H1N1 Survey Project
Here is our report for our H1N1 Survey Project. As well as the accompanying PSA we created
Interview Project
Here is our groups Social Media Interview Project
New Website!
I have a new website coming soon! This will be one of two remaining posts. The last will just announce the URL address of the completed site.
For my readers, the few, if any, that I have. Thanks for joining me here. The new site will be better, with more content.
As my life progresses, so does my online presence!
Twitter: 140 Characters Create Infinite Opportunities
We all know that Twitter has blown up since their beginning, but the amount of capabilities it offers was something that no one saw coming.
Today my teacher @cherissef told us why she has been so busy lately, thanks to Twitter. She was listed on ConversationAge’s 100 PR People Worth Following on Twitter, and since things have gone straight up for her. She’s gained hundreds of followers and her email inbox is flooding. The one article, that was widely read, has changed her life in PR for the better.
Now I have classes intergrating Twitter into our lessons, in our PR Research class we use Twitter to post questions during lecture. Yes, we can use our phones for something in class! My PR Research and PR Writing class has created hash-tags so we can chat outside of class, post questions, offer interesting articles, etc.
I love this social media age we are living in now. I bet that if I were not on Twitter I could still find job placement and internships in PR. It might take a lot longer and be more work, but it could happen. It seems as though Twitter or SM as a whole isn’t neccesarily something that can hurt you. To go off the adage of “its not what you know, but who you know,” Twitter can help someone in the situation of not konwing anyone. It can even help you find a job!
Twitter and SM are great because it can help me and all other aspiring Professionals to build our online presence and brand. It helps us to meet professionals in the field who are already doing what we dream of doing. Finally, for us who don’t know a lot of people or don’t have friends and family in those positions already, we can go out and makes those connections ourselves, without leaving our house.
NYU, the New Frontier, and a New Form of PR Bootcamp.
During the spring of last year my mom told me about an opportunity to study at New York University. My initial thought was, “what a better way to be in the city?” So throughout the summer I planned my application, got letters of recommendation in line, and maintained good grades.
The application was due in the beginning of August. I sent my application in on September 9, 2009. My application was the closest thing to a portfolio I’ve ever submitted. It branded myself as a student of great academic merit, and someone that NYU should admit. I was nervous; afraid that NYU’s reputation would carry into this decision and my grades wouldn’t be acceptabel to the NYU standards.
September 14 rolled around, which happened to be my birthday, and during that day I checked my email. In my inbox was an email from NYU. It was the first email I recieved from them since the automated submission email of my application and documents.
The were proud to offer me admissions into their Spring In New York program.
Now comes the hard part. I have great plans for the big apple. I’d love to gain an internship at a PR agency or firm. The experience alone at an NYC PR boutique or firm would be an unbelievable opportunity. Hopefully my overall experience while there will be more than a taste of what will become reality after graduation. I am hoping that my hardwork in these classes will help me to better represent myself as an aspiring PR professional that wants to make it in NYC.
PR Bootcamp
PR Bootcamp is a series of posts I will do through the fall semester.
With the start of Fall, I feel like I am literally going through a public relations bootcamp. Its as if they are taking us through a 16 week crash course to show us what public relations is and how it works. All together with taking PR Issues, PR Research and PR Writing I feel like after these courses I’ll be ready to take on some serious internships.
The course work has been heavy, but beneficial. I read almost every night but I’m actually learning things that are relative to what I want to do. We have to write press releases and various types of PR documents. I also have a book analysis due about David Scott’s book The New Rules of Marketing & PR, which has been awesome!
When I first started within the major I was completely confused as to what PR was. The only real idea I had about the field was through the television and blogs, horrible I know. Now things are coming together. Involving myself in PRSSA, classes, SoFlo Communications, and countless blogs is helping me to understand what I want to do and that makes me happy!
More will come as the semester progresses
Building Relationships via Twitter
Throughout life we try to build relationships with all types of people. Some people stay in our lives for years, while others only a few minutes. Regardless, each relationship we make with another individual will help us to become who we are today or who we’d like to become.
So my question to you is: When Twitter caught fire amongst the world did that hinder or strengthen our chances to create relationships?
Before Twitter, the only way we could contact or communicate with respected professionals would be out of sheer luck. Another way would have been to send an email into the black hole of the internet with hopes of getting a response. More than likely, if any response, it would be one that is generated or by an assistant. But now, Twitter offers an easy and a little less stressful way to meet people whom we may look up to in our respective fields.
So can Twitter help build relationships with people and professionals?
Yes, it can. Previously, I did an interview with Sydney Owen, @sydneyowen and posted it on my blog. My relationship with Sydney started out as one that was just an acquaintance, she was a speaker for a panel in my journalism class. We exchanged contact information however we never stayed in touch. It wasn’t until I began to follow her on twitter and “tweeted” her that we began to build a better relationship. Sydney is now always willing to help me (Sorry Sydney I know I ask a lot of questions!). But nonetheless, she has been a great person to talk to about PR, anything related to SM, or life after college in general.
I also follow @chrisbrogan, @prblog, @PRsarahevans, @lizharmon. All of these people have great insight within the field of Public Relations….and are one tweet away from opening many doors or answering any burning questions you or I might have.
Following professionals on Twitter can seem a little awkward because as the follower, and stranger, you’re getting a look into the professionals everyday life through their daily posts. Having professionals on your Twitter helps as a future professional by giving you a chance to speak directly to a knowledgeable source. Professionals that will help you with advice, insight, job opportunities, or build a relationships with hopes of advancement of your career in the future.
As a new tweeter, I know it may seem odd to “follow” someone, but for once its less stressful to ask questions, or just get an inside look of how professionals operate in the real world. I do it with no remorse. It will benefit my future so why not? Plus, Twitter should be used as a social media site that engages you while at the same time informing you of what’s happening. I also use twitter for job postings and talking/replying to my friends. So who says it can’t be a fun networking experience and a resourceful one at the same time?
@pjohnson09
Special Thanks to Krissy J and Sydney Owen for all the help!
Taking Job Searches into Your Control
The benefit of blogs, beside getting out your thoughts, can be for your future career. Ogilvy published a great post about utilizing social media to find a job. They mentioned the importance of social media to obtain a job by exercising use of these communities professionally.
I am very happy that people are starting to see the benefit of blogs rather than an online journal. It’s odd to think that just a few years ago the only thing popular in social media was MySpace. Now there are floods of social website that have certain perks or satisfy a niche. It seems as though the internet is taking over every aspect of how we do things, how quickly we get news, and how quickly we respond to anything.
Even though it might kill some of the emotion factor in some things, I still think Ogilvy hit the nail right on the head with their post. Blogging is a great way to show your insight on things that interest you in a personal blog or one a bit more professional. It showcases your writing skills, if needed, to future employers and colleagues. Even Twitter has potential to help. I frequently search the hashtag,#entrypr, to see any new positions or what qualifications employers are looking for. Within the world of social media there are tons of opportunities to read, or make connections for a future career, especially Public Relations.
Aside from blogging and “tweeting,” just to exhibit your interest and ability I think they offer a great use to actually mingle with people within your future or current profession. Just recently some members of Twitter and LinkedIn had a chat where PR professionals and college students had an open discussion. Unfortunately due to work I couldn’t be apart, but the fact is, people now have an opportunity to speak with professionals that would normally be hard to contact via social media.
One website I found through sheer boredom was JobSpice.com. Talk about an awesome website. JobSpice is a website that doesn’t allow you to upload your resume, but instead, create one through the website. Everything is interchangeable. You just add in personal info for the respective section but after that its all up to the user. You can move things around, change the design within their templates, and add/delete categories for your personal resume.
I’m glad to be apart of a generation that has an immense amount of information, knowledge and resources at our fingertips. There is no way that Gen-Y shouldn’t be able to: 1. make the world a better place, 2. continue to adapt/innovate/create new things, 3. succeed!
Vick’s Timely Return, and the Media’s Coverage
As school rounds the corner, other things like bills for school expenses seems to follow suit. On the other hand, a great thing that resurges with the come of every fall; football season. I had a talk with my friend Mark Clennon, and he brought up Vick’s situation with the NFL, which led our conversation to disucss the use of other stories to foreshadow Vick’s return.
This off-season and preseason has been a very hectic one for the media. With talks of Favre coming back, as he eventually did, again. As well as Plaxico Burress and his gun charges, Donte Stallworth’s manslaughter charges and the media’s frenzy with Michael Vicks return.
Since Vick’s sentencing last year he has returned to the league through the form of a American symbol. One that represents freedom and justice,known as an eagle. The Philadelphia Eagles, that is.
Fortunately for Michael he has dodged a lot of media, both good and bad, by the help of other players, like Brett Favre. Before Favre’s return to the league many people were skeptical as to what would happen with Vick. It seems as though ESPN and other sports media outlets took the spotlight off of Vick almost as a tactic to keep the NFL out of bad light, and to focus on something “better,” Favre’s return.
Luckily for Vick, Tony Dungy is in his corner. Dungy has agreed to help keep Vick out of trouble by mentoring him in his off-the-field activities and image. A guy with Dungy’s reputation and wholesome image will do nothing but positive things for Vick.
My biggest questions about this situation with Vick and other events happening at the same time:
- How much of this was planned (in terms of when these events occurred, Favre’s return).
- Who is to take credit for less media coverage on Vick and more on Favre’s return?
- How does the league feel about reinstating Vick, Burress, Stallworth and others with criminal records?
- What other strategies have been implemented to create better images?
Any response to the question or blog post is greatly appreciated!
