Media Research and Writing Class Can be Both Grueling and Rewarding

One word to describe Media Research and Writing class is grueling. How about practical, energizing or even painful? I would contend that all of these words might apply.

No matter what your feelings about the class, the lessons learned are invaluable. The class gives students a window into the real world of public relations. It gives them a chance to attempt several types of public relations deliverables, to make mistakes and to learn from those mistakes. Practically speaking the class lives up to its name.

Students can’t help but feel an energizing thrill when they receive a good grade on a deliverable or successfully plan a campaign. Positive feedback from the instructor, an expert at public relations, gives the student a thrill. All of these things give the student the energy and the desire to continue in the public relations field. Hearing PR professionals can make a lot of money certainly doesn’t hurt the energy level.

But to get to those good feelings and practical benefits, students must first wade through the painful and grueling parts of the course.
Most students would probably agree the most painful part of the course is trying to figure out what the assignment is looking for the student to complete. Often the assignments were vague and left a lot of room for interpretation.

While trying to interpret the assignment the student must also keep in mind pleasing the instructor. After all, it is the instructor who controls the grade and the student’s energy level. To some extent the instructor also shapes the students practice of public relations.

Finally comes the grueling and tedious work of actually completing the assignments on time. This isn’t much of a challenge in the first couple of weeks, but as the class goes on the depth of the assignments increases until the frenzy of the fifth week smacks the student in the face. Wham.
Suddenly the student is faced with six assignments. Not just simple read and answer questions, but actually in depth and creative projects.

The successful student will be the one interprets and completes the assignments on time, understands their practical relationship with the real world and maintains a high level of excitement for the field. If a student can manage all of those things they’ll also be successful in future classes and following graduation.