Nicholas C.

Smith
6/25/15
COMM386
Reflection Journal #1

Time Frame: June 29 July 23

Hours for week six (June 29 July 3): 19
Hours for week seven (July 6 - July 10): 19
Hours for week eight (July 13 July 17): 19
Hours for week nine (July 20 July 23): 19
Total Hours: 76

After being at Maroon PR for nearly two months, I can still say that I continue to be just
as excited I was when I first began. My supervisors continue to assign me a variety of work, all
of which they use and send to the media or the clients. During week seven I had the opportunity
to pitch Andrea Verosko, an executive producer at Fox 45, about potentially having Famous
Daves at the station to feature some of their great sandwiches for National Sandwich Month.
Because of my efforts, I booked a segment on Tuesday, August 4. This was the first time I took
the lead in drafting a pitch email and actually sending it off to a specific person at a station to try
and secure a TV segment. Both Monique and Shannon also continue having me write press
releases that detail the partnerships among clients. For example, the most recent press release
Ive drafted provided details about the partnership between the mortgage company Homeside
Financial and the Casey Cares Foundation, which is an organization that attempts to alleviate the
everyday struggles of critically ill children and their families. The release discussed the
Homeside and the Casey Cares partnership where $3,800 was collected and will be donated to
the Casey Cares Foundation. Over these past few weeks, I have also begun to draft media
advisories and memos. I drafted a memo for the Italian restaurant Carluccios, which basically
provided details for the TV segment and covered everything from information about where and
when the segment was as well as talking points chef in charge of the segment.
The most obvious form of professional value I have contributed over the past few weeks
can most clearly be demonstrated by my successful pitch to Fox 45 and landing a segment for

our client Famous Daves. It was a key segment that needed to be landed in order to generate
press for Famous Daves. In addition, both of my supervisors assign me to write almost all PR
documents for clients, including press releases, media advisories, email pitches, etc., and this
experience will definitely increase my marketability to other companies in the future. I have
done more than just learned in the classroom. I am actually putting to use what I have learned in
the classroom and applied to real life and real clients. Working at Maroon has given the
necessary skills to perform well in other areas. I still continue to work with databases like Cision,
PRTrak, TVEyes, etc, which are essential skills in public relations.
Right now I can honestly say that I am very comfortable at Maroon PR. I am very
confident that any assignment, new or old, that I am given to complete, I will complete it with
ease. Well, not always with ease but I know that if I do my best, my supervisors will be proud
and I will be proud of myself. Based on my objectives I laid out in the learning agreement, I can
say that I have achieved all of them at the most basic level. I can still improve upon the skills I
have developed at Maroon. As I detailed in the last entry, I still wish to have more direct contact
with clients and take more a key role in setting up partnerships, planning events and contribute as
much as I can to these organizations. I look forward to everything I will gain as I continue to
work with Maroon.
With the work I have been doing with Maroon and its clients, I think the social
penetration theory applies. I constantly write press releases, memos, media advisories and email
pitches all to the same stations over and over again. Social penetration theory states that as
relationships develop, they penetrate deeper and deeper into more personal and private matters.
After contacting the same radio and news stations over and over again, relationships with these

people at these stations do penetrate deeper, which makes it easier to get TV segments and other
thing necessary to generate publicity.

WEEK 6
Description: This is the press release that details the partnership between the Casey Cares Foundation
and Homeside Financial. Together during their spring fundraising drive, they raised more than $3,800.
This money will be donated to the Casey Cares Foundation and providing critically ill children and their
families with uplifting programs.

For Immediate Release

June 30, 2015

CASEY CARES AND HOMESIDE FINANCIAL RAISE OVER $3,800 DURING

SPRING FUNDRAISER TO HELP BENEFIT CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREN
Homeside Financial and Casey Cares partner up to send eight Casey Cares families
summer vacation weekends
Baltimore, MD The Casey Cares Foundation and Homeside Financial have teamed up in order to help
improve the lives of critically ill children. Together during their spring fundraising drive, The Casey Cares
Foundation and Homeside Financial raised more than $3,800 and held a contest among Homeside
branches to create the best office decoration using the Casey Cares eggs given to them for their
donations. The Columbus Ohio office won the contest, beating out 10 other branch locations.
Casey Cares is a great organization that serves critically ill children and their families, shining the light of
joy and happiness into a dark time, said Rory Driscoll, Sr. Loan Officer in the Columbus Ohio office.
This focus on the family, in addition to the sick child is one of the reasons Homeside partnered with
Casey Cares.
The proceeds from the spring fundraiser will provide eight Casey Cares families with a celebration
vacation weekend this summer.
We believe in helping our community and supporting families, Driscoll said. We are in the business of
helping families purchase and afford their home. When you take away the family inside it is just a big
empty box.
About the Casey Cares Foundation:
The Casey Cares Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides personalized, ongoing, uplifting
programs with a special touch to critically ill children and family members throughout six states. Programs
include: Family Festivities, Celebration Vacations, Birthday Blasts, Kamis Jammies, Caring Connection
group parties and Better Together. For more information, visit: www.CaseyCaresFoundation.org.
Media Contact:

Shannon Stern
Maroon PR
443.864.4246
Shannon@maroonpr.com
###

WEEK 7
Description: This was the email pitch that I had drafted for Andrea Verosko at Fox 45, which secured a
segment for Famous Daves on August 4. Famous Daves will be cooking up some of their delicious
sandwiches live on the air.

Hi Andrea,
Hope all is well!
August is National Sandwich Month and what better way to celebrate than by having Famous Dave's
feature some of their signature smoky BBQ sandwiches on air.
Famous Dave's could have a huge display of their award-winning Georgia Chopped Pork Sandwich, the
zesty Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sandwich and their smoky Texas Beef Brisket Sandwiches just to name a
few. They can even offer tips on how to make the best BBQ sandwich at home.
Let me know your thoughts!
Best,
Nick Smith

###

WEEK 8
Description: This is a memo I had drafted for one of our clients, Carluccios, which is an Italian restaurant
in Alexandria, Virginia. They opened their first U.S. location back in June, and we secured them a spot on
WJLA-TV (ABC 7) to demo their lasagna for national lasagna day. I provided basic details about when and
where the segment was happening. I also provided talking points for Chef Celia, who would be demoing
the lasagna.

MEMO
Carluccios WJLA-TV (ABC 7)
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Where:
WJLA - 1100 Wilson Blvd in Arlington, VA.
About 2 blocks from the Rosslyn Metro Station
There is street parking available outside 1100 Wilson Blvd or garage parking available
under the building.
If you park on the street, studio is on the ground level.
If you park in the garage, take the elevator to LM (lower mall) and youll find the studio
When:
Wednesday, July 29
Arrival time 9 a.m., set up 9:20 a.m., LIVE Segment 9:45 a.m.
Who:
Alfio Celia Executive Chef
What:
Chef Alfio to demo how to make lasagna with Carluccios market products
Have finished lasagna on display as well as other items
Suggested talking points to keep in mind:
Carluccios is an international Italian restaurant group that offers a unique combination
of all-day dining coupled with an in-house market with over 80 imported products
sourced direct from small artisan producers all over Italy
Founded in 1999 and named after the founder and acclaimed cook, author and TV
personality Antonio Carluccio, the Carluccios group has over 100 restaurants operating
internationally in the UK, Ireland, Turkey, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai
The opening of the Alexandria, VA location in May 2015 is Carluccios first U.S. location
For more information, please call 703-566-5293 or visit www.carlucciosusa.com
Please follow Carluccios on Facebook , Twitter @CarlucciosUS and Instagram
@CarlucciosUS
Contact:
Monique Ianos Smallow, Maroon PR 443.832.5158 (cell)
WJLA Newsroom 703-236-9555
Info:
www.carlucciosusa.com
Twitter and Instagram @carlucciosus

WEEK 9
Description: This is another media advisory I had drafted for the Casey Cares Foundation. It provides
information for Casey Cares 6th annual 5K run/walk on August 1. The proceeds from the event will
benefit the Casey Cares Foundation and contribute to the programs the foundation develops.

**MEDIA ADVISORY**
THE CASEY CARES FOUNDATION AND THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES TEAM
UP FOR 6thANNUAL 5K RUN/WALK ON SATURDAY, AUGUST
1st
WHAT/WHO: The Casey Cares Foundation (www.caseycares.org) and the Baltimore Orioles have partnered
up for the 6th annual Casey Cares 5K run/walk on Saturday, August 1st at 8 a.m. with Orioles
pitcher Brian Matusz serving as the race ambassador. Proceeds of the event will benefit the
Casey Cares Foundation, which provides uplifting programs with a special touch to critically ill
children and their families.

The 3.1 mile run/walk begins and ends at Camden Yards (with an on-field finish!) and
includes post-race refreshments. Race winners in each age group will be announced in a
pre-game ceremony.
WHEN:

Saturday, August 1st | 8:00 a.m.

o

WHERE:

MEDIA OPP: 8:15 a.m. 8:45 a.m. Press will have the opportunity to interview Casey
Baynes and Brian Matusz along with other Orioles players. *Media must RSVP by July 31st

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

333 West Camden Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shannon Stern
Cell: 443-695-8235
shannon@maroonpr.com

About the Casey Cares Foundation:

The Casey Cares Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides personalized, uplifting programs with a
special touch to critically ill children and family members throughout six states. Programs include: Family
Festivities, Celebration Vacations, Birthday Blasts, Kamis Jammies, Caring Connection group parties and Better
Together. For more information, visit: www.CaseyCares.org.
Follow the Casey Cares Foundations
www.Facebook.com/CaseyCares.

latest

news

at

www.Twitter.com/CaseyCares

and