Tips for Maori and Pacific Youth Entering the Media and Public Relations Industries.

1. Tips for Maori and Pacific Youth Entering the Media and Public Relations Industries. Iulia Leilua February 2008

2. NB: These tips are by no means conclusive and final. More could be added but this gives you a taste of what to expect….

3. 10 Reasons Why More Maori and Pacific Youth Should Train For the Media and Public Relations Sector.

4. 1) There aren’t enough of us in the industry.

5. 2) It’s a good career that can take you to many fascinating places.

6. 3) We can help break down cultural barriers and stereotypes.

7. 4) Technological advances have diversified the way in which stories can be told (not just radio, TV and newspaper but also internet, podcasting, video streaming, cellphones etc).

8. 5) We need more Maori and Pacific people reporting on Maori and Pacific stories or developing strategies to communicate with our people.

9. 6) There are advantages we have in being able to gather information others can’t because of our cultural backgrounds.

10. 7) We need more Maori and Pacific people reporting on Pakeha/Palagi issues. Don’t limit yourself to Maori and Pacific issues.

11. 8) We need more Maori and Pacific people owning and managing their own media/PR companies and training the next generation of media and PR people.

12. 9) The media and PR industries have a powerful influence over the way people think and perceive the world. We need to be more influential.

13. 10) Storytelling, creativity and communication is part of our culture. We can continue expressing this using new technology and the myriad of opportunities available to us.

14. 21 Things You Need to Enter The Media and Public Relations Industries.

15. 1) Curiosity

16. 2) The ability to listen.

17. 3) Good writing skills (grammar, spelling etc).

18. 4) Assertiveness.

19. 5) Strategic thinking.

20. 6) Good analysis skills.

21. 7) Creativity.

22. 8) Perserverance.

23. 9) Thick skin.

24. 10) Confidence.

25. 11) Maturity.

26. 12) Integrity.

27. 13) Not being afraid to be the only brown person in the office.

28. 14) Punctuality.

29. 15) Good people skills.

30. 16) Good communication skills.

31. 17) A hard working attitude.

32. 18) A willingness to dig deeper into an issue rather than just accepting things at face value.

33. 19) A professional wardrobe (not necessarily expensive).

34. 20) Comfortable shoes (not necessarily fugly).

35. 21) A clean drivers licence and passport.

36. 10 Things You Don’t Have to Do to Work in the Media and Public Relations Industries.

37. 1) Wear your culture on your sleeve. If you know who you are and where you come from, that’s good – but you don’t have to prove it all the time.

38. 2) Fall victim to the drug and alchohol scene that sometimes accompanies the media world.

39. 3) Be phony. Always be yourself.

40. 4) Feel like you have to discard your culture to fit in.

41. 5) Feel like you have to stick to your own culture to succeed.

42. 6) Tell lies.

43. 7) Smoke like a chimney and form bad eating habits.

44. 8) Become an expert on everything.

45. 9) Disregard good personal hygiene and grooming standards.

46. 10) Stop questioning and challenging people.