“It’s been great to start 2021 in an industry I love!” – Our Alumna Helping Salford Council Raise Awareness for Covid Rules

Assuming the role PR Coordinator for Studio Salford - a commercial content agency within the university, she’s been working on a nine-month campaign to help keep twentysomethings engaged with Coronavirus restrictions by creating content for Instagram and TikTok.  

“Part of my job is creating PR strategies and content calendars as well as developing and monitoring social media channels. I also help current students get paid work on real projects with our clients. We recently worked with some students who not only provided great content, but also got paid work to add to their CVs.”

She added: “It’s been great to start 2021 in an industry I love!”

Emma, who completed an MA in Public Relations and Digital Communications last year, says that it was the hands-on curriculum and the key location in MediaCityUK that have helped her get her start in the PR industry.

“After completing my undergraduate degree, I knew PR was the industry career I wanted to pursue, but I needed to feel completely confident with it before searching for jobs, and the MA was perfect for that! The course covered everything from the history of PR, to content creation, and working with real clients on industry placements - all within one year!

“The placements, which were a huge part of the course, really helped cement what I’d learned so far. I was able to implement the skills I gained from the course while working with clients at PR agencies, and this led to me getting my work published in a national magazine.”

She added: “Being based in MediaCityUK, we were able to meet some great guest speakers in, and ask any burning questions we had. My three lecturers were amazing both in-person and virtually and they played a big part in growing my confidence going forward.”

“If PR is the route you want to go down, I couldn’t recommend this course enough!”

The pandemic hit right in the middle of Emma’s course, seeing one of her placements cancelled the day after the first lockdown started. She explained that it was with the help of her lecturers that she got through this difficult time and finished her degree.

“The way the University handled all our classes was remarkable. Especially with our projects and dissertations over the summer. Whether it was help with an essay or just a check-in, there was never a moment I felt that I didn’t have help or support - and that continued after I finished the course.”

Finally, Emma looked back with nostalgia for the good old days, saying that she really enjoyed and misses her time as a Salford student.

She said: “I feel lucky that I got to spend the first half of the year in-person, that I made some great friends and had the opportunity to network. Of course, you can’t forget the trips to the theatre and Nandos too!”