Friday, April 27, 2007

Best Practices in Public Relations

So much has happened since this class began in January. Not only do I have an entire new vocabulary when it comes to PR, I have developed a sense of confidence about the industry and I am so excited to get out there this summer when I start my internship in New York City. As a blogger, I have been able to read other blogs out there and let me say, there are a million of them, each with their own style, forte, and personality. I have learned so much from the guest lectures and was lucky enough to pitch a blog to a local company right here in Dallas. Along the way I have picked up several tips about PR here are the top 5 that seem to be constantly reiterated:

1. Create buzz, not ink. The key to creating any successful PR campaign revolves around creating interest in your client- both with potential customers and the media. Timing is everything, a well timed PR campaign can increase your clients` chances of reaching their target market with exactly they want to hear, when they are ready to hear it. Use creative techniques, from basic media relations to outrageous stunts -anything to get the clients name in the media.

2. Learn to be digital. These days viral marketing is everything and PR professionals must be aware of the latest and greatest online tools and gadgets that will grab the public’s attention and create dialogue. Blogs and other online social networks are great places to generate buzz about clients, however if PR professionals are not careful about how they position their clients to the online world things can get nasty and all of a sudden viral marketing becomes a PR firms` worst nightmare. Guest lecturer Katherine Smith, of Visible Technologies said that companies need to be concerned about positive and negative blogs. “The Internet can hurt people,” says Smith, “and it is imperative that PR professionals understand that the ‘no comment’ phrase simple does not cut it anymore. Smith’s company has developed TruCast, the first all-inclusive solution for comprehensive management of online conversational marketing. With TruCast, companies will be able to track, analyze and participate in online conversations and perhaps prevent negative press about their clients. For more information about Visible Technologies and their innovative products please visit: http://www.visibletechnologies.com/

3. Read the Newspaper. A few months ago I had the privilege to attend a lecture featuring public relations expert Harold Burson of the world renowned Burson-Marsteller Public Relations firm. Burson offered a great amount of insight into the evolution of PR during his 53 year career. “Everything has changed, the way people communicate is entirely different,” said Burson, “Yet I find myself offering the same advice I offered 50 years ago-read the newspaper." It is imperative that PR professionals remain up to date with current events, changes in the business world, and are aware of what is going on in their clients` marketplace. Burson reads several newspapers every morning but always makes time for The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. To read Burson`s personal blog click here http://hb.burson-marsteller.com/ .


4. Know the basics of public relations. As obvious as this idea may seem, often times the biggest complaint from PR professionals about their newly hired/fresh out of college interns is that even though they are highly motivated and innovative, they lack understanding of the basic concepts. The basics include (but are not limited to) the following:

-Writing Skills. Anyone interested in PR should be able to write press releases, pitch letters, key messages, fact sheets, etc. Even though communication outlets have changed over the years the need for efficient writing skills has remained the same.
-Know your client. It is essential that PR professionals are familiar with their client`s products, place in the market and target audience. It is impossible to promote and create buzz about a company that you are unfamiliar with so take the time to get to know exactly how the client views themselves, what image they want to project to the public and establish a healthy professional relationship with the company’s managers and executives.
-Return calls and respond to emails.
-Stay current
-Research

5. Develop relationships with the media. According to the website http://www.101publicrelations.com/ how you develop relationships with journalists, TV reporters, radio talk show hosts and other media personnel is very important. Here are some quick tips to make this import relationship the best that it can be
-know what is going on in the world
-know about the publication that you are pitching your story to
start with a compliment about the publication, use something like “I really enjoyed your last column it was so interesting and I think you`d be the best person to write about my client`s up and coming event…”
-understand the journalism business- networking- go to events where media people will be
-face time is important
-join press groups so that you can meet the media, for example the Dallas Press Club. For information visit their website at http://www.dallaspressclub.com/


These are just a few of the many PR tips I picked up throughout the course of this semester. I must admit, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I enrolled in this "Advanced Communication Skills" class but 5 months later I am so thankful I did! This class has taught me so much about the PR industry and opened my eyes to the world of blogging. I highly recommend this class to anyone considering a career in PR or any communications related field because as I mentioned in an earlier post, "blogging is so hot right now" and it is so important that aspiring PR professionals keep up to date with current communication trends.

Even though the semester has come to an end, I plan on keeping up with my blog and adding new posts this summer about my New York City internship experience! So stay tuned and as my fellow classmates say "Blog ya later!"

Sunday, April 15, 2007

"Stop Global Warming College Tour " takes off at SMU

Last week, Grammy winning artist Sheryl Crow and global warming activist Laurie David kicked off the "Stop Global Warming College Tour" here in Dallas, Texas on the SMU campus. The tour, which will make 10 stops at 10 universities across the Southeastern United States urges college students to become part of the movement to stop global warming and demand solutions from themselves, their schools and their country.

"History proves that college students have the ability to be the driving force in large scale social change and now more than ever is the time for students across the country to become global warming activists," says Laurie David founder of http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/ and author of Stop Global Warming: The Solution is You!

Along with press conferences and media events, each stop on the tour includes a 90 minute presentation about global warming with Laurie David, clips from the film An Inconvenient Truth, a short performance by Sheryl Crow and a question-answer dialogue with students . In addition to the free concert, each audience member receives a Philips energy saver fan bulb, guaranteed to last seven years.

I must admit, I am not exactly what you would call an "environmental activist"-I try and recycle when possible and make my best effort to turn off the lights when I leave my house but other than those small tasks, that's about it for me when it comes to combating global warming. And its not that I don't care or think that global warming does not exist, rather its the fact that I always assumed that this problem was one that wasn't really going to effect me, and I`d be long gone before the consequences would become real.

However, after watching films like An Inconvenient Truth and hearing Laurie David, Sheryl Crow and others talk about the dangers of global warming in terms that I could actually understand with solutions that I could do myself, I feel empowered to do something, to become active in the fight against global warming, one light bulb at a time.

During the presentation, Laurie and Sheryl highlighted several actions that anyone can take in the fight against global warming:

1. Join the Stop Global Warming Virtual March at http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/ a movement demanding our leaders freeze and reduce carbon dioxide emissions

2. Change a light. Use compact fluorescent bulbs, these energy efficient light bulbs have the ability to save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $60 a year.

3. Buy minimally packaged goods. Less packaging could reduce your garbage 10% a year and could save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide and $1,000 a year.

4. Unplug electronic devices. Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. So unplug the devices that you are not currently using and you could save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and $256 a year.

5. Bring your own bag. Use your own cloth bag instead of plastic or paper bags from the grocery store. This alternative reduces waste and requires no additional energy.

These are just a few of the simple things that we can all do in our everyday lives to help in the effort to combat global warming. We are all contributors to global warming and we all need to be part of the solution. Before the "Stop Global Warming College Tour" came to SMU, I thought global warming was an issue for the scientists, politicians, and environmentalists to worry about however I now realize that this is a real issue, one that everyone needs to worry about, after all its everybody`s world and we`re all living in it.
















To learn more about the "Stop Global Warming College Tour" and other important environmental issues please visit:
http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Taking a "Look-Look" into the world of young entrepreneurs

Look-Look, an online company dedicated to gathering information and research about youth culture believes that the youth culture has always been a subculture. According to the company’s website “Look-Look wants to share these subcultures with the rest of the world. We want people to be inspired by the creative and brilliant minds around the globe…” This company was launched by a group of young people who wanted to celebrate the dynamic and inspired youth culture. Check out their website at: http://www.look-look.com/ and you will instantly recognize that these people know what they`re talking about.

In America, young people, more than ever have the world at their finger tips. With endless opportunities, thanks to the successful and relatively wealthy generation of parents who raised them, young people are expected to do great things. Whether its in the business world, music profession or science lab, these days in order to make it young people must do something to make themselves appear special, more talented and better than the kid next door.

As part of a class challenge, Look-Look asked us to do some research and investigate into the recent shift of young people’s ( ages 19-35) values concerning work, careers, and happiness. According to Look-Look, one manifestation in the shift of values is the “proliferation of entrepreneurs who start their own businesses, industries and independent ventures”.

Here at SMU, this idea rings true as several successful business men and women have pioneered their way to the top before they could even rent a car. SMU is located in the ritzy upscale neighborhood of Highland Park, Texas and has a reputation for social networking that goes back hundreds of years. From the Cox family to the Hunt family, SMU is well connected and is known for having one of the top business schools in the country, producing many remarkable business success stories.

Kacky Pritchard is one of those success stories. At the age of 19 Pritchard decided to start her own company as she sat in her Accounting 101 class looking at financial statements and balance sheets.

“I started to think that it might be easier than I thought to run a small business.” said Pritchard.
Even though she already had the imagination and love for fashion, it was that moment in accounting class that sparked her to start her own business.

“Since I knew I wanted to do something with fashion and utilize my finance degree from SMU`s Cox School of Business, I taught myself to sew, made a few apron samples, got a tax ID, and started selling aprons out of my college bedroom,” said Pritchard. “It was fun and stress-free from day one.”

After a few years of sewing and a lucky encounter with designer Kate Spade, Pritchard was given the opportunity of a lifetime to come and work with Spade and her successful fashion empire. By her senior year, Pritchard was working at one of the oldest fashion wholesale showrooms in the country and it was here that she met her future business partner Lisa Barnes.

Fast forward just one year later and Kacky & Carl was opened as a unique mixture of women’s apparel, jewelry, art, home furnishings, and gifts. Located in the swanky Uptown neighborhood of Dallas the store targets women and men ages 20 to 50.

It is obvious that Pritchard is part of the proliferation of entrepreneurs who start their own businesses, industries, independent ventures. According to an article published on SMU`s Cox School of Business Pritchard advises aspiring entrepreneurs not to be pushy, but not to be afraid to just get out there.

“Go up to the Kate Spades of the world and tell them who you are, what you want, and that you`ll take any advice they have to offer,” she says, “No matter how many accolades, businesses, or employees a person has, they are still just a person like you and your parents. Approach them with respect and see if something, somewhere down the line, comes of it.”


For more information about Pritchard`s success story please visit:

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/oct2006/bs20061030_322646.htm?chan=bschools_undergrad+24-7_undergrad+24-7

and to check out Kacky and Carl online visit:

http://kackyandcarl.com

Thursday, March 29, 2007

One of the White House`s Finest...

Deputy White House Chief of Staff, Karl Rove....or shall I say "MC Rove"?

The greatest sacrifice of all?

For me, it`s fast food. For my friend Rachel, it`s chocolate. But as this Easter approaches, some young and devout Christians are anxious to return to what they gave up for Lent: online networks such as MySpace and Facebook.

According to an article published on CNN.com, these dedicated and disciplined Christians feel that giving up the addictive popular social networks is a sincere sacrifice.

"It`s been hard, especially in the beginning, " said 23-year-old Kerry Graham who says she gave up Facebook for Lent.

Graham who was raised Catholic and is currently studying theology at the University of Nottingham in England, admits that during the first few days of Lent she had to stop herself from typing in the websites` address every time she checked her email.

For many Facebook and MySpace users, the online communities provide a way to keep in touch with classmates, relatives and new friends without having to bear the financial brunt of a long-distance cell phone bill.

MySpace and Facebook are the largest social networking sites on the web. According to comScore Networks, an online measurement firm, MySpace attracted 64.4 million visitors in February with Facebook following behind as the Internet`s second most visited site with 23.6 million visits that same month.

Perhaps giving up time online is something everyone should take into consideration . Clinical psychologist Dr. Maressa Hecht Orzack of the Computer Addiction Study Center at Harvard`s McLean Hospital has found that limiting the amount of time spent on social networking can be beneficial.

According to Dr. Orzack, students who demonstrate compulsive Internet use often neglect schoolwork. In some cases, this behavior results in a lack of sleep, missed meals, poor hygiene and in some extreme situations seizures.

Whether or not I agree with Dr. Orzack`s findings about Facebook and poor hygiene, I am willing to admit that sometimes I spend time "facebooking" when I really should be working on a research paper but after all I am in college and I`m still working on my time management skills (although I always get everything done on time).

What is most disturbing to me personally is that I honestly don't think I could 40 days and 40 nights without checking my Facebook account. Its like asking me not to check my e-mail or watch the morning news. Facebook has become part of my daily routine, important things happen Facebook (And I`m not just talking about who broke up with who or what my ex-boyfriend did over Spring Break) and it has become an integral part of college life, so for now fast food will have to do.

Happy Easter.


For more about Facebook, MySpace and Lent please visit:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/03/29/no.facebook.lent/index.html

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Mystic Pizza

In October of 2003, Pizza Hut , home of the "Big New Yorker Sausage Lover`s pizza " ( which by the way for a quick three slices you ultimately ingest an impressive 96 grams of fat and 1,830 calories) presented a new item on the menu in response to increasing attack from the media and public health advocates for not offering healthier, lower fat items. Fit `n Delicious, was promoted as a health conscious pizza with 25% less fat than the regular pizza recipe and between 22g and 26g of net carbohydrates. With the help of Ogilvy PR, Pizza Hut launched the Fit `n Delicious Pizza to consumer media.

As a college student, living in a sorority house, the pizza aroma is one that frequents late night study sessions, Friday afternoons and long meetings and to be honest I am somewhat surprised that I have never heard anything about the Fit `n Delicious option at Pizza Hut (given the high calorie count God knows I would be all about the healthier option). I decided to do a little survey on my own to make sure I wasn't the only one who had missed the low fat pizza bandwagon and asked my housemates if they had heard anything about Fit `n Delicious Pizza-15 girls later no one had any idea what I was talking about. I then took my little survey one step further by calling the local Pizza Hut and ordering this mysterious Fit `n Delicious pizza and still, three employees and one confused manger later, no one had any idea what I was talking about.

Does this healthy pizza alternative even exist? Or way this just a quick fix to a very public issue? According to Ira Rosenstein, co-producer of "Shopping Smart" and Supermarket Guru online contributor, often times the healthy options are hard to find. Rosenstein writes, " The Fit `n Delicious Pizza sounds great. But try to find them! Fancy press releases are issued! But try to find them...The pizza is not featured on the menu or in the literature. Makes one question a company`s really commitment to low fat food."

While both Ogilvy PR and Pizza Hut seemed failed to really promote the new and improved pizza to the public, they did take the initiative to create a healthy option and in response to growing concern about America`s increasing obesity epidemic.

For more information about Pizza Hut and the Ogilvy PR case study visit:
http://www.ogilvypr.com/case-studies/pizza-hut/cfm
http://www.supermarketguru.com
http://pizzahut.com

Monday, March 5, 2007

A little girl goes a long way thanks to YouTube

5 year old Nia Frazier stars in Mary J Blige Commerical thanks to a YouTube exposure

Forget Hollywood.....YouTube is the place to be discovered these days.

What initially began as an online site for people to watch video clips of outrageous skits, comical commentaries or segments from TV shows has become the worlds largest talent show. Thanks to the creators of YouTube, talent agents may be out of jobs faster than it takes Britney to check back into rehab.

According to the companies website, YouTube was founded as a consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos worldwide through a web experience. What originally started as a personal video sharing service has grown into a media enterprise with people watching more than 70 million videos each day. From personal video diaries to wacky home made movies YouTube has something for everyone, including hope for the millions of Hollywood wannabes waiting to be discovered.

However, when Corrine Goldsmith posted videos of her 5-year-old daughter Nia singing classic R&B tunes, fame was the last thing on her mind. In an interview with the Today Show`s Meredith Vieria this morning , Goldsmith said that she had originally posted the videos of her pint size diva on YouTube so that out of state relatives could actually watch Nia in action. Apparently Goldsmith had tried to send the video clips via e-mail but because of the large size of the files, actually ended up clogging up relatives email accounts, at which point Goldsmith turned to YouTube.

Within the past 7 months, Nia`s video clips have been viewed over 2 million times by people all over the world. From Poland to Mexico, Nia Frazier has become the talk of both the YouTube and entertainment world as the 5-year-old landed a staring role in the Mary J Blige commercial promoting the Grammy winning artist`s new album "Reflections".

So for all of the starving artists out there, waiting on tables between auditions, perhaps YouTube could be the place where you get your big break. Even though posting a homemade video clip on the Internet may seem somewhat pathetic to the true artists and musicians out there, Nia Frazier is living proof that sometimes fame is all about being at the right place at the right time, and these days YouTube seems to be the right place.

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Buzz and my blog?

Apparently I have some fans and a possible future employer.....check this out!

http://www.agencynext.com/2007/03/01/heres-a-scholar-and-the-future-of-marcom-btw/#comments

Be PRepared for PR

There must be something in the water because everywhere I go and everyone I talk to lately seems to be talking about one thing and one thing only- finding that perfect internship or job for the summer.

Reality Check

With only a few months left in my junior year of college I have started to face the harsh reality that my time to step out into the real world is just around the corner whether I’m ready or not- and to be quite honest I am terrified. I feel that unlike many of my friends and classmates who always seem to know the right people, I don’t have those connections where a simple phone call can be made to a family friend or grandparent and all of a sudden the perfect internship just happens to open up. I have heard time and time again that in the business world “it’s all about who you know” and seeing how I feel like I don’t really know anyone in PR it is up to me to put myself on the map and land those fabulous internships and job opportunities.

How to: Get a Job in PR

According to Morgan McLintic, vice president of LEWIS global public relations agency, there are several key elements that every entry level PR person must know. In his blog, McLintic discusses trends in PR, marketing and technology. The following are some key elements and guidelines from his blog post, “How to: Get a Job in PR” that I found to be relevant to me and my dilemma:

Definition: know what PR is and isn’t. If a future employer were to ask you to define PR would you be able to?

Sectors: choose which vertical industry sector you want to focus on. Make sure its something that interests you. You will be talking about that topic everyday in quite grandeur detail. If you don’t feel engaged with your sector, you will most do 24 months and then move on, so save yourself the disruption.

Agency or in-house? Most entry level jobs will be in an agency. Agency life will give you a broad experience of a number of campaigns, but not allow you to go as deep.

Internships: Regardless of the length, get at least two different internships before applying for your final role. This will help you decide is PR is really for you. It’ll also give you a feel for the tasks you’ll be charged with, whether you like agency or in-house, and which industry you like.


Working in PR: the first few years in PR are some of the hardest, but also the most exhilarating. You’ll learn a lot about the media, about the sector, about the art and science of PR, about teamwork and management, and about yourself. Be prepared to work long hours and to do some fairly basic tasks. There is a lot of administration work in PR- mounting coverage, drafting reports, refining press lists, researching shows, etc. Those above you in the company will have done their fair share no doubt, and technologies like extranets and RSS are removing some of the “busy work”. It’s important to get this grounding and the skills to attention to detail, hitting deadlines, and organization that they give you. Most of all though, you’ll have started on a road which will take a lifetime to master.

To learn more about these and other insightful tips about beginning a career in PR visit:

(http://www.morganmclintic.com/pr/2006/03/how_to_get_a_a_.html )

These tips and others like them are somewhat comforting and at the same time very exciting. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love college but to be honest I can’t wait to get out there in the PR field and actually work with real people in established firms and organizations!

Friday, February 23, 2007

Blogging for a worthy cause

It is no secret- cancer affects millions of people each year. Chances are you know someone- a family member, family friend, or professor whose lives have been changed forever by the deadly disease, however there is hope. In fact according to the American Cancer Society website http://www.acs.org/, cancer deaths are down for a second year. The site reports that breast cancer cases in the US have leveled off in recent years and that death rates from prostate cancer are also declining. With survivorship numbers increasing, it is important that the brave men, women and children who battled the disease have a place to go for life after cancer.

The creators of CURE Magazine, a quarterly magazine dedicated to dealing with cancer on a daily basis are launching Heal, a magazine focused on solely on cancer survivorship complete with in-depth coverage of survivors and their life changing stories and personal testimonials. With its upcoming premiere, Heal is looking to establish an online community to help bring survivors together. And these days the obvious way to set up a social network online is simple- create a blog.

The Heal blog should be a place where survivors from all over can come and tell their story. However, instead of being just like all of the cancer-related websites and blogs Heal has the opportunity to be something different. The concept of survivorship is often overlooked and Heal is the perfect location for a place that survivors and family members alike can talk about cancer in a new way.

When researching cancer related websites and blogs I came across an interesting article on the Health News websitehttp://www.everydayhealth.com/publicsite/ShowArticle.aspx?IsP=news/602/news602096.xml&dp=2007/02/22&q1=&cen
\ that talks about a new kind of healing for cancer patients. Harvard researcher Susan Bauer-Wu suggests that by spending 30 minutes at least four days a week writing out their innermost thoughts and feelings, patients can significantly boost mental and physical health. Expressive writing or journal therapy is way for patients to express what they are feeling at the time and perhaps Heal could be the perfect place for them to do that. The blog should be a forum for discussion about inspiring stories of survivorship and hope. Readers of the blog should feel free to post their thoughts and ideas about life after cancer.

There are already so many sites dedicated to the medical aspects of cancer, why not have a blog without any MDs or treatment programs linked to the site. How about links to exotic travel destinations, new recipes, ideas about family fun. It almost seems like surviving cancer it like getting a second chance at life so the site should aim its focus on how to live life to the fullest and how precious it really is.

Seeing how Heal is a new publication and may not have the resources or time to continually update the blog on a weekly basis perhaps the magazine could work with members of the cancer community to host or sponsor the blog month by month. There are countless organizations dedicated cancer related topics and while not every organization has the time to create a blog, so many people have so many different stories to share. For instance, Heal could work with some of the organizations that CURE Magazine already has established relationships with and work together to host the Heal blog for the month.


Side Bar Possibilities:

http://www.glamour.com/lifestyle/blogs/editor/

Glamour Editor living with Cancer

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.gov/

National cancer institute

http://www.canceradvocacy.org/

NCCS: National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

Thursday, February 15, 2007

All the news thats fit to print?

In November of 2006, supermodel Kate Moss was named model of the year at the British Fashion Awards. Not bad for someone who a year ago was at the center of a drug scandal when The Daily Mirror published photos of Moss allegedly using cocaine.


While Moss lost contracts with H&M, Chanel, Gloria Vanderbilt and Burberry following the release of the incriminating photos, the 32-year-old beauty is now the face of a record 14 brands including Versace, Louis Vuitton, and Virgin Mobile. Ironically, the cocaine scandal seems to be actually working in Moss’s favor, as she is expected to double her earnings from last year.

Is that right? What kind of example is Kate Moss setting? More importantly what does this say about the corporations who choose to work with Moss despite her questionable drug habit?

It is no secret, sex sells and apparently these days so does anything remotely controversial. For whatever reason societies all over the world are fascinated by scandal and anything taboo. From the wild and crazy antics of the pole dancing gold digger Anna Nicole Smith (God rest her soul) to crotch flashing pop star and mother of two Britney Spears , what most people would deem to be career threatening public disasters actually end up being PR success stories. Embarrassing moments for famous people turn into the next days headlines. The fact that major news networks like Fox News took time away from covering the war in Iraq to bring the Britney Spears flashing incident to the attention of the American public is somewhat pathetic.

For most newspapers the front page is reserved for the most important newsworthy stories and headlines of the day. The New York Post (pictured here) is the fifth largest newspaper in the United States and yet even this well known publication is covering a story about an anorexic movie star, a hotel heiress and a burnt out pop star and their non-stop partying ways while the news on Iraq is put on the back burner. Who would have thought that an article with the title "Bimbo Summit" would take precedence over the state of our nation?

Friday, February 9, 2007

Media Relations Strategies

Beyond the glitz and the glamour of press releases, media kits and blogs, the foundation of PR is based on media relations strategies and how effectively PR professionals are able to develop strong relationships with important information gatekeepers (aka the media). These days, social networking within the media is key to getting anywhere in PR and it does not happen over night. PR hopefuls should try their best to understand the importance of building and maintaining stable and professional relationships with the media because without their trust and respect a career in PR would be somewhat of a lost cause.

Arthur Page, the long time vice president for public relations at AT&T is often regarded as the founder of the modern practice of corporate public relations. Page is perhaps most widely known for his work on what he called the Page Principles, his guidelines for ethical and effective communication with the public and the media. Among other principles, Page preached the importance of telling the truth and always remaining calm, patient and good humored.

Although these two ideals seem basic they are vital in terms of establishing relations with the media. These days information about any company, client or product can easily be found online. It is in the best interest of the PR professional to be honest and straight forth about divulging information to the media right from the start because sooner or later, the truth will come out and deception is pretty much career suicide in the PR world. One of the great things about PR is the excitement and energy that comes along with the job. Each day there is a new challenge and it is important that when things start to unravel and become chaotic the PR professional is able to keep his or her grip on the situation and is able to act cool in front of the media even when things are going crazy behind the scenes.
Check out the rest of the Page Principles at: http://www.comm.psu.edu/pagecenter/arthur.htm .

The always increasing role of electronic media has created a special importance for media relations. In fact, the news media have become dependent on PR for news and PR has become dependent upon the news media for publicity.

The following is a list of select media relations tips from PR professionals and journalists who participated in the recent online survey ‘Media Relations Best Practices’ on the IndiaPRBlog. Check them out:

1.Stick to the facts, understand what is news and what is not
2.Journalists are rated on the basis of exclusive stories they generate everyday. If you can give a journalist several exclusives, you would be the star PR person.
3.When journalists doing negative stories want quotes from top client bosses, PR people should be able to help. If you can do this, you will have the journalist eating out of yours and your clients` hands.
4.Get to know the editor very well, then some amount of any ‘not so important’ news or story can get into the print.
5.Develop creditability amongst the media persons.
6.Media relations should be based on a strategy and not a knee jerk reaction.
7.Expect the unexpected from the media but still try and understand them more.
8.For an event, try to identity the right journalist and provide clear details in their required language. The PR professional should stop calling continuously if they know the event will not be covered by the media.
9.Know your client`s business and the announcement that you are pitching, in detail, before contacting the media.
10.Never sell a story while journalists are approaching their deadlines. Chances are that they may not be interested in talking to you as they need to rush to file their stories.
11.Give the journalist your client list.
12.Take appointments before meeting journalists.
13.Just try to step into the shoes of the journalist before initiating anything.
14.Friendship and sharing good stories from time to time is the best combination.
15.Give space to journalists…feed them precise and newsworthy information. Be prepared with an option always.

To find out more about the IndiaPRBlog and its contributors check out: http://indiapr.blogspot.com

Friday, February 2, 2007

PR and Blogs: A Match Made in Communication Heaven

Not your typical trend
In the words of Paris Hilton, “Blogs are like so hot right now”. All over the world thousands of new blogs are created each day as the number of blog sites worldwide is estimated to be around 60 million and climbing. Unlike previous internet fads or technological trends, the world of blogging has emerged in the forefront of the communication revolution and has taken over the web one blog at a time. Unlike online communities like Facebook and Myspace who cater to certain demographics or generations, the “blogosphere” is open to anyone who knows how to use a computer. From politicians to celebrity gossip columnists, large PR firms to local church groups blogs are everywhere and anyone interested in the field of communications or mass media should start blogging.

What`s the big deal?
According to PR WEEK writer Kate Nicolas, “The blogging revolution will force change in PR”. These days it’s practically PR suicide for a company not to have a website or email system and pretty soon if not already, blogs will be a must. The constant rapid advancement of technology has turned the name of a popular online search engine into a verb ( “I`ll just Google that restaurant”) and an online community has become the subject of the newest pick up line (“Hey, are we friends on Facebook?”) . As a society we rely on the Internet for practically everything- paying credit card bills, booking airplane flights, registering for college courses, keeping in touch with family and even finding that special someone to spend the rest of your life with? Multi- billion dollar corporations and small local companies use the Internet to generate business, build their clientele, keep the media up to date and informed, and even scout out new job recruits.

Yet something was missing- there seemed to be a real disconnect between the companies and their clients. Consumers were unable to get the real scoop on certain products or offers featured online and companies had a hard time getting up to date feedback about overall customer satisfaction.

And then came the blog….
Even though blogs have been around for several years, it has been in the last few years that things have really started to take off. Brian Oberkirch, author of the blog “Like it Matters” feels like the time is now for all companies to start blogging. In a recent interview with Ketchum`s Nicholas Scribetta, Oberkirch shares his views about this bold new type of PR. When asked “When should companies know it is right to go into the blogosphere?” Oberkirch replied with the following: “I think everyone should be listening to the running conversations avaiable. Think of it as a free 24/7 focus group where people are talking about the good, the bad and the ugly of your company, your product or services or those of your competitors. Who wouldn’t want feedback?” http://www.ketchum.com And that is exactly what most companies have started to do.

To blog or not to blog
PR firms all over the world have been creating blogs as a way for their clients to track trends about their clients reputations, talk to the public on a grassroots level, and even network with other PR professionals. The blog http://businessblogconsulting.com is a site completely devoted to demonstrating how effective weblogs can be for communicating with customers and marketing to new customer prospects. One of the largest and most successful PR firms, Burson-Marsteller, has a many blogs avaiable for potential clinets to get feedback and information about the companies practices and philosphies. Even 86-year-old Harold Burson has his own blog where he shares his insight about the evolution of PR. Check out his blog at http://hb.burson-marsteller.com .Many of the blogs feature links to their companies main website as well as ways to reach the blog author. These features allow the readers to feel connected with the companies as well as others like them who want to learn more about the company. The Eldeman website has an entire section labeled “Speak Up” that is dedicated entirely to blogs that feature CEO Richard Eldeman`s blog, other vice presidents as well as PR bloggers who have something to say. Check out this website at: http://edelman.com/


It is safe to say that the PR field has caught the blog fever and it is only a matter of time before every firm- large or small, corporate or non-profit will have a blog of their own. So for all you PR hopefuls out there, start blogging!

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Blogging for Dummies

About 3 weeks ago I used to consider myself to be somewhat Internet savvy- I was the designated "computer person" in the family, the one who knew how to upload digital pictures, download iTunes and help my Mom when she would type her entire e-mail message in the send to box. However after a few days in my Advanced Communication Skills class, my computer confidence levels have plummeted and I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do.

Don't get me wrong, I could teach a course on Facebook and I like to think I can pretty much find anything on the web but when it comes to Podcasts, Wikis and blogs I am right there with the rest of my family.

I am starting to get a hang of the whole blogging thing now. To be honest my first few days were pretty tumultuous. My first official posting (that was later deleted) consisted of the word "hi" and it took about 3 emails back and forth with my professor to figure out how to comment on other peoples blogs, yet I`m hanging in there and everyday I blog and continue to explore all of the amazing PR outlets online, I am determined to be Internet savvy once again.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Buzzworthy Beauty

Real Women Have Curves: "The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty"

When Dove launched its global advertising project "The Campaign for Real Beauty" in the fall of 2004, women all over the world began to reinvent their ideas about what it really means to be beautiful and feel proud and comfortable in their own skin.

The ongoing project supports the Dove mission: to make women feel more beautiful everyday by challenging today`s stereotypical view of beauty and inspiring women to take care of themselves. According to their website, the brands commitment to the mission starts with using real women of various shapes, ages and sizes to provoke debate and discussion about today`s image of beauty.

The buzz worthy campaign featured six women, none of whom were professional models and who all varied in shape and size, age and ethnicity. Clad in nothing but their underwear, the women proudly posed for esteemed fashion photographer Rankin as they showed off their wrinkles, curves and bumps for the entire world to see. The women were featured in advertisements, interactive Web programs and attention grabbing billboards. The campaign helps support the new Dove firming products with messages provoking women to challenge beauty stereotypes" Let`s face it, firming the thighs of a size 2 supermodel is no challenge" and "New Dove Firming. As tested on real curves".

Although the advertising techniques were not shocking or wacky by themselves, however it was the content in the ads that had people talking. The six women featured in the ads appeared in short films, on morning news shows, day time talk shows and Oprah even dedicated an entire show to the campaign and the story behind the brave women who bared it all in the name of "real beauty".

Suddenly women from all over the world joined in on the debate on the company`s website where they could cast their votes on the questions raised in the advertising campaigns and engage in an ongoing dialogue about beauty by posting to discussion boards, hearing from what women around the world are saying and downloading researching studies about beauty.

The company also donated $1 to uniquely ME! , a partnership program with Girl Scouts of USA that helps build self-confidence in girls ages 8-14 with resources and program activities, for every person who signed the Campaign for Real Beauty pledge.

Not only did Dove promote and advertise a new line of firming products, the "Campaign for Real Beauty" encourgaged women of all ages to embrace their every freckle, dimple and curve. Dove focused on the importance of women learning to love their body, because once women are able to love the skin they`re in, the real beauty will shine through.

To find out more about the "Campaign for Real Beauty" and Dove`s line of products visit their website at: http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/ or http://dove.com/

Friday, January 19, 2007

There`s a first time for everything

To be honest the world of blogging is somewhat foreign to me so I am excited to learn more about this new online PR tool and what it has to offer to the field of communications. I`m excited to start blogging!