As I reflect on this past summer and everything that I’ve experienced and learned, there are a few key lessons about public interest communications that I want to highlight.
Through my internship with the Human Rights Watch, I really learned about the power of collaboration. This was my first time working with a large, international organization, and I loved seeing how everyone worked together to reach a common goal. Researchers would frequently collaborate on reports, departments would collaborate with one another on projects, and HRW even collaborated with outside organizations to exchange notes and access as well as push forward important campaigns. I learned a new meaning to the expression “it takes a village.” These big changes and movements don’t happen overnight, and they certainly aren’t the result of a single individual or organization. They are the result of collective action, which is arguably one the biggest factors in creating positive social change. Furthermore, I learned about the importance of involving the community in the action. The primary research method for HRW’s reports is conducted through interviews in an effort to hear from the people affected firsthand and amplify local voices. Building relationships with community members, listening to their stories, and giving them a platform to share what solutions they feel would be most effective is an important part of public interest communications.
As a public relations major, another big takeaway for me is that words matter. I saw this a lot when I learned about the writing and editing process for pitches and press releases. I was reminded of how important it is to keep your target audience in mind and ensure that the language is clear and concise with minimal jargon. I also learned about this on a larger level as I participated in many meetings that spoke about what terms were appropriate to use when speaking about specific topics. Language is important, especially in this field, because it has the power to reinforce negative stereotypes and push narratives, which can ultimately do more harm than good for the communities that we are trying to support. If you change the way an issue is talked about and reframe the narrative, then it becomes possible to change the conversation and therefore change the type of solutions being considered.
I had so many great experiences this summer from getting to know my cohort, working at HRW, and exploring D.C. I’m so grateful for this opportunity, and I know that I will carry these important lessons with me throughout my career. Something that really stood out to me this summer from everyone in this field that we met and spoke with is the passion they all have for this work. This is more than just their 9-5 job. It’s their calling. That mindset and perspective is what I will be moving forward with more than anything. The senior office manager at HRW has a quote in her email signature that I saw throughout my many email exchanges with her this summer. It’s a quote by Alice Walker, and it says, “Activism is the rent I pay for living on this planet.” I intend to pay that rent.