Remember field trips during middle school and high school? How could you not – a day away from your desk, a chance to (possibly) spend some extra time outside, and no classwork. The best and most important part of these trips, though, was the first-hand opportunity to get out and learn or experience something new.
Who said field trips had to end in school? Keep learning in your chosen “field” with these ideas for PR field trips!
The Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Working in PR, you ‘re spending a lot of time pitching news stories and working with journalists. This museum offers insight into their day-to-day responsibilities. The Newseum bills itself as an interactive museum of news and journalism that provides a comprehensive look at the power and responsibility of the journalist.
Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, NY
Its permanent exhibit, Behind the Screen, is a one-of-a-kind experience that immerses visitors in the creative and technical process of producing, promoting, and presenting films, television shows, and digital entertainment.
TV Stations and News Rooms
Most PR pros will get to visit a working newsroom or studio where an interview program is taped at some point in their career, and seeing how and where these shows operate helps an account person with the “lay of the land.” If you haven’t had a chance to get to a TV studio or newsroom yet, talk to a supervisor to see if you can tag along for an upcoming segment or desk-side.
Newspapers
Before they’re extinct take a tour of a newspaper and get a feel for how they operate. Many dailies such as the LA Times offer such behind-the-scenes peeks. And if you ever have a chance to attend a “page one” meeting at an important newspaper like The New York Times, don’t walk, run. It’s a fascinating experience, and you will never look at the publication in the same way again.
The Museum of Public Relations in Manhattan
More of an “armchair” field trip, take a virtual tour of the roots of the PR profession. Established in 1997, this is the place to go to learn about how ideas are developed for industry, education, and government, and how they have been applied to successful public relations programs since the PR industry was born.
Have any PR field trip suggestions? Let us know in the comment section below.