Would You Replace the News Release?

     This morning I read an article on PR Daily regarding replacing the news release with a blog. The author, Jeremy Porter, discusses several reasons that he thinks blogs are a better PR move than the news release. Several of these reasons are that blogs are cheaper, you can have an archive, you can track the results, and you can gain reader's feedback.

     A final point that Porter made was that blogs are read more frequently than news releases and thus, would be shared with more people than the news release. Porter suggests companies notifying its audiences that it will be posting all its information on a blog from here on and that they should subscribe to it for updates. This way its audience would receive all its news immediately without waiting on a news release. 


     What do you think about this idea?


     Personally, I think it is an idea that makes sense. Within time, I could certainly see companies moving toward this trend. Most major companies have a blog site already that posts a lot of information regarding the company. A main issue regarding this idea is that some countries do not have easy internet access yet and for international companies with international audiences, this could be an issue. That is where the news release becomes so important because it is so versatile.


8 Reasons to Dump Press Releases for a Blog

By Jaclyn Harris
Associate Manager

Cold Off the Press!

     Today I read an article entitled "For Newspapers, a Less than Daily Future" on the American Journalism Review Website. This article speaks about how Newhouse papers in New Orleans and Alabama are seeing print reductions to save money and appeal to the increasing population of the digital age. 


     Both of these daily publications will begin only printing three times a week starting in September 2012. This is a trend that is becoming more popular throughout the United States. However, even though many are jumping on board with the digital news age, some cities, like New Orleans, are unhappy with the printing reductions. The article stated that there was even a rally in New Orleans this week over the printing reduction, but professionals do not see Newhouse changing its mind. 

     Professionals are interested to see how these changes affect the relationship between the readers and the newspapers. Could this be the beginning of the end of the newspaper as we knew it?


     I personally like newspapers entering the digital age. I think it is so convenient to have the news at your fingertips whenever you want. With smart phones as capable as they are now, there are no limits as to where you can receive the daily headlines and breaking news. Internet access comes at such rapid speed in the United States that, in my opinion, it makes sense to take advantage of that. I can see how big news companies can lose the relationship with its readers by posting all its articles online, but at the same time, companies like CNN and FOX already do this and its publics are still present. 


     I think this is a topic very relevant to public relations practitioners around the world. For instance, our main newspaper in Charlotte, NC,  is the Charlotte Observer; it is online and in print. Since it is online, essentially anyone can see its content. If I wrote a news release and promoted it to the Charlotte Observer, anyone around the world could receive my message. The power of our words are only continuing to grow, giving us even more responsibility.


     What do you think about newspapers becoming "cold" within your smart phone or computer? Do you like the idea of holding a print copy of your newspaper or would you like to see the digital age grow?


     What about in your own country? Are you seeing similar reductions outside the United States? How does this relate to public relations in your country?


For Newspapers, a Less than Daily Future

By Jaclyn Harris
Associate Manager

Networking Tips for the PR Student

     The moment you step into your first public relations class you are taught how important it is to be networking. You will hear it over and over again: it’s all about who you know. But for many young students, it is hard to know where to start. Going to your first PR social event can be quite nerve racking. Standing in a room full of talented PR Practitioners can be intimidating, but you cannot let fear stop you from making professional connections. Here are some tips to help get you started in the not-so-scary world of networking.

• Start out small: Talk to friends or mentors, people in your inner circle. See who they have as connections. Perhaps you can ask for an introduction.
• Look for a familiar face: When you attend social events, take a friend with you or look for someone who have seen at functions before. You might be able to gain some guidance from them.
• Be confident: Remember to be professional and ask questions. Do not cower in the corner; move about and introduce yourself to new people.
• Follow up: Do not appear as a "schmoozer." You want to keep your new connections, right? Be sure to hand out a business card and follow up with an email or a phone call everyone in while to keep in touch. 
• Dealing with Rejection: Do not be afraid of getting rejected. Be open to taking risks and asking about positions.

For more tips on networking, be sure to check out these websites:

How to Network: 12 Tips for Shy People

How to Network

How to Network Effectively

By Caity Weiss

Associate Manager

How LinkedIn Are You?

     In today's growing social media world, it is becoming more and more important for young professionals to be present in the world of LinkedIn. When used correctly, the facets of this website can be very helpful, whether you are searching for a job, marketing a brand, or promoting your company. 


     As you begin to delve into the world of LinkedIn, there are several things to keep in mind as you're making your professional profile. The Mashable Social Media Blog has several articles posted that can give young professionals tips and guidelines about how to make their LinkedIn profile. I have linked a few specific articles at the end of this blog. Just remember that the ultimate goal of your LinkedIn profile is to provide organization of your experience and opportunities for your success. Below are a few tips that I have included from my own personal experience creating my LinkedIn:


1. Keep it current. Don't forget to update your profile with jobs, schooling and skills.
2. Join Groups. Don't only just join groups, but also comment in discussions. 
3. Include summaries of your job descriptions. Post what your role is at your current and past jobs so that potential employers can see what you are capable of.
4. Include courses. List the courses that you took at the university you attended so that employers can see that you had applicable schooling for the position you are trying to get.
5. Don't post personal information. Remember, LinkedIn is a professional site. You're employer does not need to know information about your family or friends.
6. Leave high school behind. It is irrelevant to include what high school you went to or jobs that you had in high school.
7. Ask for recommendations. Recommendations is a unique application on LinkedIn. However, don't get carried away. You don't need a recommendation from all of your connections on LinkedIn. 


What are some tips that you learned from creating your LinkedIn?


The Beginner's Guide to LinkedIn

6 Things You Need to Know About LinkedIn Recommendations

6 Things on Your LinkedIn Profile That Shouldn't be on Your Resume

By Jaclyn Harris
Associate Manager

PR Practitioners Need Broader Skill Set

On April 20, the Center for Global Public Relations held its second annual global public relations research conference. Former CGPR Intern Patricia Mills shares her takeaways from the conference for public relations practitioners and job seekers.

Today I want to explore a few ideas about the future in communication and necessity of broader ideas among my colleagues and future practitioners. In meeting with internationally respected industry leaders at the global research conference I kept hearing recurring themes in needed skills.

1) How do we get our profession more globally savvy?
Today’s global political climate and disappearing business borders require a professional communicator with global savvy and cultural sensitivity to new market entry. Programs designed in one culture can fail miserably in another. Professionals  from the host country are  the most knowledgeable about how a given program could be tweaked to be most effective. Offering them a seat at the implementation table is not a luxury - it is a must!

2) A need exists to integrate relationship building into social media campaigns. 

With the birth of social media use, practitioners have a valuable opportunity to directly reach our clients or constituents. Yet, the majority of entities are talking at and not with the consumer. Today our clients are challenged by competing products and services all around and the new professional consumer needs to feel heard and have issues addressed not just community service or sale information megaphoned to them.

3) PR professionals need to broaden the basis of thinking and education in new areas.
We as communicators can no longer just lean on the press release to standard media outlets to get our program message to the consumers. Knowledge of governmental constraints, cultural norms, and economic/ business environments are needed to create program initiatives with tactics that will reach out rather than repel. A much broader curriculum must be included in any new communication professional education. Analysis of all environmental and cultural factors internationally and even within country segmented areas is necessary to achieve strategic goals of any program.

As I sat with my distinguished colleagues at the conference, the themes of common needs kept being reappearing. We as a profession are expected to keep broadening our skills and spanning our boundaries with the growth of the industry. Don’t let yourself fall behind the curve. To keep global corporate business as healthy as it needs to be and giving clients quality campaign results these new ideas seem to be extremely high in importance for PR and the industries and customers or professional consumers they serve.

Full text of the blog available here.