Paths to a Career in Writing, Communication, and Public Relations in the Twin Ports

There many paths toward a career in writing, communication, or public relations in the twin ports.  One of those paths include majors at UMD [in Communication, in English or Writing Studies, in Marketing, or in Art & Design].  But interviews with several working professionals also make clear that it’s not just the degree that opens doors in these fields — creativity, professionalism, and enthusiasm are among the traits that open doors.

A Portfolio Full of Passion

Some professionals in Public Relations in the region pursued a two-year degree and fueled their portfolio with their passion.  One prominent Twin Ports professional took an associate’s degree in Communication Art & Design.  “I’ve always been creative, really well known for my drawing, and I had to figure out how to do this for a living. When you’re graduating, you’re prepped to get your portfolios ready and applying everywhere, sending your work out.”  A portfolio of solid design work was a good first step toward a job on the creative side of marketing and public relations.

Beginning in High School

According to a Duluth-based copywriter, “I went to school for advertising in Wisconsin, but way before that I got started in high school because I wanted to make commercials. I was in a Radio TV film class and we had to make a commercial for class and submit it. My group won and it was actually aired on TV.”

Their path turned when he arrived in Duluth.  “I was searching for internships. I was in multiple internships, in marketing, I did another one as a copywriter in an in-house marketing firm called Rogan Shoes. I did all the shoe descriptions. Every way you could describe a shoe, I wrote about it.  Writing descriptions for other products was really fun. So I was looking for agencies and I saw something on Linkedin.  I send this long thing with all my favorite brands and why I liked them, and that got me an internship. The rest is history; they hired me full time.”

Beginning as a Student at UMD, Moving into Careers in Development and Advertising

A development officer at UMD started as a communication major here.

I had an internship; I knew I wanted to work with non-profits. My internship was at United Way, and they decided to hire me part time. I worked four positions with them in five years.

After five years, a position at UMD opened for a development assistant. I was excited to be back at UMD as an employee.

One path, then, starts as a communication major, worked through the non-profit sector, and now works in higher education.

Another publishing professional began her career in Duluth as an English major.

I was hired right out of college by a local Duluth publishing company who owned (at that time) 300 nationally read magazines. I had an English major, so I started as a production manager, which meant collecting ads and recording articles running in the magazine. I graduated from that to writing. I became an assistant editor. It didn’t take me long to realize that I could make much better money on the advertising side.

This career change was unexpected.  They say that “I worked my way into advertising/sales and found I loved it! I loved working with businesses to help them grow.”

Beginning as a Volunteer

Some professionals begin their careers by volunteering:

I began volunteering here about three years ago with an interest in being on the radio and sharing love of new music. I kind of worked to figure out a way to find where my jobs and previous experience fit into what the station needed and try to foster what it was I believe the station was missing to become a vital part of the organization. I wouldn’t say I sought out to be a marketer, it was just what was available.

Volunteering is a great way to taste the industry and learn where your skills can fit.

Beginning in front of the Microphone, Moving behind.

A prominent Duluth marketer followed a similarly unconventional path through an associate’s program in broadcasting before becoming a DJ at a little radio station as the start of a broadcast career.

After a brief stint reading the obituaries and weather reports, I took a job as a commercial producer at a small TV station in the far southwest corner of Kansas.  There, I took the opportunity to do a five-minute morning cut-in to do local news updates during Good Morning America.

They moved from Kansas into a reporting job in Duluth. For several years, they were the 6pm and 10pm anchor and news director/managing editor for that television station.

From the anchor’s position, their career grew.

I moved into public relations. Over 20 years, I’ve built on connections throughout my career to find myself in various communications roles from B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer) PR, PR agencies, in-house corporate communications, crisis communications, investor relations, government relations, and now digital marketing.

Along the way, they completed the degree they began decades before.

Beginning Your Own Business

A local brewer went to Marshall for high school, then went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

After college, I decided I wanted to become an event planner. I moved to Savanna, Georgia and within a couple of weeks, I found a job within the field I was interested in, so I was an event planner for the Savannah College of Art and Design. I did that for 3 years.

I missed Minnesota.  I moved to Minneapolis and got a job with Minnesota Monthly, the magazine, doing their event planning.  Pretty quickly afterward, at 25, I launched my own event planning company.  I got involved with a non-profit that was doing a craft beer festival and met all of the brewers and owners in the industry.  (At this point there were 30 total breweries in Minnesota. Now, there’s 160-180.)

Immersed in the industry, my husband and I wanted to find a way to move to Duluth and start another business. We found our business partners, eventually, and launched our brewery. We began conceptualizing in 2010 and opened in 2013.

Now, as VP of marketing and outreach, they work in marketing, public relations, and event planning, then, for their own business.

Your First Job will Rarely be your Last Job

It’s common for professionals in writing and communications to follow their possibilities through many employers.  A local journalist got involved with the Duluth News Tribune and has been cycled around to a few different papers (including the Duluth Budgeteer, the Duluth Western Weekly, and the Lake County News Chronicle).  A Duluthian working as the Brand Manager of 102.5 FM has worked for WWAX, KTCO, KDAL-AM, WDSM, WDUL, and KDKE.   A Duluth graphic designer tells their story:

Growing up, I always wanted to be a graphic designer, and took a class called Graphic Design Print Communications; it gave you the 360 view of the industry. They taught you everything from print, to press, and then digital. From there, I got accepted into a press job at Arrowhead printers, and then the recession hit and the guy who owned it, retired, so up and went that job. I worked freelance until becoming a Creative Director.

While your degree is a great achievement, life often requires one to keep their mind open to what comes their way.