Ruth-Ann Dafoe Wins the David Milliken Media Communications Award

TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Ruth-Ann Dafoe, a fourth year Bachelor of Public Relations (BPR) student at Humber College, Toronto, is the winner of the first $1,000 David Milliken Media Communications Award. Established by CNW to celebrate senior vice-president Milliken's thirty years' service to the company, the Award recognizes his commitment to the important relationship between journalism and public relations. Milliken served as chair of the BPR development committee at Humber.

"It is an honour to present this award to Ruth-Ann Dafoe, an exceptional student who has demonstrated a thorough understanding of best practices in media relations," said Nicole Guillot, CNW president and CEO.

Dafoe's 750-word submission to the award competition addressed A Two-Way Symmetric Communications Model and its relevance to media relations. She demonstrated how her education taught and instilled in her the importance of establishing media relationships and how she incorporated this knowledge at her internship placement with DDB Public Relations, Toronto.

The jury, comprising two journalists and two senior public relations practitioners, was impressed with Dafoe's work and the calibre of instruction being offered in the BPR program at Humber.

According to PM Rendon, account supervisor at DDB Public Relations, Dafoe understood the importance of niche media list development, how to identify strategic story angles, the best way to pitch a story, and how to conduct smart follow-ups. "She also helped organize a launch event for media where she was able to get to know even more about their specific needs," he said. "Her education and intern placement are a solid base on which to build a strong career as a media relations practitioner and beyond that as a public relations professional."

In addition to her intern placement at DDB, Dafoe has worked with Humber College's Humber Launch Incubator as Research Assistant-Public Relations and Communications, and has worked with Daisy Mae Public Relations in New York, where she was assistant to the director of public relations.  She continues at DDB doing media relations for a variety of clients.

As a volunteer, she works with Start2Finish, Toronto, where she helped motivate 52 children at North Kipling Public School to improve fitness and reading abilities, and also handles media relations activity.

The David Milliken Media Communications Award funds are managed by the Communications + Public Relations Foundation. The Foundation promotes the advancement of communications and public relations as vital functions in society, is dedicated to the public interest, and is committed to increasing public knowledge and awareness of the role of communications and public relations in daily life. The Foundation accepts individual and corporate contributions towards research and educational initiatives nationwide.

For more information about the Foundation and its public relations educational initiatives, contact Barbara Sheffield, Executive Director, Communications + Public Relations Foundation, Suite 1515, 73 Widdicombe Hill Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, M9R 4B3, or phone  [phone], or e-mail [email protected].

Note to Media: A photo of Dafoe is available by contacting the Foundation.

SOURCE: Communications + Public Relations Foundation

Barbara Sheffield, APR, FCPRS, [phone] or [phone], [email protected]