Dear New Intern,

Congratulations on landing this internship with PRBULLDOG! I’m Demi Dupavillon, and I was David’s intern from January 2024 to August 2024. As I head into my senior year at the Walter Cronkite School, I’m leaving this experience with more skills and confidence than I ever thought possible. 

I feel extremely grateful to have worked under David’s expertise. He is sure to support you throughout your journey. Never hesitate to ask him for guidance, he is more than willing to clarify instructions and help you achieve the objective. With honest communication and an unwavering work ethic, you are sure to thrive. The trust between you will build in time. 

This internship with David offers a unique opportunity for professional growth and development. For instance, there were times when I thought my documents, memos, or pitches were final, but David’s feedback showed me areas for improvement. He would give feedback and explain what needed to change. Embrace this feedback and even if it takes five revisions, the most important part is that you get there! Over time, you’ll find it easier to produce polished final drafts and anticipate what to look out for next time. 

Upon task completion, it’s imperative and expected that you double-check your spelling, grammar, and media contacts. I found the “Schedule Send” function on Gmail to be very helpful for pitching so I could take my time on the review process.  

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that getting media coverage is HARD. It takes research, planning, patience, and persistence. Research is a huge part of being a PRBULLDOG intern and arguably one of the most important skills to refine. Make sure your research is accurate, relevant, and easily digestible. Cite the information with links wherever possible, both you and David will rely on these sources.  

If you’re like me and started this internship without any previous public relations experience, stay calm, your first few assignments are meant to ease you into the whole process. Familiarize yourself with the PRBULLDOG Google Drive, you’ll have a much better understanding of each client’s specific goals, interests, and projects since different industries expect different types of media hits. 

Look to previous assignments in the intern bible for guidance on content, formatting, and structure if you’re unsure. You’ll also oversee your timesheet, so track your hours with accuracy. I suggest using Google Sheets and updating it throughout your workday. Once a week, you’ll meet with David over Zoom or Google Meet to create a new agenda, review past assignments, and discuss upcoming assignments. I always appreciated that he made me feel more like a teammate than an employee. He is a great listener and takes his job as a business owner very seriously. He has established an outstanding career and has so much knowledge to share with you. Your success is his success, and vice versa.

I feel like I have covered so much ground during this internship. At one point, I was calling people in the United Kingdom! For context, it was to get Fennemore’s CEO James Goodnow’s alma mater to write an alumni profile on him. At another point, I was asked to design an infographic to explain how Cox Communications helps connect the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament. In addition to specific tasks like these, you will also work on updating the media list: a massive organization of contacts. Your contribution of updating and adding to this list may seem small, but it plays a huge role in landing valuable media hits.

As David’s sole intern, you’ll get to complete a diverse set of tasks for all five clients. One project that stood out to me was for Courtesy Automotive Group. David and I came up with a fun idea to get Courtesy featured in the news. The process began by contacting teachers at different high schools to see if they would allow their students to fill out a survey that could result in one winner and their prom date getting a free ride to and from their prom in a Courtesy vehicle of their choice. Only one school agreed, and only one candidate from that school fit our criteria. Despite getting fewer candidates as we thought, we never gave up on this idea. We helped the winner set up a “promposal” in Scottsdale Fashion Square’s Polestar store in the trunk of a Polestar 2. We captured videos of the surprise and of their actual prom night experience to pitch to the media. The work it took to bring the “promposal” idea to life taught me how to turn nothing into something, and emphasized the determination it takes to succeed in this field. 

An internship like this one is hard to come by. It’s conveniently remote, but you gain as much experience – if not more – as an in-person job. Not many interns can say that they directly pitched with members of the media or published articles they wrote or watched as the media covered an event they helped put together. Here’s a little inspiration before you dive in: The level of responsibility you begin with will differ from what you end with, the extent of this change is something you will earn and determine. 

Have fun and take advantage of this opportunity! I know you’ll do amazing. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. 

Best,

Demi Dupavillon, Spring | Summer 2024

Dear New Intern, 

First of all, congratulations on getting this internship and starting off the new year on a high note. I worked with David for the Fall 2023 semester, and I can honestly say that I am leaving this internship with more knowledge and confidence within myself and my future than I had before. 

I think we are in the same boat about originally pursuing a broadcast degree but then having some doubts along the way. Working with David gave me insight into how PR professionals think, how they write, how they network, and so on. 

Staying organized throughout the internship is so important. Although working remotely has its perks (saved so much gas money this semester) it can also become overwhelming if you don’t stay organized. I recommend having a system to keep track of your hours that is convenient for you. David provides a spreadsheet where you can track your hours, but personally I just wrote mine down on a Document because I barely used spreadsheets anyways. Hence, know what works for you: if you usually write stuff down on paper then track your hours that way. Also make sure to stay organized with assignments on the agenda. The agenda can seem a little overwhelming at first if there are a lot of tasks to complete- but David has never given me too much work to do in a day that I couldn’t complete efficiently. When the agenda can seem a bit overwhelming, I wrote down assignments in my planner to stay more organized. 

Ask questions to David when they arise. Never hesitate to ask for clarification on assignments or about his clients. When you write your first few pitches/articles, make sure to ask why David made some edits the way he did. It made me understand the basics behind writing a compelling pitch. 

Also, David is very understanding that we are students and have a lot on our plate. I was honest with him when I thought I might need an extension on a task or when I had two finals on a day I was supposed to work. Instead, I just asked him if I could make up those hours a different day that week, and he said yes. 

I expressed to David that I really enjoy interviewing and he has given me numerous opportunities to be the one conducting interviews. Recently I did one with Marc Lamber, and it was one of the highlights of the semester for me. Overall, tell David what you like doing and when he can, he will give you opportunities to work on what you enjoy most. 

Double-check emails and make sure everything is spelled correctly and that you are sending them to the right contacts. You will send numerous pitches via email and it can be easy to accidentally forget a paragraph or some emails. Also, don’t be afraid to make some pitches a little more personalized, especially if you have worked with any of the contacts in the past. People want to read pitches that come from friendly and approachable sources, because it will compel them even more to want to take action on doing something with the pitch. 

Familiarize yourself with the way this internship will run. You will find most documents under the Shared Google Drive folder between you and David. You will have weekly meetings that David will always post on the Google calendar. The media list spreadsheet will be something you utilize and update regularly, so I recommend reading the different tabs and understanding which outlets are in which tabs. Make an effort to know David’s clients and their expectations. You will learn each client has their own specific expectations that may vary from one another, so knowing how to satisfy the client’s expectations will overall improve your work and David’s. 

When assignments are based on gathering research, try to include the most important information and dive into parts when needed. When you submit the research memo to David, you want him to read it and think he knows everything he needs to know about that topic. Include links, include details on what you found and if the research is not as informative as you thought it would be, find out why that is. I really learned this throughout my Storage Unit research memo (which you can find in Marc’s folder). David asked me to do research on why storage unit fees always seem to increase and how customers can combat that. I found that storage units can basically raise fees whenever they want, and that cities don’t have any control over it. I found you would have to submit a report to the Attorney General if you really thought a mistake was made. I thought my research memo was lacking, but realized I could combat that by providing responsible storage unit tips to customers and making them aware that most storage unit contracts allow them to raise monthly prices. Even though I was hoping for a more concrete solution on what customers could do, it shows that you need to think about other ways a story can take a different direction. 

Remember that this internship is unique in that the work you perform actually means something. A lot of times interns are not given the opportunity to publish articles or be in charge of interviewing. I really appreciated the fact that I was trusted and given tasks that were important. I also appreciated the fact that this was a close-knit environment. With that being said, never be afraid to ask questions and know that David enjoys giving advice and sharing his experiences to give us more insight.  

You’re always welcome to text me if you have any questions! Again, have fun diving into the PR world and stay organized in a way that makes sense for you. I can honestly say that I know David and I will stay in touch and support each other. Take this opportunity to learn new things and have fun along the way!

Best,

Athena Kehoe, Fall 2023

Dear New Intern, 

Congratulations on being an intern for PRBULLDOG this Fall semester. 

My name is Boi and I was an intern for David Weissman in Summer 2023. As a former intern who has had the pleasure of working for David, I would love to share my experiences and insights into what’s like working for PR Bulldog, and some tips for you to thrive at your role. 

Firstly, I’d say that working for David was an incredibly enriching experience. David was an amazing team leader and mentor. He is approachable, always willing to provide guidance, and offers constructive feedback to help the interns grow. His wealth of knowledge, professionalism and passion for PR inspired me a lot, especially when I have just started on my career path. David would tell you that the impact of PR was to “put a smile on people’s faces,” and he delivers exactly that to his clients.

The exposure to real-world PR challenges and diverse projects helped me learn and grow both personally and professionally. During my internship at PR Bulldog, I was given multiple responsibilities to help David serve the clients, including researching and updating media lists, assisting David in developing and sending press releases to the media, contacting and maintaining relationships with the media, writing articles for high-profile clients, and researching media trends. These experiences allowed me to sharpen my writing skills, gain insights into effective PR strategies and connect with the media. 

Media list building is an essential aspect of my work here. As you dive into this task, I recommend using a combination of reputable media databases, online resources, and traditional research methods. You will soon realize how crucial media lists are in our day-to-day operations. A well-maintained media list facilitates effective communication with journalists, influencers, and media outlets. It streamlines our outreach efforts and enhances our ability to secure coverage for our clients. You can learn from how effectively David organized PR Bulldog’s media databases.

So, be meticulous in your approach, ensuring that the information you gather is accurate and up-to-date. As you work on updating media lists, pay close attention to contact details, preferences, and specific beats.

Speaking of being meticulous, it is a crucial skill in PR, especially when it comes to sending mass emails to the media or submitting pitches to community calendars. Proofread several times, avoid the temptation to multitask, as it can lead to decreased productivity and quality of work. Instead, concentrate on one task at a time to ensure better focus and outcomes. 

I learned that note-taking (traditional methods or on Word document) worked better for me when it comes to highlighting details in pitches. I would recommend taking note of the information required in pitches on another document, and cross-check with your main document before you submit/ send your work to the media. This would help you keep them organized and regularly reviewed. Although it seemed like it would take longer to complete the task, it would actually save time and effort, while also ensuring that our pitches have the right information and reach the right people.

While I was working here, I learned how to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, which were both challenging and exciting. Attention to detail and being able to shift gears quickly are aspects of PR that I noticed while working at PR Bulldog.

Being a virtual intern had its pros and cons. While I appreciated the flexibility and comfort of working from home, I had to be more proactive in communicating with David and worked more strategically on time and task management. I found that weekly meetings with David helped me in staying on track for the tasks and receive guidance. This internship experience was structured to ensure maximum learning and engagement, and I genuinely feel that I gained as much as I would have in an office setting.

David would want you to have as many learning opportunities as you can, so he would keep you busy. I would recommend embracing the tasks with enthusiasm and willingness to learn.  Be proactive in seeking feedback and take the initiative to propose solutions and take responsibility when facing challenges.

To be successful in this role, you need to be responsive and communicative. As Marisol, our former intern in Spring said (and I pretty much agree), “David will treat you more like a teammate, so it is important to keep him looped in on the work that you’re doing.” David is here to teach you, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. Asking more questions, even about seemingly minuscule details when you encounter challenges or need guidance, is extremely important to ensure that you interpret and perform the tasks correctly.

As you embark on this journey, remember that every task, no matter how small, contributes to the bigger picture. The tasks that we help David and PR Bulldog with deliver exceptional results for our clients. Your contributions will undoubtedly make a significant impact.

Working here has been an enriching journey and a valuable learning opportunity for me, and I am confident that you will find it just as rewarding.

At PR Bulldog, I felt valued from day one, and my contributions were genuinely appreciated. I am grateful for the amazing internship experience at PR Bulldog this summer, and for having a great team leader like David.

Once again, welcome on board! I believe that with your skills and dedication to the job, you will do great. I’m sure that you would have a great internship experience like I did. Best wishes to you when you enter this exciting field!

Boi Ngoc Thai, Summer 2023

Hello New Intern, 

Dear New Intern,

Congratulations on joining PRBULLDOG! My name is Keetra Bippus, and I had the privilege of being David’s PR Intern during the fall of 2024. This internship has been an incredible learning experience, and David is not only a public relations expert but also an outstanding mentor.

This being my first PR internship, I was nervous coming in, and I was used to the demanding deadlines of the newsroom. However, I quickly realized that David’s assignments are always manageable, with reasonable deadlines prioritizing quality over quantity.

Working under David’s guidance has been invaluable. He’s always open to providing feedback and sharing tips to help you succeed in PR. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification—David genuinely wants to help you achieve your goals and will ensure you’re on the right track.

This internship is a fantastic opportunity for professional growth. Because of David’s feedback, I improved my writing skills and successfully transitioned from a newsroom mindset to a PR-focused approach. One unexpected but invaluable skill I gained was learning to use ChatGPT as a research tool. While I always verified the information for accuracy, it was helpful for tasks like identifying media contacts and gathering insights for articles.

I recommend always using spellcheck and Grammarly for everything in your internship. Always proofread your pitches, memos, and articles before submitting them. Attention to detail is key!

The schedule send function is super useful! If you’re sending pitches for a future date, this feature ensures they go out at the right time. Be cautious with follow-ups to avoid overlapping with responses you may have already received.

Don’t be afraid to spend extra time to make sure everything is right! You need to make sure everything is accurate and correct. You should also make sure that your emails are personalized to the media contacts you send to maintain a strong relationship with them. Everyone likes an email that they know wasn’t mass-produced! The same goes for memos or articles you send out: sources have to be reliable, and it’s worth spending the extra time to become familiar with the topic because David will ask questions to make sure he also fully understands the topic and can communicate the information accurately to the client.

One of my initial challenges was learning to pitch stories from a client-focused perspective. It’s easy to get excited about a great story idea, but remember that the pitch is really about the client and their expertise.

If you’re unsure how to approach a project, start by exploring the PRBULLDOG Google Drive. It’s a treasure trove of resources that will help you understand each client’s goals and expectations. If you’re still stuck, don’t hesitate to ask David for examples—he’ll gladly provide guidance to help you get started.

Track your hours with accuracy! I used a Google spreadsheet with separate tabs for each pay period. I recommend updating it at the end of each workday so you don’t forget what you did each day! 

Once a week, you’ll meet with David over Google Meets to create a new agenda, review past assignments, and discuss upcoming assignments. These meetings were always helpful and clarified what David was looking for as well for each agenda item, as well as receiving feedback on projects you’ve already finished. David is a great listener and takes his job as a business owner very seriously. He has established an outstanding career and has so much knowledge to share with you. 

As David’s intern, you’ll get to complete a diverse set of tasks for all of his clients. My favorite project started out as a pitch for one of their T-shirt promotions. When I got sent the information, I noticed that the T-shirt design was done by a speed-painter! I made the pitch and shared it with David. After he shared it with the client and it was approved, I got to pitch it to the media! We ended up getting two TV hits out of it. It was a super great feeling seeing something I worked on since its inception be reported on by the news!

Throughout your internship, you will get experience with a variety of tasks: pitching, research memos, articles, media lists, and so much more. David is always looking for opportunities to give you the most experience he can! One of my favorite experiences in the internship was going to the Valley Publicity Summit and pitching to journalists around the Valley in person! It was an invaluable networking experience and an incredible opportunity to see how journalists and professional PR agents interact and work together.

I had a great experience and I know you will too! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Best,

Keetra Bippus