Athens, Ga. – Students at the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication will be the beneficiaries of an innovative new fellowship program designed to address the growing convergence between public relations, marketing and advertising.
Four Omnicom Group agencies in Atlanta will host six-month fellowships to provide students with multidisciplinary marketing communications experiences. The agencies include BBDO Atlanta, Porter Novelli, Ketchum and Fleishman-Hillard.
The Omnicom/Grady Future Leaders Fellowship will kick off in January with the first group of three to five fellows. Each UGA student will work at a public relations agency and an advertising agency and will be mentored by a representative of a third marketing discipline from companies such as Bernard Hodes Group, OMD, GO! Productions, Nancy Bailey & Associates and Changing Our World Inc.
“The dynamics in the field are changing rapidly and require a broader perspective and facility with advertising, public relations, social media and beyond,” said Chris Hall, president and CEO of BBDO Atlanta, speaking on behalf of participating Omnicom Group agencies. “The fellowship with the Grady College allows for our organizations to participate in the development of top talent through this innovative program.”
While Grady already offers its students a number of high-profile internships with global companies, the Omnicom/Grady Future Leaders Fellowship is the first program to provide agency experience across the three disciplines of advertising, public relations and marketing.
“Grady has a rich history and reputation for being forward-thinking, and this program brings an integrated approach that will keep the college at the leading edge for students who want to get into the marketing profession,” said Cully Clark, dean of the Grady College.
With the lines between marketing communications disciplines continuing to blur, the industry is demanding practitioners who offer holistic expertise.
“We’re looking for tomorrow’s leaders right now,” Hall said, “and this program will help us identify them. The fellowship with Grady College is an example of our commitment and innovation in talent recruitment and development.”
Tom Reichert, head of the Grady College department of advertising and public relations, expects the fellowship to expand in student numbers over time. He encourages interested students to apply through Grady College advertising and public relations faculty. A faculty review committee will select top applicants who will then interview with Omnicom participating agencies.
The Omnicom Group is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.
Established in 1915, the UGA Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication offers undergraduate majors in journalism, advertising, public relations, digital and broadcast journalism and mass media arts. The college offers two graduate degrees and is home to the Knight Chair in Health and Medical Journalism and the Peabody Awards, internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious prizes for excellence in electronic media. For more information, see www.grady.uga.edu or follow @UGAGrady on Twitter.