The conference then split into several breakout sessions. I attended the Agency Panel: Opportunities in Worldwide which was moderated by BU Professor Jonathan Yohannan. There, representatives from Edelman, Ketchum and Gagen MacDonald (in addition to Yohannan who works for Cone), shared some of their life experiences and took questions both from the audience and from Twitter.

After a brief lunch complete with a visit and pep talk from Dean Elmore, we were treated to another amazing keynote speech by APCO CEO and Founder Margery Kraus. Kraus gave a gripping speech about launching her own company while maintaining the core values that she was raised with. With one of her grandchildren there to support her, it was amazing to hear about that level of accomplishment in so short a span of time.

To end the day, a career panel assembled with some young professionals and HR representatives from companies around the country. There they took questions from the audience and Twitter, ranging from what not to say in an interview, how to apply and how to attract the attention of recruiters. Inspired by their words, students were then ushered into a career fair stacked with the best global PR agencies, as well as representatives from PRSA and the Publicity Club of New England.

Samantha is a senior in COM, majoring in Public Relations.

Harold Burson

Harold Burson, one of the world’s most successful public relations practitioners, will be honored Friday, February 18 when Boston University’s College of Communication (COM) helps him celebrate his 90th birthday with a symposium beginning at 1 p.m. in the Colloquium Room of the Photonics Center (8 St. Mary’s Street, Boston).  The event is free and open to the public.

Burson co-founded Burson-Marsteller, a leading public relations agency, with Bill Marsteller in 1953 and has been credited with introducing integrated communication marketing to public relations practice. Throughout his career, Burson has supported public relations research and education, developing training programs and mentoring young professionals. His company has a long history of collaboration with BU and has hired many Boston University COM graduates.  He also is responsible for funding the Harold Burson Professor and Chair in Public Relations at COM.

In 2000, PR Week named Burson as “the century’s most influential PR figure” in recognition of a culmination of more than 50 years of service as a counselor to and confidante of corporate CEOs, government leaders and heads of public sector institutions.

The highlight of BU’s birthday celebration will consist of a speech by Burson and he will be recognized and honored through remarks by COM students, alumni and faculty.

Moderated by BU alum and founder of Help a Reporter Out (HARO), Peter Shankman (COM ’94), the panel featured experts from the traditional news world, PR and the blogosphere, and included Tom Fiedler, Dean of the College of Communication (COM); Lisa van der Pool, broadcast editor and reporter at The Boston Business Journal; Adam Gaffin, founder and editor of Universal Hub; and Steve Quigley, Associate Professor of Public Relations at COM.

Watch the complete event below and check out a recap from BU Today.

Contact Peter Morrissey, 617-353-1020, pmoriss@bu.edu