Public relations senior Ben Rushton invests in his future at Birmingham World Games
This summer, senior Ben Rushton interned at The World Games in Birmingham. The public relations major navigated the tasks a venue operations intern faces using crisis management and strategic communication skills he learned at Auburn.
Rushton said his tasks included “everything under the sun.”
“I was responsible for anything that needed to be done really. If someone didn’t have the correct scanner or if anyone needed a hand with distributing venue manuals…that kind of thing,” Rushton said. “It was very challenging. I probably worked for a month straight. I couldn’t even name all the things I did throughout this experience.”
Rushton wasn’t just responsible for making sure equipment was in place; he was also responsible for creating communication documents, ensuring people were on top of different tasks and assisting the venue manager with his duties. His talent as a communicator was the key to success.
“You had to have solid communication skills,” Rushton said. “It was important to make sure people knew what to do and that you were doing your job correctly.”
The public relations curriculum teaches crisis management skills, which Rushton said he used often.
“It was a lot of putting out small fires,” Rushton said. “If there’s a problem, it’s about dealing with the issue and making sure no one saw it or heard about it so the audience can enjoy the games.”
In addition to crisis management, public relations majors are required to take a strategic communications course. Rushton used those skills every day on the job when creating communication materials or coordinating with other employees in the office.
“You have to find a target audience,” Rushton said. “It’s critical to read the room and assess what different people will respond to or what they might be interested in.”
The opportunity to intern at The World Games arose after Rushton worked with Bruno Event Teams during last year's SEC Baseball Tournament. He advises other public relations students to seek opportunities outside of the classroom.
“Don’t hold back, be a go-getter,” Rushton said. “What you learn inside the classroom must translate to outside opportunities to succeed. You have to take every opportunity that comes your way, put yourself out there and invest in your future.”
For more information about public relations in the College of Liberal Arts, visit here.
Related Articles
-
Auburn graduate student wins top research-in-progress award from Broadcast Education Association
The Broadcast Education Association honored Phillip Coxwell, a communication graduate student and Auburn multimedia specialist, for research excellence in October. -
Public relations alumnus riding high with first Rolling Stone article, book about Birmingham music scene
Blake Ellis, a Rogersville, Alabama, native has persevered and begun to thrive, celebrating the release of his second book in October and landing his first Rolling Stone byline on May 3. -
The New York Times’ Kathleen Kingsbury visits Auburn for journalism talent pipeline program
Journalism senior and Auburn Plainsman Editor-in-Chief Destini Ambus met her new mentor, New York Times Opinion Editor Kathleen Kingsbury, for the first time this month as part of the New York Times Corps program. -
Auburn public relations professor receives $100,000 Pfizer grant to study vaccine hesitancy
Associate Professor Michail Vafeiadis will co-lead a first-of-its-kind study into why people choose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19. -
Tiara Ransom selected as student marshal for Auburn University's summer 2024 commencement
Tiara Ransom, a graduating senior in the film program, has been selected to lead the College of Liberal Arts' class of 2024 in this summer's commencement ceremonies. -
Social Justice Lecture Series to address labor markets and the poor
The lecture, titled “Moving the Needle: What tight labor markets do for the poor,” will address the question, “What happens when jobs are plentiful, and workers are hard to come by?”