University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism students traveling to Virginia for overnight embark aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN77)
September 26, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: CDR Dave Hecht, M.A., APR+M
Force Public Affairs Officer
Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic
1562 Mitscher Ave., Suite 300
Norfolk, Va. 23551-2427
Phone: 757-836-4375
Cell: 757-288-9525
Norman, Okla.– Five University of Oklahoma students will embark overnight aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN77) as part of a six-month long research project auditing and evaluating the public affairs efforts of four aircraft carriers. From September 27 – 29, the five strategic communications students will be in Norfolk, Virginia to meet with the Public Affairs Officers from Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic as well as USS George H.W. Bush to get a better understanding of the scope of the project, dubbed #AgencyUnderway.
The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma students are participating in this unique project, believed to be the first of its kind. The overnight embark is a rare opportunity for the students to observe the subject of their research up-close-and-personal. This type of embark is usually reserved for distinguished visitors such as organization CEOs, politicians and celebrities.
“We selected these particular Sooners because of the skills they have learned and displayed in our student-run agency, Lindsey + Asp,” said Bob “Pritch” Pritchard, Lindsey + Asp Public Relations advisor and retired U.S. Navy Captain. “Our agency is unique, and our members gain unique skills and experience that cannot be found on any other campus. This project is a prime example of this.”
After a six-month evaluation of the external communications and social media efforts of two carriers in the Atlantic and two in the Pacific, the project will conclude with an analysis of each carrier’s effectiveness and the development of a “Best Practices” document that can be used by future carriers during deployment and work-ups in preparation for deployment. Their analysis will also be used as a basis for a paper to be presented at an academic conference in the spring.
“I’m very excited to see the results of this research, as research is the only way that we can truly understand what works and what doesn’t in public relations,” said Commander Dave Hecht, Naval Air Force Atlantic Public Affairs Officer. “You can’t do public relations from the gut, it has to be based on real data.”
To follow this project, use the hashtag #AgencyUnderway on social media. Also follow Lindsey + Asp on Twitter at @LindseyAndAsp, where they will be keeping up with all the members on this project and their experience.
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About Lindsey + Asp
Lindsey + Asp was founded in August of 2009 and is the premiere learning laboratory for advertising and public relations in the Gaylord College at the University of Oklahoma. The agency consists of more than 100 advertising, public relations, marketing, visual communication and creative media production students in service to fourteen clients.
About Gaylord College
Ranked in the top ten of all journalism programs in the nation, Gaylord College offers undergraduate majors in journalism, creative media production, public relations, advertising, and professional writing. The College takes pride in providing its nearly 1,000 students and graduate students with cutting-edge learning experiences inside and outside of the classroom.
About the University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma, USA. Founded in 1890, today the university has over 30,000 students and offers baccalaureate, master’s, doctorate and professional programs. David Lyle Boren, a former U.S. Senator and Oklahoma governor, has served as president of the University of Oklahoma since 1994.