Many of these students just graduated. As always, I’m sure they want me to share the mantra by which all of these sites were created … Hire Them!

Good students all, I heartily recommend them to you all.

Find more photos like this on The Loveliest Village

Julie Moos offered up here views on the “Was the hurricane coverage hyped?” debate that seems to be unstoppable.  See The 6 criteria for hype & why Hurricane Irene coverage does not meet them.

So, I’m offering up my take on the coverage. I feel Ms. Moos failed to address some painfully glaring realities in the “what passes for news” determinations by media outlets today.

Ms. Moos fails to adequately address the key element of proximity.  That is what made the national cable news coverage so unrealistic.  Yes, a large portion of the nation’s population were at risk.

But, what may have made the national media outlets pay so much attention may well have been — the proximity was their own backyard, the northeast.  Specifically, we’re talking about the US media mecca – New York City.

I can almost hear the newsroom conversations now (can’t you) … “Oh, my gosh … the hurricane is coming up here … and we just had a freak earthquake.  Is this Armegeddon?”  And then, can you hear the upper management conversations (the suits).  ”If not, let’s make it look like it.  I smell a ratings bonanza!”

Further, Ms. Moos neglects to adequately address the consequence of the story.  Yes, the damages caused by the hurricane were large.  However, the string of tornadoes earlier this year caused an almost equal amount of monetary damage.  They also killed hundreds more people.

Were the tornadoes over covered … or hyped by cable news?  No … and why?  In part, it was because they were hyping the Royal Wedding when the most devastating string of storms occurred.  Yes, a foriegn wedding was more important than death and destruction in the US.  Why?  The cable channels had already committed their resources.  In days long gone, they would have bitten the bullet and covered the national tragedy despite their prior commitments.  You know, that little thing called journalistic integrity.  Today, money rules!

Face it.  The hurricane coverage on cable channels was over the top.  It was all about trying to hold eyeballs, increase ratings and NOT reporting news.

The hurricane and subsequent flooding was a major story. That’s true. Did it deserve wall-to-wall coverage? No. Hey, I’ve been through plenty of hurricanes. This one, to me, was more akin to another nor’easter than a hurricane. Do nor’easters usually warrant national wall-to-wall coverage? No. Do they get it? No. Please, people. We have picnics in category one hurricanes. Sheesh!

Finally, as far as context is concerned, there were (and are) other ongoing stories that impact more people, cause more damage, cost more money and concern the deaths of more people.  What are they?  The wars the US is currently still fighting.  Famine in Africa.  Drought in the US south and southwest. There are over 30 insurgencies, civil wars and outright wars between nations underway around the world today.  (See globalsecurity.org)

Even if we quibble over the number of wars, the consequences of any one of them likely exceeds the impact of that one hurricane.  That is particularly true for those news outlets that pretend to be covering the world.

Oh, but those stories are too complex to cover and maintain the attention of viewers.  Hey, we’ll commit the money for a Royal Wedding, but in-depth coverage on more important issues — what, are you kidding?  They don’t drive ratings.  So, we are stuck with the continued tabloidization of news.  Revenues and profits play too large a role in what gets defined as news today.  Revenues and hoped for profits played too large a role in going with wall-to-wall coverage of the hurricane.

After all that … at least sometimes you can find humor in weather coverage.

Cost? $7.00 template … $20 for domain & hosting … and less than one hour of editing.

Yes, it still needs more work, but shows how you can put up a simple (and I think, attractive) site with ease.

Your thoughts & suggestions welcome!

So, this time I created two presentations to illustrate what my students & alums shared today in response to a request on Facebook & on Twitter. What are they doing in their jobs & internships with regard to social media?

Almost 30 have replied so far. I imagine I’ll get more before schools starts in two weeks. Check ‘em out on Storify & Prezi. Many thanks for the help!

Storify collection and Prezi collection … or, see them embedded below.

If anyone else wants to critique this … or share their experiences, I’ll appreciate the input.

It is an interesting use of a common PR ploy … grab the coattails of a breaking story and tag along to get interest. But, in this instance, it is the association that claims to be the keeper of the ethical flame. Um, this isn’t likely hacking. It is likely just using someone else’s code (probably given to them) to listen to the teleconference. Yes, it may be in violation of PRSA Terms of Use ….. but, hacking? I doubt it. PRSA … do you have some ‘splainin’ to do , too? It may well be that PRSA does … their use of a hook to the News Corp. story is a bit unseemly. Let’s be clear. If someone accessed the call from O’Dwyer … they may have been a PRSA member. No one will say.

Actually, it is AdAge that has some explaining to do … as I re-read the story at AdAge, they are the ones that used the term hacking. Bad practice, AdAge. Again, the term “hacking” is so charged right now, is it really appropriate for this story? I’m not sure it is.  PRSA should re-think their implications of hacking.  They are the ones that said they made the statement against O’Dwyer public because of the News Corp. story.  It just seems like a poor hook/coattails tactic to get traction on their swipe at O’Dwyer PR.

Here is an example of what people were saying about Auburn’s Spring Graduation 2011. The video at the bottom is an excellent example of stakeholder generated content.  (Photo & video via Melanie Foster)

http://storify.com/rdfrench/auburn-university

Always love my students and very proud of them. This group was particularly fun and put in a lot of work on these projects. So, give them a look and offer them a job or internship.

OK, I finally got all the screen shots of each site into the slideshow. ;o)

Always interested in any cause related effort, particularly with regard to people with disabilities, I feel this release does a great job of addressing a very PC issue.

They are tracking the use of the words “retard” and “retarded” on Twitter.  It is an outing, of sorts.

What do you think? Look at this Twitter search feed for the word “retard” and see just how often it is used.

Watch the video:

CHICAGO, March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — “Retard.”  You’ve certainly heard it.  Chances are you’ve even used it yourself.  You’re not alone.  The word “retard” is used more than 24,000 times daily on Twitter.  For the 200,000 people in Illinois living with developmental disabilities and their families, this is a matter that goes far beyond words.

That’s why LifeMyWay has launched www.TheSocialChallenge.org, a public awareness and social media campaign that spurs Illinoisans to focus on creating a community of equality and inclusion for all.

The Social Challenge encourages people to take action by enabling them to engage Twitter users whose tweets contain the “R-word.”  The site is also a forum for people to share their personal stories and connect with one another via Facebook.  Advocates for the The Social Challenge will get out into the community, asking Illinoisans to take the Challenge by vowing to help foster a society rooted in equality.

“The real disadvantage stems from the stereotypes and prejudices that society forces upon people with developmental disabilities,” said Holly Roos, Canton mother of two children with Fragile X syndrome.  ”Every human being has strengths and weaknesses, and everyone has the right to be seen for who they are as a person rather than what they cannot do.”

Jessica Martin is one young adult who shares her story.  As a young woman balancing school, work, and an active social life, Jessica dares to ask people to give her the same respect she gives to them.

“I want to be seen as a human being, not as just another girl in a wheelchair,” said Martin, who has Cerebral Palsy.  ”Get to know me – see what I have to offer.  Know that my wheelchair helps me to do what I have to do in my daily life, but it doesn’t define who I am as an individual.”

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: “I will challenge myself and challenge others, joining LifeMyWay in creating a community rooted in equality.”

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/message-to-retard-users—you-will-be-found-118510074.html

Here is the last batch of digital resumes and portfolios from my wonderful Auburn students.

Please check ‘em out and hire them! Great people!

HTML Sites

Amanda Younce
Ashley Bowling
Ashley Gilder
Ashley House
Betsy Ann Rogers
Carra Monteverde
Haley Rennick
Janet Marie Gunnels
Kaitlyn Parsons
Katelyn Snyder
Kelsey Brown
Laura Leigh Pierce
Leslie Lake
Lindsey Robinson
Meaghan Brantley
Rebecca Larkin
Rebecca Simon
Sarah Funderburk

Mobile Sites

Amanda Younce – Mobile
Ashley Bowling – Mobile
Ashley Gilder – Mobile
Betsy Ann Rogers – Mobile
Carra Monteverde – Mobile
Haley Rennick – Mobile
Janet Marie Gunnels – Mobile
Kaitlyn Parsons – Mobile
Katelyn Snyder – Mobile
Kelsey Brown – Mobile
Laura Leigh Pierce – Mobile
Leslie Lake – Mobile
Lindsey Robinson – Mobile
Meaghan Brantley – Mobile
Rebecca Larkin – Mobile
Rebecca Simon – Mobile
Sarah Funderburk – Mobile

A redesign of the new Aruba logo to more accurately depict the island's true nature.

I live in Alabama.  I’m really not the person you want to pitch with news of Aruba’s new rebranding initiative.

That didn’t stop them, though. They pitched me via email today.

A PR agency just found one long list of PR people and sent out the blast email release. Yet one more example of poor PR practice.   I only write of this because it is so ironic that they would pitch me on this story, of all stories.  A truly clueless effort.

Why does Aruba need to rebrand itself?  Because of the horrible way they handled the Natalee Holloway disappearance (and much more).

We in Alabama remember that.  It is the reason the mere mention of Aruba raises angry and bitter feelings.  It is the reason we are certain that Aruba is a horrible place.  They seem to care more about their tourism industry than the safety of those that visit Aruba.

So, I’ll reprint their release. That’s what they wanted, right? I’ll just use different links … and I’ll tell you the reason why they have to do a rebranding.

Now, do you still want to go to Aruba for your vacation?

Do you really want your children to take their Spring Break trips to Aruba?

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

The long string of stories in this Google News search is representative of the reason why Aruba is undertaking this rebranding effort.   Gee, if they would only spend as much effort in finding Holloway and/or truly solving the case.

ARUBA LAUNCHES ‘ONE HAPPY ISLAND’ GLOBAL BRAND IDENTITY,
FEATURING COLORFUL, NEW LOGO AND TAGLINE

Natalee Holloway - the innocent victim of Aruba's disregard for life.

NEW YORK, NY (September 20, 2010) – The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) is pleased to announce the launch of a new global branding campaign for the country, which includes a redesigned logo and the re-launch of the “One Happy Island” tagline.  The new branding will be introduced in the U.S. through a new advertising campaign titled “Aruba Uncovered,” which will include print, TV, online and out of home ads, and is slated to launch September 27, 2010.

The heart of Aruba’s new brand identity is its new logotype, which includes new typography, colors and imagery; and has at its core symbol the red compass rose from Aruba’s national flag, representing the national pride of the island.  The placement of bold, impactful letters in the logo reflect a playful attitude, while the colors echo the island’s natural environment, from the clear blue and turquoise of its sky and sea to the fresh and crisp green of its flora and fauna.

Another key aspect of the new branding is the re-launch of the “One Happy Island” tagline, which had previously been used as Aruba’s official slogan for decades.  The tagline still holds a strong identification with the local community on the island, and has been used as the inscription on Aruba license plates for many years.  Highly recognized by visitors from across the world, the tagline will now be officially used in all marketing initiatives worldwide, as a bold and contemporary central theme for promoting the country.

“The government of Aruba currently has a number of tourism-related initiatives underway to fulfill our collective vision for the island, and our new brand identity is a large part of that,” said Mr. Otmar Oduber, Aruba’s Minister of Tourism, Labor and Transportation. “The new universal brand positioning builds on our pride for our country as both a wonderful place to live and to visit.  We are one happy island, and we want everyone to know it.”

The new brand identity was developed by The Partners, a New York-based company specializing in brand strategy and design, which was tasked with creating an exciting and globally consistent image of Aruba, to be used both on-island and in all of its marketing arenas.

“Aruba’s unique culture and beautiful surroundings offered us an ideal foundation for creating a vibrant global brand,” said Steven Gilliatt, Managing Director, The Partners. “This was a wonderful opportunity to support the government of Aruba in building a sustainable marketing program that will promote tourism to the island for years to come.”

The new branding will be unveiled in the U.S. through the new “Aruba Uncovered” advertising campaign created by Deutsch Inc. The new television ads feature Ian Wright, host of the travel/adventure television series, Globe Trekker, as he travels to Aruba to learn about the island and the people firsthand. The ads are filmed in an unscripted documentary style and show interaction with local Arubans to reinforce the welcoming spirit of the island in an authentic way.  The ads are slated to begin airing in Aruba’s top regional markets, including New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington DC, Harford/New Haven, Pittsburg and Atlanta, among others.

“In filming the new TV ads, we avoided the typical seductions of island paradise, and instead created smiling invitations from a beautiful place, with unpretentious and disarmingly friendly Arubans,” said Greg DiNoto, Partner, Chief Creative Officer, Deutsch NY. “Ian Wright was a natural choice for our spokesperson—he’s a ‘winking proxy’ for all of us jaded travelers.  In our unscripted spots, Ian registers genuine surprise and delight at how friendly Aruba can be, and lets consumers reset the agenda for a tropical vacation.”

Deutsch also created a new print and online campaign, featuring the “One happy island” tagline and new logo.  The new print ads will begin running nationally in October in publications such as Bon Appétit, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Real Simple, Brides and more. Online ads will be appearing on TheKnot.com, Travel Channel online, Yahoo.com, Weather.com, Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz and more.

Advertisements will also appear in the form of phone kiosks, branded subway trains and train platform posters in New York and Boston – Aruba’s top two markets in the U.S.

Aruba’s new global marketing identity has a direct link to the island’s Bo Aruba initiative, which includes plans to renovate and improve important civic and tourist areas in downtown Oranjestad and throughout the island.  Colorful examples of the new brand are currently displayed with banners, signage and street architecture throughout Aruba.

For more information on travel to Aruba, please visit online at http://www.ARUBA.com/ or call 1-800-TO-ARUBA.

About Aruba
Aruba, One happy island, is truly an extraordinary experience.  Located only two-and-a-half hours by air from Miami and four hours from New York City, the island is ideally situated in the southern Caribbean and boasts year-round cooling trade winds and perfect weather with average annual temperatures of 82 Fahrenheit and less than 20 inches of rainfall per year.  Aruba serves up 28 luxurious hotels/resorts, championship golf courses, sumptuous spas, vibrant casinos, extraordinary international and local cuisine, exclusive shops and boutiques, exciting land and water activities, art galleries and museums, world-famous festivals and events, clubs and cafes with live music and world class beaches. The backdrop of a cosmopolitan tropical destination with warm, hospitable people is the perfect place for first-time guests and loyal visitors.

About The Partners
With over 25 years experience, The Partners specializes in building brand strategies, rejuvenating existing brands, and consulting across all areas of visual brand identification. The consultancy has a wide range of expertise spanning many sectors, and has worked with some of the world’s most notable brands. The Partners is part of WPP Group (NASDAQ: WPPGY), a world leader in marketing communications, advertising, and marketing services. To learn more about The Partners, please visit http://www.the-partners.com/.

About Deutsch Inc.
Deutsch Inc. (www.deutschinc.com) is a multi-disciplinary marketing communications agency known for its insatiable culture and ability to drive business results for clients. Deutsch crafts a best-in-class array of marketing programs and works with many notable clients. Deutsch Inc. is the North American hub of the Lowe & Partners global network.

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Email address redacted.