Ben Z Samples
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Welcome and thank you for visiting my online portfolio. Here you can browse a brief selection of my work for organizations including the U.S. Olympic Committee's Office of Media and Public Relations and Texas Tech University's Office of Communications and Marketing. With nearly five years of internship and full-time public relations experience, I have cultivated a well-rounded skill set in strategic planning, project management, writing, editing and researching - all while managing multiple projects under strict deadlines. I am currently working with a leading integrated agency planning and implementing social media and PR initiatives for Fortune 500 clients. Ben Z Samples 1106 SE 13th Ave #204 • Portland, Oregon 97214 Education
Experience
Other Activities and Qualifications
"Emerging media is anything that is new. It's not just blogs, it's not just podcasts, but it's being on the edge - being aware of what is coming." -Michael Pranikoff, director of emerging media, PR Newswire
In today's ever-evolving world of public relations and social media, last week is already obsolete. I work tirelessly (and love it!) to stay on the forefront of the social media frontier and plan ahead for tomorrow's opportunities. Below are a few samples of my work: Independent Study:
Blog:
Texas Tech University's capstone public relations course divides seniors into teams that develop and pitch a complete campaign plan to a real-world client. As Project Manager for my six-person team, I was responsible for the supervision and delegation of all tasks throughout the four-month project. The assigned client was Communities in Schools (CIS), a nationwide non-profit dropout prevention organization. Within the Lubbock community, CIS had extremely low brand recognition and community support. Through in-depth primary research and analysis, my team developed a thorough, result-oriented strategy to position CIS as a valued member of the community and the leading organization working with at-risk youths. As a result of my team's efforts, CIS selected our campaign for implementation. Below is a sample of content we produced for CIS: During the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, I served as producer and co-editor of 16 USA Daily Wrapups. The Wrapups contained complete results, medals and records for all 597 Team USA athletes. The timeliness and accuracy of the Wrapup was essential, as it was distributed to more than 1,500 media outlets, press officers, and Olympic supporters and staff worldwide. Click below for a sample USA Daily Wrapup
Note: Please contact me for more samples of my feature writing. .PDF Version // Published Version Paralympian Laura Schwanger thought her competitive career was over. In 1996, the 38-year-old Schwanger had retired with an impressive resume that included three Paralympic Games and 11 track & field medals. But it wasn’t until after a routine mammogram 10 years later that she faced her most daunting opponent yet – breast cancer. Schwanger was no stranger to receiving bad news from doctors. In 1981, while serving active duty in the Army, Schwanger was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that would leave her in a wheelchair and eventually lead to her Paralympic track & field destiny. The news of cancer, however, was not something Schwanger was prepared for. “I always knew I wasn’t going to die of MS,” Schwanger said. “The doctors said I might die from the side-effects, such as my legs giving out, but the cause of death wasn’t going to be MS. But with cancer, the cause of death is cancer.” After grueling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation in 2006, Schwanger was left feeling weaker and more fatigued than ever before in her life. Her inner-athlete yearned to get back into form. “I knew I had to do something to get my strength and endurance back,” Schwanger said. “I saw documentation on how good rowing and paddling is for breast cancer survivors. It was the ideal thing to use my upper body and regain my strength and range of motion. “Also, I wanted to be part of those breast cancer survivors who were out there rowing.” Schwanger received an invitation from a friend in Philadelphia to join a rowing group for the disabled, an offer she welcomingly accepted. Starting slowly with only two days of training a week, the positive effects of the sport were profound, both physically and mentally. “Each day I was feeling stronger and less tired,” Schwanger said. “I looked forward to those days that I was going out to row with the group. Just getting out and enjoying life. “It was great to feel a good tired because I knew I had physically worked my body. Not because I was weak from illness.” Only six months after joining the rowing group Schwanger received her classification as an arms-only rower and was made eligible to enter competitions. The rest, as they say, is history. “I’m very athletic and pick up new sports very quickly,” Schwanger said. “I’m also very competitive. Give me a new challenge and I’ll do my darndest to succeed.” And succeed is just what she did. In 2007, one year after undergoing cancer treatment, Schwanger entered the U.S. National Championships – and won. The victory earned her an invitation to the World Championships in Munich, where she placed sixth and also qualified for her fourth Paralympic Games. “To know that I have done this 12 years after I retired, and to do it in a different sport that is so incredibly anaerobic is amazing,” Schwanger said. “After all I’ve been through; I can’t even put the feeling into words. Excited just doesn’t even come anywhere near describing it.” Today, at nearly 50 years of age, Schwanger trains in the water eight to 10 times a week and uses meditation and mental imagery techniques to prepare for the Beijing Games in September. A path the once-retired Paralympian never thought she would be following. “I would not be doing this if I had not had breast cancer,” Schwanger said. “To be able to say I’ve survived cancer, anything that I do is a success. And if I can beat cancer, I can beat any of those other young women in the competition.” Note: Please contact me for more news release samples. .PDF Version // Published Version For Immediate Release Polo Ralph Lauren Official Olympic Collection Now Available In Stores COLORADO SPRINGS , Colo. – You might not be able to run, swim or jump like a U.S. Olympic or Paralympic athlete – but at least you can dress like one. Note: Please contact me for more media advisory samples. Click below to view my multimedia advisory.
Questions? Comments? I want to hear from you. So choose your favorite flavor and connect with me! E-mail: Ben.Z.Samples@gmail.com |
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