Newsletter / Issue #1 / Fall 2023
SOUND BITES Department of Communication NEWS
What is public relations, anyway? Students educate through hands-on work
Staff members of the Communication Department’s student-run public relations firm, Central Communication Agency (CCA), are on a two-fold quest. They’re looking to get the word out about the free professional services they offer, and at the same time help explain exactly what “public relations” (or “PR”) is.
Aleigha Dixon & Devin Guerra-Burnett, center front, with fall 2023 CCA staff.
FACULTY FOCUS Dr. Eun Young Lee
Where did you grow up? Born and raised in South Korea. My hometown is a city called Cheongyang, which is a very small town like Ellensburg. I was a country girl. Where did you go to school? I went to college in Korea and got my BA and first master’s degree in communication and journalism at the same university. I got my PhD from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. What do you do outside of work? Try to be off the grid. Not in an extreme sense, but just to turn off a mental switch. I love watching movies and TV shows. Mostly funny stuff. I love comedy and standups.
Dr. Lee teaches Communication, and she currently serves as the Department Chair. She joined CWU in 2020.
“People confuse public relations with marketing or advertising,” says current CCA Firm Director Aleigha Dixon, who will graduate at the end of fall quarter with a PR degree. “I would say those can be aspects of PR.” “But really, PR is the process of advocating for your client by creating or maintaining a positive image and communicating that to their publics,” Dixon says. Public Relations, Business, Marketing, Media & Journalism, Communication and any other students who enroll in the 2-credit CCA class (Com 481) work with local organizations and businesses to help them reach their target audiences. According to CCA Assistant Firm Director Devin GuerraBurnett, “This can involve anything from brand management to finding strategies for increasing sales or engagement, and from creating content/infographics to planning events.” Guerra-Burnett is also a PR major graduating this fall with a minor in Administrative Management. “Our goal is to maintain the client's positive public image while increasing awareness.” In Com 481, adds Guerra-Burnett, “You’ll get hands-on experience in the field you're pursuing and also a great understanding of what being a PR professional means.” For example, CCA students this quarter are strategizing outreach for their portfolio of clients through social media content, web management, event planning and branded graphics. CCA launched in 2011 and has worked with dozens of organizations, on campus and off, over its 12-year history.