District Conference Preview: PR Advanced: Looking Back to Move Forward (Boston University 2023)
After two years of being virtual, Boston University’s PRSSA Chapter is proud to finally host its in-person conference, PR Advanced: Looking Back to Move Forward, on Saturday, Feb. 25th, 2023. The Northeast conference invites all Chapters from the District to join us in the Photonics Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m..
The BU Chapter’s history of conferences has largely focused on the future of PR and what comes next, so we wanted to go the opposite route. By looking back at all the accomplishments, ideas, and movements in the public relations industry that have led us to where we are today, we can learn how to apply good PR principles in the future. With this in mind, our conference coordinator thought of a time capsule theme to celebrate the progression of mass communication, how far we have come, and how we will remember such teachings.
We invited a diverse group of speakers and companies from the Boston area to give conference attendees a chance to learn more about the breadth of the PR field. Attendees can expect to network with leaders and veterans in the communications field, while also learning about the multifaceted tools that have guided practitioners.
Our conference is in-person for the first time in two years, and we are excited to continue this tradition.
We are most excited to learn from our keynote speaker, Adam Ritchie, principal of Adam Ritchie Brand Direction. Ritchie published his book “Invention in PR” in 2022 and will be performing with his band during the conference’s lunchtime. Attendees definitely don’t want to miss this!
Additionally, we have established brand new panels discussing various topics such as in-house vs. agency PR, media relations, and technology. Employees from NBC Universal Studios, Amazon, and Weber Shandwick will be speaking at these panels.
This year, our Chapter is dedicated to tangibly contributing to the professional development of PR students. Thus, we are holding a career fair where attendees can make meaningful connections with big companies such as FleishmanHillard, 365 PR, Spectrum Science Communications, and more.
In order to take advantage of this long-awaited event, we have created numerous opportunities for face-to-face networking. Before the conference starts, we have a breakfast reception where students from all Chapters can connect with each other and with PR professionals. Additionally, we have planned Q&As and networking sessions after each speaker and panel.
Speakers and a flood of PR professionals will be at this event, so attendees are encouraged to put themselves out there and start conversations. Don’t be afraid to talk to industry experts and ask questions, because they are in attendance for you! We also suggest attendees bring phones, laptops, or notebooks to take notes, as well as have printed resumes on hand to aid in networking.
If you want to learn more about our conference, visit our website. You can also follow us on Instagram to learn more about speakers, general announcements, and more. Finally, feel free to reach out to our conference coordinator, Sue Kim, at skim181@bu.edu with any questions.
Rachel Lin is a sophomore studying public relations and international relations at Boston University. She serves as the programming coordinator of Boston University’s Chapter of PRSSA, where she conducts operational tasks for the conference as well as serves on the programming committee. Lin hopes to pursue global PR and social impact storytelling in her future career.
