The Journalism, Publicity, and PR Masterclass Shines A New Light On Careers In the Entertainment Industry
Nafissatou Yattassaye
Photographer: Marcus Morales
Amidst the iconic New York Fashion Week, NYFW, the City College of New York brought the fashion and talent directly into Shepard Hall.
The ‘Journalism, Publicity, and PR Masterclass’ hosted by CCNY’s PRSSA and AAF’s chapter brought together three distinct individuals, Darralynn Hutson, Monae Everett, and Tasha Stoute, whose work ranged from writing, publicity, and hairstyling.
With each guest coming from a different sector of fashion and entertainment, the masterclass gave students the chance to hear firsthand what it takes to build a career in industries that are highly competitive.
Photographer: Marcus Morales
Photographer: Marcus Morales
Photographer: Marcus Morales
Darralyn Hutson, an award-winning journalist and media professional, has spent over two decades working in journalism and PR. Her work has been featured by a wide range of brands, including Vogue Italia, Essence, Food & Wine, and Ebony, with a keen focus on culture, fashion, and entertainment across minority groups, including Black plus-sized models.
For those interested in journalism, Hutson was a promising figure for people struggling with how to start and what their end goal should be. Hutson emphasized the importance of ‘relationships and networking,’ understanding that a career doesn't always follow one specific career path. She noted how some of her major opportunities, such as attending the Super Bowl, were through her colleague and panelist, Tasha Stoute, who helped her “get into rooms that I didn’t think I would be in,” Hutson shared. Her experiences show that working in this industry can be hard but doable, and many of her opportunities helped her gain experience in media, entertainment, and other creative fields.
Tasha Stoute, an entertainment publicist and owner of strongarmmedia, came to CCNY with years of experience under her belt and a different view of building a career in Ad/PR. As an entertainment publicist, Stoute manages a vast majority of artists' image and helps build media relationships and keep them in the ‘spotlight,’ as Stoute shared. Stoute shared that, throughout her career, she has won multiple campaigns for record labels, album launches, and more, which inspired students to learn more about building a career in publicity. She noted that when building a career in this field, it’s important to “network and gain internship experience,” adding that her willingness to put herself out there in a crowd led to work with major names in the entertainment industry.
Monae Everett, a celebrity hairstylist, brought a different side of the industry to students, presenting a career that isn’t always discussed. As a celebrity hairstylist, educator, and beauty expert, Everett has appeared in editorial pieces, on television, on red carpets, at fashion shows, and in entertainment. She has worked with clients ranging from Viola Davis and has had her work featured in Essence, InStyle, etc. Everett’s appearance showed students that behind-the-scenes work often goes unnoticed. Behind the scenes of fashion is often more important than the final image, especially when working with clients who want to change their appearance and need to listen to the team, as Everett and Tasha Stoute emphasized during students' Q&A.
The Masterclass gave students a more realistic outlook on the fashion and entertainment world through a heartfelt, sentimental discussion. For CCNY students, this event was more than learning how to build a career in this field; it also let them ask professionals questions, network, and continue the conversation beyond Shepard Hall.
During a week when New York City became the epicenter of fashion, CCNY students experienced the industry without leaving campus.
