Mapping issues for social responsibility

Being responsible means being able to provide answers. Therefore, understanding the context is a key ability of organizations. The environment can be described in terms of issues and stakeholders. Here is an easy-to-use and useful tool to map issues related to social responsibility:

It is a two-variables matrix:

1. The type of issue
2. The status of activation of the issue

The typology of issue refers to the degree of specificity of the issue with respect to the core activities of the organization. The issue can be one of three types:

• Generic: related to the larger economic, social and environmental context;
• Related to the value chain: linked to the externalities (positive and negative) of the core activities;
• Related to the competitive context: may directly affect the possibility to operate.

This typology was suggested by Porter and Kramer on HBR (2006).

The activation status measures how critical is the issue looking at his presence in the public agenda. This classification is proposed by Crable and Vibbert (1985) and consists of five phases of an issue lifecycle: potential, imminent, current, critical, dormant.

The different issues can be mapped and classified using this matrix, make it simpler to read the competitive context and set up the necessary answer strategies.

It goes without saying that the social issues evolve continuously and therefore the map must be updated.


By Marcello Coppa
Managing partner, Anteprima LAB, Italy

Global Affiliate, The Center for Global Public Relations

How the 2012 global research conference can benefit you

As the date to submit abstracts for our upcoming April 20, 2012 global research conference, “Communicating Beyond Borders: Building Relationships Among Governments, NGOs and Corporations”approaches, here’s a (brief) list of reasons why YOU should attend:

1. Meet with other scholars/educators and practitioners with similar research interests from the region, nation, and even the world.
2. Expand your own boundaries. Our conference focuses on more than strictly public relations with an interdisciplinary approach, welcoming scholars from all fields with an interest in government, NGOs and corporate communication.
3. To engage – this is not a college lecture hall: our conference is set up so you get the chance to interact with other participants through a round table discussion format.
4. Be inspired to research a new area; at the conference, with diverse participants and topics, you may be motivated to study a new topic you had never considered.
5. Recharge your batteries – by April, ‘spring fever’ is in full-force. Rejuvenate yourself and your academic interests through interaction with other scholars/educators, practitioners, and students.
6. Visit Charlotte! Selected to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Charlotte is booming as never before – with auto racing, museums, gardens, and excellent Southern cuisine, the city has a lot to offer. Bonus: the average temperature for April is a comfortable 72 degrees.

And to find out the other benefits not listed, be sure to submit an abstract and make plans to attend!

For more information on the 2012 conference, please visit our website:http://cgpr.uncc.edu/events/2012-global-research-conference.

By Chelsea Wilde
Manager

What to expect when expecting… GRADUATION!

As a senior anticipating graduation, I am often asked: “What are you going to do after you graduate?” Making plans for post graduation can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are many resources for students looking to transition into PR professionals.

One option is joining PRSA. Students can begin their membership up to five months before graduating. Joining this organization provides many opportunities for networking and learning, as well as career development resources. If your decision is to continue your education by attending graduate school, you can still apply for a PRSA membership. Here is a link with more information about PRSA and how to join: http://www.prssa.org/career/beyond_graduation/

Visiting websites and reading publications on a regular basis, which relate to PR, is also not a bad idea. These include PRWeek, PR Journal, The Public Relations Strategist, PR Daily News, etc. The competition for entry-level jobs can be intense. However, using available resources and staying focused can help one’s odds.

On top of all the stress, there are a few things for PR graduates to be comforted by… According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of PR specialists is expected to grow much fast than the average for all occupations. Also, graduates with specialized knowledge in global PR or experience internationally are in high demand. Here is a link with some helpful information: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos086.htm#emply

Do you know of some other good resources for PR students who are anticipating graduation? Are there any other good plans for one to have for making the transition from student to PR professional?

By Sammie Jo Dellinger
Associate Manager

What type of global organization would you like to work for?

I am now looking for a job for after graduation. I am thinking I would like to enter a Japanese company that is expanding its business to the oversea. On the other hand, I am also looking for the foreign companies’ branch in Japan.

While I am searching both types of global companies, I realized I would like to contribute the global company which has a global campaign. For example, Toyota and Honda are Japanese-based global companies with a lot of subsidiary in the world, but they do not often do the global campaigns. Instead, each region has own marketing and PR strategy. Even if I work in those kinds of the companies in Japan, I think I might not have many chances to join each region’s campaign.

However, some global companies have global campaigns. For example, Nike has a global campaign. When I was in Japan I saw a lot of commercial film which was made by Nike’s headquarters. They use same slogan and athlete in the world. I would like to work in those kinds of companies.

By the way, have you ever seen commercial film or foreign movies? I think, unfortunately, the American do not have many opportunities to see that than other countries. The U.S. is always leading other countries and also the Hollywood often remakes foreign movies for American.

If you watch the foreign movies, you might get new inspirations and might be contribute your knowledge.

By Tetsuro Otsuksa
Associate Manager

US Takes On Its First Global Marketing Campaign

The US takes on its first global marketing campaign to increase tourism and hopefully create new jobs.

The Corporation for Travel Promotion has rebranded under a new name: Brand USA. With a $200 million budget, Brand USA aims to convey the message that “The United States of awesome possibilities welcomes everyone.” It’s consumer website, DiscoverAmerica.com, features videos, photos, travel tips, and a US logo comprised of multicolored dots.

Stephen J Cloobeck, chairman of Brand USA, said, “Brand USA has arrived, and it’s not just a tourism brand.” He goes on to say, “It is a 21st Century global brand that will help reposition our great nation in the market for travel, and drive economic activity, including billions of new spending, tens of thousands of new outsource-proof jobs and much needed-tax revenue, to spur powerful growth throughout all corners of the United States.”

Even though Brand USA promotes a message of awesome and boundless possibilities, many Americans still voice dissatisfaction through Occupy Wall Street protests and other demonstrations around the country. The US also ranks number one in holding the best national reputation worldwide, but that could be heavily influenced by the worsening economic and political trouble across Europe.

This is a HUGE PR undertaking; a country for a client, an industry as the product, and the world as the market. Hill and Knowlton, which is the agency handling the campaign’s pr, definitely have a full plate.

Will Brand USA be the answer to Americans’ prayers? Will Americans feel a greater sense of pride and patriotism and reinvest in our country? Will international citizens have a greater desire to experience the “awesome possibilities” the US has to offer?

See the video introducing Brand USA here:
http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/1102710/America-gives-itself-brand-refresh/

By Kate Brissenden
Associate Manager

My experience on the London PR Seminar (and why I recommend it to others)

Last summer, I had the opportunity to participate in the London PR Seminar as a graduate student from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

At first, I admit I was nervous about going to London for three weeks (the only other country I’d been to was Canada…to Niagara Falls…with my parents). And I was even more nervous about forking over a few thousand dollars for the trip.

But it was worth every penny. Here’s why:

• With advancements in technology, it’s becoming easier to communicate globally – increasing the need to understand the PR practice in a complex international environment.

• If you’re going to study international PR, doesn’t it make sense to study it internationally? During the trip, students interacted with several UK-based practitioners and made site visits to places such as The Times, Ketchum Pleon, the US Embassy and Bank of America.

• It looks good on a resume. Less than 5% of American students study abroad; having this experience shows you’re motivated, independent, and willing to face challenges.

• By submersing yourself in a different culture for three weeks, you learn more about the culture and expand your worldview. A great way to do this is by interacting with the locals at pubs, on trains, and even on campus on topics from President Obama's foreign policy to the old argument: which is better - soccer or American football?

• It gets you out of your comfort zone. Though intimidating, by being 3,000+ miles away from home for nearly three weeks, you become more independent and start to challenge the way you used to think about things.

• You get an opportunity to meet friends from around the US and the world (and with global technology, it’s easy to keep in touch!).

• It’s a great way to travel. During our trip, students went to Paris, Rome, Dublin, and Barcelona while others stayed in the country and traveled to local destinations such as Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, and Brighton Beach.

And finally:

Take it from me: if you don’t, you may regret it. One of my greatest regrets after graduating with my Bachelor’s degree was not studying abroad. So when I was offered the chance to study a subject I love in a city as awesome as London, I jumped at the chance.

Given the chance, I'd do it again. No questions asked.

For more information, visit http://www.edabroad.uncc.edu/prel.

By Chelsea Wilde
Manager

Handling Stress in Crisis Communication

Did you know that, “CareerCast.com named public relations officer the second-most stressful profession in America?” If you talk to any Crisis Communication professional you will realize how this rating is accurate. Crisis Communication is a field that is surrounded with constant worry.

There are numerous pressures that arise each day demanding immediate attention. At what point does it become too much?

Categorized into four groups, PRSA details how to manage and be proactive in the battle against stress. Preparation, teamwork, perspective, and practice are techniques used to handle each situation with an open-mind and make beneficial decisions. This article details the struggles, outcomes, and preventative measures of handling stressful situations and clients.

http://www.prsa.org/Intelligence/TheStrategist/Articles/view/9444/1037/Stress_and_Crisis_in_Public_Relations_Staying_Cool

By Anna Craver

Associate Manager

Ethics and International Public Relations

For public relations practitioners working in International Public Relations, practicing ethical behavior is vital. The success of practicing ethical behavior can be measured by how trusted an organization, company, etc. is. Trust must be present in order to establish strong, long-lasting relationships with publics. When working internationally, trust may be harder to achieve due to the amount unfamiliarity and skeptics involved.

The presence of ethics in public relations is often times questioned. Public Relations practitioners should strive to prove the existence of ethics in this field.

In the IPRA’s “Code of Conduct”, the following are areas in which public relations practitioners should be aware of: observance, integrity, dialogue, transparency, conflict, confidentiality, accuracy, falsehood, deception, disclosure, profit, remuneration, inducement, influence, competitors, poaching, employment and colleagues. This “Code of Conduct” can be found at http://www.ipra.org/detail.asp?articleid=31

September was PRSA’s ethics awareness month. Here is an interesting post from PRSA’s blog relating to International Public Relations and ethics: http://prsay.prsa.org/index.php/2011/09/21/global-ethics-standar-for-public-relations/

Do you think it is possible to achieve an International Public Relations code of ethics?


By Sammie Jo Dellinger
Associate Manager

Are Pictures Really Worth 1,000 Words?

There have been rumors going around that the press release is dead, but ask any public relations practitioner and they will whole-heartedly disagree. The press release is one of our most commonly used communication tools. The press release isn’t dead; it’s just changing.

Instead of the traditional press release, new social media releases with attached video and infographics are growing in popularity.

Infographics are visual representations of information. They can be used to explain complex issues and can be read quickly. They are relished for creativity and stand out from the traditional press release by drawing attention. Infographics also tend to be great marketing tools for viral campaigns. They are fun to look at and people love to share them.

Have you ever used an infographic release? Was it successful? Do you think a pictorial representation of the information you need to communicate can be just as successful as the written word?

By Kate Brissenden
Associate Manager

Five pillars of online reputation management: a pragmatic approach.

With people spending more and more time online and 70% of consumers trusting other people’s online opinion (Nielsen 2009), the social web is definitely an interesting playground for reputation building and management. Here are five pillars for a pragmatic approach to online reputation management:

1. Mix hard and soft management.
On one side, organizational communication consists of lots of micro-stories told by stakeholders, therefore communication management should shift from a logic of command to coordination. In this peripheral model, an organization trains people to participate to conversations in the social media and the PR function acquires a leadership role. On the other side, the traditional rationality is always valid: planning, efficient resource management and measurement with hard metrics remain important tasks.

2. Listen.
First of all: people talk about brands and organizations online. Organizations can listen to them, try to answer and put into practice the insights they get. Conversation monitoring must be done analyzing content with a mix of software tools and the human sensitiveness of people who hang around the web and know its dynamics. Finally, also online conversations are mediated: organizations must know who the key influencer for their areas are.

3. Participate in all channels.
Both owned and non-controllable channels are relevant. Organizations must participate in all channels being transparent about the identity of their online spokespersons and ambassadors. However, the best case is to try to convey conversations on the owned channels, transforming them into online stakeholder relationships centers.

4. Engage your stakeholders.
Many stakeholders are not satisfied with being a mere communication target: they want to be involved, to become ambassadors, to contribute to organizational change. The web allows managing extremely effective engagement projects, such as those based on crowdsourcing. With the typical online interactivity you can make information readily available and in a more appealing shape, you can build gaming environments and you can leverage social influence and word of mouth.

5. Measure.
Organizations should keep an eye on awareness and preference. A more holistic measurement is the assessment of relationships. Finally, they should measure the level of engagement, actions and advocacy.

By Marcello Coppa
Managing partner, Anteprima LAB, Italy

Global Affiliate, The Center for Global Public Relations

Global Non Profit Organizations

In a world gone global, it is important to consider non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations are taking the stage and demonstrating how important global involvement and support is for those countries less fortunate. Public relations professionals who focus in crisis and non-profit communications understand how these issues are of extreme importance. There are thousands of non-profit organizations that provide utilities for the less fortunate; one organization that stood out amongst the rest is Global Water.

From their website http://www.globalwater.org/, it details the specific descriptions of the organization and the services they provide;

“Global Water is a volunteer-based organization, so we’re able to send more of your donations directly into our water/sanitation/hygiene facility projects to support rural communities and rural schools. These projects include: surface water supply and distribution systems, rain harvesting supply systems, water-well drilling activities, hand pump installations and repair, water treatment equipment, latrines, school hand-washing stations, community laundry-washing and bathing facilities, watershed reforestation, and health & hygiene education.”

As public relations professionals we must consider all aspects of communications, especially global involvement.

You can view their website at http://www.globalwater.org/ and view the inspiring contribution that Global Water provides.
This picture from the Global Water website, shows a recently drilled well in southern Kenya for the villagers of Maasai.
















This picture from the Global Water website, shows a recently drilled well in southern Kenya for the villagers of Maasai.

By Anna Craver
Associate Manager

Should public relations practitioners be social media savvy?

With the continuing growth of social media globally, the idea of a PR practitioner being expected to be familiar with social media is not farfetched. A relevant question may even be when this will no longer be an expectation, but a requirement.

Many in the field of PR are aware of the advantages of using social media as a tool. Facebook alone has over 400 million worldwide users. Other social media sites include Twitter, Google+, Bebo, Linkedin, etc. With social media connecting such a large amount of people from around the world, it is a given that global PR practitioners should take advantage of the sites’ networking capabilities.

With all of the different social media sites available, and constant changes in how to navigate some sites, one could see the challenge in being familiar with every site. But with the unlimited advantages of using social media as a tool, the expectation of PR practitioners to use it is here to stay.

An interesting article relating to this is, “How PR Pros Are Using Social Media for Real Results,” located at http://mashable.com/2010/03/16/public-relations-social-media-results/

By Sammie Jo Dellinger
Associate Manager

How should global public relations deal with new media and technology?

As global technology continues to evolve, how important is it for PR practitioners to stay up to date with new media and technology? For the most part, understanding and using these tools are basic skills for practitioners. However, there are those who may feel the technological evolution is too fast, as we progress from one social network to the next. This becomes even more complicated when we think about using these tools on a global scale.

I read an interesting article discussing Facebook users around the world. Obviously, the country with the most Facebook users is the US. Surprisingly, Indonesia is the country with the second largest number of Facebook users. There are a lot of differences among Internet users in different countries. China has the largest internet population, and Japan and Korea ranked high. I have heard that smart phones work as an Internet infrastructure, so there are a lot of Facebook users in Indonesia.

However, new media changes are not only based on the amount of users, but also on the regulations and culture. For example, there are a lot of regulations in China. And also many new social networks have popped up in Japan and Korea, specific to these countries and their cultures.

As I mentioned, it’s very important to keep up new media and technology, but if we consider the cultural value at the same time, it can make things very complicated. It is virtually impossible to keep up with every country's individual social networks as a practitioner.

Even though there are a lot of differences, there are a lot of common understandings.
We laugh when we are enjoying and cry when we are sad. These are universal behaviors.

I think the area of global PR is the place where we can consider universal PR activities based on new media and technologies without culture or each country’s regulatory conditions. Then, we should break them down to each country’s PR based on cultural values.

By Tetsuro Otsuka
Associate Manager

Scandalous Perceptions?

The new television series, “Scandal”, debuts midseason this fall on ABC.

Kerry Washington stars as Olivia Pope, power consultant and previous media relations consultant to the President; a role loosely based on Judy Smith, former press aide to the Bush administration.

The plot centers on Pope, who leaves the White House to open her own firm where she specializes in “fixing” the images of the country’s elite. Pope may be able to get even the most disreputable images back into society’s good graces, but she can’t quite fix her own life or those of her staff members. The series, which comes from the producers of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice”, will no doubt be riddled with love affairs gone sour. However, the question concerning public relations is whether or not the series will do justice to the profession.

In a world where public relations is already viewed with negative connotations, how will “Scandal” affect the image of the profession? Will PR practitioners once again be viewed as “liars”, and “constant partiers”? Or will the series portray the PR profession as what it truly is: A profession promoting ethical behavior, honesty and openness?

By Kate Brissenden

Associate Manager

Women and Public Relations

ATTENTION MALES IN PUBLIC RELATIONS – Noticing more females in your classes? The article “PR- It’s a woman’s world” provides a brief explanation of women breaking the boundary in a field previously dominated by males. It is apparent that women are taking the stage in PR and enabling corporations to broaden their PR scopes. In the United Kingdom, there is an apparent gender divide in the public relations field which allows women to set the stage. The article also demonstrates how women are moving away from stereotypical careers into a work force dominated by males.

On second thought, a female stepping into a PR position requires tough skin. Women are facing issues concerning apparel, and second-guessing which items to wear or not wear for interviews or important meetings with their boss. Check out “Women turned down for jobs based on engagement rings”, for a story about a company looking at hands rather than faces in the interviewing process.

“PR: It’s a woman’s world” is available at:
http://www.prconversations.com/index.php/2011/02/pr-its-a-womans-world/
After reading the article, do you think males should beware? In a field of high competition, will males feel as though they are being stepped on? What are your thoughts on female development in PR?

“Women turned down for jobs based on engagement rings” is available at: http://prdaily.com/marketing/Articles/9407.aspx
Ever thought a company would hire you based on the size of your engagement ring? Have you ever faced this or heard of this before?

By Anna Craver
Associate Manager

2011 Global Public Relations Research Conference Papers now housed at ISSUU.com

Open publication - Free publishing - More education

Community Service

For students, an internship is a great way to get experience and obtain connections. However, getting an internship can be a difficult task, especially in today's economy.

If your having trouble finding an internship, another way to get experience, knowledge, and connections is to do participate in community service.

Community Service can be very beneficial to students, especially if they volunteer at organizations that are related to their career path.

Community Service benefits:

1. Networking- Volunteering can connect you to others. Volunteering strengths your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and important contacts.

2. Experience -Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization.

3. Can help define career skills and goals- Volunteering can help you build skills and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

4. Makes you feel good about yourself -Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Students can find volunteer opportunities at

-Community theaters, museums and monuments
-Libraries or senior centers
-Service organizations such as Lions club or Rotary clubs
-Youth organizations, sports teams, and after-school programs
-Historical restorations and national parks
-Places of worship such as churches or synagogues
-Online databases

Do good for your community, and volunteer today!


Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.
-Martin Luther King Jr.

Volunteering can be an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience. It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one's ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits, and know one had a hand in them.
-Harriet Naylor

Beyond Web 2.0 for PR Professionals

How we communicate as individuals and business leaders changes daily on the whim of whatever new social networking trend is garnering the most popularity among consumers. Communication occurs today at the speed of light or faster. This gains momentum and crosses national borders and language barriers. The ramifications of not keeping an ever present eye on the ever present waves of citizen journalists and consumer driven opinion posts would be, for a business, at the least problematic and at the worst disastrous.

Control of the Uncontrollable
Never before has the practice of Public Relations both internally and externally been of greater importance. Today's consumer has found their voice and it is online speaking through tweets and blogs talking to networks regarding how they feel about your business or service.

Keeping that in mind these tips may be ways a business leader and communication staff can stay ahead of the incoming tides of Web 2.0.
1. Now is the time to use the employees as your best brand ambassadors

2. Offer alternating department’s opportunities to blog or tweet innovations and services improvements

3. Allowing the employees ownership creates a better environment for consumers and employees to handle any issues as they arise

4. Begin pitching to independent and industry bloggers as if they are conventional media (avoid the mistake of assuming they don't drive consumer choice)

5. Go viral with your networks. By knowing your base consumers allow them to spread your message through viral communication efforts in video, audio, or other creative avenues

6. Criticism is part of the social networking risk. Engage the criticism in a real and conversational way. Don't clog the social networks with corporate lingo that will get you nowhere

7. You are in their world now so follow their codes of conduct. Don't falsely manipulate perception. Engage the users where they congregate. Use real time response or encouraging reviews of those followers

Tips for 2.0 takeaways

- Global impact
- Target your audiences where they are
- Use employee ambassadorship to boost morale and customer support
-Treat citizen journalists as you would any conventional journalist
-Know the rules and code of conduct in the sphere you are using
-engage consumer base and go viral

Social Media and Your Brand

When we upload photos to Facebook, send a tweet about our social lives, or write an opinionated piece on a blog, we don’t often think about how we’re being represented nor how others may perceive us. However, when we engage in activity on these different forms of social media, we are also developing and establishing our personal brand.

According to branding expert, Dan Schawbel, a brand helps one “...differentiate themselves and stand out from a crowd by identifying and articulating their unique value proposition, whether professional or personal, and then leveraging it across platforms with a consistent message and image to achieve a specific goal.”

Whether you know it or not, you currently have and are cultivating your very own personal brand every moment you log on to your favorite social networking site.

CGPR Events: Spring 2011 Advisory Board Meeting

(click to enlarge)

After another successful semester, we look forward to sharing our accomplishments and plans with you at the Advisory Board meeting next Thursday (April 14) from 3 to 5 p.m. The meeting will be in room 145 in the College of Health and Human Services on the UNC-Charlotte campus.

For more information, contact the Manager of the Center, Chelsea Wilde at cwilde@uncc.edu.

CGPR Events: Research Conference, "Exploring Global Issues and Relationships"

(click to enlarge)

The Center For Global Public Relations invites you to participate in the first annual Global Research Conference, "Exploring Global Issues and Relationships".

This multidisciplinary conference will showcase research and position papers about globalization as a phenomenon that impacts all discipline and professional occupation worldwide as well as society-at-large. The conference is designed to encourage discourse across disciplines about global issues and their resolutions.

The conference will include guest speakers from several professional and academic arenas, round-table discussions and will feature keynote speaker Jay DeFrank, Vice President of Communications for Pratt & Whitey.

- Conference tickets are currently $65

- To register, contact Dr. Dean Kruckeberg for a registration form and payment options at dkruckeb@uncc.edu or Kiya Ward at Kward14@uncc.edu

- For more details on The Center For Global Public Relations, visit our official website at http://cgpr.uncc.edu/

How To Network Like A Pro

In the public relations career field, as well as in any other profession, learning to network --- and doing so effectively --- is vital.

When I say networking, I'm not referring to the contemporary style of social networking behind a computer screen, in which you merely gain a vague sense of your new contact. Rather, I'm referring to the old-fashioned, face-to-face style of networking. After all, you cannot form a strong relationship with a potential affiliate (be it a journalist, media representative or another professional associate) without actually knowing them.

Here are a few tips that will enable you to network like a pro:

CGPR Notables: Dr. Dean Kruckeberg

Dr. Dean Kruckeberg, Executive Director of the Center for Global Public Relations (left), and Dr. Katerina Tsetsura, University of Oklahoma (middle) and a member of the Center’s advisory board, are awarded the Brigham Young University Top Ethics Paper Award by BYU’s Dr. Brad Rawlins March 12 at the International Public Relations Research Conference in Miami, Florida.

Congratulations, Dr. K!

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief: How We Can Help

According to the BBC News: Japan's most powerful earthquake since records began has struck the north-east coast, triggering a massive tsunami. Cars, ships and buildings were swept away by a wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude tremor, which struck about 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo. A state of emergency has been declared at a nuclear power plant, where pressure has exceeded normal levels.

Officials say 350 people are dead and about 500 missing, but it is feared the final death toll will be much higher.

Aside from the inevitable public relations crisis in Japan (adhering to the theme of this blog), due to the recent catastrophic events, the heart wrenching plight of Japanese citizens is an immediate call for urgency.

Find out ways that we can help, click HERE for more information (via Crowdrise).

Seeking a Summer PR Internship?

Are you currently seeking an internship to gain insight into your prospective career?Look no further: The Center for Global Public Relations offers an accredited internship opportunity for students during the Spring, Fall & Summer semesters.

Guidelines For Contributing To The Global Public Relations Blog

If you wish to contribute to the Global Public Relations Blog, here are a few simple guidelines to adhere to:

5 Reasons Why Social Media Is Important

As the current social media intern for the Center of Global Public Relations, I am often posed with the question: "Why is social media important?". Thus, I have decided to put together a comprehensive list of '5 Reasons Why Social Media is Important'.

1) Social Media = Free Marketing: Posting content on popular social media outlets means potentially sharing your business with the 500+ million users of Facebook and/or the 190+ million users of Twitter --- in countries all over the world.

2) Social Media Is Captivating: According to a 2010 Nielsen scan, the average social-networking user around the world spent more than five and a half hours, monthly, on sites like Facebook and Twitter.

3) Social Media Appeals To Various Demographics: Every age group, gender, social class and race is represented on various social networking sites. A social media presence on websites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Youtube is highly beneficial for your business.

4) Social Media Is Paperless: Observe Amazon's popular Kindle device (an electronic, portable reader capable of storing multiple books) or the surge in E-Zines; everything is becoming paperless.

5) Use Social Media To Gather Feedback: Though sharing content is a great use for social media, another great use is gathering feedback. Feedback helps any business or organization monitor their brand.

Though I've listed many positive aspects, can you think of other reasons why social media is important?

What Is The Center For Global PR? - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Center For Global Public Relations (CGPR)?

A: A resource for practitioners, scholars/educators and students worldwide who want to increase their knowledge about global public relations.

Q: What is required of global public relations practitioners?

A: Specialists in global public relations must have the strategic, tactical and technical knowledge and skills that are required of all public relations practitioners. However, specialists in global public relations must have additional education and experience that increase the breadth and depth of their worldview to enable them to better understand, appreciate and respect the range of social, political, economic and cultural environments worldwide.

Q: What type of resources does the CGPR provide?

A: The Center For Global Public Relations provides a range of professional development opportunities for students & facilitators alike. To learn a bit more about our resources, click HERE.

Q: What type of events are to be hosted by the CGPR this semester?

A: This semester we will be hosting various events, including the Traveling Road Show, a U.K. Public Relations Seminar, an Advisory Board meeting and the 2011 CGPR Research Conference.

Q: How may I get involved?