Interns increase publicity, motivate boss at Computers for Classrooms

By Jennifer Wright

Chico State interns have gained hands-on public relations experience while working for Computers for Classrooms, and have also encouraged their supervisors to make more media-pitching efforts themselves.

The interns have increased overall public awareness for CFC, an organization that recycles computers to supply low-income families and schools with functioning computers.

The media attention CFC has received has greatly increased since working with public relations interns, said Pat Furr, the intern supervisor.

“They have also jogged me into making phone calls that have gotten us more publicity,” Furr said.

One of Furr’s former interns worked closely with the Chico News & Review to get photographs and stories published, she said.

The CFC public relations intern has many responsibilities, mainly centered on publicizing drop-offs of computers to schools. The intern assists CFC in obtaining donations to support its cause, as well as educating the public on what the organization does.

Writing press releases, public service announcements and pitching to local news stations are also regular occurrences on the job, said spring 2008 intern Kara Wardley.

The intern is responsible for acquiring as much media attention as possible about reusing computer parts, which is 25 times more beneficial to the environment than recycling, Wardley said.

Wardley enjoys working at CFC because the organization supports a good cause and helps the community, she said.

“Any publicity CFC receives means more computers for those in need, so it is extremely rewarding,” Wardley said.

Photo by: Kara Wardley

PR in the Community Home Page