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Week 12 #socialstudentThere are no major changes at the top this week, but we welcome four new names to our top 20 list. UCAS figures show decline in University applications
The number of UK students applying for university has fallen by almost 9% compared to 2011, making it the steepest fall for 30 years. Week 11 #socialstudent
After the volatility of the early weeks, our #socialstudent ranking has now settled down. There has been no change in the top four places and no new names or departures this week. Roll up for the PR Prom
On Thursday 23 February, from 7.00pm until late, 500 of the top PRs in the UK will come out in force at Shoreditch Town Hall in London in support of Bright One, the volunteer-run communications agency for the third sector. Get paid to learn PR
In spring 2012 the Taylor Bennett Foundation is running its award-winning PR training programme in association with MHP Communications. This programme has been designed to address the lack of ethnic minorities in the PR industry. The deadline for applying to the next Taylor Bennett Foundation Programme is Monday 27 February 2012. Who plays live at Leeds?
On 2 February 2012, Liverpool band The Hummingbirds are playing The Dry Dock, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds. The gig starts at around 9:30pm, free entrance. Week 10 #socialstudent
This week Hanif Leylabi consolidates his lead and we welcome Jasmine Bell into the top twenty. Sign up for PR careers day
The PRCA is holding a careers day for students and graduates looking to work in PR. It’s at the Natural History Museum in London on Thursday 1 March 2012. Week 9 #socialstudent
This week, Hanif Leylabi retains his place at the top and we welcome Emma Catchpole to the top twenty. University backs student entrepreneur
A Leeds-based creative agency which was co-founded by a Leeds Metropolitan University student and two recent University of Leeds graduates has been given funding for office space by the Enterprise Office at Leeds Metropolitan University. Visualising is key to learning
New Mac software from Sonocent helps students and professionals by making note taking from recorded lectures and interviews an easy, visual process. Week 8 #socialstudent
For our first table of 2012, Hanif Leylabi retains his place at the top. There are five new names in the top twenty this week – and ten universities are now represented. Jukebox choir bring festive cheer to Christmas shoppers
White Christmas’ received the most requests as shoppers in Leeds chose their favourite Yuletide songs to be performed by the Bagel Nash Christmas Choir on the last shopping weekend before Christmas. Student wins prize for political cartoon
An undergraduate studying on the BA Honours Illustration degree at the University of Westminster, has won the prestigious ‘Political Cartoon of the Year 2011′ prize awarded by the Political Cartoon Society. End of year #socialstudent ranking
For our final table of 2011, Hanif Leylabi regains his place at the top. We also welcome new entrants Chelsey Hobson and Chloe Berry straight into the top ten. #socialstudent week six
This week, the first four places are unchanged, but Emily Payne has continued her steady progress and has broken into the top five and challenged the male monopoly on top places. Win a place for dinner in parliament
CIPR students are invited to write their way to a place at the prestigious Maggie Nally Lecture and buffet dinner at the Houses of Parliament. Launch of PR apprenticeships
A new apprenticeship programme for non-graduates who want to get into the public relations industry has been launched by the PRCA and Pearson in Practice. Trying to find 2012′s PR Graduate Schemes? Look no further
Now is the time of year that PR students soon to graduate should be looking into graduate PR schemes at the top agencies, to start work in 2012. It may be quite daunting and not the first thing on your list with assignment deadlines and the joy of Christmas, but it is certainly no old [...] Here come the boys: #socialstudent week five
This week, we have a new leader (Yasin Akgun), we have five different universities in the top five – but no women. What shall we do with the drunken Facebooker?
A law firm and a PR consultancy have teamed up to offer employers a session on managing the risk of staff being on social media. Socialstudent list: week four
This week, Hanif Leylabi has increased his lead and Chelsea Galpin is the highest new entrant into the top 10. Predictions made for 2012
PR consultancy 33 Digital has published its third annual trends paper, Ten Driving Forces in Digital Marketing. Bagel Nash appoints youth agency for rebrand
Bagel Nash has appointed Two Birds One Stone, a Leeds-based creative agency, to handle the rebrand of its 11 outlets in Leeds, Huddersfield, Manchester and York. The CRAPPs PR-journalist awards are back!
The Communicative Relations Awards from PR Professionals (The CRAPPs) are back for 2011, celebrating the special relationship between the media and public relations professionals once more. Bright lights, small town
A Harrogate communications consultancy is celebrating wider industry recognition. Socialstudent list: week three
In this week’s #socialstudent top 20, Hanif Leylabi has consolidated his lead and Sarah Moffatt is the highest new entrant. Fast track membership for graduates
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is set to make changes to membership grades affecting students in 2012. These three words: Back. It. Up.
Imagine returning home from an evening out to find your house has been burgled and your laptop taken. It has just happened to second year PR student Rebecca Wharmby, who tells the story. New #socialstudent leader
Last week, we introduced our #socialstudent ranking. This week, we’ve updated the numbers, included some new entrants and have expanded the list to a top 20. Introducing our #socialstudent leaders
Today, Behind the Spin has released a list of the top ten #socialstudents according to their presence on social media. Editor Richard Bailey introduces this new ranking. Intern campaign gains support
An industry campaign against unpaid internships is winning support from public relations consultancies. Event to open doors for creative talent
Students and freelancers are to be given the chance to showcase their talent to the media and digital sector at a special event in Leeds this Thursday. Two PR grads now leading the profession
Two graduates from the UK’s longest established undergraduate public relations degree have just been announced as Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Hunt for The Student Apprentice begins in Leeds
Alex Epstein, star of BBC show The Apprentice, will join a panel of business professionals for an entrepreneurial event launched by Leeds-based creative agency, Two Birds One Stone. Top PR courses named
The Public Relations Consultants’ Association (PRCA) has announced a universities engagement programme by naming eleven ‘elite’ universities offering PR and communication degree courses. Some graduates earn less than average
Graduates earn almost twice as much as those educated to GCSE levels, but 20% of graduates earn less than average according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics. FutureYou reveals the serious emotional dangers in store for UK school leavers
As A-level results are released and thousands of school and college leavers flood onto the over-crowded jobs and university places market, the stark reality of becoming NEET (a young person ‘not in education, employment or training’) is uncovered by FutureYou – an online careers mentoring community designed to offer emotional and practical support to young people aged 14 – 25. Two Birds One Stone offer brands the youthful touch
Leeds based communications agencies, Magpie Comms and Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger, have launched a new youth offering which will provide public relations and graphic design support for brands targeting the youth market. The team, which is made up of recent graduates and current Leeds Met students hopes that the new venture will create job opportunities for their peers once the new academic year begins. Diversity drive seeks support
A Yorkshire PR agency has called on the communications industry in the North of England to work with them to address the lack of diversity in the communications profession. Mentor scheme leads to appointment
A Cheltenham-based PR consultancy has recruited a permanent member of staff following experience of the CIPR mentoring scheme. And the winner is…
Bournemouth student Francesca Larkin has been voted the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) National Student Representative of the Year 2011. CIPR membership growing
The CIPR ended 2010 with 9,455 members – a 3% rise during the year, according to Chartered Institute of Public Relations annual annual report published today. Student PR for start-ups
London Metropolitan University’s business incubator is launching an in-house student PR agency as part of its award-winning Student Enterprise Programme. Recruitment group to take 80 graduates
Adecco Group, the UK’s largest recruiter, has announced a graduate recruitment programme with up to 80 places available this year. Lottery to fund citizen journalism
The Media Trust has today received £1.89 million from the Big Lottery Fund to support citizen journalism and to create an innovative UK network of local community news hubs that will support and empower local groups to tell their stories for online, broadcast and print media. Search on for prize-winning dissertations
Two prizes of EUR 500 are to be awarded for the best BA and MA dissertations in the field of online communication and social media in the European Digital Communication Awards. Aberdeen hosts careers in communication event
Four university students have held an event promoting careers in public relations and communications to their classmates, at a jointly sponsored Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and Grampian Public Relations Group (GPRG) event in Aberdeen. Leeds based sports company in search of “professional and self motivated” student
Two Leeds Metropolitan University graduates who started their own business five years ago are on the lookout for a student to develop the company’s PR and marketing strategy. CIPR: back to black
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has returned to surplus in 2010 according to its latest financial statement. Students and bosses call for employability focus
Students want universities to better explain employability skills and to provide more support to help them develop these important competencies, according to a CBI / National Union of Students survey published today. Still a case of men-and-motors
Female graduates are still shunning careers in the car industry, according to research from Autocar. Taylor Bennett Foundation offers experience for ethnic minority students
The Taylor Bennett Foundation is currently open for applications from ethnic minority students seeking experience in public relations. Students turn into teachers
Three students from Leeds Metropolitan University have been promoting public relations to school pupils. A Good Insight Into Good Causes
Ben Matthews, founder of Bright One, looks back on the PR for Good Causes feature on Behind The Spin which was guest edited by the volunteer led agency for the third sector. Pitch wins prizes
Final year students from Leeds Metropolitan University have been celebrating after winning the coveted Grayling Competitive Pitch Prize. Natalie Smith reports. Article10 Presentations apologise over leaked Prince Harry speech
Marketing bosses have apologised to British royal Prince Harry after a draft copy of his speech for his brother Prince William’s upcoming wedding leaked online. We think about the wedding every ten seconds
According to search specialists Greenlight, the Royal Wedding gets a social media mention every ten seconds. Mischief seeks graduate talent
Mischief has joined forces with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in a search for the newest member of its agency team. Measurement, from AVE to ROI
Public relations professor Tom Watson has said that measuring the effectiveness of PR will be increasingly focused on Return on Investment (ROI). Professor Watson, only the second professorial appointment in the field of PR in the UK, was discussing the historical evolution of measuring PR effectiveness in his inaugural lecture at Bournemouth University. Reflecting on [...] Birmingham Student wins Top PR Award.
Birmingham City University student Jarrod Williams has been crowned top of PR in an initiative designed to nurture Birmingham’s creative talent and find the next generation of PR professionals. Jarrod, aged 21, battled against scores of other entrants to win the PR category of B Hive 2011 and prove his worth as the regions top PR student, taking the prize of 2 months paid work experience with some of the Midlands’ top agencies. Paid placement is student essay prize
The winner of an essay competition on measurement and evaluation will be offered a placement in Oxford, accommodation and a £4,000 stipend. Student PR network is three today
Robert French writes: A little over three years ago, I had the idea of starting PROpenMic. I started working on Sunday and the site launched on Monday, April 1, 2008. (Yes, we truly did launch on April Fool’s Day.) Actually, the idea was to start a social network for PR students. A worldwide (or even [...] Students put on ‘art for the heart’ exhibition
Public relations students from Leeds Metropolitan University are holding an art exhibition for heart research. CIPR launches ‘year of the student’
The CIPR values young communicators and their commitment to education and this year is embarking on “Year of the Student and Teacher” to run from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012. Rock opera Tommy for their generation
Middlesex University students have teamed up with The Who’s Roger Daltrey for his performance of rock opera Tommy at the Royal Albert Hall this week. Small steps towards big global society
Public relations students and tutors are using their skills and networks to promote good causes. Here’s a round-up of some current campaigns we’re aware of at Behind the Spin: Japan fundraising PR student Jasmine Bell has started a #makechangeforjapan campaign on Twitter and has already raised almost half of her target of £1000 on JustGiving [...] Guest Editor: PR for Good Causes
Ben Matthews, founder of Bright One, is guest editor for this months PR for Good Causes feature at Behind The Spin. In this post Ben introduces the special feature. Diversity conversation discusses value of degrees
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Diversity Working Group (DWG) has launched its first in a series of ‘conversations’. The first ‘conversation’, with students in London, discussed the importance of a degree as an entry point for a profession. #Yorkshiresuperhero gets the Leeds Corn Exchange trending
A competition launched by the Leeds Corn Exchange to raise awareness of their half-term children’s activities has become a trending topic in Leeds on social media platform Twitter. The #Yorkshiresuperhero competition invites people to suggest what the perfect Yorkshire Superhero would be called and what superpower they would possess. Deadline for social media awards nominations
Deadline for entries to this year’s EuroBlog social media awards is Sunday January 30. Freedom of information tips published
The Information Commissioner’s Office today published a set of top tips on freedom of information for communications professionals working in public authorities. Digital PR agency hiring programme executive
Digital PR firm 33 Digital is looking for new talent to join the team as programme executive. PR agencies who do their homework will win and keep more clients, says Pickanews
A media search engine that enables agency PROs to track online as well as printed coverage is being heralded by the developer as an answer to retaining and winning more clients. PR conferences in 2011
Some dates and links for notable public relations academic conferences in Europe this year. How to break into PR
This CIPR Yorkshire and Lincolnshire networking event for young practitioners will help you break into the competitive and exciting world of public relations. Get paid to travel and fight disease
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is looking for an intern with social media and strong writing skills to join as soon as possible for a period of three months. Brands to come under siege in 2011
A new trends papers predicts that ’2011 will be remembered as the year that exposes brand reputations for their social media frailties’. Charities win £150,000 of PR support
Three charities have won £150,000 of communications support in 2011 by winning the ‘Pitching for Parternship’ competition. Midlands awards signed and sealed
Birmingham-based PR and design agency Seal has been recognised as one of the top agencies in the Midlands after scooping four awards at the annual CIPR PRide event. Revealed: what we do in hotel beds
According to research findings issued today,72% of adults spend their time in bed before falling asleep checking status updates on Facebook. Speed Communications launches The Digital Apprentice
If it’s good enough for Lord Sugar then it’s good enough for us. Speed’s digital apprentice day is in full swing. Which got us thinking. Would be great to give some young, aspiring and talented people out there the opportunity to get involved. Education is key for future of PR and comms
A new paper by two Bournemouth academics argues the importance of education and training to the future of corporate communications. CRAPPs shortlists announced
The shortlists for the Communicative Relations Awards from PR Professionals (The CRAPPs) have been announced today, with finalists in categories ranging from ‘the most likely to tell you to sling your hook’ to the ‘least twattish Twitterer – the must-follow journo’. Digital team offers music PR placement
A social media consultancy for the music industry is offering a long-term internship suitable for a Leeds-based PR student. PR intern wanted at Hotwire PR
The Banking & Finance practice at Hotwire PR, London, are looking for an enthusiastic graduate to join the creative team on a 2-3 month paid PR internship. Consultancy offers diploma with a difference
A public relations consultancy is giving PR students the competitive edge by awarding a “Different Diploma”. Brick Lane Takeover music festival offering 6 month internship
Macmillan’s music festival for charity, Brick Lane Takeover, is looking for a recent graduate wishing to gain valuable experience in Events PR on a 6 month internship. First ever PR-journalist awards launched
The Communicative Relations Awards from PR Professionals (The CRAPPs) have been launched to celebrate the special relationship between the media and public relations professionals. AOL UK launches SafeSocial to protect young people online
AOL UK today launches SafeSocial (www.SafeSocial.co.uk) the first bespoke social media monitoring tool for the UK market, providing parents with an overview of their children’s movements and interactions across prominent social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Leeds Youtube sensation brings music to the Leeds Corn Exchange
Visitors to Primo’s can enjoy their gourmet hot dogs and coffee in style this Sunday as the cafe, based in Leeds Corn Exchange, opens its doors to musician Hannah Trigwell. Primo’s, which also sells artisan ice cream, deli bagels, fresh salads, nachos and fries, has teamed up with the talented Leeds-based singer to bring an afternoon of music to the iconic building from 12.30pm. Theatre company seeks student publicists
A professional theatre company is seeking students to publicise its forthcoming touring production. PR students appointed to launch TV star’s new book
Students from Leeds Metropolitan University and Bournemouth University have been offered the chance to work on a real life PR campaign for Claire Anstey’s new book Sort out Your Crap Life. Claire Anstey is a prominent TV star that has had experience working with Nickelodeon and GMTV and is currently the voice of MTV. Post Halloween PR scaries from 10Yetis
If you’re reading this, chances are, you’re a PR student – perhaps you’ve had some experience in the industry. You may even be a recent graduate or thinking about a career in public relations. If you’ve ever applied for a PR role, or intend to in the future, this one’s for you. Marketing Leeds brings together business leaders in digital debate
More than 200 business leaders are expected to attend an exclusive event to hear about the future of digital technology and how this will affect business in a question and answer-style event this month. Charity seeks student as comms officer
Small UK charity seeks student as comms officer; opportunity to make a difference and travel. Video News Agency launched to meet media’s demand for quality video and other digital content
Video News Agency (VNA) is a new online service for journalists, broadcasters and web editors which provides free-to-use, downloadable video and other digital news content for the media. Comms Chat Student Special
A weekly online chat for PR professionals is to host a student special next week on 18th October. The chat will take place between 8pm and 9pm, October 18th, and the question is ‘Does PR have a duty to tell the truth?’ Leeds Met PR Student hopes stationery creation can send him to Rio
A Leeds Metropolitan University student could be enjoying the holiday of a lifetime in 2011, a trip for two to the Rio Carnival in Brazil, after entering a competition launched by Asda Stationery. Mark Mitchell, a final year Public Relations and Marketing student, is currently in first place with six votes after entering his creation “Steg the Stationerysauraus” in to The Asda Rio Carnival Competition. Students sought to promote ‘Sort Out Your Crap Life’
TV presenter and author Claire Anstey seeks PR student support to promote her new self-help book.
Our main focus is educational and academic news: new courses, new approvals, new people, and developments in training and professional development. But we welcome news releases and will publish occasional stories from the PR industry that stand out for us.
If you're looking for a public relations degree course, visit the CIPR website to see all approved PR degree courses.
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