Three down, six to go

Today marks the beginning of another new semester for me at Ryerson, where I'm working toward a certificate in public relations. With three courses under my belt, I'm diving into my fourth. It's a snappy little ditty called "Writing for Public Relations."

Some of it will focus on things I've already done, like writing news releases, backgrounders and newsletters, but I know there's always room for improvement and that's why this program has become such a focal point in my life.

When I started working in PR, I was in heavy competition with candidates who had years and years of experience. I came in with nothing but a hope and prayer along with five years of writing experience, which was all done part-time. Since then I've gained tons of on-the-job experience, but I still feel a void that formal education is starting to fill.

There's a lot of talk about the value of a certificate in public relation when I've already jumped into the field. Why bother when potential employers are more interested in a candidate's job experience? Sometimes I grapple with this question as well, especially when the mid-semester crunch hits.

The answer is simple.

It makes me feel like I'm better prepared to do my job. The things I learn through my readings, assignments and discussions with my classmates have all added depth to the way I think about my profession and make me better equipped to advise the people I work with and for.

This weekend, I poured over "Public Relations for Dummies," written by Eric Yaverbaum. It was a great read that solidified some of what I know with a focus on creativity and thinking outside the box.

I now await the arrival "Public relations writing : the essentials of style and format" by Thomas H. Bivins. I found this gem, which retails for $71 at the campus bookstore for $21, including priority shipping, at Better World Books. I'll be checking this site from now on for all my junkie reading.