CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Digital Marketing and Public Relations.

DETAILS

Learn how to build and manage qualified distribution lists in a way that engages your users -- without spamming them. We'll discuss how to design email templates to best support your brand while including and following the proper legal disclaimers. You'll also learn how to use analytics tools to monitor campaign engagement and effectiveness as well as ways to respect your users’ privacy while introducing them to your products or services.

In this class, you will learn how to: 

• Create and manage distribution lists, including resources for mass mailings
• Evaluate optimal time, date, and frequency to decrease unsubscribes and increase your open rate 
• Develop and execute copywriting and design techniques, including subject lines
• Integrate social media tools into email campaigns to function as a part of your overall digital strategy
• Prevent blacklisting from servers

By the end of class, you will have:
An email campaign designed to build traffic and increase sales.

The online classroom has several components:

• Lessons: Learn new skills through video-based lessons
• Discussion: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
• Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
• Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Public Relations.

DETAILS

In PR, the relationships you create with editors, reporters, bloggers, and producers can make or break your next campaign.

Learn how to target and pitch top media outlets and events, prep your client for appearances and interviews to make sure their message gets through, and establish your clients as reliable sources to ensure repeat bookings and interviews.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Pitch contacts using media lists, online databases, blogs, and social media
• Understand what producers, news editors, and segment bookers look for
• Master the media interview, from understanding types of interviews to developing questions and responses
• Develop and write briefing documents and talking points that keep your client on message
• Follow up to land repeat appearances and build lasting relationships

By the end of class, you will have:
A tailored media list, along with a custom pitch, briefing document, and sample questions and answers.

The online classroom has several components:

• Lessons: Learn new skills through written lessons
• Discussion: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
• Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
• Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

DETAILS

Great public speakers aren't born; they're trained.

In the first part of this course, we'll focus on nuts-and-bolts tips and techniques for becoming a more confident and competent public speaker. In the second part, students will be assessed on their abilities to apply the learning to specific presentations and coached to address areas of improvement.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Captivate and engage an audience
• Use "Power Periods" and oral techniques to project competence
• Walk, gesture, and position your body to convey strength
• Interact with displays, notes, and PowerPoint presentations
• Come up with customized ways to improve your own personal public speaking style

By the end of class, you will have:
The skills to speak confidently and with authority to engage any audience.

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Public Relations.

DETAILS

Knowing how to craft a strong speech -- and ensure the best possible delivery -- is a valued and lucrative skill for those in both the public and private sectors. In this class, we'll touch upon the most practical elements of speechwriting, with our main focus on how to produce a strong speech, quickly and efficiently.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Write a polished, convincing speech ready for delivery 
• Conduct research and craft arguments
• Use stylistic options ranging from humorous to philosophical
• Write a memorable opening
• Motivate an audience to take action on what they've heard

• Lessons: Learn new skills through written lessons
• Discussions: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
• Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
• Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Public Relations.

DETAILS

To start or grow your public relations business, you need to land new accounts, manage existing clients, and exceed expectations. Learn how to approach the business development process, develop and qualify prospects, respond to prospects’ needs, create a winning pitch, and close faster.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Find, target, and qualify new business leads
• Launch a sales campaign and lead prospects through the path to closing
• Prepare winning sales presentations and deliver your pitch
• Use digital media to enhance your network
• Sell add-on services to existing clients for increased revenue

By the end of class, you will have:
The skills to win business, qualify leads, and close new accounts. You'll also know how to structure client relationships, account for scope creep, and offer additional services to maximize returns.

The online classroom has several components:

• Lessons: Learn new skills through writtenand video-based lessons
• Discussion: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
• Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
• Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Public Relations.

DETAILS

Over the last decade, we've seen an unprecedented surge of interest in public relations that is creating an incredible abundance of PR jobs in firms, corporations, non-profits, and consulting.

In this course, learn how to break into PR, enhance your skills, and develop PR programs. You'll also find out everything you need know to get that all-important first job.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Develop a targeted, tactical PR plan that generates results
• Write dynamic biographies for yourself, your clients, and your associates
• Execute a targeted media outreach program geared to the needs of your client
• Draft attention-getting media pitch letters
• Distribute a news release

By the end of class, you will have:
A tactical public relations plan, a corporate biography, and a news release you can use in job interviews.

• Lessons: Learn new skills through video-based lessons
• Discussion: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
• Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
• Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Public Relations.

DETAILS

In this course, learn how to develop online video, make social media updates, and display multimedia content that will spread your message and reach in all the right places. We’ll also look at keyword search and SEO as it applies to public relations to ensure that your client or organization lands at the top of search results.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Optimize your use of key social media tools including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and smaller niche tools
• Produce and package multimedia digital press releases
• Use keywords to get top search engine rankings
• Find, reach, and pitch key bloggers and influencers
• Measure and track your social outreach efforts

By the end of class, you will have:
A multimedia press release, a list of leading industry bloggers to pitch, and a strategic plan for improving your client’s reach using SEO and social media.

The online classroom has several components:

• Lessons: Learn new skills through video-based lessons
• Discussion: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
• Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
• Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

DETAILS

Google yourself or your business and see what comes up.  Good or bad, right or wrong, the information that’s found on the first two pages of your search results paints a vivid picture of who you are -- one that’s challenging to alter. So what do you do when what’s online is outdated, unbalanced, inaccurate, or misleading? And what's the best way to respond to criticism on Yelp or other posting sites?

You'll learn how to:

• Know what online reputation management is -- and isn’t -- and why it matters to everyone
• Turn feedback into benefits for businesses, consumers, and prosumers, from online reviews to social media
• Respond to commenters -- and what you should never do
• Learn from case studies from recent media disasters, including the Amy’s Bakery rant and the viral sorority girl email

How this works:

• You'll participate in a live video discussion with an expert speaker who will provide insights, case studies, and real-world examples of strategies that have worked
• You'll have the chance to ask questions and get advice from the speaker in real time
• You'll receive a copy of the speaker's presentation slides and access to a recording of the presentation

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Digital Marketing, Ad Copywriting, Digital Journalism, and Digital Project Management.

DETAILS

Remember when people cared about website hits? Now that that's over, we can focus on tracking the website metrics that can drive sales, engagement, and traffic.

In this class, we'll cover the plethora of web analytics data available today, and how you can use those metrics to build a multifaceted digital strategy for your brand or business. Through weekly assignments using Google Analytics, you'll learn what to look for in analytics reports, what the data means, and how you can use your findings to improve your online initiatives.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Read an analytics dashboard
• Gather information about your site visitors from analytics data
• Identify your best performing Internet marketing channel
• Understand your lead generation or sales funnel
• Know what drives conversion to improve results

By the end of class, you will have:
The ability to analyze your data and a firm understanding of its impact on your business.

Note: We recommend students have access to Google Analytics to get the most from assignments. Email us with questions.

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Digital Marketing and Public Relations.

DETAILS

Learn how to build and manage qualified distribution lists in a way that engages your users -- without spamming them. We'll discuss how to design email templates to best support your brand while including and following the proper legal disclaimers. Youu'll also learn how to use analytics tools to monitor campaign engagement and effectiveness as well as ways to respect your users’ privacy while introducing them to your products or services.

In this class, you will learn how to: 

• Create and manage distribution lists, including resources for mass mailings
• Evaluate optimal time, date, and frequency to decrease unsubscribes and increase your open rate 
• Develop and execute copywriting and design techniques, including subject lines
• Integrate social media tools into email campaigns to function as a part of your overall digital strategy
• Prevent blacklisting from servers

By the end of class, you will have:
An email campaign designed to build traffic and increase sales.

The online classroom has several components:

• Lessons: Learn new skills through video-based lessons
• Discussion: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
• Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
• Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Public Relations.

DETAILS

In this course, you'll learn how to create successful events from conception to completion. You'll discover how to think, plan, problem solve, and produce like a professional event planner.

Through weekly assignments, you'll write essential event documents including production reports and timelines, proposals for strategic collaborations and partnerships, and new business presentations. This class will follow the process of planning an event from beginning to end.

In this class you'll learn how to:

• Create production documents including production reports, timelines, budgets, and event recaps
• Develop invitations, advertisements, calendar listings, and media alerts 
• Create and manage an event budget
• Write effective sponsorship decks
• Think creatively to build strategic collaborations

By the end of class, you will have:
The skills to create successful events for a brand, business, or client.

DETAILS

Great public speakers aren't born; they're trained.

In the first part of this course, we'll focus on nuts-and-bolts tips and techniques for becoming a more confident and competent public speaker. In the second part, students will be assessed on their abilities to apply the learning to specific presentations and coached to address areas of improvement.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Captivate and engage an audience
• Use "Power Periods" and oral techniques to project competence
• Walk, gesture, and position your body to convey strength
• Interact with displays, notes, and PowerPoint presentations
• Come up with customized ways to improve your own personal public speaking style

By the end of class, you will have:
The skills to speak confidently and with authority to engage any audience.

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Digital Marketing, Ad Copywriting, and Social Media Marketing.

DETAILS

Facebook marketing strategy goes beyond getting Likes.

In this course, you'll learn how to apply proven Facebook marketing strategies and techniques, build a fan base, and grow your business with a meaningful Facebook presence. We'll look at best practices to see what works, and explore how to effectively use Facebook to bring your business the best returns.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Set up and enhance your company Facebook page
• Understand best practices for marketing through Facebook and how to measure its success
• Analyze data using Facebook Insights
• Execute a monthly content strategy
• Incorporate Facebook applications into your marketing strategy with the new open action verb graph

By the end of class, you will have:
A Facebook marketing strategy and a clear understanding of how to reach customers using the site.

• Lessons: Learn new skills through video-based lessons
• Discussion: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
• Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
• Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

CERTIFICATE Use this course to earn a certificate in Public Relations.

DETAILS

To start or grow your public relations business, you need to land new accounts, manage existing clients, and exceed expectations. Learn how to approach the business development process, develop and qualify prospects, respond to prospects’ needs, create a winning pitch, and close faster.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Find, target, and qualify new business leads
• Launch a sales campaign and lead prospects through the path to closing
• Prepare winning sales presentations and deliver your pitch
• Use digital media to enhance your network
• Sell add-on services to existing clients for increased revenue

By the end of class, you will have:
The skills to win business, qualify leads, and close new accounts. You'll also know how to structure client relationships, account for scope creep, and offer additional services to maximize returns.

The online classroom has several components:

• Lessons: Learn new skills through writtenand video-based lessons
• Discussion: Join a weekly live, interactive discussion via IM and video
• Assignments: Complete homework and receive instructor feedback
• Forums: Exchange resources, meet peers, and ask your instructor questions

Mediabistro Self-Paced Courses: Learning for the independent-minded. No teachers, no fellow students. Just a rich multimedia curriculum designed to teach you what you need to know.

DETAILS

No matter what your role, you need to be able to communicate effectively on camera. Learn how to prepare for live and taped media appearances, address interview questions clearly, and ensure that you look and sound your best onscreen.

Whether you’re promoting your personal brand, business, or client, we'll cover everything from dealing with difficult questions, to using a teleprompter, to what to wear. You'll work independently, at your own pace, with our video lessons, written assignments, and lists of other resources.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Appear on live television with poise and confidence
• Think and speak in sound bites 
• Understand what to expect when you arrive at a studio
• Prepare notes in advance
• Conceive of video promotion projects

Check out the complete syllabus.

The self-paced course includes:

• A video introduction with Mediabistro's Carmen Scheidel
• Six video lessons with expert advice from Mediabistro instructors who specialize in public speaking, on-camera reporting, and presentation skills
• Written lessons and crib sheets that will help you prepare for your on-camera appearance, whether you have days, weeks, months, or (gulp!) hours to prepare
• Lists of resources to guide your search for more information

By the end of class, you will have:
A thorough understanding of how to prepare for on-camera appearances and experience filming and self-assessing your performance.

How the self-paced classroom works:

• You have access to the course platform for three months. Please note, if you sign up after 6 pm ET Monday-Friday, your email invitation will be sent the following business day.
• Mediabistro's education team is available to answer your questions.
• There are no other students and no instructor. Students are invited to post comments on our community forum of media professionals to interact with others in the field.

All classes are available online, with select classes also offered in NYC.

WHAT Six courses leading to a complete skill set in public relations. Plus AvantGuild membership and a Freelance Marketplace listing.

DETAILS

Mediabistro's Public Relations Certificate Program provides extensive practical training in the expanding field of PR. You'll progress through our series of public relations classes and learn how to use social media to spread your message. In the electives of your choice, you'll learn more about blogging or branding. By the end of the program, you'll know how to get maximum results for your client, your product, or personal brand.

You'll also get access to Freelance Marketplace and AvantGuild.

Mediabistro is the premier online education program for media professionals. When you graduate from the program, you will receive certification that will enhance your resume -- and your job prospects. 

By the end of the program, you will be able to:

• Produce clear, succinct press releases, pitch letters, media advisories, and other marketing materials
• Target and pitch top media outlets
• Understand how to use online distribution platforms to reach your audience and develop your client base

Course of Study

The certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete the 4 required courses and 2 electives within one year. Students receive a letter of completion and certificate suitable for display.  

Required Courses

• Public Relations
• Public Relations: Media Training and Relations
• Public Relations: New Business Development
• Public Relations: Incorporating Social Media and Multimedia

Choose Two Electives

• Social Media 101 or Social Media Marketing Boot Camp
• Brand Writing
• Speechwriting
• Event Planning
• Email Marketing

Additional Resources

The Mediabistro Public Relations Certificate Program includes access for 12 months to the following mediabistro.com resources:

• Freelance Marketplace
  Showcase your work and get jobs from managers who need to fill editorial assignments.
• AvantGuild
  Make your professional life a little easier and a lot more productive with premium access to mediabistro.com's career-focused resources, editorial content, discounts, and other member benefits.

Admission and Enrollment

Students have 2 certification options.

1) Enroll in each required class separately and apply for certification when you have completed all requirements.

2) Enroll in the full program for $1650. Only program enrollees receive priority notice about upcoming courses, expedited enrollment, 1 year of access to Freelance Marketplace and AvantGuild.

Courses must be completed within one calendar year. Questions? Email us.