care PR. One of my goals is to make large, positive impacts on people’s lives, so I’d like to get a master’s in public health and policy. I want to communicate and work on community health initiatives to educate the public on important health issues and help improve overall public health.
What advice would you give to future AKCG interns?
I think this is one of the best intern programs in the area and a great opportunity to learn. If there’s something you want to do more, ask for it, and the team will do their best to make it happen. I love writing news releases, so I always ask if there is one I can do. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. I’ve made mistakes and asked my fair share of dumb questions, but the team loves to help and wants you to do your best!
I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunity to work at AKCG. I love to write, and here I was given the opportunity to learn and grow. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned here into my future internships. I feel a lot more prepared to take on any opportunity now. I learned a lot and am thankful for the connections I made here.
Name: Jeremy Tsonton
School: Rowan University
Year: Senior
Three words to describe your internship experience:
- Thoughtful
- Detailed
- Fulfilling
How did you find out about AKCG?
In 2017, I met AKCG team members Darrah and Tom through a PRSSA networking event. We spoke at length after the meeting, and I learned about AKCG. I kept in touch with them throughout the next year. I also learned about the internship through classmates who interned at AKCG in the past and encouraged me to apply.
Describe your internship experience at AKCG.
I learned PR can be simpler than people imagine, and once relationships are established, the collaborative work between the client and firm can be personal, making for a healthy working relationship. Some initial responsibilities were drafting news releases with a structure that repeats monthly. But, as time went on, the team pushed me to be more creative and gave me assignments that let me experiment with and challenge my writing.
What information/experience did you find most rewarding during your time at AKCG?
What I found most rewarding was the opportunity to see how team members interacted with the client. Sitting in on calls to media outlets and watching the right way to pitch is another example — also sitting in on client phone calls, listening to how our team brainstorms with the client and seeing how the team makes the conversation personal. There’s more to PR than everyone thinks.
Where do you hope to end up in the future?
I hope to end up either with a firm or company in the automotive industry or in sports PR.
What advice would you give to future AKCG interns?
Take time to double-check everything. Even when you think you don’t have any mistakes, you’ll be sure to find another. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, either! The more questions you ask, the clearer things become. Second-guessing yourself and staying silent will only hurt your chances of learning. Also, take the extra minute to talk with your peers about day-to-day life, and listen when they give advice.
