Shannon Fonseca
We sat down with Shannon Fonseca, a recent 2020 graduate, to chat with her Q&A-style about what it’s like navigating the world of PR during a pandemic.
1. Introduce yourself! Tell us a little about yourself and what you do professionally.
My name is Shannon Fonseca, I graduated from CSUN in Spring 2020 with a B.A. in Journalism- Public Relations and a minor in Popular Culture Studies. I currently work at an entertainment marketing agency as a PR and Social Strategist, where I work to promote campaigns we create for high-profile clients including Netflix and Disney+.
2. Why did you choose to go to CSUN? What made you decide to go into PR?
It's quite a funny story actually, I really didn't want to go to CSUN at first. I had my heart set on a school on the east coast, but CSUN ended up being the most affordable option. Little did I know, CSUN would afford me a wealth of opportunities and a strong market for internships. I began my freshman year with a major in Journalism, but shortly realized a career in editorial wasn't for me. After taking an introductory PR class, just out of sheer curiosity, I realized that PR allowed me to still write, but also focus on areas I'm passionate about— in my case, entertainment— and the rest is history!
3. What has been your favorite project or campaign you've worked on and why?
My favorite project I've worked on so far was for Netflix's Hubie Halloween because it combined two of my favorite things: streaming services and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. My agency was tasked to create an engaging campaign for the film targeted to Gen Z, so we built an entire ACNH island filled with mini games and branded experiences. Then, we brought in talent from the film and popular ACNH streamers to create a one-of-a-kind live experience that connected fans to their favorite creators. It was actually the first project of my career that I wasn't an intern for, so it was a real "pinch me" moment to work on something that not only leveraged two of my interests, but also served as a stepping-off point for my career.
4. If you could go back and give your college self any advice about working in the industry what would it be?
Network, network, network! As PR professionals, we constantly learn about relationship management for our clients, but it's very underestimated how important it is to apply those skills to ourselves as well. Especially in the entertainment industry, it's vital to keep in contact with classmates, fellow interns, etc. You'll truly never know when you'll need to make a call to a connection.
5. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Without a doubt, in ten years I see myself as either a Sr. Publicist or VP, Publicity at Disney+. If you know me, you know my love for the Disney brand and the groundbreaking content (and campaigns) they've released for the platform. As a publicist passionate about the content niche, their work inspires me to push the boundaries when it comes to campaign strategy, and I plan to be a part of that magic one day.
Shannon Fonseca will undoubtably rise to the top in the entertainment PR world before our eyes and her desire to work tirelessly in today’s climate is admirable. Be sure to catch up with all our Agency 398 successes over on our Instagram @Agency398.