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| Click on the photo above to be directed to the video. |
Entertainment
Public Relations Enthralls and Entices PRSSA Students
Tammy Golihew, SVP Publicity and Jeff Tobler, Director, Worldwide TV Publicity from Warner Bros and Damian Holbrook, Senior Writer from TV Guide Magazine did an amazing job reaching out to PRSSA students and making them feel valued. After Warner Bros. session all of the presenters took the time to talk to students, give out cupcakes from Philly Cupcake, aired a TV pilot, and lastly connected to students via social media.
PRSSA
Students are asked to join their Facebook page to stay connected and to stay
connected with them via-twitter. Here are quotes, advice, interview tips, and
recommended media from Tammy Golihew and Damian Holbrook.
- I thrive on the variety in my work, my job is never the same, and it’s never boring.
- With your social media, if you question whether or not you should send your tweets out, save your tweets and review it later to look at.
- One, we do not trash talk our competitors, it is the rule of thumb. Think of Thumper’s motto from Bambi. Two, we are fans of TV in general. We like to talk about other TV shows we like.
- Pick your boss, not your job. If you really have someone that you respect, you’ll learn more.
- Be relentless but not annoying. No is the starting point of a negotiation.
- Never let anyone else tell your boss something about something you said.
- Sitting in this room, I was like, wow—these people are not messing around. These are smart sharks in training! You guys are on the ball! I spoke at a college journalism event in New York in the spring, they didn’t have any questions.
- The fact that you guys are here at the PRSSA National Conference, trying to learn about PR, finding out from real people how the trade is done - that’s important experience.
- If I could receive a pitch that was 140 characters, it’d be amazing! The headline has to sing, it needs to be something funny, clever, and informative.
- I’ve regretted my tweets many times. Sometimes I’ve made mistakes because my accounts are connected between my personal and TV Guide. Sometimes my world bleeds together and my mouth gets ahead of my sensor.
- Do internships. School can’t teach you to really understand what it’s like to be on set for eight hours on show. You need to understand that this is about relationship and learning how to deal with personalities on a set.
- Play nice and play fair.
Some Questions Tammy Golihew Asks
During Interviews
·
What
do you read?
·
What
are the top three websites you go to most?
·
What
do you do in your spare time?
Qualities Tammy Golihew Wants in Job Candidates
- Likes television
- Loves pop culture
- Savvy about the entertainment business
- Diversity
- Offers a different point of view
- Enjoys technology and applications
- Must be on social media, Twitter and Instagram at a minimum
Websites they suggest for
Entertainment News
What goals can you
set to make yourself more applicable for the Entertainment PR Industry?
Emily Nicoline is a member of the
Utah Valley University PRSSA Chapter. She has worked in social media,
business/government relations, and broadcast media. Follow Emily @EmilyNicoline
or connect with her on LinkedIn.
By Emily Nicoline, Utah Valley University
“The moment I knew there would be public relations professionals from Warner Brothers, I knew it was a session I couldn’t miss,” says Stephanie Swiatek, VP of external relations, DePaul University Chapter. “I even blocked out an hour of time, so I make sure I got a seat.”
Tammy Golihew, Senior VP of Publicity of Warner Brothers was happy about the number of students who attended the class, “I had a fear last night that no one would be in the room,” said Golihew.
Jeff Tobler, Director of Publicity Initiatives, at Warner Bros. Television played the role of moderator between Golihew and Holbrook. Tobler covered an array of topics: a typical day in entertainment public relations, email pitching, off the record, social media, regretting social media posts, keeping up with trends, complete internships, what is expected of job candidates, and lastly advice.
Below are the following thoughts on those topics.
A Typical Day in Entertainment Relations
Damian: There is no 9-5p.m. anymore. I think, what emails can I get to first, I check email, I check Twitter, and I look to see if shows are cancelled or if actors are arrested. I then come up with a priority list and prep or look for something to pitch to my editors. I can watch ten minutes of a show, get into a fight with someone on Twitter, and continue screening information.
Tammy: I oversee 50 shows and there is no such thing as a typical day. We have a great publicity team. I couldn’t do my job if we didn’t have amazing people working on our shows. I thrive on the variety in my work, my job is never the same, and it’s never boring.
Email Pitching
Damian: I like receiving email pitches over phone calls, it allows me to be free. It is important when giving me a pitch that I am given a hook. Why do I want to talk to this person? Pitch to me a reason why their name is important. If I could receive a pitch that was 140 characters, it’d be amazing! The headline has to sing, it needs to be something funny, clever, and informative. Avoid any clichés.
Tammy: Headlines are important, I’m the headline queen. Warner Brothers has writing teams to work on their pitches. We need to make our pitches attractive and fun.
Going Off the Record
Damian: A conversation can be truly off the record. I had a lot of journalism training and we have a long ethics class where we understood the true meaning of off the record. If you go off the record, it’s never going to find its way into print. Make sure you trust those you have off the record conversations with. These comments can be used as leverage with publicists to get exclusives.
Tammy: I’ve been having off the record conversations for a long time. The difference between off the record and background is that off the record cannot be used in a story. Background can potentially be used in the story but not attribute the source. When I talk to Damian, I trust him and know it’s off of the record. It’s all about relationships. I can’t express how important they are. It’s a relationship based business, I’ve seen people be burned before.
Social Media
Damian: Warner Brothers’ casts for the most part, are really active online. You can write about a variety of things- fashion, food, literature- and find a fan base that loves what you’re writing about.
Tammy: I love social media. We adapted social media early in Warner Brothers publicity. At first I didn’t understand exactly what it was, but I knew something was there. It’s evolved and changed our business so much. With your social media, if you question whether or not you should send your tweets out, save your tweets and review it later to look at. I think it’s important that our fans have more access to engage with us through social media. It takes down red velvet rope area, the talent enjoys it, it engages our fans, and implements our methods. I’m a huge advocate, no matter your industry, that press releases have a hashtag and Twitter. I used the example from Vocus’ media release for Budweiser.
Regretting Tweets
Damian: I've regretted my tweets many times. Sometimes I’ve made mistakes because my accounts are connected between my personal and TV Guide. Sometimes my world bleeds together and my mouth gets ahead of my sensor. Then my editor will call me when I’m going back and forth with someone on Twitter, he’ll tells me to stop, and then I tell him I’m sorry. Recently, I tweeted about the subplot on Modern Family, I went back and forth with one of the actors who got mad at me. As we were tweeting each other I was thinking, “My boss is going to kill me.” Sometimes I could use a “takeback button.”
Tammy: You have a digital reputation. Warner Brothers got on social media early and used the following two steps. One, we do not trash talk our competitors, it is the rule of thumb. Think of Thumper’s motto from Bambi. Two, we are fans of TV in general. We’ve made it organic, and we like to talk about other TV shows we like. I love Walking Dead, American Horror Story, and Game of Thrones. Try to stump me later to see if you can find one TV show that I haven’t seen.
Keeping Up With the Trends
Damian: Use Deadlines, Hollywood Reporter, and Media Bistro. Follow friends in the agency. Deadline.com features news casting, ratings, and insider Hollywood.
Tammy: Use Deadlines, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Google Alerts.Understand the industry you’re going to be a part of. Love film, understand film. Love TV, understand TV. Understand we look for those who keep up with the trend, know about the business, and have both a consumer and business side to themselves.
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Complete Internships
Damian: Do internships. School can’t teach you to really understand what it’s like to be on set for eight hours on show. You need to understand that this is about relationship and learning how to deal with personalities on a set.
Tammy: Hopefully you’re doing great internships. Internships don’t exist like they do now. So many people have had great internships at other companies to increase value. I was an English major. It helps in general to have the background to put it into practice. Try to do over two internships.
Job Candidates
Tammy: We want someone who likes television. If you secretly love movies, tell me you love TV the most. I want someone who loves pop culture. Someone who is savvy about the business. I ask non-traditional questions when I’m interviewing. I want to have a conversation with you and get to know how you are as a person. I like diversity, different points of view, our team is only as strong as the diversity that there. I want people who are into technology and love using applications. I’ll ask questions about what do you read, and the top three sites you go to online. What do you do in spare time? You have to be on social media. I wouldn't hire someone if they weren't on Instagram and Twitter. I’m going to go and Google you, I’ll look at your photos, and I’ll see what you have tweeted. Don’t have photos of drinking, your digital reputation is important.
Advice to Everyone
Damian: Play nice and play fair. This is business is all about relationships if you’re going to be in PR or entertainment PR. You’ll be spending a lot of time on sets and the red carpets, what you do is remembered. If I tweet or write something negative, I need to own it and really mean what I say. You don’t want to be that person known for being scuzzy.
Tammy: This advice was given to me and I should pass it onto you. Pick your boss, not your job. If you really have someone that you respect, you’ll learn more. You also need to be relentless but not annoying. “No” is the starting point of a negotiation and you’ll go from there. We get told no so many times, you have to manage it, find a way around, or get a yes. You need a mentor, there’s also peer to peer mentoring. I hope you’re exchanging information with each other and keeping in touch. You find things through other people. A mentor can guide you with career advice. My boss at Sony said, “Never let anyone else tell your boss something about something you said.” Think about it, make sure you keep everyone informed. I couldn’t do my job without a team of people telling me what’s going on. I need to know what’s going on right away. If you need to own up to something, walk into someone’s office, own up to the issue, have a solution, tell them right away, and be trustworthy.
Dreams Do Come True
Tammy: I remember how I first met Jeff Tobler. I was on a publicist team, and you are always going to eat last on a publicist team. I walked up to the table and got one of the last hamburgers, and there was no cheese left. Jeff came over to me and gave me his slice of cheese. I remember thinking, “We’re going to work together someday.” This happened eight years before working with each other, but dreams do come true.
Warner Bros. Talk to Students Hours after Presentation and Continue Answering Questions through Social Media
Tammy Golihew, Damian Holbrook, and Jeff Tobler did an amazing job reaching out to PRSSA students and making them feel valued by taking several hours to connect with them and answer questions. They organized a cupcake social with Philly Cupcake, showed a television series pilot, and offered prizes to those who offered good feedback. They also created a Facebook page to stay connected with students from PRSSA. They stated to students that they wanted to stay connected with them. The three entertainment PR pros were flocked by students after the presentation. Once they started the television pilot, Damian and Jeff continued to talk to student’s one on one, and Tammy did an amazing job patiently speaking to each student and helping them feel valued. Damian and I spoke for about half an hour and I appreciate how down to earth he was with me. Leaving the session, I saw a group of 25 students listening to Tammy Golihew, and I heard her say something around the lines of the following: “You all are like puppies and butterscotch. I appreciate that you are all willing to learn. Don’t doubt yourself, you can make it in this industry if you’re willing to try and work hard.” Later that evening, Tammy Golihew took almost an hour of her evening responding to tweets to students and sent over 45 tweets out to students.
“PRSSA Students Are Not Messing Around”
Damian: This is a smart group of people. What a great group. Sitting in this room, I was like, wow—these people are not messing around. These are smart sharks in training! You guys are on the ball! I spoke at a college journalism event in New York in the spring, they didn’t have any questions. Tammy is going to back to Warner Brothers and be like, these younger people are sharp and they’re coming to get your jobs. The fact that you guys are here at the PRSSA National Conference, trying to learn about PR, finding out from real people how the trade is done - that’s important experience. You have people that know how to do their jobs well, and they’re here for a reason.
Day 2 of
PRSSANC. 2 down, 3 to go, so keep on networking!
PR students running solely on coffee and caffeine, elevators breaking down, cell phone batteries at their wits end, and lastly outlets to full capacity everywhere. Read more for a recap of today's PRSSANC News: session notes/takeaways, social media tips, best and worse places to eat, most social chapter, and dinner buddies.
Today was a busy day, it consisted of delicious food, Mary Henige of General Motors, National Committee Members introducing themselves, and PRSSA Chapters singing silly songs for their role call cheers. Sessions in the conference included, sports pr, fashion pr, heathcare pr, integrated marketing, lgbt outreach, personal branding, passion, media relations, event planning, public affairs, and food pr.
News Updates
Boise State PRSSA competes nationally: http://arbiteronline.com/2013/10/21/boise-state-prssa-competes-nationally/
Mary Henige Key Takeaways
- Put yourself in the
digital free zone every so often to promote creativity
- Research first before
tackling social media platforms, be aware of what your audience wants
- The fundamentals
matter, be an exceptional writer and communicator
Sports PR Takeaways
- Don’t shy away from
other forms of PR because those skills are transferable to sports pr
- Take advantage of any
opportunity to build your resume
- Sports PR is 24/7,
you have to be willing to sacrifice because you’re never off the clock
- Emphasis is less on
sports in sports PR, more emphasis on your current knowledge of the market
Media Relations Panel
- Be confident and
believe in your pitch
- When writing a press
release stay away from adjectives, subject line/first paragraph matter most
- With email pitching
the subject line is crucial
- Call pitching is more
effective then email pitching
- Understand the
personality of who you pitch it to before you pitch
- You can't get the job
without experience. You can't get experience without the job
- Your stories are
always fresh when you have a new angle
- Relate your story to
current events
- Build relationships
but don’t give up old ones
- Maintain as much
accuracy as possible when pitching to reporters
- Speed vs accuracy?
Accuracy is more important
Event Planning
- When event planning,
sometimes less is more
- Be eye to eye with
your partner, share the same vision
- Passion is vital in
any profession
- Be a dependable
person, in our industry this is everything
- Establish a
consistent expectation
- When planning on a
low budget, partner with someone who has good resources
- Early is on time, on
time is late. Late is unacceptable. Prove you're dependable
Public Affairs
- Stay up on current
news, but not entertainment news
- Your credibility
matters
Food PR
- Listen to the
consumer
- Product extension
helps you keep the credibility of your product, but freshen up the view and
perception of it
- It’s hard to make
time for crisis PR, best advice is to work for an ethical company and be well
versed on the issues
- Customers VS
Consumers: customers are the stores. Consumers are those who purchase and
ingest the food.
Ben Butler, Social Media Tips
- Remember social media
is a two way communication, know your audience
- 1. Find people 2. Know
posting times 3. Analytics
Top Places Recommended for Food Via Twitter Today
- Zio’s Pizza
- Green Eggs Café
- Cookie Insomnia
- Hard Rock Café
- Market
One Bad Recommendation: Starr Restaurants
Most Social
Chapters
Scripps
Scranton
Boise
Dinner Buddies
Don Egle, had dinner
with JMU PRSSA
Brandi Boatner, had
dinner with PRSSALSU
Jason Mollica, had
dinner with Jessica Lawlor and Jamie Lawlor
Mary Henige had dinner
with various PRSSA chapter leaders
How to Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast Everyone at PRSSANC
Outplay: To surpass an opponent in skill.
One up people every time that you can
This includes but is not limited to the following: bragging about your amazing internships, PR name dropping, interrupting conversations, pointing out stains on peoples clothing, wearing ostentatious clothing and purses, belittling every person you meet, making people feeling like they have no idea whats going on, and lastly giving back handed compliments.
Outwit: To surpass in cleverness or cunning; outsmart.
Intentionally send people to the wrong rooms for their sessions, then save a ton of seats at the session so others can't sit by you, intentionally go into the elevator when students are visibly running behind and select hit all of the buttons, when someone is trying to network with someone come up and interrupt their conversation, (then be sure to one up them once in erupting the conversation), and lastly playing candy crush on your phone to distract your contenders during session.
Outlast: Live or last longer than.
To outlast others you must form and create alliances immediately. Once creating these alliances, be sure to exclude everyone else from everything you are doing. Also, don't talk to anyone else, don't make eye contact, and especially do not shake their hand. If they give you their business card, tear it up in their face. Lastly, don't forget to be incredibly rude, mean, and downright awful to get ahead of everyone else, if you do this you are guaranteed success.
In conclusion, exercise these skills throughout the conference and you will do great.
Who will be the ultimate survivor?
Thursday, October 24, 2013
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comments
How the Outstanding Chapter of the Year Prepares for the PRSSA National Conference
Note: This article is published chronologically before the trip for PRSSANC for class purposes for the trip, however this was written after the trip.
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| Our Advisor, Professor Stephen Whyte is hands down, amazing. Him and current, and former UVU PRSSA students have really helped shape and hone our chapter to what it is today. (I know he looks like a student, but he's on the far right of the first row.) |
Utah Valley University PRSSA has a unique way that we prepare for the trip that truly sets us apart from other students. We believe we get out of the conference, what we put into it. I don't know if this is classified information or not, so I might be required to remove this blog within the next 24 hours, so take notes!
This is a long post because there is a lot of work that goes into our preparations, but if you skim over all of it, I promise it will inspire you.
The Sections in the blog include the following:
- The Power of Grants
- Becoming Friends Before the Trip
- Research, Research, Research
- How Our Extensive Crazy Research Helped Me
- Further Preparation: Reaching Out to Others Professionals & Students Via Social Media
- The Remaining Nine Yards of Preparing for the Conference
- Conclusion
The Power of Grants
Unlike other universities and chapters who have to bust their tails fundraising, Utah Valley University actually receives a grant to fund students from the chapter to attend the conference. When I applied for the trip, I actually wasn't expecting to be picked because it was a rigorous process. We had to submit a resume, letter of intent of why we should be selected, and include our transcripts. Since we are receiving a grant from the university to fund a fair number of students attending, there is a course offered for the students attending so they can prepare for the trip, get to know one another better, and receive course credit.Becoming Friends Before the Trip
I did not know any of the students on a personal level before taking the class for the trip. Our class met four times before the trip to prepare, discuss, share of our preparations, and do team building exercises. Upon the first class, I was nervous and intimidated by the group on students because I did not know anyone. After the trip, I feel like I reach out to anyone for their help or advice.
Click here to see my post about students who attended the conference, you can network or reach out to any of these students and they will be just as amazingly kind to you as they were to me.
Research, Research, Research
As trip attendees, there is a lot of preparation we must do for the conference. A large portion of this is RESEARCH. We are required to write research that covers information about the following:- Each presenter/speaker/universities presenting (there's over 60 presenters, this is anything but simple work)
- Each participating company/exhibitor (over 25 exhibitors)
- Each session (over 30 sessions available)
We are not allowed to copy and paste information and we can structure this research to whatever we feel is most helpful for us. For me, my research was in alphabetical order and highlighted different information about presenters and exhibitors. We were also supposed to add three questions we were to ask them if we had the chance to talk to them. (I have these in my person notes so this is not included in the example)
Here's a sample of what my research looked like. (note: these are two presenters, we did this for everyone of the speakers!)
Adam Dvorin & Dr. Bey-Ling Sha
Adam Dvorin:
In regards to Adam Dvorin, I did not attend his media relations panel. However, I had learned a lot about him and still wanted to meet up with him. I contacted him via-Twitter before the conference, and while at the conference he had commented on a a recap blog I had posted. I tweeted back to him and this is how it played out.
Not only were Adam and I able to meet up at the PRSAIC Gala, but we were able to chat and have a conversation and genuinely get to know each other, which is what this business is all about--RELATIONSHIPS! Since the conference, Adam and I have stayed in touch with each other. He has been an encouraging, inspiring mentor and I am so grateful I was able to meet him. Also, since I had to "creep" him out for our research, I was able to really have a conversation with him because I understood a good amount of some of his well known work and accomplishments.
Dr. Bey-Ling Sha:
I actually ran into Dr. Sha while I was leaving the elevator in our hotel. I was a bit starstruck because after studying about Dr. Sha, how could someone not be intimidated by her level of expertise? I immediately swallowed my dry mouth and tried to get the courage to speak to her. Then, I went for it!
"Dr. Sha, I'm Emily Nicoline--It's a pleasure to meet you," I stuck out my hand to shake hers. We happened to be walking the same way to the conference. Since I had researched information about her, I was able to not only recognize her, but have a conversation with her. I told her that I appreciate the work that she had done to help support equal pay for women in the PR industry and that I was from Utah and that problem was especially bad there. We were able to then talk about Utah and how she actually is familiar with Salt Lake because of an immediate family member. I unfortunately was unable to attend her session as well due to another conflict, however I was so grateful to be able to meet her and talk to her one on one. Although, I was not able to get to know her as well as I would like we still chat here and then on twitter. She is great at offering advice and insight! Look up some of her work, you will not be disappointed!
Further Preparation: Reaching Out to Others Professionals & Students Via Social Media
- Presenters/Exhibitors/PRSSA Chapters
- PRSSA Top Dog Students (on national committees/conference committees)
- PRSSA Students from Across the Nation
I tried to reach out to all of the speakers well in advance before the conference. I also used social media to network and make friends with other PRSSA Students before attending the conference. I had good results, I was able to have a better understanding of the "PRSSA Top Dog Students," (as I call them). I made a list of them on Tweetdeck so I could follow their posts and engage with them to help build a relationship with them. I also tried to compile a list of students going to the conference, I just regret not having enough time to reach out to them.
The best contact, friend and colleague I made from doing this by far, was Jason Mollica. I reached out to him before the conference and we were able to build a quick connection based upon our some of our life experiences. Him and I tweeted each other regularly and I continually would read his blog posts and watch his YouTube channels.
Within hours of the conference kicking off, we immediately met up and he was kind enough to take the time to give me advice on a job proposal I was working on. He was very personable and made me so happy that I had taken the time to connect with him.
Him and I stayed in touch after meeting, and scheduled another meeting for him to have with a small group of students from our chapters. He was kind and met with us, he offered us advice and listened to our questions and concerns. Since meeting with him, our chapter has grown very fond of Jason. A large group of us went to his session, CEO of You and have stayed in touch with him since the conference.
Jason was inspiring, knowledgeable, and I am 100% full of gratitude to have met him.
Elizabeth and I connected via Twitter due to our passions. I sent out a tweet asking if there was anyone at conference that was passionate about women's advocacy groups, since I'm trying to launch a non-profit women's advocacy group after graduation. She introduced herself to me at the Warner Bros. Entertainment PR class and I was beyond amazed with her skills.
It was beyond invigorating to meet and become friends with a strong go-getter in Public Relations. Elizabeth has a strong amount of PR experiences, amazing internships, knowledgeable insight, strong work ethics, and shared a passion for women's advocacy. We were able to share our accomplishments, goals, and dreams with each other. Her and I are still in touch, I enjoy seeing her updates and what she is up to!
The Remaining Nine Yards of Preparing for the Conference
Career Services
We are recommended to meet with careers services to work on our pitches, resumes, business cards, etc. I met with Sue Stephenson, she was amazing. We met several times before me leaving for the conference and really worked on my Linkedin Profile.
It was integral that we read the newspaper Monday through Friday. It was required. We were supposed to read the business and national sections of the paper. This was so we would know what was going on to understand and communicate with others better throughout the conference.
Resumes & Business Cards
We were required to have resumes and business cards prepared for the conference. Here is how my business card turned out, I spent too much time on it!
Blogging/Social Media
We are required to blog six times prior to the trip, daily blog posts each day during the trip, and three posts after the trip. During each day of the trip we were required to Tweet at least five times p/day, and post on our Facebook once p/day.
Conclusion
Key Takeaways to Remember- We applied, were selected for grants, and had to participate in a class for the conference.
- We had a set list of requirements of extensive work we had to do, FOR A GRADE.
- With preparing for the conference through the class it helped us get the most of our trip.
Click here to see what the 2013 Chapter of the Year is required to do after their trip is completed.
See the presentation I had to present to Communication students at our university about conference by clicking here.
See the presentation I had to present to Communication students at our university about conference by clicking here.
Guest Writing
Please contact me if you are interested in guest writing (anonymously or with your name) or sharing your story on this blog to help other victims and survivors of sex crimes and abuse.
Emily Nicoline
emilynicoline@gmail.com
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| These are some of my closest friends that I had before became a victim. |
Please contact me if you are interested in guest writing (anonymously or with your name) or sharing your story on this blog to help other victims and survivors of sex crimes and abuse.
Emily Nicoline
emilynicoline@gmail.com
I was told the police would be no help if I reported what had happened to me. However, I knew I would fight for my personal justice.
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| Me and my father, I love him so much. My dad had a harsh comment about how the police wouldn't help me. I know he loves me and was ultimately upset about what had happened. |
Several minutes later, my mother called me. I remember her being nearly as frantic as I was, but trying to be sweet and comforting as well. We had known my friend and her family for years, I think my parents felt a sense of betrayal that such a thing could happen. I remember my mom asking me, "What do you want to do." My response was that firstly, I wanted him to receive consequences spiritually for what he had done and I wanted to report the crime to his church leader. Secondly, I told my mom I wanted to report it, and third I told her I needed to tell my friend but didn't know how.
"If you report it to the police, they're not going to do anything to help you,"
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| Me and my Dad are fairly close and he means the world to me. I value his friendship, his work ethic, and all that he has done for me. |
I remember driving to the police station by myself, with my thoughts racing wild and my friend continually calling my phone not understanding why I wouldn't answer her calls. As I walked into the Orem City Police Station, the lights in the main hallway were dim, and light shone into the room and traced a line along the floor up to the police desk. I slowly approached the desk. The female working there asked me what she could help me with. I said, I need to report a sexual abuse crime. She asked for who and I calmly responded, "Myself." I couldn't believe this was happening.
She asked me how recent the abuse was, I told her that it happened early this morning. She asked me to wait while she got an officer for me to speak to. My perception and reality of fear kicked in, after waiting anxiously for several minutes the officer came out and got me, and took me into a back room with a couch to speak with me and talk to me about what had happened. I tried to be calm, but I realized I was now scared to even explain to the cop in a room alone with him about what had happened to me.
What You Can Do To Help
There is nothing I am more passionate and determined about then launching this program. I'm laying out the groundwork to structure all that I can do to make this happen. This program will require lots of research, personal interviews, and drafting up a proposal to try to get funding from the state to launch it.
The YVYM Foundation would teach and inform young girls and teenagers the importance of reporting crimes within 24 hours, the program would offer advice on how to help friends who may be victims of sex crimes, and lastly the program would offer women advocates for victims.
Women's advocacy role in helping young girls and teenagers with YVYM
Women's advocates for YVYM would work with young girls and teenagers from start to finish. Women advocates are preferred to be survivors of abuse themselves so they can offer support and friendship to victims. When victims come to YVYM they would work with one advocate who aids and supports them through the entire process from reporting the crime to the sentencing of the offender.
The goal is that through the Women's advocacy program that both the survivor and victim can help each other heal. If the women advocate's can begin to heal by knowing she has helped a victim receive the justice she may have never had.We hope that these friendships established between women and young girls will aid in women helping each other to have self worth and justice.
What it's going to take
At this point, I have no idea all of the steps I have to make with this project. However, I assure you, I'm a determined girl and I will figure it out. I plan on networking with law enforcement, strong women leaders/survivors, lawyers, state offices, similar organizations, therapists, and more. It's going to be a team effort to launch this program, but in the end the results will be well worth it.
Lastly, thank you
To those of you who have helped me, gave me support, and have been there for me I thank you. I also thank those of you who may be reading this, and hope that you will want to join me to help fight in this effort for the upcoming women in our generation.
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| This photo is of me and my best friend, my mother. She has been one of my biggest supports through my recovery. It's unfortunate to think that young girls like my age in this photo are dealing with this type of abuse. |
The YVYM Foundation would teach and inform young girls and teenagers the importance of reporting crimes within 24 hours, the program would offer advice on how to help friends who may be victims of sex crimes, and lastly the program would offer women advocates for victims.
Women's advocacy role in helping young girls and teenagers with YVYM
Women's advocates for YVYM would work with young girls and teenagers from start to finish. Women advocates are preferred to be survivors of abuse themselves so they can offer support and friendship to victims. When victims come to YVYM they would work with one advocate who aids and supports them through the entire process from reporting the crime to the sentencing of the offender.
The goal is that through the Women's advocacy program that both the survivor and victim can help each other heal. If the women advocate's can begin to heal by knowing she has helped a victim receive the justice she may have never had.We hope that these friendships established between women and young girls will aid in women helping each other to have self worth and justice.
What it's going to take
At this point, I have no idea all of the steps I have to make with this project. However, I assure you, I'm a determined girl and I will figure it out. I plan on networking with law enforcement, strong women leaders/survivors, lawyers, state offices, similar organizations, therapists, and more. It's going to be a team effort to launch this program, but in the end the results will be well worth it.
Lastly, thank you
To those of you who have helped me, gave me support, and have been there for me I thank you. I also thank those of you who may be reading this, and hope that you will want to join me to help fight in this effort for the upcoming women in our generation.
The Pathway to Your Voice is Your Medicine
Now that you have understood the path that has lead me to where I am today. Because of what has happened to me I have become a less naive, and more understanding and empathic person. I have come to a full understanding that all of us are in pain or have someone close to us in our lives who are struggling. It is so important to be kind to each other, because being mean doesn't help us get anywhere.
I feel like I was directed to the path of public relations because with my public relations degree, I will know how to execute and launch the campaign, Your Voice is Your Medicine. I am actually in the works of kicking off YVYM. I'm starting to lay out the ground work, researching, and talking to those who can help me.
The Problem We Are Faced With in Today's Society
History of the Problem
For the past 10 years Utah has had a rape rate (reported rapes per 100,000 females) that is higher than the national average. Fourty-four percent of rape victims are under 18 years of age. Girls ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. According to the National Women's Study survivors of sex crimes, rape, and abuse are 26 times more likely to abuse drugs, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, are six times more likely to have PTSD, and are four times more to commit suicide. The Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice found that less than three percent of sex offenders in Utah are held accountable to the state for the criminal act of rape and sexual assault. The 2007 Rape In Utah Survey found that only 12%, or one in 10, of victims of rape and sexual assault reported the crime to police. This translates into 10 out of 100 offenders were reported to police. According to the Utah Rape Recovery Center, less than three out of 100 offenders were held accountable for their criminal actions.
The Core Problem
If the Your Voice is Your Medicine (YVYM) Foundation is not launched and created, young girls and teenagers will not receive education on how to report crimes and will not have a women survivor advocate to guide them, most sex offenders will continue to get away with their actions and will never be prosecuted, and young female survivors of sex crimes will not have justice or closure.
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| Me and two women that I value dearly, my sister Melinda Eddington and her daughter, Esther Eddington. |
I feel like I was directed to the path of public relations because with my public relations degree, I will know how to execute and launch the campaign, Your Voice is Your Medicine. I am actually in the works of kicking off YVYM. I'm starting to lay out the ground work, researching, and talking to those who can help me.
The Problem We Are Faced With in Today's Society
History of the Problem
For the past 10 years Utah has had a rape rate (reported rapes per 100,000 females) that is higher than the national average. Fourty-four percent of rape victims are under 18 years of age. Girls ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. According to the National Women's Study survivors of sex crimes, rape, and abuse are 26 times more likely to abuse drugs, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, are six times more likely to have PTSD, and are four times more to commit suicide. The Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice found that less than three percent of sex offenders in Utah are held accountable to the state for the criminal act of rape and sexual assault. The 2007 Rape In Utah Survey found that only 12%, or one in 10, of victims of rape and sexual assault reported the crime to police. This translates into 10 out of 100 offenders were reported to police. According to the Utah Rape Recovery Center, less than three out of 100 offenders were held accountable for their criminal actions.
The Core Problem
If the Your Voice is Your Medicine (YVYM) Foundation is not launched and created, young girls and teenagers will not receive education on how to report crimes and will not have a women survivor advocate to guide them, most sex offenders will continue to get away with their actions and will never be prosecuted, and young female survivors of sex crimes will not have justice or closure.
A Song of Forgiveness
After being in disbelief with all that had happened, a song came to my mind. The song is called, "For Good," from the musical, Wicked. Me and my best friend had been through so many things together good and bad. We helped each other through our teen years and we were a shoulder for the other to cry on during the rough times. Although she is no longer a part of my life, this song made me think of her. Whenever I listen to this song or think of it, it literally brings me to tears. It's just amazing how people can impact our life for good or for bad, and accepting that they may not be part of it forever. I hope you listen to this song and think about someone in your life who this applies to.
I'm limited Just look at me I'm limited And just look at you you can do all I couldn't do Glinda So now it's up to you For both of us Now it's up to you.
I've heard it said That people come into our lives for a reason Bringing something we must learn And we are led To those who help us most to grow If we let them And we help them in return Well, I don't know if I believe that's true But I know I'm who I am today Because I knew you.
Like a comet pulled from orbit As it passes a sun Like a stream that meets a boulder Halfway through the wood Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you I have been changed for good.
It well may be That we will never meet again In this lifetime. So let me say before we part. So much of me Is made from what I learned from you. You'll be with me Like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end I know you have re-written mine By being my friend... Like a ship blown from its mooring By a wind off the sea Like a seed dropped by a skybird In a distant world Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you.
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
-And just to clear the air I ask forgiveness For the things I've done you blame me for
-But then, I guess we know There's blame to share
-And none of it seems to matter anymore
Like a comet pulled from orbit As it passes a sun Like a stream that meets a boulder Halfway through the wood Like a ship blown from its mooring By a wind off the sea Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood Who can say if I've been Changed for the better? I do believe I have been Changed for the better And because I knew you... Because I knew you... Because I knew you... I have been changed for good..
After being in disbelief with all that had happened, a song came to my mind. The song is called, "For Good," from the musical, Wicked. Me and my best friend had been through so many things together good and bad. We helped each other through our teen years and we were a shoulder for the other to cry on during the rough times. Although she is no longer a part of my life, this song made me think of her. Whenever I listen to this song or think of it, it literally brings me to tears. It's just amazing how people can impact our life for good or for bad, and accepting that they may not be part of it forever. I hope you listen to this song and think about someone in your life who this applies to.
I'm limited Just look at me I'm limited And just look at you you can do all I couldn't do Glinda So now it's up to you For both of us Now it's up to you.
I've heard it said That people come into our lives for a reason Bringing something we must learn And we are led To those who help us most to grow If we let them And we help them in return Well, I don't know if I believe that's true But I know I'm who I am today Because I knew you.
Like a comet pulled from orbit As it passes a sun Like a stream that meets a boulder Halfway through the wood Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you I have been changed for good.
It well may be That we will never meet again In this lifetime. So let me say before we part. So much of me Is made from what I learned from you. You'll be with me Like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end I know you have re-written mine By being my friend... Like a ship blown from its mooring By a wind off the sea Like a seed dropped by a skybird In a distant world Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you.
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
-And just to clear the air I ask forgiveness For the things I've done you blame me for
-But then, I guess we know There's blame to share
-And none of it seems to matter anymore
Like a comet pulled from orbit As it passes a sun Like a stream that meets a boulder Halfway through the wood Like a ship blown from its mooring By a wind off the sea Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood Who can say if I've been Changed for the better? I do believe I have been Changed for the better And because I knew you... Because I knew you... Because I knew you... I have been changed for good..
Severing Our Friendship
Staying friends during all of this mumbo jumbo was nearly impossible. She moved away from me, she deleted and blocked me on Facebook, and these were the last words she said to me:
Staying friends during all of this mumbo jumbo was nearly impossible. She moved away from me, she deleted and blocked me on Facebook, and these were the last words she said to me:
At first receiving the message from her, I was flustered. It was so unexpected. It had been one year and six months since the crime had taken place. I didn't know what to say or how to respond. I told her don't because I didn't want her to go there with me. I didn't want to hear it. However, I was flustered about it because I was so sad that she had just as much pain about it still as I do.
She blocked me and deleted me immediately after she sent that (we never talked anyways). However, I was reflecting on our friendship and all that we had been through together and I started crying and having a breakdown. That day I scrolled through some of our old pictures, messages, and emails back and forth with one another and I was on edge and in disbelief about all that had happened.
Sexual Abuse and Crimes are a Common Problem
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| This is a t-shirt I made when I participated in The Clothesline Project. I remember after making the shirt my friend who was aware of what I had been going through went with my to the clothesline project. As we read through the various colored shirts, symbolizing different types of abuse, I remember her crying as she read a shirt written by a little girl about the cruel truths of her abuse. |
After talking to close friends and relatives about being a victim of sexual abuse, I came to the dreadful discover that this was a lot more common then I thought it was. The more I opened up and talked to my friends about what had happened to me, the more I realized I was not alone in my pain and plenty of women and men alike within my circle of friends were suffering and still are suffering from being victims of abuse.
The thing is, is that people don't know how to go about talking about it. I don't blame them? What do you say? Do you know how awkward it was retelling my story for what feels like 50 bajillion times to people closest to me and to police, prosecutors, investigators and the therapist in detail of how my best friends dad had molested me? Never did I imagine I would have to have such a conversation in my entire life. Telling my mom and dad was so hard, but they were the ones who I immediately wanted support from, I remember when it happened I kept thinking, the moment I get away from here, I'm calling my parents...I think the worst part was when I told my best friend and watching her collapse on the ground and literally sob for a long time, and holding herself accountable for allowing me to be in the situation with her father in the first place.
Also, it was hard to go to church because everyone knew about it because she had told people. I hated going to church and having people approach me who I did not tell about what had happened and ask me how I was doing. Her and I also had so many mutual friends in common and still to this very day that I couldn't really tell my friends about it for their support because she didn't want me to. The situation instantly got nasty due to her confided in friends, blaming me, and asking them to take sides. It was rough times. Neither her nor I should have ever had to be in this situation.
Experiencing this time in my life though felt like grieving the death of a close friend, we had been close for a good amount of time but had come to the realization that due to this event and the court case we could no longer be friends. We tried being friends but it was extremely painful and only made matters worse, each time she saw me, I was a reminder of what her father had done.
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