The Duality of PR in Journalism from a Reporter
How Alumna Wendy Guzman has conquered the professional world through two different creative backgrounds
By: Amanda Wellhausen
Post graduation, PR Alumna Wendy Guzman is living her dream as a reporter for The Memphis Business Journal covering tourism, hospitality and the local airport. During her tenure at Michigan State University, Guzman pursued a major in journalism and a minor in public relations. She believes her PR minor provided her with a fresh perspective as a reporter. PR and journalism are different, they can benefit from one another and help put the best content out in the end.
“I cover the airport, so I get regular press releases from them that all need to be written, so I have to write articles for those pretty much immediately,” said Guzman. “My PR minor helps me find the useful information for my stories quicker.”
One thing Guzman credits part of her current success to is her time working for The State News, MSU’s award-winning campus newspaper. Her senior year she became a campus editor, which allowed her to make connections with other students and gain firsthand knowledge and skills in the field.
“I was working or on call 24/7 but I loved every moment of it. I loved being able to pass on my knowledge and skills that I gained after two years of reporting onto a desk of mostly new reporters,” said Guzman.
Guzman was able to use her PR minor while working at The State News and begin developing those dual skills while still a student.
“I think learning how and why a PR person approaches a pitch has been helpful to me. I know how they work so I can try to work with them in a way that makes both me and my editors happy as well as their clients,” said Guzman.
Learn more about MSU’s PR Minor online at https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.aspx?Program=PUBLI_MNUN.