Twitter, PitchEngine, LinkedIn...Oh My!

I am very pleased with the various social media sites we were introduced to this semester in Gee's class. I feel our experience with them has put us a step ahead of others in our field who have not interacted with them as frequently or at all. I was not sold on Twitter in the beginning. However, after continued use it has grown on me! I am also finding use in reading others' 'tweets' ... constantly updated news as well as Marquette news. Regarding PitchEngine, I enjoyed using this site. It was especially exciting when I noticed the other day that my social media release received over 13o views! And finally, I know we didn't LinkedIn in this class, it was Gee who introduced many students to this site. I have found great benefit in posting a profile on there, and I will continue using it during the remainder of my college experience and then into my professional career

Does the press inform, or create hysteria?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1208/breaking55.html?via=mr

Recently, the Irish pork industry has been making news... internationally. Dioxin has been found in Irish pork products, above safe levels. All over the world, but especially in the UK, there have been sensationalist headlines such as "British shoppers 'may not be able to tell whether they have Irish poison pork in their fridge'". The UK is the biggest importer of Irish pork, so the scare that's taking off there doesn't bode well for Irish pig farmers.

After reading the news story, what do you think? Does the media sometimes make a mountain out of a molehill, or are they just doing their job of informing their audience?

Tweet, Tweet said the Comm. Student

After my experience tweeting on twitter I must say that I am pleasantly surprised in the overall usefulness of the site. At first I thought the idea was a joke but soon realized the niche it has for communication professionals and the use of timely information. The fascinating part of this is that it was interesting for me as a college student I would love to see how useful it would be for me as working professional. If there is one thing I can really take from twitter is to always be on top of what is going on and make sure I’m on the in.

MAC vs PC

I always loved those clever Mac commercials that use an out of date gentleman to serve as a PC. Today as I struggled to finish a final project I realized that I am that PC. I had no skills on a MAC and was useless. It took be 7 hours to do a 3 hour job. I quickly realized that in the creative world it would probably be best to sit down and figure out a Mac and get off my PC high horse. One interesting thing I noted was that you never see a Mac user struggling to use a PC but usually the other way around. As Apples become an interracial part of the communication and creative world I think it serves us communication students to get as much exposure to them as possible. Or maybe that is what Marquette is attempting to do??

Dr. Pepper Faces Legal Battle WITH GNR

In March, Dr. Pepper offered a free drink to consumers if Guns and Roses released its album Chinese Democracy album in 2008. This was part of a disruptive campaign where a product attaches itself to a news story in order to gain attention. GNR feels that Dr. Pepper made it seem as though they were promoting for them and are their lawyers are demanding an apology as well as paying for using the band's publicity This is the first time I have heard about a disruptive campaign. The four goals of a disruptive campaign are to throw out good ideas for the marketing program, reach a mass amount of people, look at other industries and see their perspectives, and set a certain period of time. Overall, I feel that Dr. Pepper executed the campaign effectively, but in the future should check with anyone attached to the campaign and get their permission before running with it.

Facebook v. Google : Social Networking Battles

If there is one thing that blogging has taught me it is how quickly social networking is changing. Once again I am astounded not only by the number of networking sites, but also the quick changes and additional features that are offered by those that already exist.

Two of the most popular websites on the internet, Facebook and Google, are once again head-to-head with application features. Google just launched its 'friend connect' application which allows users to transfer portfolio information from one social network to the other. The application also allows websites to add social networking functions to their pages. Last week, Facebook launched a similar program, creatively titled 'facebook connect,' providing the same features.
It will be interesting to see how these sites continue to advance to keep up with competitors.

Social Media is Changing Business!

I recently read a blog about how social media has profoundly changed business. I thought it was interesting because we have discussed how significant it is that we as PR practitioners engage in interaction with social media in various communication classes at Marquette. The view of social media has dramatically shifted already, and it will continue to as more developments are made in this arena.

The blogger lists five positions related to social media that didn't exist five years ago. One listed is a Blogger Outreach Manager/Blog Cultivation Expert. The article explains that bloggers are a potentially significant new constituency for public relations efforts, and they are the engines that drives successful viral marketing promotions.

Cool!

Chicago Tribune Closing

After over a century of printing out news, the Chicago Tribune has announced it's closing. Instead, it will be replaced with a 24-hour news deck that will service Chicago Tribune websites. Tribune Managing Editor James Oshea says that this is important because the website and breaking news are becoming more important. I agree with this and think that it is more practical to use a website. Today's technology makes access to information quick and easy. Breaking news is now able to be up minutes after it happens. Although it will be sad not to see Chicago Tribune in print, I feel that with the current bankruptcy issue it is necessary to take new action.

To Twitter or not to Twitter?

I'm still not sure how I feel about twitter. I know Gee loves it, which is awesome! But I think it may be a lot more maintenance and upkeep then it's worth. It's like a mini facebook in which you have lot's of status updates. I think it's cool how professionals use it, thus it may be better once you get a career, but right now, I feel like as a student I may not be reaping its benefits. I think with practice, I may learn to appreciate twitter, at least I hope I do. However, I do enjoy blogging more then I used to thanks to blogger.com. I think all these types of social media take some practice, and getting used to. Hopefully with Christmas break approaching I'll have more time to hone my blogging and twittering skills.

Will Black Friday Spending Trend Continue?

While reading PR Weekly I came across an interesting article on holiday spending this season. Although the nation is facing economic hardships, individuals spent an average of 7.2% more than they did last year. The 27 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas challenges communication pros to reach out to their customers. For example, this Christmas season Kmart is offering a lay away program. I believe this is a great PR strategy. Trying to get consumers to open their wallets, while also showing the consumer they are aware of the economic problems the consumer is facing, shows that Kmart is trying to accommodate the customer. Hopefully over the next couple weeks businesses will reach out directly to the consumer, in an effort to promote spending. 

Launch of New Public Relations Agency, VoxPop Public Relations, LLC; Shannon Troughton Named 40 Under 40 by PR Week

A public relations firm has just opened its doors. Shannon Troughton, the former Vice President of Corporate Communications for WellPoint, has just started VoxPop Public Relations, LLC. VoxPop Public Relations is a strategic public relations agency that helps companies and organizations accelerate their growth, profitability, reputation and market presence through media relations, product launches, new media, events and promotions, messaging and media training, trade show support, and issues management.

Shannon Troughton was also named one of the 40 Under 40 by PR Week. Troughton has worked in PR for almost 20 years and has seen a need for more "boutique" PR agencies. She has a diverse background in the PR field and her new agency has topped her list of successes.

I think it is important to reconize people that have taken risks and seen them pay off. By starting her own PR agency in today's market, Troughton has demonstrated her ability to be successful in a tough market.

Youinternship.com

With the semester coming to a close I have started to think ahead to a summer internship. While stressing out about it one night I checked my e-mail and Gee happened to send out an e-mail about a website called, youinternship.com.  I clicked on the link, made an account, and have loved the site ever since. It is a great concept. You get to create a personal profile, with an uploaded resume and recommendations and alot more. The part I like the most is that when searching for an internship you can read feedback from past interns that worked at the company. The site is extremely easy to navigate around, and so far I have found a couple internships I am interested in. I definitely recommend this website to people that are looking for internships, it is great. 

Negative PR in advertising travels fast online

This article discusses how negative PR for advertising travels fast by using online sites like Twitter. The article discusses how Dr. Pepper said they would give a free Dr. Pepper to every American if Guns 'N Roses released their new album Chinese Democracy. They failed to do so and people spread the news around by using online blogging sites.

The article goes on to mention that this is true for any industry. Using online blogger sites like Twitter, help spread good news as well as bad news. It seems that negative publicity always travels faster than positive because negative publicity is more interesting to people.

There are also more examples of how negative PR for advertising spreads faster through bloggers. They go on to mention the Motrin ad campaign as well as others.

Online blogging is definatly the wave of the future in terms of spreading news and keeping in touch with people. This article just goes on to show the power that online bloggers have.

the Real Meaning of Interning

Interning this past semester was an...interesting..experience...I will leave the name of the organization that I interned for unnamed...however I do have a couple of things to say..

1. Overall, I appreciate the experience that I gained from working there for a semester...
2.Would I do another semester of it? No. Definately not..
3. I liked the chance to work on my writing and design skills..working on press releases and creating things that were going to be mailed out to clients/donors was great
4. working on finishing up all the left over stuff that no one else had time to do was something that i could have done without..like folding things and handwriting letters...

I just don't understand...why do they think that just because you're interning you are automatically someone that has time to waste.. I mean the point of interning is to gain knowledge/experience of a certain field...at least I thought that's what it was...But hey, it's something to put on your resume, right?

I'm not gonna lie....twitter kinda stresses me out...

Sorry Gee, I know that you enjoy all the social media and are very good at keeping your profiles up to date but Twitter just seems like another thing I MUST do. First I have to hop onto the internet and check my e-mail which will of course lead me over to Facebook, take a swing around to Linkedin and then hit Twitter? Whew, before I know it, three hours have slipped through my fingers.

I understand the convenience of the website in finding what exactly the media is up to and clicking on a link that someone else suggested. But who really wants to know that I am "currently making breakfast" or "watching TV?" Thus far it appears that Twitter is simply a way to get your voice heard. SOMEONE will surely read the fact that "today, your socks don't match." In order to avoid this, I attempt me to think of incredibly intellectual things to blurt on Twitter like " Your 'Yes' means nothing if you never say 'no'." Whew, this is hard work.

Therefore, I do not think that Twitter is for me. Maybe when I enter the field of PR I'll see the site in a different light.

Twitter Exercise

After getting used to Twitter, I found myself more comfortable using it. I feel like I would be more efficient at posting updates if I knew more people using it, especially family members. I feel that it isn't as personal as facebook, but I like that you can give your background a personal touch. I uploaded a photo I took in Killiney, outside of Dublin, Ireland, of the walls outside of Bono's house. Thousands of fans have visited and written U2 lyrics, their own poems, or just messages.
What I don't like about Twitter is that random people, who you aren't even following, can spot you and ask permission to follow you. Even though you can reject them so that they can't see your updates, it is still pretty annoying. With facebook, I adjusted my settings so that only Marquette students can request to be my friend. I actually received a message- not a tweet- from someone from the UK that I let follow me, who said that he "looked forward to reading my updates." Really? Don't you have better things to do than see what's going on with a random student across the ocean?
I think Twitter is very useful for PR professionals, or any professionals for that matter, in keeping up to date on their respective industries. I just don't understand all of the "lurkers" who try to follow you!

Britney: For the Record ..... Good or Bad PR?

If you have watched MTV or ABC lately you have probably heard a lot about Britney Spears. A documentary, morning special on Good Morning America, new album, her birthday and so on. For a celebrity that has had so much bad publicity and public involvement in her private life in the past few years, it is interesting to see her putting everything "on the record" for MTV and the public. After watching her special I realized that this was a great PR move for the singer. Just as most people have their set opinions about her, she allowed cameras to follow her and tell her side of the story. I think that it made her appear more real to her fans and maybe even made people feel bad for what she has to deal with on a daily basis. For someone who is making a comeback, she sure is doing a good job of getting a lot of attention!

Twitter

After my brief experience with Twitter I found myself with mixed feelings regarding the social networking site. It's one of those things you either love or hate .... or learn to love, I guess. At first, I looked at it as only a "Facebook status" update which seemed fairly useless to me and not very entertaining. I think it is a great tool to get a point across for those who know how to use it properly. After getting familiar with the site, I found myself not necessarily updating it very often, but checking it daily along with my email and Facebook. I think it is a great public relations tool that is able to reach a broad audience. At the same time, it's not something I choose to use at this point but could see it being useful to me in the future!

Something I hope our class blog will never be!

This link is to a list of the "Top 11 Lamest Blogs"  on the internet today.  I looked at the list, and I think it was an accurate assessment.  But it got me thinking about the very fine line of blogging between interesting and just pathetic.  And yet, I LOVE reading blogs.  My obsession began ages ago right when livejournal was getting popular.  I somehow was enthralled by reading every detail of my friends' lives.  (This was the true start to social media, I'd say.) Next it was reading blogs of friends who are abroad- the ideal way to stay connected and hear about all their great adventures.  And now I am obsessed with Marquette basketball blogs, without them I would never stay up to date on statistics and team happenings.  

However, this list of lame blogs is a great reminder for our future in the business world.  Blogging can be a great way to get the word out about a company, but it needs to be done tastefully and be associated with articles people really are interested in reading.  So check out the list, and keep their mistakes in mind and be rest assured that I am confidant our class blog would not be on this list.

Getting to be that time...

Working as a public relations intern has been incredibly beneficial. In fact, I swear that I have learned more at this internship than I have in class thus far. Is that common? However, This internship was my first. Unfortunately, I cannot intern next semester. I am a little nervous about finding a job with only one internship under my belt. I am aware that some of my peers have done at least two or three....

TWITTER!

Well, where do I begin when it comes to Twitter? I have the same feelings as most of the class, it seems. Compared to Facebook, (my social site of choice), Twitter is wayyy less fun, but I like the conciseness of 'tweeting'. I followed some classmates, found a high school friend on the site, and 5 of the people recommended by Gee. I can see how Twitter would be fun, IF I got more of my friends to be on it. Honestly, I didn't care what pitchengine was doing every five minutes, but I was excited to see updates from my friend Zach. I think I'll keep my account, just to see what I can make of building a friend network, and its a good source of PR and web information, too.

The World of Twitter

My experience with Twitter was a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be. It really is a great site to find out what is going on with others you care about and about companies that matter to you as well. I also enjoyed being able to make announcements about my life via twitter. The only real downfall I see currently in twitter is that is a very PR based website, and most of my friends would never be exposed to it. In the future, as twitter's popularity grows - and I am very sure it will- I could see it becoming a very valueable resource for me to keep in touch with others.

I also loved being able to respond to classmates updates, because that is where I believe the real connection comes in via the internet, which is so important as we become more dependant on conecting through social media.

My Twitter Experience

I have mixed feelings about twitter.  I don't feel like I've really gotten anything out of it.  I don't really know if maybe I am just not following the right people but I constantly feel like it is a stream of useless information, with a spattering of good things here and there, but they get lost in the clutter.  I guess I don't understand how it could be an effective communication tool, although I get how ideally it should if everyone always had important posts to make, but I just think that it is kind of a pain to keep up with.  I will probably continue to sign on and off here and there, but in the end I do not really see a purpose for it in my life.  I just feel like it is a trendy thing that everyone wants to be a part of, but I think in the end it hinders communication because even important things could be deemed unimportant because of the constant clutter of communication.

Tweet

Over the past few weeks, my experience with using twitter has overall been a good one. Before this class, I had heard of Twitter, but did not know much about it or its uses. However, after using it for a few weeks now, I have gained an understanding and appreciation of its uses. I have enjoyed checking it daily to see all of the updates. Some of which were very appealing to me, and others which were not. I also enjoyed reading my classmates updates, seeing what they are up to in comparison to what I was doing at the moment.

Although my experience using Twitter for this class was good, I will only continue to Twitter if more of my friends, family, or co-workers join. I see it as a great way to keep in touch with friends and family who are far away, as well as share information with co-workers.

Currently I am convincing my family and friends to join Twitter to have an easier way to keep in touch. I would like to continue to Twitter, as I had a good time doing so for this class, I just hope that more of my friends and family will join. I also see Twitter as a communication tool that I will use in the future to communicate with co-workers, and keep updated on the public relations field.

Twitter

Using twitter has been an interesting experience. It is a great tool to get information out to a lot of people at one time and I wish more people knew about it. As I was using Twitter, you definatly have a wide variety of people using it. For those who use it as a professional tool, it is a great way to spread information about their jobs and what they do.



I think that more people should use Twitter because it is a good way to advertise for their business or get out information about a cause. Twitter could be an important part of the future for PR as well. It is an easy way to tell people to check out what is new with a client or to share new product information.

The only thing that bugged me about Twitter was the people that update every second of the day. I got really annoyed when my whole screen was convered in posts from one or two people. I think that some people have too much time on their hands.

Overall this was a good experience and I will continue to use Twitter.

Twitter Experience

"Tweeting" over the past week and a half has definitely improved my understanding of how Twitter can be used as a social networking tool. I loved spending time looking through all the different people/businesses that have learned to use this communication tool.

To make the most of my account, I found people to follow that relate to my career interests. For example, I am currently very interested in multi-cultural marketing so I searched for accounts that would provide me with updates on the latest developments in this field. I have personally found Twitter to be a great way to stay updated on everything from current events to the latest PR trends to discounts at your favorite store. The only thing I dislike is how fast and often people update their posts. It's hard to keep up on all the latest information unless you are visiting the site very often since some people make new posts every few minutes. Other than that, I find it a great tool and will continue to use my account to stay updated on the changes occurring in the world.

Hello, My Tweeples

Twitter has been an interesting experience so far, but it all seems too fast paced for me, even after this experiment. I found five of the listed accounts to follow, and it seems like there is a new tweet from one of them every other second. Maybe I just don't have the time or the desire to keep up, but Twitter moves way to fast for my taste.

It is clearly beneficial to follow the media accounts, and I understand that now more so than I did before the assignment. Twitter is an excellent networking tool, and hopefully I will have a little more drive, or potentially a little more time, in the future to keep up with my Twitter account. I've definitely come to realize its networking value, so I won't discontinue my account, but I don't know if I will make the effort to keep up with it too closely.

Even with all the people you can follow, the thing I like most about Twitter is the direct messaging. I've communicated with friends through the direct messaging, and it's almost like sending a text message because you have a limited amount of characters available. So all in all, I guess I like the social aspect more than the media aspect of this particular social media tool.

Reaction to Twitter

When I first heard that I would be assigned to use Twitter for a few weeks, I was a bit apprehensive. I did not see the value of the micro-blogging website; in my eyes, the website was relatively pointless and also invaded personal privacy. Rather, I preferred Facebook and did not plan on using any other social-networking websites.

After using Twitter on a regular basis, I have been accustomed to the website. I realize Twitter's value for the public-relations profession as well as other industries. It creates one quick stop to gather information as well as create responses to the customer. However, I think that it is unneeded for personal use. I do not plan on continuing to using the website, purely due to lack of time and the inability to adjust to using it. Yet, I do see a great value in Twitter: it creates connections between a variety of audiences and shares information easily and quickly.

Twitter

After completing the Twitter assignment I know feel that I have expanded my knowledge of the website, and have found myself actually enjoying the website. When I first signed onto the Twitter world I was dumbfounded, I had no idea what to expect. I did not understand how to fully use the site, and to be honest I was unaware of all the benefits that came along with the site. After playing around with the website and starting to add people I wanted to follow, each time I signed on to Twitter I found myself spending more and more time on the site. With each new person I followed I found more and more information being posted that I was interested in. Twitter is a great way to stay up to date on what is currently going on in the world of public relations, and what is going on all around the world. For example, when the Mumbai terror happened I found myself turning to Twitter to read all the up to minute up dates. I know use Twitter to stay informed, and share my thoughts. I am going to keep "Twittering" and hopefully one day I am useful to other people using Twitter, as they are to me. 

The Final Days....

ADPR 181 has been one of the best classes that I have ever take. It has allowed me to actually have hard copies of things that I have worked on and learned throughout the semester. Now I know that many of the other Comm classes provide you with a final project that you can save and treasure but.. How many other classes leave you with your very own portfolio? And this portfolio was no joke, that's for sure. This class has allowed me to learn different PR techniques and social media forms...IT'S AMAZING that all these things like Twitter exist and it's only until you are informed of them that you actually appreciate all that they have to offer! I can only hope that my PR knowledge will increase after this class!

Tweeting

So I'm not going to lie, I had no idea what Twitter was until we were told to make an account during class...and to tell you the truth, I have found it extremely interesting to see what updates have been posted by others. So many things pop up that I feel you never come across just by reading the paper or watching the news. It's neat to see what others have to say and then read the article (if available) to comeup with your own ideas! I'm pretty sure Tweeting will become more popular as soon as more people become aware of the great pros that Tweeting has to offer!

Twitter

When I first made my Twitter account in ADPR class, I did not really know much about it. Now that I have taken the time to actually use it and understand Twitter terminology such as "tweet" and "tweeples" I feel comfortable using it on a daily basis. I now realize that Twitter is a great way to read news updates as well as see what other people I am following are doing. It is interesting to read their new posts and links. I have convinced a few of my friends have created twitter accounts and I hope they find it as useful and interesting as I do! 

PR Blogs-Good to Check Out!

So I was googling to find something neat to write about for my last blog and I stumbled upon this website called PRPerspective which had the lovely slogan "News from PR Pros...For PR Pros".  It claims to post headlines from the best PR bloggers and make it simple to access the best blogs about PR.  It's actually pretty interesting, and while some blogs obviously stray from the PR purpose they claim, there were some pretty neat ones too including one on social media (applying things from class to the real world?!).  I think it would be beneficial for any of us to check out once in awhile just to see what some of these people have to say!

Learning to "Tweet"

After using Twitter for about a week and a half, I am torn on the usefulness of the social media site. I had fun using Twitter and "tweeting" updates on my life and interesting news. While I enjoyed updating the world on my activities, I'm not sure those updates were at all useful to anyone. I can see the possibility for Twitter to be very useful in spreading news and for public relations, but some people hinder this possibility by abusing their "tweeting" abilities. Some people update many, many times each day with information that is not all that interesting. I think they are creating a "tweeter who cried wolf" syndrome. When they have something important to say, no one may be listening.
That said, I like Twitter overall and do find some great links in others' posts. I don't plan on updating very often, but I will maintain my account and read up on the posts of those I follow. I think this will be valuable because, as a communications student, I need to understand social media and how to use it properly. I also will learn about new social media sites, other sites and news.

The Big 3 Auto Companies and Bad PR

This past week in my marketing class we were discussing the Big 3 Auto companies and their plea for a bailout plan and how bad PR could have gotten in the way of congress taking the automakers side. These 3 CEOs were in desperate need of good public relations advice. Instead of showing up on extravagant private jets, the CEOs of the auto companies should have traveled economy class to make of point of the distress their companies are facing. Also when the CEOs spoke in front of congress, they were extremely ill prepared. Before their trip to Washington they should have had their PR advisors and others grilling them on the tough questions, so they would be fully prepared to face the heat. I believe that congress, along with the public eye, would have sympathized more strongly with the automaker CEOs if they would have gotten some great PR advice before their disastrous trip to Washington. 

Coming to the End of Semester

As this semester draws to a close, I began thinking about all that I have accomplished in ADPR 181. I must say, this class has challenged me to stretch all of my Public Relations skills putting together the client portfolio. Overall, I believe this portfolio was a positive experience. I have put together PR pieces that I never have before, and it was a great experience. Working with Our Next Generation has been a rewarding experience, both in the sense of accomplishing this project, but also in the sense that it has opened my eyes to those not as fortunate. Our Next Generation strives to serve the urban youth of Milwaukee through educational programs. Meeting some of the students that attend ONG, along with working with Michelle Schuerman, the marketing director, has been an experience that I greatly enjoyed. Hopefully, the portfolio I have put together reflects the enjoyment I have gotten out of the experience. 

Twitter Response to Mumbai

I thought that the CNN article Tweeting the Terror: How Social Media Reacted to Mumbai showed the importance of social media. This Thanksgiving, my family was asking me about Twitter. Although I am not a Twitter "expert" I answered their questions and explained how Twitter sometimes had breaking news within minutes of it happening. This article proved this to be true because right after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai over 80 "tweets" were being written every five seconds with eye witness accounts of what was going on. This proved to be informative and helpful because contact numbers and hotlines were given to locate family and friends and a list of dead and injured was online right away. Also, there was information on hospitals needing blood donations to help the injured. This goes to show how useful and pertinent social media is in today's society. I feel that in the future more people will be using twitter to gain information on breaking news.

MU joins Twitter - News

MU joins Twitter - News

Just Relaxxx

After 3 and 2/3rds of my collegiate career there is one thing that I have figured out. No matter how much work I seem to encounter I always make it through. I think that as college students we can always have a negative perspective on what lies ahead for us.

But in reality if school work is the worst thing that we can have to deal with in our lives we are ok. Just today I caught myself complain in class about the overwhelming workload. I just needed to step back and see that this whole college thing will all be over soon and once it’s gone it will never be back. So in this time of stress embrace it, battle it, enjoy it and just deal with it. Because we should all be so lucky to be college students in today’s economy.

Below I put a link on some helpful tips to relax for college students..

DPS Report

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we all flip through the Marquette Tribune. Like most students, one of my favorite sections to read it the DPS reports. Most of the stories are funny, and we all laugh at the stupidity of some students. Other stories really highlight that Marquette is an urban campus, and there are robberies that happen all the time. Although as students we usually do not think much of the ridiculous stories of "a 19-year-old male getting caught with false identification, and a green leafy substance" or "a 21-year-old female getting her unsecured, unattended ipod stolen," what does an outsider think of this? Although the readership of the Tribune is mostly students, faculty, and staff, there is also a large alumni reader base. Does posting these stories create good PR for these outsiders? Especially alumni who may have high school students considering attending Marquette? Will reading these reports change their mind about sending their own children to Marquette? Although I do enjoy reading the bi-weekly DPS reports, I wonder what a non-Marquette affiliate thinks of Marquette after reading such reports.

Facebook Friends

The day after I ended my internship last year, my boss added me as a friend on facebook. I didn't think much of it, but I wondered how long she was waiting to add me as a friend, and if it would be appropriate to be friends while I was still her intern. It never was an issue, but this semester the opportunity came up that I could return to work for that company again. I ended up not taking the position, however, if I did, my boss and I would have already been friends on facebook. In my opinion, facebook is strictly social and should not be used as a business communication tool. Even now, I am doing some work with my former boss for a project, and I can check up what she is doing in her personal life, and vice versa. I do not need to know what my boss does in her free time, and she should not need to know what I am doing. I guess I just feel as though facebook should be strickly a social networking tool, not a business communication tool. I do not really think that it is moving in this direction, but I hope that professionals do not start to use facebook to communicate with co-workers about business.

Proposition 8 and PR

I just read an interesting article in PRWeek about the PR campaign surrounding Proposition 8. The article reflects on how Proposition 8 was passed in California largely because gay rights activists did not have a strong, consistent PR strategy. Instead, their campaign was largely reactive and did not show the adverse impact that Proposition 8 would have on individuals. PR strategists recommend "putting a human face" on the issue as activists continue to fight the passing of Proposition 8.

I think it's interesting how messaging strategy can determine public opinion and election results so greatly. PR campaigns are often what voters rely on to become informed and then make their decisions. For this reason, it is important that politics and PR are integrated.

What Does This Say About Americans?

Recently, in PRWeek's 10th anniversary issue, readers named PerezHilton.com their "favorite blog." I think it is somewhat pathetic that this is Americans' favorite blogs. Rather than wasting our time reading about celebrity gossip, we should be checking out CNN.com or reading the newspaper online. If our favorite blog is PerezHilton.com, I think this reflects that the American public is uninformed and uniterested in actual news.

However, I admit that I am a frequenter of PerezHilton.com. It is the only blog that I read on a daily basis. Although PerezHilton.com is know for posting celebrity gossip, in the past several months, he has also begun to promote charities and post about national and global news. Nonetheless, I realize that my time would be better spent in other ways.

Networking Events

I recently went to a networking event that was advertised throughout the college and I have fairly mixed reviews.  The night was focusing on first job phobias and the speaker said a few things that I wasn't sure were entirely true which was then confirmed by some of the worried professionals who advised against the speaker's advice.  On top of all of that, I don't feel like I really had the chance to network that much and only remember names of professionals from writing them down and am certain they do not remember mine.  Maybe it was just because it was my first networking event, or maybe I just don't understand what happens at them, but I still have first job phobias as well as no more contacts to add to my list.  How do we network as college students?

Here is a link to BMA Milwaukee, the group the hosted the event.  They often have upcoming events for college students.  Maybe I will see you at some in the future because I definitely want to try again.

The Perfect Workspace

A new international program and survey initiated by Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls, asks 18 to 25-year-olds about their ideal workspaces. My ideal office is the one to the right. The survey is online and interactive. You get to choose how urban or rural your location is, how you get to work and what you take with you, what your office looks like including wall color and lighting, and even how environmentally friendly your company is. It's a very neat survey and really fun to fill out. I was impressed and the interactivity is great - you get to watch as new items zoom in and out of your office. At the end of the survey, you can download an image of your ideal office and have access to a workspace profile. You do have to register to complete the survey, but it doesn't take long and is worth it. Try it!

"It should all be about the brand."

I recently read this article about Target's branding strategy and overall philosophy.

Obviously the company has been incredibly successful, but I found a lot of their tactics very surprising and impressive.

First, there emphasis on the brand and not about the creators behind it.  The CEO is committed to making sure that people are not familiar with him, but rather with the concept of Target.

Second, the lab they use for research where Target tests products before they go to stores to ensure costumer satisfaction.  I find it reassuring to know they do this.  For example, Target has real customers test how easy (or hard) it is to put together a grill they sell.

Third, their rules and regulations regarding the styling of the brand which is probably what made the bulls-eye so impressive.

And finally, their proactive approach to staying on the public's good side through philanthropic ventures.  This tactic has probably helped them stay clear of the bad press Wal-Mart receives rather frequently.

Target is a great example of genius branding... and therefore PR

Businesses jumping on social media and marketing bandwagon

In last week's issue of the Business Journal of Greater Milwaukee, two different stories focused on companies doing innovative things with Internet marketing and using social media. Other Business Journals around the country picked up the stories and print articles of their own on how companies are utilizing new technologies. This trend in business publications shows a larger trend in business operations. More and more companies are relying on the Internet to get their message across and are relying on social media for free marketing and for monitoring their brand. Often the PR agencies behind these companies are the driving forces behind such efforts.

Google never ceases to amaze

A new feature of Google that I just learned about is Google Trends. This site shows the top hits of the day on Google and what people are searching for. You can also search within Google Trends to see tracking of search hits on that topic. It shows you times of the most search activity and even breaks it down by world regions and cities. It's pretty neat and a great way to see who is searching for info on your company or client and when they are searching. To see how it works and how helpful it can be, try searching some Milwaukee area companies like MillerCoors or Harley Davidson.

What PR blogs to Follow

Visit the Widget Gallery

Twitter in The Marquette Tribune

On Tuesday, November 11th, I was pleased to pick up The Marquette Tribune and find an article titled MU Joins Twitter. The article was featured on the front page of the student newspaper, a newspaper that I typically pick up to read the sports section or play Sudoku, however the article caught my eye. After reading the summary, I have finally realized the importance of this wonderful communication tool. The focus of the article was how Marquette University joined Twitter a few weeks ago in order to establish a new communication outlet between students, alumni and the university. Marquette's connection with Twitter allows people to post updates about events around campus. At first I thought the whole concept of Twitter was a little strange. However, now I can come to appreciate this site after further reading about the advantages in using it.

"Its what you know, its WHO you know"

As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know!” And this saying seems be proving more truth each day in the world of social networking.

Since my recent addition to Twitter, I have noticed myself become more and more addicted to the vast number of social networking sites that currently dominate the internet.

Although these sites can easily leave someone feeling overwhelmed, recent studies have found these sites to have a positive impact on the success of both individuals and businesses internationally! Based on a recent survey released by AT&T , the use of social networking tools as a part of everyday working life has led to an increase in efficiency.

In addition to the widespread success of sites such as Myspace and Facebook, newer and more professional sites such as Linkedin have recently shown increasing popularity and success. I recently joined this site and find it to be like a professional version of Facebook. Although it hasn’t gained much popularity amongst college aged individuals, Linkedin is a great way for students to network and allows users the opportunity to not only post their resume, but also to search for “inside connections” when looking for a new job or business opportunity and to ask industry experts career related questions.

So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or annoyed by all the networking hype, keep in mind that sometimes it’s who you know that brings you one step closer to getting your foot in the door!

Are America's Political Parties Brands?

This isn't exactly PR news, but it came from AdAge.com, so I figure I'll give it a go.

I saw two different article titles on the website today: "After the Victory of Brand Obama, Now What?" and "To Rebuild, GOP Must Tear Down Its Brand and Return to Core Values." So my question is, have our political parties been reduced simply to brands?

To call out the "GOP brand" and "Brand Obama" seems to me to say that the Democratic and Republican Parties are just brands that the American public subscribe to. Call me naive, but I like to think that people follow a certain candidate because the agree with their ideas and policies, and not because they like the way their respective party brands itself.

Maybe I'm not politically active enough, but I've always thought that campaigning and all the commercial and propaganda that come with it are part of the election process. That's all well and good, but after the election is over, should we really be considering our President-Elect the face of a brand or as a man who won because of his ideals and message?

Tweet! Tweet! Twitter lands in PR Week

Who knew that everyone knows about Twitter? Before this class I had never heard of it, but now I've begun to notice it everywhere. In a PR Week article "Tweeting Your Way to the Top" it is noted that Twitter is being talked about on CNN and in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

So apparently Twitter isn't as unknown as I thought it was. I've probably been too caught up on Facebook to notice other social media sites. Twitter is being used to launch viral marketing campaigns, to initiate and maintain relationships with reporters,and to create different media opportunities. 

But therein lies my dilemma: how many social media and networking sites to I have to monitor in order to stay on top of everything that is going on in the public relations and other media communications fields? Am I going to turn in to Dwight and be myself in a Second Life? What is Flickr? Do I have to have MySpace and Facebook accounts? I'm already clearly on Blogger and Twitter for class, and Facebook of my own accord. Where does it end?

However, as the PR field and the world in general becomes more technologically savvy, it is even more important to stay on top of this social media and networking trend. So while I may not create a Second Life or join every social media site out there, when CNN, WSJ, and the Times start talking about it, it might be time to take a closer look.

Obama's Campaign Team

It is without a doubt that Barack Obama's campaign team did an excellent job getting Obama out and making his name a brand. AdAge examines what the team did to help get Obama's name out there as well as help him win the presidency. David Plouffe led the team and did a great job according to many professionals in the industry. He did a great job of of blending technology and strategic research helped him get the grassroots organization out there. He managed to coordinate and create a brand through the use of research, strategic decisions, and the right kind of advertising. But the Obama campaign didn't just focus on the Obama image, they also focused on getting people out and voting. Plouffe also did a great job as well of getting free press as well. This is the goal of a PR professional. Plouffe had other great resources as well. He had a wonderful team helping him plan and create. But most importantly, the team created a great strategic plan to get Obama's name out there and get peple excited about the Obama campaign.

Here's the article: http://adage.com/article?article_id=132357

TV Anticipating a downturn-

As everyone knows, the economy sucks right now. Everything is taking a hit. People are trying to save the money and they have are not really willing to spend it. Thus, advertisers and those involved in Public Relations need to come up with a new way to get consumers out there buying products. AdAge reports on how televions now is expecting a terrible 2009 season. Since TV is a great media to reach consumer's, and TV is seeing a drop, it is going to be harder to get to the target market. So what does this mean for advertising and the media? What can they do to change this? I think it's going to be important for agencies to step up and really take charge of the industry, otherwise, all these media industries will continue to see a downturn. It will be interesting to see how PR professionals will begin to handle these situations as well. Their clients are beginning to see huge profit loses and are turning to their PR people to help keep up the organziation's image.

look at the article here: http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=132400

Obama and PR

Recently, I read anarticle in PR Week about Barack Obama's win in the presidential election in relation to the field of public relations. The article explained that Obama's recent win has forevered altered how public relations is practiced, especially in political campaigns.

Obama's campaign was successful because it focused on developing a specific message: change. He focused on socially interactive commuinications, especially the Internet. In particular, Obama's campaign placed great mephasis on hsi web site and creating a presence on Facebook and Twitter.

While technological savviness should not affect election results, I think it did in the 2008 presidential election. Simply put, Obama's campaign was much more in step with current communications practices and trends. They ran a very integrated campaign; I received messaging from them via several mediums, including e-mail, text messaging, and Facebook. Certainly, Obama's campaign was superior to that of McCain in terms of communications.

The article can be found at: http://www.prweekus.com/Obamas-savvy-comms-propel-him-to-victory/article/120451/?DCMP=EMC-PRUS_Daily.

Starbucks: Free Coffee Equals Free PR

On election day, Starbucks offered a free tall cup of coffee to any customer who voted. Using only one paid spot and an online spot, Starbucks advertised their offer.

So was the free coffee worth the free PR for Starbucks? According to an AdAge.com article on November 10, Starbucks' buzz rating jumped from 25 percent to 51 percent on November 5. Starbucks isn't disclosing the cost of the promotion or how many cups of coffee were given away.

Starbucks is clearly already a very well-known and well-liked brand, but what I found interesting is the actual spot that ran. It puts Starbucks in a very positive light because they are promotion the give away as a reward rather than as a bribe. It was not "We'll give you a free cup only if you vote," but more of "Thank you for voting, here's your free coffee." It shows Starbucks as being a very socially responsible company because it acknowledged the right and privilege we have as Americans to vote.

While we as a public don't necessarily know the monetary ramification that this promotion had on the company, I think it put Starbucks in a good light and also acknowledged those who exercised their right to vote. The free PR that Starbucks received from word of mouth and customer satisfaction seems to outweigh the loss that it may have incurred from the giveaway. I thought it was refreshing to see a company that received free PR for doing something good for people and beneficial toward society rather than come sort of negative attention that ultimately results in publicity.

The value of PR

In my last post I questioned the value of PR and I believe I finally found some true evidence of how great an impact a media release can be.  The link is to an article about an upcoming show at the theatre I intern at that is on a national website, which is a pretty big deal in the theatre community.  Several of the quotes came from the release I wrote for the release, and without the release the show would not have been described at all, because it is a new show and therefore there isn't information available about it.

So PR does matter!  It can chance the entire face of a company, if by luck (and yes, sometimes it can take a lot of luck) someone picks up your story!

Marquette Joins Twitter

I know we talked about how Marquette joined Twitter in class but the Marquette Tribune wrote an article about it.  They talk about the advantages Twitter could have for the University.  It could alert everyone on campus to an emergency or to events that are going on.  I think Twitter could be a valuable asset to the University if it is utilized.

Cell Phones

How important have cell phones really become, and isn't it amazing how texting has become an integral part of the college-aged form of communication?  I personally think texting is stupid, in most aspects it is a step backwards in communication.  It has no personal feel to it, it can get expensive and it can take a lot longer to communicate a simple message than talking over the phone.  

I realize this more than ever because currently my phone has become nothing more than a white screen, it cannot tell me the time, who is calling and and certainly who is texting me.  However, it makes me wonder if texting will evolve as our generation grows.   Is it possible for texting to become the accepted form of communication in others aspects like business relations or organizational communication?

The economy....

Technology seems to be something that will always be in our society....something that is indestructible no matter what. I mean what would we do as a society if there were no computers to watch Youtube clips or check your Facebook on, televisions to see the reports about celebrities, or Ipods to hear your favorite music?!  

I'm pretty sure our society would have to be going through some major problems to let technology disappear...We will always have money to spend on a new camera or phone right?

Wrong!

Circuit City and 17 of its affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday, November 11.  As we all know the company is well-known for its entertainment and technological products and has competed with huge companies such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart since it started on the market...

As no surprise the company blamed its losses to the economy...but how bad is it really?

I know we all hear and talk about it..but c'mon I want someone to give me the details and the predictions for what we should be expecting in the months/years to come...  

www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/11/10/circuit_city_files_chapter_11/

Listen and Learn you might just like what you hear

For most communication students the reality of our major is that we listen to many presentations by working professionals in our field. Besides being able to have such a great real world resource there is one thing that this Marquette senior has learned. What they say is actually important. Think about when you were a kid and your parents would give you great advice and you would “ahhh,” whatever. Well I can see us looking back on the advice these professional’s give us and say WOW! , I wish I could have listened to it closer back then. Believe it or not I actually have. Here’s what I took,
• Work hard, just don’t sit around and think you entitled because you went to Marquette take the initiative to find a job or an internship or to take the next step in one you might already be in
• Always look for ways to better yourself and educate yourself. Look at this as a way to empower you career and it will change many aspects of your life
• Learn to be a good communicator. Believe it or not communication students should strive to master this. Communicating is a skill that should get better over time not regress
My advice is to read and learn to better yourself in every way possible, hey you might just like what happens. Here is a link that will help give you some great tips to jump start this.

Facebook: The good and the bad

I have been a member of facebook for three years and I have never been so annoyed with what it has become since I signed up. I feel that it is a great networking tool and a way for you to stay in touch with high school friends, college friends and family, but it is getting to be too much. I do not know if this has happened to anyone else, but my aunts and uncles are starting to add me as a friend and to be honest, it is awkward. I cannot deny their request because I am sure that they will ask me why I have not accepted their request at some family event, but at the same time some things just need to stay separate. I really wish that facebook would have stayed a website for just college students, as that was the original plan. The other thing that I am getting really tired of is invitations to events. Whenever I check my facebook profile, which is a rarity now-a-days, I have many events and messages for upcoming events that I do not even bother to read them anymore. If only facebook would go back to what it first was, I think the majority of us would be a lot happier.

Be prepared with tips from real travelers on your next vacation!

http://www.virtualtourist.com/

I found this website while I was still in high school, and preparing for my AP Euro class trip to London and Paris. It's full of great tips and advice on every city and region in the world. You can find safety tips, restaurant and hotel reviews, things to do, off the beaten path suggestions, etc. You don't have to register if you just want to browse tips, only if you want to suggest some yourself.

I really like that VT users don't sugarcoat anything. Personally, I find this website more beneficial than most guidebooks, because you are informed of everything you may be in for! Check it out!

The Rep wants to know: what marketing techniques work for our age demographic?

A special message from Rep Resident Acting Company Member Jim Pickering

(in costume as James Conover from this season's production of

STATE OF THE UNION)

"I want YOU to come see a show at The Rep!"

I'm currently an intern at Milwaukee Repertory Theater working on a college initiative in order to get more students to come to shows. We already offer a GREAT discount ($10.00 tickets!), but I am trying to come up with more ways that will get students to see the shows.

S0 I have a few questions for you... (reply in comments please):

~What incentives would draw you to see a show at Milwaukee Rep?

~What publicity or special offers would catch your eye and make you want to know more?

~What promotions on campus have you viewed as successful? (i.e. everyfanatic.com; Obama, etc.)

~Would special events and free food increase your willingness to come see a show?

CHANGE!

“CHANGE HAS ARRIVED” was the common theme amongst the newspapers all over America today. The election for the 44th president of the United States of America was one that will forever be held in the hearts of millions; and history. As my first election to be able to participate in, I am proud to say that my first election will go down in history. Personally, I have never been into politics and have never known much about the parties or candidates running to president or any other positions. But, this time was different. As time came closer to make one of the most important decisions I have made up to this time in my life, I started to realize how important this election had become. The fact that there was even a possibility of having a first woman as president, first woman as vice president or even the dream of the first African American president was slowly becoming a reality. I am proud to say that I helped Barack Obama prove to not only a nation, but to the world that a new time has come and now no matter what color or race or prejudice one may have against them, anything is possible now, anything. As Barack said in his acceptance speech last night, “Yes we can… move forward as one nation.” He said it didn’t matter what race you are anymore, democratic or republican, he is not just the president of those peoples\ who voted for him but for the nation. His goal is to help bring America closer together than ever, black, white, yellow, pink… doesn’t matter anymore. Its time for change, and I think that America and its people have been waiting for it! Last night, at his speech in Chicago, everyone came together and made it obvious that they were happy with the outcome. Black or White, Baracks speech was moving and full of truths about the nation and what they have to come; good and bad. This is a much needed step forward for a better future tomorrow. Racial barriers will someday no longer exist but in the history books. And Barack proves this with the nations support and votes.

The Wonder that is Twitter

I have to admit, I had my doubts about Twitter when I first heard about it from one of my professors last year. The way that he described it to us just sounded creepy! I stand corrected, though, after learning more about Twitter with our class. I think it would be a fun concept if as many of my Facebook friends were actively "Tweeting". The problem is, if you aren't a member of Twitter, it seems to be the trend that you have no idea what Twitter is!
Tonight, during the tallying of the results of the Presidential Election, I was watching Steven Colbert report on Comedy Central, and he mentioned "I am Twittering as I am reporting."
It was quick, and if I didn't know what Twitter was, it would have gone over my head, but it was exciting for me, thanks to this class!

Internships, real world experience?

I am currently working on my third internship, and while my resume looks impressive with all this "experience" I've had, I wonder, am I really experienced in the field? In a perfect world, in each internship I would work under my boss, and he would allow me to help out with as much as possible, so when I am completed with the internship, I would feel comfortable doing such tasks on my own. I would love to say this is the has been the case in my experiences, however I cannot say this. I have found that I am GREAT at entering data into excel, can probably say the alphabet backwards, and have conquered the mail merger. I often find myself passing the hours in my lonely cube doing undesirable busy work that my "co-workers" do not wish to do themselves. I understand I am only an intern, and this is the work I am supposed to do, but I wish I would get the opportunity to work on more important tasks, tasks that actually matter and will help me in the future. I have been assertive seeking these types of tasks, however I am always stuck back in my cube doing yet another cumbersome task. I wonder, when I graduate, will I be able to preform as well as my resume makes me look?

Working in the Field

Interning. It's great when I can pitch a story to the West Bend Daily News and see it show up a few days later. It sucks when I e-mail a press release and then drown in follow-up calls that are never answered and never returned. Sometimes, I am on a roller coaster of emotions. Am I actually good at this? I cannot tell if I enjoy working with the media or if I loathe it. It's a love hate relationship. Building a bridge seems to take at least two personal phone calls and a few great story topics. Burning a bridge takes two seconds and just one too many follow up calls. What's to be done? My boss is amazing at media relations. Maybe it just takes time, practice, multiple scripts and a few sweaty palms. I must admit that I am getting a bit better after having contacted the media a few times, at least physiologically. I can control my heart, breathing and sweaty palms a bit more. But then again, one rude journalist and I am back to square one. Gotta thicken that skin. Media relations must get easier, just has to get easier, WILL get easier....but my hands still get a bit sweaty.

Is it Election Day yet?!

I've seen it everywhere the past few weeks: "I'm sick of this election." "I don't really care about the candidates anymore." "Let's get this over with." I've noticed that many people are tired of hearing about the upcoming election, and simply don't care anymore.

But why? Are there too many messages in the media? Are we constantly being bombarded with fliers, commercials, magazine ads, newspaper articles, buttons and bumper stickers to the point where it's almost annoying? And if so,  how is it impacting the candidates?

I remember the last election, but I don't remember it being this... chaotic, I guess. Anyone else? Would love to hear your thoughts on this, and the way our candidates are being presented in the media in general...

Saving Money!!

Saving Money!!

This summer I worked at a bar in downtown Milwaukee. I made at least $150 every Friday and Saturday night and got to make it in an environment I really enjoyed. At the end of the summer I realized that with my hard class schedule I would not be able to continue on with my job due to lack of transportation and my demanding class schedules. Classes like Global Marketing, Stats, and PR classes lead to very expensive books ranging from $95-$175 or more. I wanted to save as much of the money I made this summer as I could and decided to start looking for an alternative way to get books for cheaper. I didn't really know where to look until about three weeks before school started. One of my good friends was talking to me online and had told me about how she had saved up to $200 on books this semester because she found a site she could rent them off of. I was a little unsure about the renting books concept because I had never heard of it until now, but I decided to look into it. Chegg.com was the name of the website, and i completely recommend it to everyone who wants to save money on books. My global marketing book, normally $185, I rented for around $85 (the most I even paid to rent a book). I completely recommend the site and will continue to use it for the time left I have at Marquette University to save as much money as possible! 

Boundaries within the Work Place

This summer, many of my friends and I started our first full-time internships at various companies in Milwaukee.  My first day there, while sitting and staring blankly at my computer since they didn't have any work for me yet, I decided to check my Facebook account to fill the time.  I typed in the site address, only to find a warning sign pop up saying, "warning: access denied to dating/social web site."  I wasn't the only one to discover that many web sites are blocked at work sites- a lot of my friends experienced similar situations.  Blocking of certain web sites at work is becoming a popular phenomenon, hoping that employees' attention will be directed towards their work, instead of the entertaining web sites during the work day.  A first I was frustrated with this security block, thinking it wasn't fair for a company to manage what sites I can visit.  But then I thought about it, and I realized a company is completely within its rights to place blocks on certain web sites.  You are at work, being paid for your contribution towards the company during that time, and if you are busy surfing the web you are unfairly using paid company time for your own personal use.  I think a company has every right to lace blocks on certain popular social web sites to defer peoples attention away from personal "play time" during the work hours.

Sarah Palin on "SNL": Good or bad PR?

This past Saturday night, Sarah Palin appeared on "Saturday Night Live."  While many were anxious for her to appear on the show, they are now questioning whether it was a good PR move for the McCain presidential campaign.  The Palin spoofs on "SNL" have certainly increased the public interest in her as an individual and candidate.  Yet, she was poking fun of herself and watching others mock her this past Saturday.  Because of this publicity appearance, how will the public now view Palin?  Does this make her seem weaker in the media or public's eye?  

Ultimately, I think that it was a good PR move for Palin to appear on "SNL."  There was certainly demand for her to do so, and I think if she had not there would have been negative backlash.  (Think of all the negative publicity the McCain campaign received after McCain backed out of the "Late Night with David Letterman" appearance he had scheduled.)  In this case, the old saying "any publicity is good publicity" is true.

Dear Professional Athletes....Why?

It seems as if I stumble upon articles like this, involving professional athletes on almost a daily basis.  Why?  The publicists for these athletes and Media Relations practitioners that represent the franchises have to be pulling their hair out dealing with the "athletes gone wild " types.  

Now, don't get me wrong, I love professional sports.  I think professional athletes deserve a lot of respect for what they do, and the VAST MAJORITY of professional athletes are classy individuals who are just doing their jobs.  However, the actions of a small minority are starting to reflect negatively on the whole industry.  

For me these incidents pose a very interesting dilemma: What is a franchise to do? Do they cut these athletes, who are doing their job on the field but creating bad press off? Or, do they just weigh their loses and keep a press liability on the field.  

I would imagine in almost any other industry, that if employees habitually behaved in such a manor that garnered constant bad publicity for the company they would be released almost immediately.  However, in an industry that is based franchises being successful, it really is quite a dilemma, especially because some of the time, it is the team superstars that are acting so inappropriately.  

Yes, to a professional sports franchise winning is important.  Winning teams have fans. Winning teams make money.  However, fans can also be turned off by inappropriate behavior by their favorite professional athletes.  Look at the whole Brett Favre situation.  Many of Brett's most loyal fans were put off by this summer's retirement indecision.   

I don't know what I would do in situation.  I guess it's a good thing I don't own a professional sports franchise.  

  

Crisis Communication

I found this article on crisis communication.  I think that this topic is often overlooked in classes as well as in the real world.  People are unaware that it a crisis may happen at any moment.  This article offers some great ideas for developing a crisis communication plan.

Another part of this article that is important is that it mentions communication within an organization.  Communication with employees, senior staff members, investors, etc is important especially in a crisis situation.  If you maintain channels of open communication with all of these people, then in a crisis communication situation, there will be no surprises.

Here is the link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2008/10/19/19gigaom-a-startup-roadmap-for-good-crisis-communications-25185.html.

Does PR matter?

A few weeks ago my friend (who is also a PR major) and I were discussing if PR was actually an important part of the business world.  In my opinion, I'd be wasting time in this major if I felt it is not important.  Without PR where would any company be after a crisis?  Furthermore, would magazines and newspapers ever have stories to write?  

I think the challenge we have as PR majors is that there are so many different directions that this degree can be taken... very different from many other majors that exist.  And explaining the fine lines that are drawn between marketing, PR, and advertising-especially in a Integrated Marketing world- makes this even harder to explain PR.

I am curious to think of what other people think.  Obviously, if you're reading this you are probably a PR major, too.  So, is it important?  And is there a way we can prove ourselves?

Feeling Pressured to Vote?

Anyone feeling a little pressured to vote, but don't want to?  Politics seem to divide people in the worst ways, whereas something like athletic events seem to divide people in a better ways. 

Politics seems to bring out the worst in people and I don't like the nature of it all.   I always encourage people to vote, however I choose not to.  Politics and voting just seems like a waste of time, sure my vote counts, but so could a dead guy's in some cemetery.  

Sometimes I feel like if enough money is wired to a computer hacker the results could easily be skewed, thus silencing my voice as a voter.   The candidates are ok, but the system I feel is flawed and voting seems like a waste of time.  Please feel free to comment, thanks.

Election and the Media

This year's presidential election has had huge play in the media...more than any other previous election.  And the public continues to voice complaints and worries about the amount of media attention the candidates are receiving.

Does the media influence people's decision on who the people vote for or does it just reflect the people's already made opinions?

Personally, I think it's a little of both..but...

if it wasn't for media, how would the public know the views of the candidates? By word of mouth?..but...then how would it be reliable?

As much as people complain about how certain candidates have had too much media time and have become celebrities, people should realize that it is partially because of the response of the public that certain candidates have become somewhat of an object of interest...whether you hate them or love them..

Using social media right

I stumbled upon a blog post from a woman who does social media presentations for companies. She talks about the mistakes some social media consulting agencies (i.e. PR firms) make and she goes on about the right way to use social media. It's interesting and pretty relevant to us and to what the PR field will be when we enter it. Check our her post at

http://blogs.zdnet.com/feeds/?p=264&page=1

Inappropriate Websites

I was recently informed about a website called juicycampus.com in one of my classes.  It is a website in which you can post anonymous comments about anyone you wish under topics that are provided by the website.  These topics can be very hurtful to the individuals posted under them.  It is a nationwide website in which a variety of schools are a part of, Marquette is one of them.

After looking through the website I was shocked to find many people that I know under very degrading topics.  I feel that this website is very bad PR for Marquette University and many of the students that attend our school.  If future employers find out about this website they make look under it to find out further information about a potential employee, just like many employers are doing with facebook. 

I feel that sites such as this should be banned from the internet because our focus as students should be studying and trying to better ourselves for the future, not writing hurtful comments about our peers and wasting our time on websites such as this one.  

  

As a PR student, I figured I would take it upon myself to make an announcement for Central Bark Doggy Day Care.  We are currently fostering several dogs who would love a home.  First off is Ira.  Ira is 8 years old and just needs a place to live out his golden years.  He is a very loving dog and would be happy anywhere as he is very easy going.  Ira loves to play and go for walks, but also loves to hang out and watch tv.  Ira gets along with other dogs very well, as he is currently enrolled in day care.  If you are looking for an addition to your family, Ira would be the perfect match.  Please help him find his forever home!!!

Truthfulness in Political Ads

There's a new website, http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/, that goes through both presidential candidate's political campaigns and checks them for truthfulness. The website searches sites for the facts and then later posts whether or not the facts are true or not. This website it great because it lays out the facts and presents them in a clear format. I think this website it interesting for us as public relations practitioners because politics can be a large part of the field of public relations. Also, because PR people get a bad reputation for spinning stories to make their client look good, it's interesting to see that some websites go back and track whether or not what you are claiming is true. 

Politically Incorrect but Fun

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to an article from a website called stuffwhitepeoplelike.com which 1. I've never heard of before and 2. really makes me laugh while extremely politically incorrect.  Minus it being about/making fun of white people, I thought everyone would enjoy the link to the article I was sent.  

The article is a joke about white people liking grammar.  The reason my friend sent me the link is because in high school we were both writing tutors together and always joke about how big of a role grammar plays in our lives.  For all of us, especially those planning on working in PR, grammar is a huge part of your daily lives, and something that can be fun (which this article is trying to make it) even though it is tedious.  So anyway, if you would like to get a little laugh check out the article on Grammar which is something we all should like!

Grammar Article Link

Direct Mail pieces... used for good & evil

This blog shows us an example of how something we can create as PR practitioners (direct mail pieces) can be used for good or evil, so to speak.

The households of Florida have recently received anti-Obama literature in their mailboxes.  The proximity to the election can't be ignored, and many people throughout the country have seen the ads of both candidates.  But the use of direct mail pieces in a negative way takes campaigning to a new level.  

As future PR practitioners, it is important for us to understand the ethics that plays a large role in what we will be doing.  I am curious who came up with these mailings, and what the strategy behind them is.  I understand that politics can be harsh, but are mailings that attack another candidate necessary in the political process and public relations?

Other uses for Olympic Athletes

It amazes me how the Public Relations world has taken advantage of the instant celebrities that the 2008 Summer Olympics created. In the United States, we now have Michael Phelps, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin as recognizable endorsers of products and opportunities.

These are athletes--they did a wonderful job competing and representing our country, and they deserve fame--but sometimes they aren't very good at it! Michael Phelps hosted Saturday Night Live recently, and some would say it became clear that he should stick to swimming, and not comedy! Here's a link to a special on his rehearsals for the show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCO70-9_utU

Shawn and Nastia are signed up to be spokes girls for the new television special to raise Breast Cancer awareness. This is great because it gives an opportunity to raise awareness and potentially draw more viewers to this special with their celebrity status.

Who knew that when Michael Phelps first jumped into a swimming pool that it would someday lead him to tons of endorsement deals? Just another example of the power of PR!

New Partnership is a Cost-Effective Solution

I recently read an article on PR Newswire highlighting a new partnership between PR Newswire's MultiVu and Spot Runner Production Network that will develop a more cost effective solution for advertising. The service will provide a more afforable solution for planning and distributing videos for multimedia news releases (MNRs).

One thing I found interesting was that MNRs are the fastest growing service because companies realize that they reach a much broader audience. What I find most interesting about that is how multimedia has changed the way P.R. is practiced. The industry has gone from sending out packages via mail to being able to mass distribute videos online and reach a much larger audience, faster and easier. I think it is only a matter of time until some of the basic P.R. principals we learn in class are no longer going to be necessary with the advances in technology.

Chrysler Foundation Donates $100,000

I just read an article about the Chrysler Foundation donating $100,000 to the National Infantry Foundation, Inc. This is in support of the National Infantry Foundation's capital campaign to construct a museum and soldier center in Columbus, GA. I think it is great that such a large corporation has a foundation that is able to donate to great causes such as this. Not only is it good publicity in terms of public relations strategies, but it also displays the company's strong belief in corporate social responsibility.

Could Celebrity Anti-McCain PSA's Change Your Vote?

No matter what media outlet I turn to these days, the topic is always the election. Although it gets a little tiresome, there are interesting new developments everyday. For instance, it's hard to miss the involvement by young celebrities encouraging young voters to cast their ballots this year. But they aren't just telling us to vote . . . they are telling us to vote for Barack Obama. Aside from the positive advertisements and PSA's for Obama, there are also anti-McCain PSA's circulating the Internet. These feature popular actors including Hayden Panettiere and Gossip Girl stars Penn Badgley and Blake Lively.

Panettiere's PSA features her saying "I know I'm hot enough to have your attention for at least 30 seconds." She continues with "there are three things that I think every citizen should do. Smoke cigarettes, vote for John McCain, and don't wear a seat belt." Through the entire PSA with a sense of sarcasm, she sends a message that voting for John McCain is not voting for change, it's keeping things the same.

Badgley and Lively's PSA mocks the typical anti-drug campaign but instead targets parents. "Just because people your age are doing it, doesn't make it cool," states one character. It goes on telling parents to vote in the best interest of their children: vote for Obama.

I think these PSA's have an affect on younger voters but I wonder if it will actually changes any ones decision on who they want to elect. The Panettiere PSA was added to funnyordie.com only eight days ago and has already been viewed by almost one million people. There is no doubt that these are being viewed. It is unfortunate for McCain's campaign that these PSA's cannot be regulated and it is clearly not the type of publicity that he would want. This is just an example of how a public relations tool can be used in a negative way (depending on which side you take).

Just google "anti-McCain PSA's" and see for yourself! Would they change your vote?

The good from the bad

I've been reading a lot of articles and seen on the news stories about the relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in the South. While the result of these natural disasters has been devastating, I think from a P.R. standpoint, this has created an opportunity for large companies and organizations to use their money and talents to aid in the relief.

I just read an article on PR Newswire online that Wal-Mart has partnered with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and a few other foundations. Their efforts have resulted in a $2.5 million donation to provide support for those in Louisiana and Texas.

This is overwhelming, and really a big step for Wal-Mart's image, as they have donated tangible consumer items such as food, water and clothing in addition to the monetary grants. I like to think that PR gives companies opportunities like this to step up and better their own name by coming to the aid of others in a time of need.