Can Involvement in PROpenMic Lead to a Job? :: Allie Osmar’s Success Story

Shared from my post to the front page of PROpenMic

My goal in starting PROpenMic, the social network for students & faculty, was to provide a resource that would help all of us.

I’m happy to report one particular success story from that site. I’m looking for others, too. So, if you have such a story, please share it in the comments or write to me. See the post and video below. Read more

Live Blogging the Edelman / PR Week Education Summit in Chicago

In Chicago for the Edelman / PR Week 2008 edition of the Education Summit on New Media and PR.

I brought my laptop with webcam, as well as my Flip camera and cell phone for Utterz. I’m going to try and use the Summit main page for more information.

OK, I admit this attempt at using CoverItLive was sad. :o( Sorry. I found out, upon arrival at the event, that the Northwestern University Law School folks were not giving us access to their wifi. So, bummer.

I do have videos galore and will begin posting them tonight (Sunday, June 28).

It was a great conference and I thank Edelman and PRWeek for putting it on. Hope this has a long running life. We need more of these for edcuators. Edelman & PRWeek are, truly, leading the way in outreach to higher education.

Spring 2008 Student Digital Resumes and Portfolios

As we enter Summer 2008, I realized I forgot to post the resumes & portfolios from my most recent classes. So, here they are.

They’ve been cross-posted at PR Prospects, the site I started to promote our wonderful Auburn University PR majors.

Please check out the most recent group from Spring semester. They are a fun group and quite bright. OK, I’m biased.

Below you’ll find a group of students with a wide variety of PR interests. Some of them have graduated, or will soon, and you may be able to grab them for a job. So, please check out their offerings.

This semester, we’re stepping up the digital resume/portfolio project. More on that, later.

Read more

HighEdWebDev Conference Over, Now Off To Connect UGA

Wednesday I was fortunate to participate in a presentation with some great people in Rochester, NY at the HighEdWebDev conference. However, I was in Auburn, Ala. I joined the group via Skype.

The occasion was Dimitri Glazkov and Jeff Keeton’s session Post-Conference Workshop 2.0. Thanks for inviting me, guys. I joined, among others, “Web 2.0’s uncle Chris FactoryJoe Messina” for the approximately 20 minute Skype conference portion of their presentation.

During the questions, I was asked the always difficult question, “So, what’s next? What is the next thing on the horizon?” Well, if I knew (if any of us knew), we’d invest in it and reap the rewards. I did not have the answer, because I don’t know what is next. I’ll post some more thoughts on that, next.

The opportunity was fun. I’ve spoken to the Internet Professionals Society of Alabama (IPSA) in Birmingham for these guys. They are always very nice and really smart. So, I appreciate any opportunity to interact.

You may remember that I have written about their work before - My Opinion: UAB Is A Leader In Online Higher Ed Creative Marketing and PR. Their work is quite remarkable.

Now, I’m off to the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications Connect Public Relations & Social Media Conference in Athens, GA. This will be fun. Evyan Mischke, an Auburn alum, will attend along with Jackie, one of the students from my classes this semester. Also, Dr. Margaret Fitch-Hauser, the director of AU’s PR program, is also attending. They will beat me to the conference. I have a previous engagement Friday, so I’ll join the fun on Saturday morning.

Among the large list of presenters are some we have interacted with during our class blogging experiences. So, we will get to see Josh Hallett of Hyku and Voce along with Paull Young from Converseon. We’ve met both of these fine gentlemen before. But, this will be a first time face-to-face meeting for me with Constantin Basturea, Converseon; Kaye Sweetser, University of Georgia; and Walter Carl, Northeastern University (Walter’s blog). Katie Delahaye Paine, of KD Paine & Partners, I did meet - briefly - when I spoke at the PRSA Counselors Academy conference in Savannah. That meeting was so brief (at the very end of the conference), however, so I’m hoping this will be my first real chance to perhaps get to say hi and really meet KD Paine.

Congrats to Karen Russell for putting together this conference. They have already started their conference blog: UGA Connect. So, follow along as folks will be live-blogging the proceedings. Visit Karen’s blog at Teaching PR, too.

Summer 2007 Class PR Blogs

This summer, all my classes are mini-mesters. Think about it. A class that usually takes 15 weeks, all packed into five weeks … pretty much in class all day.

Well, despite the flurry of activity all packed into five weeks, we will still be blogging. In fact, we will be video blogging. Yeppers! More on that later.

This is the complete list. Students began blogging today, so please check in and comment. They will appreciate your support.

• Amanda
• Drew
• Sara
• Rachel
• Leslie
• Katherine
• Becky
• Blair
• Sarah
• Brett
• Emily
• Sherry
• Justin
• Keri

Online Delivery of Broadcast Ready Video :: Alabama’s Governor and AU Grad

For some time I’ve wondered about the possibility of pitching broadcast quality video to local stations via the web. Oh, I know it is done. But, that’s for large corporations or PR firms, for example. With the growth of online newsrooms and the reach of broadband access today, I’ve wondered if it is more viable today. And, more importantly, even doable for medium to small PR efforts.

I believe the answer is now a resounding Yes!

I realize this example is from a Governor’s Office, but the technology required to accomplish it - and the ease of doing it - now proves, to me, that this is doable for others to begin considering video delivery to TV stations.

A camera capable of producing this video is now available for approximately $1,000 and the rest of the requirements - like hosting - are now available for as little as $25 per month. So, why not try it?

Here’s the latest example I’ve learned of, from a former student.

Most recently the Alabama Governor’s Office has offered up two videos and had pickup from state TV stations.

• Alabama Homeland Security Director Discusses State Efforts Before Congressional Committee
• Governor Riley Opens State Motor Pool’s E-85 Pump

Why do I mention this now? Well, it is being done by a former student, Todd Stacy. How cool.

Todd has been providing a password protected FTP download for the stations, and some have been taking him up on the offer. The downloads are not all that big. Certainly the file sizes are several gigabytes, but that has not stopped stations from taking the release and using it.

I think this is much more likely for the future than we think it is. I believe that Alabama, through Todd’s efforts, is way ahead of other states in doing this. Can anyone tell me of other such efforts?

Congrats to Todd for the great work, by the way. We love to tell you about our graduates!

StoryCrafter by Edelman :: My Take

Before writing this post, I prepared a long post filled with notes and comments about StoryCrafter.

However, having watched and read the comments and posts made by some re: StoryCrafter, this post seems more appropriate now. Perhaps I’ll post that long review, of sorts, later on. It is ready in drafts.

I don’t know, I’m funny in that I like to keep all things in perspective whenever possible. So, a little perspective.

First, and foremost, the problems with releases today has little, if anything, to do with how they are delivered, nor how they are formatted. Period.

The problem with releases today is, first of all, the writing of said releases. Next, the problem with releases is that way too many are being released. They don’t contain actual news.

So, with that covered, we turn to another reality of social media releases.

Take a pie. A big pie. Cut a sliver, oh … say angel hair width. Got it? Well, that sliver drastically over represents the people in the world today that likely have any desire to receive such a release. In fact, you could likely cut that sliver into 1,000,000 parts and 1/1,000,000th would represent the journalists, alone, that would likely want to receive such a release. Truth is, no one knows. There has been no research into the question - that I know of, to date. And, actually, I’m probably over estimating the percentage in each case.

The social media release is just one of many issues being discussed and tinkered with in public relations today. We want to know about it. It is interesting. That is all.

So, with a bit of perspective established, here are my thoughts … if you care. It is long. I’m really just writing for my students (I can make them read it) and for myself as a note taking process.

First, some of the comments left on the first Edelman StoryCrafter SMNR are ridiculous. Seriously. Others actually give ridiculous a bad name. Then, some are fair observations and suggestions. Go look for yourself. I don’t think you’ll need any guide from as to which ones are goofy. Read more

PR Marcom Higher Ed Top 10 Sources List

Warren Johnson, of the Unsolicited Marketing Advice blog, has created a Top 10 Sources list of marketing blogs. There are some good blogs on Warren’s list. You should check it out.

I made my own list at Top 10 Sources, too. And, I did make it onto that list - PR Marcom Higher Ed, but … um, you’ll see the only way I could do it.

1. PR Studies
2. PR BOOKS (Wiki)
3. Mass Communications
4. LeverWealth
5. Teaching PR
6. mediations
7. mediations (Wiki)
8. collegewebeditor.com
9. EducationPR
10. higher ed marketing
11. infOpinions?
12. and one I’ve been trying to add, Dr. Walter Carl’s Word-of-Mouth Communication Study, but the RSS URL won’t get picked up, for some reason. Hmm?

Yep, that’s right. Eleven Twelve sources on the Top 10 Sources list. Hope they don’t boot me because of it. I must admit that I was surprised to be able to add eleven sources. However, after signing up - I did a remarkable thing. I read the instructions. I know, it is kind of amazing.

Read more

Social Media Press Release via Wordpress Installation and Structured Blogging

For some time now, I have wanted to create a process through which students may practice creating versions of this new-fangled social media press release concept.

Now, I have it. Simple, yet functional.

For our fall classes, we have created a new site: The Loveliest Village Newsroom. This is part of a larger site where students will be posting news and feature stories they will write and produce (audio and video) during the semester. The Loveliest Village utilizes blogs, a wiki, Flickr, del.icio.us and is intended to provide experiential learning.

I am looking for some help with this project, if any of you are interested. A skilled coder/developer willing to help adapt the structured blogging plugin will be particularly useful. The version I have modified will work, but it can be more fully developed.

Our newsroom will utilize Wordpress and various plugins, including: Structured Blogging, podPress, WP Notable, WP Print, WP Lightbox JS 2 and Ultimate Tag Warrior. All of those will combine to allow posting releases featuring the major elements of a social media release (PDF) similar to the one suggested by Todd Defren.

Using this Wordpress implementation, the posting will still require the use of code. This file of HTML/CSS code is one example of how we will accomplish the format.

This zip file is the adaptation I made to the showcase-person.xml file within the structured blogging plugin.

Overall, this is a simple modification, but it allows us to practice (a) HTML, (b) CSS, (c) writing skills, and (d) creating social media releases.

I have two primary reasons for doing this. First, I want to have a process by which my students may practice the various principles we are studying - writing and production (HTML, CSS, graphics, layout). Second, I would like for them to have a leg up on understanding the social media release upon graduation. We are still blogging and commenting, by the way.

I’ll write more later. I hope to have some very exciting news to share later this week.

Update: After doing all of this, I went over to listen to the latest (Sept. 4) edition of Social Media Club’s Social Media Cast 0.2 with Shel Holtz (FIR), Chris Heuer and Brian Solis. In that podcast, the group discusses how some corporations are considering doing their releases through a blog due to the high costs associated with doing it at one of the major press release distribution services. So, this is quite interesting. I believe that a modified Wordpress or MT site can accomplish this process. Of course, the blogs won’t have the reach that one gains from services like PRNewsire or Business Wire, but it does reach the search engines.

Given the Social Media Club’s work on developing standards for such releases, we will be watching their work with interest.

News Junkie :: Become One. In PR, It Is Required Behaviour

Recently, Paull Young invited me to participate in a podcast interview at Forward Blog - Forward Podcast #7 :: Advice for New PR Students. This gives me the opportunity to post an old draft I’ve had hanging in limbo. Here it is. And, remember … advice is cheap, so take it for what it is worth. But, the reading aspect of staying aware of current events in news and the industry is a good practice to follow. And, I’d pay particular attention to Richard Bailey’s part of the podcast, as it is quite good. Many thanks to Paull, Luke, Richard, Erin and everyone at Forward Blog for including me in the discussion.

For students wishing to become PR practitioners, a keen interest in news and information is required. How important is it? Well, Harold Burson thought it important enough to make his information consumption habits the topic of his second post, when he started his blog back in February.

Some of the best advice my father (Burson’s) gave me when I was growing up was “always be in the know.” His way of “being in the know” was reading omnivorously.

I heeded his advice and it has served me well. Reading is as much a part of my daily regimen as breakfast, lunch and dinner — an hour on the way to the office, an hour going home, at least an hour before falling asleep.

Read more about Harold Burson at SourceWatch.

Burson’s suggested readings range from books to magazines. Electronic media? He watches TV and listens to the radio. So, how can you mimic Burson’s habits using your mediums of choice - iPods, cellphones and computers? Check out these resources and find the sources that capture your interest. Remember to be open to new ideas. The presentation styles of these programs aren’t MTV-like. That’s a good thing, by the way.

Here we go:

NPR: You can get the following shows online, on the radio or in your iPod, for the most part. I do. Visit the NPR Web site and find the station near you carrying the programs. Listen to them. All Things Considered is, by far, the best radio news program on earth. Not even the BBC’s great offerings can touch it. So, go listen. Also check out: Morning Edition, Talk of the Nation, Fresh Air, News & Notes with Ed Gordon and the Weekend Editions on Saturday and Sunday.

BBC: OK, they have all the other great radio news programs on earth. Like the NPR offerings, many (if not all) of BBC’s programs are available online and in podcast form. Visit the BBC Web site and look for all their programs. Their News offerings are the most valuable. Many are available in podcast form and others can be played on your computer in a time-shifting extravaganza. Don’t believe me? Look at the BBC podcasts available. This link at the BBC will show you all the different channels and what is available in podcast form, too. Hey, they are a great listen - if only for the accents.

I must include one more BBC podcast, if only for your own personal growth and understanding of disabilities. Listen to Ouch!, easily the most irreverent program about disabilities on earth. Ouch! is hosted by two disabled personalities that you will never forget - actor Mat Fraser and comedian Liz Carr. Honestly, this is a terrific program and you will never, I promise - NEVER, think about disabilities the same after listening just once.

In print, let us start with the PR trade publications. O’Dwyer’s PR/Marcom is a terrific site. The subscription rate for online viewing alone is only $25 for a month, $150 for a year. Sorry, no student pricing available.

PR Week is also a great publication. Their subscription price is about the same and well worth the investment. You cannot get a monthly subscription, but they offer a $128 annual rate for “50 issues and access to PRWeek.com.” Sorry, again. No student pricing I’m aware of at PRWeek, either. Also, you can read Keith O’Brien’s blog, for free. Keith is Editor of PRWeek.com and a very nice guy. Writes very well, too. Interesting stuff and you’ll benefit from reading each - PRWeek and Ubiquitous Marketing.

Bulldog Reporter is another terrififc resource. They have print and online publications, too. However, they seem to have priced themselves out for PR firms/agencies to foot the bill. A year’s worth of their newsletter, for instance, will likely set you back $449. You can sign up for a free trial here, though. And, you can always read some of their free columns, like Jeremy Pepper’s Blog Run.

PR News is another publication you can check out. It is also known as PR News and Marketing. They, too, have priced themselves out of the student market. They offer 1 year, 48 issues, for $697.

I deeply wish that these publications would offer student pricing. Not sure why they don’t, but it could help them gain future readers - brand them and hold them down the road.

Traditional daily newspaper fare is easier to find and more affordable. You should be reading The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Both have fairly affordable online subscription rates. The WSJ offers a $49 online subscription if you already get the print version. It is $99 for a year, if you don’t get the print edition. The New York Times is available for home delivery at $5.95 a week. You get Times Select online access for free, too. These two, by the way, do offer student pricing.

Finally, if reading isn’t your cup-o-tea (which would be sad, but…) you may want to check out the veritable plethora of podcasts from news organizations and PR practitioners at iTunes. Also, XMRadio and Sirius satellite radio offer an inexpensive way to listen to CNN, MSNBC and numerous other news sources anytime. I’m hooked on iTunes and XMRadio. Seriously, it has become an addiction.

PRGirlz.ca :: A Welcome New Blog with One Caveat

PRGirlz is a new blog from the women of Thornley Fallis in Canada. I learned of the blog while listening to the Inside PR podcast from Terry Fallis and David Jones.

PRGirlz.ca is a welcome new group of “eight Public Relations professionals working at Thornley Fallis Communications in Toronto, Canada.” The women will “bring a variety of PR experience from different areas: technology, entertainment, travel, corporate, financial, government and health.” More importantly, at least to me, is the idea of several women PR professionals writing publicly - and with comments on - about PR. My classes are frequently 80 to 90 percent female and they need, I believe, more professional PR women examples to learn from, too.

I am glad that Jennifer, Mary Ellen and Sandra have joined the “fracas” - as Mary Ellen called it. You’ll note that I can tell you the first names of three of the bloggers, but not anything about them. I hope the ladies will put up an About page with bios of all eight participants.

Here is where my one caveat comes in to play. I hope the women of this new blog will forgive me for bringing up this issue, but it concerns me. The issue? I’m unsure about how to take the chosen name of the blog - PRGirlz.ca.

Cultural differences, I am sure, exist between Canada and Alabama. In Alabama, it is not uncommon to hear a group of grandmothers, let alone young ladies, refer to themselves as girls. I imagine the same can be said for other geographic cultural practices. But, the term “girls” has, at times, brought down the rath of some men and women as derogatory - when used to refer to grown women. I guess it just depends upon the audience. Well, isn’t that always the case?

Even moreso, it reminds me of the MTV series, PowerGirls. That show was a travesty and did more to perpetuate the ditzy PR girl persona than any other - except, Sex and the City. Thank goodness the MTV show didn’t have a large audience and didn’t survive.

The term “girls” may serve to perpetuate the stereotype of “PR Bunny” that is too often applied to young women in PR. That term brings up images of vacuous little pretty girls as office dressing and shuffled off to perform clerical duties deemed to be beneath PR management, which is most often male.

So, I hope the writing and discussions at PRGirlz.ca will live down the possible unfortunate mental image the name may bring about for some readers. I hope the authors at PRGirlz.ca will publish an About page with bios and photos. Please let the photos be professional and not some fashion horse glamour shots.

To my students, I beg you, please do not ever refer to yourself as a “PR girl” at any time and in any way. You are, or will be, PR practitioners or PR professionals. Unfortunately, there are too many individuals out there that will react to the term “PR girl” as one of derision. There are too many contemptuous perceptions of PR and those that practice it. Why play into the stereotype?

I don’t know what to think about a blog named PRBoyz? Could Patrick, Jonathan, Edward, Matt and Jake, start one under that name? (Sorry, had to throw that in there.) They are my five, out of 25, PR students this semester.

I wish the eight women of PRGirlz.ca all the best and look forward to reading their posts - as well as sending my students over to read and comment.

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