In the fall of her senior year, Rachel Heatherly began working as lead designer for the East Tennessean. She graduated from ETSU in 2019 with a degree from the Department of Media and Communication, where she concentrated in advertising/public relations and minored in history.
Because Rachel has a passion for music, she wrote two stories for us: one on the SGA fall 2018 concert with Judah & the Lion and another about a Drake Bell performance at a Johnson City venue.
Rachel began a public relations internship with Essential Broadcast Media, LLC in Nasheville, Tennessee, after graduation. She now works with EBM as a publicity coordinator. Her duties include formatting press releases, managing tour press and reports.
EBM has a roster of around 30 entertainment clients, ranging from George Strait and Kenny Chesney to the likes of comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. In November 2019, Rachel even had the opportunity to work on the CMA Awards red carpet.
We asked Rachel about her career and how working for the East Tennessean prepared her for it.
Q: What do you enjoy about your job?
A: It’s constantly changing, and I’m constantly learning.
Q: How did the East Tennessean prepare you for your current role?
A: Working for the East Tennessean gave me great perspective on the day-to-day of a publication: deadlines, writers’ personalities and styles, and types of stories to consider. This serves as great background now as I am constantly in PR works with publications – both print and digital.
