I read a post today on Marcom about the craze surrounding PR 2.0. There is a new guide out that details some of the new and hot tools that are being used in PR communications today. After reading some of the guide I came to one conclusion.
Where was this thing at the beginning of the semester? I would have loved to have this with me at every second I spent in my wonderful 
Style and Design class. There are a lot of great tips and details about PR tools that are new to the PR practioner’s world. There are a few things missing that I think the guide could really stand to have such as Photoshop and InDesign that were used pretty regularly in my class.
Perhaps thinking about adding the two programs metioned above along with some others would really benefit at least those students taking Style and Design at Auburn. I know this guisde would have been a wonderful gift had I had it before I began class. Still, I survived (I think) and learned a WHOLE LOTTA stuff.
I read a post on a great site today, called PR Girlz. In the post it talked about how as a PR individual it is so important to keep up with worldly events and news. While I am not disputing this fact I think there is a fine line that does need to be drawn between knowing what is going on, and knowing what is going on EVERY day.
The blogger spoke of how her boss worried about recording his podcast while on vacation in France. She also talked about people bringing the ever-cool Blackberry on vacation to kepp informed 24/7.
Alright, now a person’s job is very inmportant but really what is the point of going on vacation if you can’t enjoy it? Leave the PDA at home and if you can’t do it, then save yourself the time and money and just simply stay home.
Some may say I don’t know what I’m talking about because I’m not in the “real world” yet, but I have neough sense to know that if I’m going to dinner with a friend I turn OFF the cell phone. There is something to be said for RELAXING once in awhile.
Alright, so this post has almost nothing to do with PR directly but in an indirect way it does. I am someone who can be an innate people pleaser when it comes to her close friends. I will do anything for my best buds and sometimes it can be what’s best for them and not so much for me. But I have to say that I am someone that gets to a certain point and I just shut off. I will be the stubborn prideful one who will not say sorry if my personal bud has scorned me so. (Please keep in mind that this is something that has happened just twice to me.)
Recently, TWO former VERY close friends got back in touch with me. Ah, the power of the email. Subtle yet safe. And I can honestly say that deep down I was thrilled to hear from both. These girls meant the world to me and my whole life shifted when they were no longer a part of it. One of the girls I have emailed back and forth and am looking forward to catching up with. The other I haven’t yet and it’s simply because I just don’t know what to say.
Here is where the PR comes in indirectly. These girls knew everything about me and had an set impression of me in their minds. Then crisis set in and a new impression was made. How do I go back to a situation with my best crisis management skills? I have to handle these situations like an adult, and I know that, but how does one re-make a first impression?
It’s certainly something that I can work at and I wish I did have more experience with crisis handling. We shall see how it goes.
Many of you may have read the recent articles about academic “funny business” that is occuring right now on Auburn’s campus. Apparently, a dept. head in crimonology has been handing out easy classes along with even easier grades to athletes and some non-athletes too. The faculty member who blew the whistle is actually a professor of mine at the moment.
Going to class today I didn’t expect Dr. Gundlach to say anything about all of the media attention that has been occuring but I was suprised when asked about the coverage by a student, Gundlach began to talk about the situation and how the media was portraying things.
I’m not saying that I know anything that isn’t already in the papers but it would seem to me the impact this stor is having would stress out even the most compossd individuals.
In a true testament to online media there have been articles in the New York Times, ESPN.com, and many local Alabama papers.
It just amazes me the speed with which a story has the ability to spread now. Thirty years ago, my friends in Ohio would have no knowledge of what was going on down here in Auburn AL. But today, I got out of class to three voicemails asking me about the story and what did I know, etc.
Whether bad or good, I feel that this is a real, highlighting issue. It teaches us to pay attention to what is going on even in the smallest of towns and to respect the power of the press and how rapidly it can spread from state to state, and country to country.
The final curtain call is about to be called. Come August my time here on the Plains will close and I will have to move all of the crap I have accumulated over the last four years back to Atlanta. While part of me is so ready for it, there’s another part that just keeps saying “There’s no way it’s already here.”
As we grow up we hear our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles continue to tell us “You won’t believe how fast it all goes by.” And me, like so many others I’m sure rolled my eyes and told them I didn’t think I was growing up fast enough.
But they are so right. I couldn’t believe it when high school ended and I can’t believe it now that college is about to end for me. Sure most of my friends graduated in May (whoo-hoo) but I don’t think it makes any difference when you get out. Albeit you might get another football season out of stretching your classes out as long as possible. Unfortunately, I have parents who are on to my game.
So all in all, here it is, the finish is approaching. I sat back and started to think about everything I have learned in college both in and outside the classroom. Some of it is good, some of it not so good, and some of it, I’ll just always have to take with me wherever I may go.
While posting my blogs this week for my Style and Design class I came across a unique blog by Jeremy Pepper, a contributor to Marcom blog. His site turned out to be one of the more refreshing ones that I have come across since entering the blogger world.
Right when the site comes up, it’s eye-catching colors and clear, unpixalated images that jump off the screen. Pepper keeps it light and funny infusing his own sense of self into the words he writes. I love that he keeps it young but not immature and it really was a great find for myself who really leans more toward the funny in life rather than the serious.
I was a little put off that I wasn’t able to post a comment without creating my own blog through the site. Due to a time crunch, I went ahead and created one rather than trying to fins another site to post on. But I wasn’t happy about creating something that I’m not sure I’ll really use.
Overall, though I loved what the blogging site had to offer.
I just got a fax this afternoon that contained all of the signed paperwork for my internship this fall. While I am so excited to be actually interning somewhere that I want to, it suddnely dawned on me. This is it. No more time for mess ups, the real world is a’comin.
I’ll be working under the chair of the GA ADA Exchange, which is under the United Way and I am super pumped. I spoke with Nancy this morning about the final details and questions I had. I just cannnot believe that this is really happening. I’ve been working towards this for 4 looong years, and suddenly, it’s at my feet ready and waiting.
After my conversation with Nancy, I was excited to know that my duties will not be limited to getting coffee or everyone’s take-out orders. I really will have responsibilities and tasks that people at the agency will rely on me for. I guess bit by bit and day by day my life is starting to take that turn into the “adult” direction and I can’t run from it any longer.
I’m really excited(as I’ve already said too much) but the sense of fear is suddenly becoming very real to me, and I know that I want to, and need to, perform well at my internship. Otherwise, I might be asking one of you “Would you like fries with that?”
I brought up the topic that I wrote about yesterday in regards to the musical artists and their choice of when to drop their new albums. I have to give credit to Kelly on this one. She would make a much savvier PR girl than myself at this point. She brought up the concerns such as competing record labels, the gift-giving holiday season and awards nominations.
All excellent points and ones that I myself should have realized. Of course these artists are releasing together. They are all on competing record labels. It makes perfect sense that each label is going to want to out-do the other. Plus the CDs are right in time for T’giving and Christmas, they would make great gifts.
Finally, there are only four months left until 2006 is over once these CD’s drop. Each of these artists are going to garner Grammy nods if they can. Perfect sense.
Bravo Kel. You are brilliant.
Alright, stay with me on this one people. I know that the majority of society may think that celebrities are all fluff and those of us who actually participate in reading People are “mindless.” But as a PR student I really want to know who is handling the top singing celebs right now. Are these people crazy? In the span of 8 weeks, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Beyonce are ALL releasing new albums. Each of these artista sings a similar genre of music and all are about the same age. Now really tell me, who told these people that it was the time to release new music NOW?
Each of these artists is accomplishd but only one will have the victory dance at the end of the day. Of the four, only one will truely prosper in my opinion. If I was the PR personnnel for ANY of the above mentioned artists I would seriously get my client to reconsider dropping an album at this time.
It all comes down to the rat race and who will get out first and who will survive. Personally, my vote is for Mrs. Aguilera-Bratman. She is already having success with her newly-released single and her style has once again been reinvented.
But seriously, celebs are a part of the world of PR and I contemplate who allowed these celebs PR teams to believe that they were leading their “clients” in the right direction.
When will it ever end? What you ask? When will women be able to say what it is they want without having someone or anyone think that she is a ditz, dummy, airhead, ho, etc. That might be a diverse list but as a female about to embark into the PR world I jsut can’t understand why there are still those out there who will consider what I do as fluff.
From the beginning of time men have always been dominant. But that changed when women recieved the right to vote right? Nope. I wonder if I will be 80 years old and will still have to monitor what I say and do so as not to exude a personna that is considered “stereotypical.”
Maybe I’m just getting a little too rightous for my own good. Maybe I’m just being a crabby female. But either way will it ever end? Will females become the EQUAL with the males?Â
