San Antonio: Byline Blog

Creating an Award-Winning Campaign - Resources

2012-01-05T22:22:00.001-06:00

During today's chapter luncheon, Debbie, Randy & I shared some tips for creating an award-winning campaign. Here are some sample award entry summaries that we referred to.

Another great place to look is the PRSA national website where there are tons of winning case studies (It's in the section of the site that's for PRSA members only.).

Also, the National School Public Relations Association website has the summaries of award winners.

There are some webinars coming up on measurement and evaluation. Remember that these webinars are now free to PRSA members!

I mentioned that Angela Sinickas is a great resource (she happens to be leading a couple of the webinars). Another expert is Katie Delahaye Paine. Both are top experts in PR measurement and evaluation. And they both have free email newsletters with lots of great info.

PRSA's Tactics publication recently had a couple of articles on measurement (May 2011; free online for members).

PRSA's Srategist had a great article, "Confessions of a Silver Anvil Judge," that I've referred to several times (Winter 1998).

Upcoming Award Compeitions

Finally, here is my silly look at the four parts of an objective.

Editing by Ear

2011-12-22T21:20:00.001-06:00

The year 2011 soon slips away so it’s worth a pause during the holidays to mark a celebration that occurred this year – the 400th anniversary of the Authorized, or King James Version of the Bible.

Regardless of religious persuasion, most agree the KJV marks one of the greatest writing achievements in English. National Geographic featured the KJV in a cover story for its December issue, which opines “You don't have to be a Christian to hear the power of those words – simple in vocabulary, cosmic in scale, stately in their rhythms, deeply emotional in their impact.” The article provides insights we forget:

First, the KJV represents one time a committee got it right. It is the product of 54 scholars, not of all of whom were particularly religious, nor were all with the Church of England. They produced their masterwork in a time of political upheaval with bitter divides over religious belief, and every faction already had a translation. But the “most high and mighty Prince James,” as the preface calls its sponsor, saw a new translation as one way to bring his squabbling subjects together.

How did the committee do it? Second, the KJV was intended to be read – aloud – in church and home. The committee’s goal was “that it may bee understood even of the very vulgar,” the preface adds. Yeah, they really talked that way back then. The committee divided into teams and read their draft translations of the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek aloud to each other, knowing the ear serves as an excellent editor and tends to find the perfect written phrase.

Modern writers and editors improve their product when they lean back in the chairs and speak the words just typed on a screen, as surely as reading words written with a quill on parchment.

Sic Transit: American Airlines in Chapter XI

2011-12-01T12:10:00.001-06:00

My dad came home from World War II and took a job with American Airlines. It was opportune for him, the airlines boomed in the late 1940s as passengers flocked aboard the new four-engine piston planes that made flight both comfortable and fast. It was an exciting and romantic business, something ABC tries to capture, unsuccessfully, with its potboiler Pan Am.

This was a carriage trade back then. Fares were steep and coach class as we know it didn’t exist. That changed with deregulation. Fares fell off a cliff and airlines had to change. I recall gasps when Braniff announced a $299 roundtrip, DFW-London fare in 1980. That price stunned people, although in today’s money it would be a ho-hum $800. You can easily beat that. Some airlines, like American, adjusted. Some, like Braniff, didn’t.

Flying today is less romantic than riding the bus, although commercials by American and its competitors try to remind passengers of the glory days. Tiny seats so close together you can’t cross your legs prove more compelling.

My experience with American goes from vacations on my dad’s pass – getting up on my knees in the window seat to look at the big propellers on the wings – to enough business travel to earn gold-level AAdvantage status. That offered first-class upgrades, where there’s a whiff of romance left. At least I could cross my legs. And reading my dad’s copies of Flagship News years ago provided my introduction to internal communications.

This sea change naturally impacted airline public relations. I interviewed for a PR job with American several years ago. Romance tugged at my heart but reality pointed to the rows of cubicles emptied by multiple layoffs. I didn’t get the job. It might be just as well. PR becomes increasingly optional to a firm fighting to make a profit.

Having been through a corporate bankruptcy, I’m numb thinking about the challenge American’s PR staff faces. But the initial result seems good. I wish them well and every success in whatever the future may be.

Trust

2011-11-16T12:27:00.001-06:00

A new survey finds the public perceives low-level employees as more trustworthy within most organizations. I find these results interesting as they dovetail with what I’ve seen informally in my public relations work over the years.

If true, this trend has multiple implications for practitioners focused on a number of important roles – community relations, internal communications, media relations, etc. For example, it may be more effective in crisis situations to have a well-trained local employee handle the media questions or meet with the mayor than to jet the big guy out from headquarters. Or, perhaps a service project featuring a group of blue-collar employees may have a more positive impact than a vice president handing over a check while the TV cameras roll.

Deciding who delivers the message can be as important as deciding what the message is.

Why PR Practitioners Should Care About Content Marketing

2011-11-16T11:44:00.002-06:00

Michael Pranikoff, global director of emerging media at PR Newswire was the featured speaker at the PRSA Luncheon and Professional Development seminar in October. His luncheon presentation addressed the alignment of PR and Social Media because they both focus on storytelling. His focus on content marketing came from this statistic: 27 million pieces of content are shared daily. Here’s a brief video interview with Michael. You can follow him on Twitter or see some of his many presentations on Slide Share.

Highlights of PRSA’s Recent Advocacy Work

2011-11-10T09:04:00.000-06:00

Rosanna Fiske, APR, PRSA chair, presented the state of the society in the opening portion of the international PRSA Assembly. One of the highlights was the work PRSA has done this year in advocacy for the profession, including several actions related to U.S. regulatory affairs. Here are some examples.

Letter to U.S. Senate Subcommittee regarding GSA’s use of PR firms – The Senate Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight was investigating the use of PR and public affairs firms by government agencies. PRSA’s formal letter discussed the substantial public interest served by PR and PA on behalf of the federal government. As a result of the letter and other work, PRSA successfully discouraged the committee from restricting the U.S. government from using approved PR and PA counsel.

Comment on FTC’s ‘Dot Com Disclosure’ guidelines, ‘Green Guides’ for environmental marketing – The Federal Trade Commission invited comments about its planned overhaul of “Dot Com Disclosure” guidelines regarding advertising, marketing and sales on the Internet. The PRSA website describes: “PRSA submitted comments noting that its 32,000 members believe strongly in online consumer protections and are seeking clear guidance from the FTC regarding how businesses can appropriately communicate and market consumers online. PRSA also noted that disclosure of relationships, motivation, compensation and other pertinent factors should be the basis of all forms of marketing and communications, including emerging practices like social media and online contests. Finally, PRSA requested the FTC host a public workshop on online advertising disclosure to obtain the full input from all stakeholders.”

Letter to FDA urging publication of social media guidelines for pharma/health care – In April took action to urge the FDA to release its long-delayed guidelines for the health care industry’s use of social media. With strict regulation in place regarding patient privacy and other policies with implications for social media use.

So what do you do?

2011-10-27T11:00:00.001-05:00

I noticed a guy down the street had been home a lot lately so I struck up a conversation with him while walking the dog while he was in his yard. Yes, my neighbor confided, he was now unemployed and looking for work.

I asked the usual question: “So what do you do?” I received a simple answer: Auto parts. He was area manager for a firm that sells parts to car dealers’ service departments. These being hard times in the car biz, orders were way down and he was among those let go.

He asked me the same question and I gave him the wordy Cutlip/Center/Broom definition of PR, which furrowed his eyebrows. “So you’re a psychologist?” No, I replied, but that’s part of it. “You’re in advertising?” Well, I do some of that. He struggled on with my reply and finally hit on an answer: “Marketing! You’re in marketing!” I figured that was as good as it gets, nodded, wished him well and went on down the street with our dog.

This is not an unusual problem for our profession. The latest evidence might be the current discussion among LinkedIn’s APR group. An entertaining YouTube video of curbstone interviews, asking pedestrians to define PR, provoked the LinkedIn exchange.

Maybe I’ll just say “marketing” next time someone asks what I do. It’s no surprise the public doesn’t understand what public relations is when PR practitioners have a hard time explaining what we do.

PRSA Holds National Polcymaking Assembly - 2 Delegates Represent San Antonio Area Chapter

2011-10-18T11:32:00.000-05:00

Rebecca M. Villarreal (chapter president) and I represented the PRSA San Antonio area chapter at this year’s national assembly in Orlando (big sacrifice) this weekend. The big news was two-fold. With the passage of the dues increase comes free webinars for PRSA members. I don’t mean a handful of webinars. I mean all PRSA webinars, tons of them, that you’ll have access to from your desk beginning this January!

The passage of the dues measure was not a surprise given the volume of clear information provided by the board and others leading up to the event. Our chapter supported the increase because it makes sense for the future of the society. (See my upcoming Byline story or the national PRSAY blog story for more details.)

The surprising part was the fact that there was no debate about it from the floor. There were a couple of questions about the online membership form and the quarterly payment option. But that was it. In the five assembly sessions I’ve attended, never have I seen one without someone venting about something (often those rants were akin to ranting irrelevant comments at the end of newspaper articles online).

It was so refreshing this week to be a part of a roomful of 300 PRSA leaders who are truly committed to advancing the profession. Rosanna Fiske, APR, PRSA chair and CEO, deserves tremendous credit for her leadership this year. (In fact, she received an impromptu standing ovation from the assembly.) In upcoming posts, I will share news from Rosana’s state of the society as well as info I gleaned from the international conference that followed.

PRSA Chair Rosanna Fiske to Host Hispanic PR Chat

2011-09-30T15:14:00.000-05:00

To honor Hispanic Heritage Month, PRSA Chair and CEO Rosanna M. Fiske, APR, will co-host Hispanic PR Chat (#hprchat) at 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Oct. 5. Fiske will lead a discussion on diversity in the public relations industry and steps public relations and marketing professionals can take to introduce greater diversity within their campaigns and outreach programs.

Topics of the Oct. 5 #hprchat include:

Talent diversity in public relations.
The state of the Hispanic PR sector.
The role of social media and SEO in diverse communities.
Blogger outreach and compensation.
PRSA’s 2011 and future initiatives.

To participate, it is recommended chatters use a Web application, such as TweetChat.com, and enter the hashtag #hprchat.

Get Out of the Spiral

2011-09-22T15:08:00.002-05:00

As I write this, a 6½-ton satellite 100 miles or so above my head orbits lower and lower. Its death spiral will end when the school bus-sized object encounters air thick enough to slow it below minimum orbital speed. It will be quite a show coming down, unless you stand where some red-hot surviving piece hits. NASA invested millions in what will become scrap.

Unfortunately, many in PR become locked in death spirals of technique that go around and around until careers flame out. We do the same ol’ – same ol’ over and over. The problem confronts communicators in other fields, as Matt Hermann, vice president and director of strategy at BBDO’s San Francisco office observed in a recent blog.

“I know I might sound like a curmudgeon who doesn't understand the post-modern culture of remixing and appropriation, but I would submit that (ad) agencies have become far too comfortable making excuses for each other's lack of genuinely new ideas,” Hermann writes. I agree. Watch a few minutes of TV and the commercials blur together – smart, hip, twentysomethings banter some cute quips, there’s a flash of the product logo, then back to the program. Or more likely, several more spots just like it. What creativity? I’m glad my remote has a mute button.

I suggest PR faces the same problem. I pitched a prospective client awhile back, a financial institution, that proudly announced in our meeting that 900 of its 9,000 customers had friended the institution’s Facebook page! That’s great, I replied, but how do you reach the 90% of your customers who haven’t been to Facebook? Silence. I went on to propose such ideas as focus groups, open houses, mailing stuffers, etc., that could broaden customer dialogue. I didn’t get the job. I think the slightly wounded PR director hadn’t put a lot of thought into the problem until then.

This is a creative profession… so we must create. What makes this client different? How do the publics we want to influence gather information? What’s the real message, and what will make it memorable and bring change? Every project will be unique and each will require a unique strategy for success. We always should strive to find it.

TEDx Coming (Back) to San Antonio

2011-09-07T10:21:00.006-05:00

Saturday, October 15 could be just another ordinary day. Or, you could:

· Escape from the killing fields of Cambodia.
· Feel the beat of Tejano music and understand the soul of Xicano.
· Fuel your entrepreneurial fires by hearing how one man started a company, that became San Antonio's largest homegrown defense contractor, from his garage.
· Be inspired by how one woman is changing the lives of disadvantaged women, one suit at a time.
· Scam your way to the top of iTunes or master the ultimate card cheat.

And so much more.

These are just a few of the innovative topics that will be featured at TEDxSanAntonio 2011 with speakers: Sichan Siv, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; Juan Tejeda, instructor of Music & Mexican Studies at Palo Alto College; Guvinder P. “G.P.” Singh, CEO, Paras Capital Management; Pamela Taylor, co-founder and executive director of Dress for Success San Antonio; and Brian Brushwood, award-winning magician and star of Scam School.

TEDxSanAntonio currently is accepting applications for those who want to participate. The goal of the event is to spur the kind of discussions that lead to action. Visit the TEDxSanAntonio website to apply today. The application closes on September 15, 2011, so don’t delay.

At its core, TED brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers who are challenged to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. The goal is to inspire people to change the world. Past speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Sir Richard Branson, Isabel Allende and many other thought leaders, and idea pioneers. TEDx was created so communities could create their own localized versions of TED events. At TEDxSanAntonio, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.

It's not often we have an opportunity to participate in an event like this one, so don't miss this opportunity!

(Full disclosure: Jennifer Milikien serves as the public relations committee chair for TEDxSanAntonio 2011. This is a volunteer/unpaid position.)

The Right Answer

2011-08-26T19:25:00.003-05:00

Anyone who’s been abroad knows the problems of bribes, cheating, favoritism and kickbacks – baksheesh – that go with local cultures and officials. Airport customs agents grumble about something in your suitcase until the tourist places, say, a $20 bill on the counter. Suddenly, the problem disappears along with the bill. Traveler and luggage get waived through. A friend who lived in Mexico City for years says the police department routinely assigns cops to beats according to their ability to separate money from the public.

We often gloss over this sort of thing as just “part of the local culture.” But often we forget how stressful and disheartening all of this must be to the locals who deal with it every day. Things can reach a boiling point and people finally take action, as we see currently in India. Social activist Anna Hazare began a hunger strike that caught the imagination of the fed-up masses. The backlash has been big and many Indians now realize something must be done if India wants to become the First World power it could be. Successful nations, businesses and organizations usually attain high rank because of squeaky clean reputations.

Thus it’s disheartening when Americans dismiss ethical problems as just part of our culture. They aren’t – and should not be. Public relations faces the problem as surely as any profession and we must all work to assure practitioners aren’t dismissed as less than honest.

PRSA San Antonio will hear an excellent presentation on ethics at its Sept. 1 luncheon by Dr. Linda Specht from Trinity University. Her topic – Going Beyond Codes of Ethics: What do you really stand for? – will approach ethics in the big picture: Who are you? What are your institutional values and how do you communicate them to others? What do your relationship with employees, clients and competitors say about you? Is a commitment to “social responsibility” part of your organizational identity?

Ethics and honesty cannot be simply some oft-ignored policy that can be changed as needed. You and your organization are either ethical, or you are not. It’s a problem mankind faces everywhere and the right answer, wherever and whoever you are, is always the same.

Free Webinars on Social Media for Communications by Netbase

2011-08-18T13:55:00.000-05:00

Wow, here’s a great resource for staying up to date with using social media for communications. Netbase, a social media insight and analysis firm, is hosting a series of free monthly webinars: “11 for '11 Webinar Series: Social Media Tips from the Gurus.” You know it’s going to be good when the speakers include the likes of Jason Falls (a contributor to the awesome, must-read-every-day blog, Social Media Explorer) and Jeremiah Owyang of the Altimeter Group, just to name a couple.

Don’t worry that you may just now be hearing about this in the middle of the year. The episodes from earlier in the year are archived to be viewed at any time.

I’m always so impressed by the generosity of people to offer such useful resources to help their peers!

Seven Questions with Melissa C. Sorola, Regional Director of Communications, Time Warner Cable

2011-08-15T09:25:00.000-05:00

Feature article from the PRSA San Antonio Byline, July 2011 issue

If you were at the July PRSA mixer, you probably enjoyed crunchy chips, creamy queso and tangy sangria courtesy of Melissa Sorola. Melissa secured a sponsorship for the event and combined food with our fun and fellowship. It’s not surprising the mixer was a success, considering Melissa’s history with planning successful events and building strategic partnerships. Learn more about Melissa, and how, in addition to being regional communications director for Time Warner Cable, she’s also a mom, an Aggie, a runner and a travel aficionado.

How long have you worked in public relations/communications?
I started my career in public relations/communications as a student at Texas A & M University in College Station. I had my first experiences in PR during my last semester at A&M in 2001 with an internship in the Office of University Relations; I assisted with press conferences and wrote for email communications piece that were distributed to all faculty and staff. I also wrote for The Battalion, the university student newspaper, which taught me how to see things from a journalist’s perspective. I graduated in December of 2001 with my B.A. in Journalism and began my official public relations career in San Antonio in January 2002.

How did you find the industry?
I initially entered Texas A&M University as an education major thinking I was going to become a teacher. After talking with a university counselor, I realized a career in public relations was the better path for me. I had been involved in journalism in high school and loved news, reading magazines and newspapers, and current events but never realized I could have a career in public relations and help create that news. It was the counselor who suggested I switch majors, and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

What is your favorite part of the job?
I really enjoy the planning aspect of developing public relations campaigns and seeing these plans come to life through skillful execution. Developing these plans and seeing them implemented to successfully create positive results for Time Warner Cable gives me great satisfaction. I’m fortunate to work for an innovative and exciting company, and I have the best coworkers who make coming to work every day a complete delight.

What are your hobbies?
I love to spend time with my family and friends and to read – even running is a nice escape for me lately. Traveling for fun is a new hobby, too, and my daughter is at a great age where she’s really able to appreciate exploring new cities. We’re going to New York City this week!

Tell us about your family.
I am the mother of an amazing daughter Carolina, 15, who is going to be a sophomore at Holy Cross High School, and I am a member of a remarkably supportive family led by my mom and dad who live in Del Rio. I have a brother, Rene, who lives in Houston with his wife, Marissa, and their family, and I’m truly enjoying being an aunt to my niece, Stella, 2, and nephew, Sebastian Rene, 4 months. The majority of my extended family lives here in San Antonio, including my extraordinary grandmother and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who have been inspirational and instrumental in the development of my career and the person I am today.

Have you had a PR mentor? How has that mentor helped you succeed?
I have a couple of PR professionals who I call mentors. Kelly Morris, who was my boss when I worked at Taylor West Advertising & PR in 2005, is one of the most respected public relations practitioners in the city for a reason. She’s the best, and I continue to learn from her. When I came to work for Kelly, I had the tactical event and media relations skills down and she really taught me to develop strategic public relations campaigns. Kelly would also tell me to come to her with “solutions, not problems.” That’s a lesson I use every day and it has made me a problem solver. My current boss, Jon Gary Herrera, is also a key mentor. Jon Gary has taught me valuable lessons in crisis management and message development and also supports me in my growth as a Time Warner Cable employee and public relations professional.

Both Kelly and Jon Gary have always pushed me to be the best public relations practitioner I can be. I’m very grateful for their continued support and mentoring.

What advice would you give to young professionals or others entering the field?
Don’t burn bridges. I can create an interesting diagram of the people I’ve worked with in San Antonio and how they’re all connected. I worked on the Time Warner Cable public relations account at two different agencies and Jon Gary Herrera, my current boss, was the client both times. If I hadn’t done a good job and built a good relationship with the client during that time, then I wouldn’t be at Time Warner Cable today.

Great Source for PR Book Reviews

2011-07-26T14:32:00.000-05:00

If you’re thinking of buying a book focused on public relations, marketing, communications, social media, etc., be sure to check out the For Immediate Release Book Review podcast. Bob LeDrew is the FIR book review editor who provides brief and comprehensive reviews of the newest books on the market. Some reviews are also provided by some others in the FIR community.

Recent titles that have been reviewed include the following. Links are to the book websites. For the reviews, go to: http://www.forimmediaterelease.biz/index.php?/C9/

The Thank You Economy, by Gary Vaynerchuk
Welcome to the Fifth Estate, by Geoff Livingston
Social Location Marketing: Outshining Your Competitors on Foursquare, Gowalla, Yelp & Other Location Sharing Sites, by Simon Salt
Customer Service: New Rules for a Social Media World, by Peter Shankman
Curation Nation, by Steven Rosenbaum
The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom, by Evgeny Morozov
The New Small: New Breed of Small Businesses Is Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies, by Phil Simon
Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences, by Nancy Duarte
UnMarketing: Stop Marketing, Start Engaging, by Scott Stratten
Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans, by Wendell Potter.

The Power of the Twitter Chat

2011-07-12T15:43:00.000-05:00

In doing some research for my own use of Twitter at work, I was a bit surprised to find that 60 percent of educators use social media for professional development, including use of Twitter. A colleague asked, “How can you possibly learn anything in 140 characters?” (Obviously, not a Twitter user.)

Well one effective tool is the “Tweet Chat.” This is a scheduled conversation where participants use a common hashtag (#) so that all the related tweets will show up in a search. This is how you can hold a news conference on Twitter or have a Q&A session on your new product.

To test it out, see this list of chats, topics and the times they run at Twitter Chat Schedule. There are topics ranging from architecture, to dogs, from baking and business intelligence to Beattlemania.

Then see Sam Fiorella’s “12 Most Helpful Tips for Conversing in a Twitter Chat,” for some great ideas on participating in a chat.

And Lee Odden has suggestions for hosting your own chat, “Twitter Marketing Tips: Twitter Chats & 8 Marketing & PR Chats to Follow.”

And remember the first rule for PR and related folk when using social media: Don’t drop in and start selling. Be a contributing member first. Then, when it’s appropriate and relevant, you can share information about things you’re working on.

School PR Association holds National Conference in San Antonio

2011-07-08T10:09:00.002-05:00

The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) is heading to San Antonio for their 58^th annual seminar. Themed “Creating Confidence in Our Schools,” the organization offers attendees a packed program from July 10-13. More than 500 educators from throughout the US are expected to attend.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Jackie Freiberg, recognized as one of the "Top 30 Best Minds on Leadership" by Leadership Excellence Magazine, and one of the most sought-after female business speakers in the nation. Her keynote topic for her July 11 session: "Gutsy PR! Timeless Choices for Building a Brand of Leadership & Accountability" is intriguing whether you are in education or not.

Another treat on the agenda is Dr. John Draper, currently CEO of the Educational Research Service, who has developed what he calls "Crucial Conversations About America's Schools. " His July 12 presentation will help educators step back from the rhetoric and pervading myth about "failing public schools" and look at the reality of what is happening in education.

More than 70 sessions cover a wide range of topics for school communicators including managing social media, creating your own newsrooms, new professional preparation , brand building for school districts, transparency and much more.

Nonmembers are welcome to register for the event here.

Local school public relations professionals have been working more than a year to help the national organization make the conference happen. Monica Faulkenbery, APR, Northside ISD; Patti Pawlik-Perales, Alamo Heights ISD; Sharon Woldhagen, Southwest ISD; Rebecca Villarreal, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD have planned some fun evening activities for our out-of-town guests to enjoy. Check out the website for the local activities.

This is yet another way to showcase our great city and all it has to offer.

PR News Round-Up ~ July 3, 2011

2011-07-03T18:38:00.000-05:00

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
The Pope sends first tweet, launches Vatican website
Benedict XVI tweets from an iPad to announce the birth of a site that aggregates content from YouTube and Vatican media sites. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
PR pros: Stop making these 5 social media blunders
Celebrate World Social Media Day by learning to quit making these classic goofs. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
Turn your forgettable ‘About Us’ page into a memorable one
Can bloggers, journalists and readers figure out what your organization does from your boilerplate? Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
8 tactics for developing social content for your clients
Need to feed the beast (blogs, Twitter feeds, Facebook pages) and running short of content? Here are some ideas. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
Study: 78 percent of executives think social media is essential for success
The study found that more than half of business executives believe they need to adopt social media or risk falling behind. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
14 tips for a successful Facebook page
How to attract more fans, comments and likes on the popular social network. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
Infographic: Lunch time, end of work day best times to tweet
Wondering when the most people will see your tweet or Facebook post? This infographic has the stats you need to expand your message's reach. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
Interview prep: 6 types of questions the media always asks
Are you preparing for an interview with a reporter? You don’t need to prepare for every possible question, but instead the types of questions they ask. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
10 reasons PR pros should use video
Its immediacy and personal feel make it a go-to tool for branding, product launches, crisis response and consumer engagement. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
The PR industry ‘has not gotten around to explaining what return on investment is’
How do you measure publicity? A Wall Street Journal column debunks ad value equivalency, but says ‘no simple alternative has emerged.’ Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
8 social media SlideShare presentations to bookmark now
One communications pro sifts through the piles of SlideShare presentations to find the treasures worth your time (and your client’s time). Read story.

PR News RoundUp ~ June 14, 2011

2011-06-14T09:09:00.000-05:00

From PR Daily News Fee
Webinar alert: Get your news release noticed on social media
Communications expert Shel Holtz will show you the core elements of a social media news release, and how to get started on yours. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
A PR pro’s guide to choosing keywords for your Web content
You can use a free tool from Google to determine which words people are using to find your product or service. It’s easy. You just need a little guidance. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
HP takes malaria fight mobile
HP is equipping health-care officials in Africa with cell phones that help them spot outbreaks and exchange information. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
Study: Most online users are affluent, college educated
Popular belief says anyone can publish content on the Internet and become an influencer, but a new study shows that those without higher education are left out. Read story.

From PRSA Issues & Trends
FCC Report Finds Major Shortage of In-Depth Local Journalism
An explosion of online news sources in recent years has not produced a corresponding increase in reporting, particularly quality local reporting, a federal study of the media has found. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
Dow PR campaign backfires: Author rips company in YouTube video
Don’t ask someone to record a video touting your sustainability project if that person thinks the project is worthless. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
4 interview nightmares that drive PR pros nuts
Ever find yourself in one of these scenarios with a client? Here are some ways to make sure it never happens again. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
7 video mistakes that communicators should avoid
Video pros explain ways to steer clear of these common gaffes when shooting, editing and posting video content. Read story.

From PRSA Issues & Trends
Study: Use of Social Media in Public Relations Campaigns Growing
The results of the Social Media Reality Check 2.0 survey are clear: public relations practitioners continue to find value in using social media, as consumer use of social networking tools grows. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
9 ways to land a PR job after graduation
The job market may seem grim. (A recent study says 85 percent of this year’s grads will return home.) But, don’t fret; here are some tips to help you find that first job. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
8 overlooked ways to manage successful Facebook pages
Many companies have Facebook pages, yet most don’t use them to their full potential. These tips offer new ways to make the most of your page. Read story.

Desperate Measures by Facebook / Burson-Marsteller Raise All Kinds of Red Flags

2011-05-19T09:35:00.000-05:00

One of the most exasperating phases new parents experience happens when their kids hit 3 or 4 years old and the parents get the dreaded call from the daycare or babysitter reporting that their precious child has bitten another. It happens when the little ones are angry or feel powerless, and they don’t have the tools or maturity to know how to respond. Eventually, children grow out of this stage pretty quickly. They begin to understand right from wrong and that they shouldn’t hurt someone else when they themselves are upset or are feeling threatened. Parents get to stop saying, “No biting” and “Play fair.”

Apparently, someone at Facebook and Burson-Marsteller never learned that lesson.

Here’s a rundown on recent events.

Facebook hires Burson-Marsteller for a particular job and says not to reveal their name (Red flag #1).
Burson-Marsteller launches a “whisper campaign” to get news stories and editorials about Google’s Social Circle feature in Gmail claiming privacy infractions (Facebook pot calling Google kettle…).
Burson-Marsteller offers to ghost write stories for bloggers (Red flag #2).
One FTC blogger asks who the client is, Burson-Marsteller replies: Nope, can’t tell (Red flag #3).
Blogger publishes email exchange (na na na na boo boo).
USA Today investigates the stealth claims about Social Circle and finds them false.
The you-know-what hits the fan.
Burson-Marsteller releases a statement blaming Facebook, admitting the actions were against Burson’s own policies and they should have “declined” the assignment. (Note the policy about not undertaking work “intended or designed to mislead”).
Facebook releases a statement Burson-Marsteller, claiming “No 'smear' campaign was authorized or intended.” (It’s not me, it’s you.)
Burson-Marsteller deletes negative comments from its own Facebook page (Seriously?).

A firestorm of stories and commentary has erupted online and in the mainstream media. Here are some highlights.

USA Today: “Google deflects PR firm's attack of Gmail privacy”
USA Today (asks “by what standard does this episode show any sign of adult supervision?”): “Update: Facebook says no 'smear' campaign intended”
PRSA Chair, Rosanna Fiske: “Haven’t We Learned Anything About Disclosure?”
Neville Hobson: “How Burson Marsteller can emerge from its Facebook PR fiasco”
Dan York: "The Facebook/Burson-Marsteller Debacle, Google - and the World War For (Our) Information"
PR Newser blog: “The Many Layers of the B-M/Facebook Smear Story”
The Hobson and Holtz Report – Podcast #599: May 16, 2011 – includes commentary on the Burson Marsteller / Facebook kerfuffle: the basics of the story, how the companies responded, ethical issues, what to do: the roles individual firms and the professional associations should play, our roles as communicators and opinion-formers in the social spaces. Discussion starts at about 6 minutes 26 seconds into the recording. You can download the MP3 file (29.5Mb).

Ironically, the same week Burson-Marsteller won the Holmes Report award for U.S. Agency of the Year. And it doesn’t even look like the two Burson-Marsteller employees involved in this mess will even get a time-out.

New Pew study looks at online behavior on news sites

2011-05-09T08:44:00.000-05:00

The Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism has released results from an in-depth study of the top 25 U.S. news websites to examine audience behavior, specifically how users get to the top news sites, how long they stay during each visit, how deep they go into a site, and where they go when they leave.

Jim Romenesko summarized a few highlights that I found interesting from the Navigating News Online report:

* While Google search, Google news, and other aggregators are the top way into news sites, “social media is rapidly becoming a competing driver of traffic.” Facebook drives almost 8 percent of the traffic to the Huffington Post and between 1 and 7 percent to the other 24 studied.

* Eight of the top 25 sites attracted more women than men, including the Huffington Post, which also had the greatest proportion of young adults.

* At all the sites, casual users who come only a few times a month account for most of the visitors. “On average, 77 percent of the traffic to the top 25 news sites came from users who visited just one or two times.” At USAToday.com, for instance, 85 percent of visitors came one to three times in a month; three quarters only once or twice.

For more information, you can read Jim’s post, “New Pew report confirms truisms about online behavior, has surprises too.” Read "The 5 must-knows about how readers navigate news online, drawn from new Pew study,” by Rick Edmonds. Or go directly to the PEW report, Navigating News Online.

PR News Round Up ~ May 5, 2011

2011-05-05T14:02:00.000-05:00

From PR Daily News Feed
The 5 most widely circulated newspapers in America
The Audit Bureau of Circulation released its newly revised audit, and it includes a significant change in the way circulation is measured. Read more.

From PR Daily News Feed
Is NPR unclear about the definition of public relations?
The network is airing a monthlong series on PR. So, why is its latest installment about ad campaigns that are directed at Asian-American audiences? Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
Can you really measure a speech?
By Angela Sinickas
Did your speech impact your audience? Three ways to find out. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
Students: The 9 things that matter more than GPA
Sure, your grades are important, but once you graduate and hit the office, these skills far outweigh your grade from stats class. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
6 alternatives to sending a press release
Instead of blasting a release to the media, trying winning coverage with one of these techniques. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
10 useful and inspiring websites for writers
You know about Grammar Girl and Copyblogger, but are you checking out these lesser-known destinations for wordsmiths? Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
The 8 reasons I love #Twitterchats—and why you should, too
Three benefits, four tips, and one indispensible chart about Twitter chats. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
The 10 hottest magazines, according to Adweek
How many editors and contributors do you know at each publication? Read story.

Fascinating TED Talk: Jane McGonigal on How Gaming Can Make a Better World

2011-04-18T08:29:00.000-05:00

NPR’s On the Media podcast recently focused it’s weekly episode on the World of Gaming. Now I’ve never considered myself a gamer, so I almost skipped it. But I always learn something when I listen to On the Media, so I stuck it out. And I’m so glad I did.

One of the stories played an excerpt of a TED Talk by Jane McGonigal. She talks about her research into the game-world. She says, “In the best-designed games, our human experience is optimized: We have important work to do, we're surrounded by potential collaborators, and we learn quickly and in a low-risk environment.” She concludes that if we could harness this gamer power, we could improve the way we learn, work, solve problems, and lead our real lives. And she’s talking about solving big real-world problems.

She lists four “super powers” of gamers, meaning what these games are making people virtuosos at:

Urgent Optimism – Gamers have extreme self motivation. The have the desire to act immediately to tackle an obstacle combined with the belief that we have a reasonable hope of success

Tight Social Fabric – Gaming builds strong bonds, trust and cooperation

Blissful Productivity – Gamers are happier working hard than by just hanging out

Epic Meaning – Gamers love be attached to awe-inspiring missions

Jane says that gamers are “super-empowered hopeful individuals.” They believe they are capable of changing the world. Right now, they mean the virtual world. Jane wants to transfer that to the real-world.

After her talk, I may be a believer.

PR News Round-Up ~ April 6

2011-04-06T09:02:00.000-05:00

From PR Daily News Feed
Presentation tools: 9 ways Prezi will refresh your next speech
This social media tool is a digital canvas that knows no bounds. So, how much do you know about it? Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
7 common pitfalls of PR campaigns
Don’t spoil all your hard work by making these mistakes. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
How to minimize gender bias in your writing
by Deborah Gaines
These gender-neutral terms will lessen the likelihood of offending your audience. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
7 speechwriting techniques to grab audiences—and call them to action
By Russell Working
A speechwriting pro offers tips to open and close with: Look to the Cowardly Lion and Malcolm X. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
PR industry exposé lands major literary award
Former health-care PR exec Wendell Potter’s book Deadly Spin captured the 2011 Ridenhour Book Prize. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
3 blogger relation blunders to avoid
Reaching out to bloggers for coverage? Better avoid these gaffes. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
Scoring coverage: Anatomy of a successful email pitch
A PR Daily contributor, who slammed a PR pro for a lousy email pitch, highlights one that worked well, including lessons that you can apply to your job. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
FTC issues $250,000 fine for fake online review
The Federal Trade Commission took decisive action against a company that paid affiliate marketers to write positive reviews of its product. Read story.

PR New Round-Up ~ March 21, 2011

2011-03-21T17:00:00.000-05:00

From PR Daily News Feed
Big change in AP style announced: E-mail is now email
The Associated Press hasn’t seen a change like this since it changed ‘Web site’ to ‘website.’ It’s huge—for reporters, AP style-abiding PR pros, and language nerds. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
10 writings tips from the Associated Press
The AP Stylebook on Twitter offers a steady stream of advice for writers of all stripes. Here are 10 of the best to help improve your craft. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
10 incredibly useful Facebook search tips and tools for PR pros
You never knew your social networking life could be so easy. PR Daily contributor Adam Vincenzini shares a plethora of tools you need to check out—today. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
10 everyday decisions that will lead to social media success
Looking for a little inspiration on a Tuesday? Who isn’t? Here’s some advice to help motivate your social media efforts. Read story.

From PR Daily News Feed
Consulting firm paid college profs to write positive op-eds about Libya
Scandal rocks prestigious universities after reports surface that professors were involved in a PR scheme on behalf of Muammar Qaddafi. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
10 things to include in your company’s social media policy
By Priya Ramesh
Inflammatory online updates can land your employees—and your organization—in hot water, so set a clear protocol. Read story.

From Ragan's Daily Headlines
Infographic: The next 25 years of emerging technology
What’s the tech industry going to look like in 2036? Here’s a sneak preview. Read story.

Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Communicating the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

2011-03-01T15:40:00.000-06:00

Don’t miss this interview of Gerald Baron, founder and director of PIER, and Neil Chapman, a BP communicator. In a conversation by the For Immediate Release podcast, they discuss the communication efforts since the event and consider the lessons for crisis communication. It’s a fascinating conversation where you’ll hear what really happened in communications.

The For Immediate Release podcast is hosted by Neville Hobson, ABC, and Shel Holtz, ABC. Here is a little more about their guests (as posted on the FIR website for the show).

Gerald R. Baron is the president and founder of Baron & Company, a marketing and public relations firm in Northwest Washington, USA, and authors the Crisisblogger blog. He created the PIER System, the only completely integrated Internet-based communication management system for crisis communications, issue management, and ongoing press and public information management. A frequent speaker at conferences, he has served as a strategic and marketing consultant, corporate communications director, publisher, college professor, and entrepreneur.

Gerald is the author of three books on business and marketing, including Now is Too Late 2, one of the best books available on crisis communication in the digital era. More recently, he wrote the white paper, "Unending Flow: Case Study on Communications in the Gulf Oil Spill," available for download as a PDF (free) or as a Kindle ebook ($6.99).

Neil Chapman has worked on high profile public affairs issues in different parts of the world for more than 25 years. He has responded to major crises in the US and UK including the Deepwater Horizon event, legal cases, helicopter crashes, trading scandals, hostage taking and natural disasters. From January 2011 he will run his own communications consultancy, Alpha Voice Communications, focused on crisis communications readiness and presentation/media training.

Neil has been on the communications front line for controversial industrial projects, company takeovers, restructuring and lobbying campaigns. He also has experience working on developments for growing business in Latin America, Africa and Asia. As an oil company executive, he was PR chair for three energy associations - the US Natural Gas Supply Association, Center for LNG and the UK Offshore Operators Association - when they each faced some of their most difficult communications challenges. He has trained and counseled scores of business people at all levels on honing their communication skills, particularly when delivering hard messages or facing hostile audiences.

Neil was a journalist in the UK, working for newspapers, TV and radio.

Ready to Try QR Codes?

2011-02-16T09:44:00.000-06:00

More and more people are accessing the web through their mobile phones and tablets (see a cool infographic). Enter the QR Code (aka quick response codes). While they’ve been in use big-time in Japan for several years. They’re just now catching on here. You’ve probably been seeing them around a lot lately. They’re in magazines and direct mail promotions. They’re also popular on posters at events.

With a QR Code reader on your smart phone, you can scan a code and be taken to some content on your phone. It might be a coupon, a video, a mobile website, or something else.

You can get a bit of a crash course by listening to Eric Schwartzman’s On the Record Online podcast where he interviews Wayne Sutton, (@socialwayne) business development and marketing specialist at TriOut, and Master Sergeant Donald Preston of US Forces, Japan. They talk about their experiences using QR Codes for organizational communications and they point to resources for you.

They also point you to a post by Mark Sprague, “QR Codes: Are You Ready For Paper-Based Hyperlinks?” that provides you with an excellent overview along with a list of QR Code readers and generators.

New Report on the State of Podcasting

2011-02-10T19:07:00.000-06:00

Edison Research recently released it’s latest report on the state of podcasting for 2010. It studied “behaviors, attitudes and consumption habits of the podcast audience in America.”
The study indicates that more than 70 million Americans have listened to a podcast and that podcast listeners have moved out of the early adopter phase and are now more in the mainstream.

Get more of the findings and see the Blogworld presentation where the results were released.

Four Things My Students Taught me about Blogs

2011-02-01T08:52:00.000-06:00

I just finished my first semester teaching Introduction to Mass Communication at Northwest Vista College. As part of an exploration on new media, students were asked to pick one blog in the Technorati 100 and follow it for three weeks.

While several of the students regularly read blogs, most had little experience reading them. As part of their final grade, they presented their findings to the class, comparing the spirit of the blog to the spirit of the Cluetrain Manifesto and to our examination of media literacy.

Here’s what they found:

Some blogs are a complete waste of time. This was true for blogs which just re-posted content and links from other sites. It was also true for many of the celebrity-driven blogs and one blog about national security.

Blogs can be reputable sources. Some of the students examined the phenomenon of sites like TMZ.com which are now reputable sources of “breaking news.” This was also true for tech blogs they examined.

Blogs are no more than one person’s opinion. This was the conclusion from several students who followed blogs authored by a singular individual; it is also evidence of the increasing difficulty of separating fact and opinion in the blog medium.

News can spread like wildfire because of blogs. Each student was monitoring a different blog, but during the course of the project, they easily compared crossover stories like the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the military, the TSA “pat-down” phenomenon and, particularly distressing for San Antonians, the impending divorce of Eva Longoria and Tony Parker.

It’s interesting to note that while one of the main theses of Cluetrain Manifesto was transparency in organizations, many students could not find “ownership” information for many of the blogs studied. Even in new media, there is a long way to go for outlets to be transparent.

Register for PRSA San Antonio's February 10 Luncheon Today

2011-01-28T16:02:00.000-06:00

Our chapter website is having a little trouble and isn't letting us update our homepage (our web host company is working on it). In the meantime. Information about our next luncheon is below as well as on our website "Events" page. Please note the date is the 10th, not the 3rd.

February 10, 2011 – PRSA Chapter Luncheon
Leadership Gold: PR Life Lessons from the Tex Taylor Award Winners

We've gathered some of the greatest minds in the businesses to share years of learning into one jam-packed luncheon! Join Kay Floyd, APR; Bob McCullough, APR; and Paige Ramsey-Palmer, APR as they reveal their biggest wins, losses and lessons from their "lifetime" in public relations. Their insights into the agency, nonprofit and corporate worlds are sure to enlighten and delight all level of professionals.

When: Thursday, February 10; 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Bright Shawl, 819 Augusta, San Antonio
Price: Members $25 (early bird $20); Prospective Members $30 (early bird $25); Students and retired professionals $15

During the luncheon, you can participate in the 50/50 raffle to benefit the Marilyn Potts Endowment Fund.

Register now! Walk-in registration is not available at monthly luncheons.

Meet the new PRSA CEO & Chair Rosanna Fiske, APR

2011-01-27T14:45:00.000-06:00

PRSA's new CEO & Chair, Rosanna Fiske, APR, was interviewed for Eric Schwartzman’s excellent On the Record Online podcast by guest host, Sandra Burrowes, to outline ways PRSA will support PR professionals in 2011. You can listen to the podcast interview here.

Also, in case you missed it, she Rosana sent the following letter by email to the national member listserv.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As we begin 2011, I wanted to update you about an important process we undertook last year — the research and development of the PRSA 2011-13 Strategic Plan — which we are unveiling to members and the broader profession as part of a special PRSAY blog post today.

I would like to give you some background about the process that went into developing this important strategic plan. I also feel it’s important to thank each and every one of you, as without your leadership and guidance within PRSA, our organization could not fulfill its mission of advancing the profession and the professional, nor would it be as strong an advocate for the value of public relations.

Last year as chair-elect, I had the honor of leading PRSA’s strategic-planning process, a process that takes place every three years. We began with a review of the competitive landscape, looking at the varying opportunities members have to support their careers through different educational and professional-development channels. Along with Bill Murray, CAE, PRSA president and COO, I led discussion roundtables in five cities across the United States, specifically targeting senior professionals to better understand their needs and gain valuable insights on the profession’s future as a whole.

As our findings began to crystallize, I presented highlights to the 2010 Leadership Assembly in Washington, D.C., and later, distributed a survey to our leadership to confirm that we were on the right course.

Input from these opportunities was collected and incorporated into the final document, which was approved by the PRSA Board of Directors in its last meeting of 2010. I encourage you to take a few minutes and read the PRSA 2011-13 Strategic Plan. I invite you to review the full plan, as well as read the blog post on PRSAY that describes its goals and objectives, and how it will position PRSA for future success and growth.

In the meantime, I invite each of you to let me know your thoughts, questions or concerns about the PRSA 2011-13 Strategic Plan.

I look forward to working with many of you throughout the year to help make PRSA a strong and successful professional resource for our members and the profession.

Sincerely,
Rosanna M. Fiske, APR
PRSA Chair and CEO

PR News Round-Up ~ January 18, 2011

2011-01-18T11:31:00.000-06:00

From Ragan’s Daily Headlines
PR In Your Pajamas
10 ways to repurpose your media coverage
So you just scored some great media coverage for your client or your company. Now what? How do you give that coverage some real shelf life? PR pro Elena Verlee offers 10 tips on helping you move beyond just clipping them and sticking them into your media kit. Great advice. — Matthew Royse. Read story.

From Socialmedia.biz via Ragan’s Daily Headlines
Top 20 social media monitoring companies
A big question among PR professional is which social media monitoring vendor is the best fit — for the services provided and the price. J.D. Lasica and Kim Bale at Socialmedia.biz sought to answer that question with this list of the top 20 social media monitoring companies. The list includes 10 lower-priced options for nonprofits. Take a look. Read story.

From Ragan.com
7 things you need to know about mobile communication
The consensus is that mobile will be the communication trend of 2011. “Everybody has to get into mobile communication,” Shel Holtz, of Holtz Communication, told Ragan.com. “If you’re not developing a strategy now, you’re late.” Are you prepared? Ragan.com’s Matt Wilson compiled seven tips for reaching your audience with mobile devices. Read story.

From BurrellesLuce
Common misconceptions to know before pitching bloggers
PR, meet BR – blogger relations. It’s the latest addition to the ever-expanding list of necessities for the corporate world as companies dive deeper into social media. Your audience, consumers and reporters, read blogs, so you need to reach out to them. But before you go pitching a blogger, check out BurrellesLuce's list of common misconceptions about blogger relations. Read story.

From Ragan’s Daily Headlines
10 alternatives to sending a press release
By Heather Whaling
Choosing the right medium for your message requires understanding the content and your audience. Consider these possibilities. Read story.

From Reuters via Regan’s PR Daily Newsfeed
Magazine sales up for first time since 2007
Good news for one segment of the publishing world. Last year, the U.S. magazine industry saw a 3 percent increase in ad revenue, equivalent to $20 billion, according to rate cards compiled by the Publishing Information Bureau. It marked the first increase in ad revenue in three years. Reuters said People magazine pulled in the most revenue with $1 billion. Auto advertisements represented the largest rebound in magazine ad sales. Meanwhile, newspapers continue to struggle for positive ad revenue, according to Reuters. Read story.

From SmartBrief on Social Media
How the National Wildlife Federation measures social success
The National Wildlife Federation's approach to monitoring social media evolved as its social media presence developed, says Danielle Brigida, the organization's digital marketing manager. Brigida says she began by manually tracking social media mentions, but soon switched to a combination of services including Thrive, SocialMention and IceRocket. Using a variety of measurement tools allows Brigida to gauge the organization's reach and gain a sense of the ways in which users are engaging with their content, which can help the organization better allocate its resources, she says. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (1/12) Read story.

From The Huffington Post via SmartBrief on Social Media
Social tools help marketers reach Hispanic shoppers
Marketers have a golden opportunity to reach out to Hispanic consumers via social sites, Joe Kutchera says. Hispanics are flocking to social media faster than any other demographic, and they're often attracted by tailored campaigns that acknowledge their needs and their heritage. "Social media is often the gateway to Hispanics. ... Marketers need to address what content on their websites is helpful to their Hispanic consumers," Kutchera says. (1/6) Read story.

From Ragan’s Daily Headlines
13 ways to keep your pitch from getting deleted
By Jeremy Porter
Follow these tips and you’re sure to get better results the next time you pitch a reporter via e-mail. Read story.

From PaidContent.org via SmartBrief on Social Media
Court upholds copyright on images posted to TwitPic
A federal judge has ruled that the Agence France-Presse news agency violated copyright by reprinting, without permission, a photo posted to Twitter via TwitPic. Other news agencies also used Daniel Morel's Haiti earthquake photos without paying him, even though his Twitter feed mentioned that they were available for purchase. The judge struck down AFP's argument that TwitPics images can be considered public domain. Read story.

Express-News Editorial in Error about PR

2010-12-29T23:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, the San Antonio Express-News published an editorial, “BexarMet needs more than PR,” that frankly gives a pretty dim view of our profession. I have no issue with the headline. BexarMet does need more than public relations. We’ve long known that public relations campaigns cannot fix operational or leadership problems.

The editors are also right to question any expense taken on by the board. I wouldn’t argue that the BexarMet’s days are likely “numbered.” I don’t claim to know anything about the (non-San Antonio) PR firm or the contract it’s been hired to fulfill. And clearly, BexarMet’s history in the PR department has been – shall we say – questionable.

I grant the Express-News editors all of that.

In fact, let’s set aside that this is BexarMet at all.

My concern is the implication that public relations is singularly interested in making someone “look good,” or burnishing a “bruised public image” or casting someone in a “positive light.” I can honestly say, none of these goals are in my job description.

It is paramount that organizations be effective at communicating – especially those that serve the public interest directly. And communication is more complicated than it may seem. There's a whole body of knowledge are research in this area. Communication requires not just speaking, but listening as well. Organizations that are in trouble typically need counsel in this area. There is no shame in getting help where it is critically needed.

Naturally, as in all professions, a few bad PR apples have gotten the spotlight. But these don’t represent our profession by any stretch. If we’re doing our job well, our successes are our organizations’ successes.

Take a look at the code of ethics and professional standards that guides our work. All PRSA members pledge to abide by this code. Any PR practitioner worth his or her salt would of course counsel an organization to do things like, as the Express-News editors call for, end scandals, improve service where it’s been weak, and work with lawmakers constructively, among other things like being in dialog with constituents and customers. And I'm pretty sure that, deep down, the editors know this too.

PR News Round Up ~ December 14, 2010

2010-12-14T09:08:00.000-06:00

From Social Media Examiner
How to Develop a Social Media Content Strategy
Do you have a social media strategy? Does it involve content? Should it? The other day I drove past a local convenience store that makes most of its profit from beer, Slush Puppies and beef jerky (not that there’s anything wrong with that). A big sign out front asked passers-by to Like them on Facebook. “It’s official,” [...] Read the rest of this article...

From Convince and Convert via PR Daily Newsfeed
6 new-fangled social media tools worth discovering
Social media strategist Jay Baer has a quick roundup of new social-media tools that haven’t hit the mainstream yet. All of these tools must meet the same criteria to become household names: Utility is always first — and these meet that requirement. “The torrent of new digital tools and gadgets makes Sharper Image, SkyMall, and Hammacher Schlemmer look like an Amish electronics store,” Baer writes. Of course, we'll see how many of them are around next year at this time. — Claire Celsi Related Harvard Business Review Edelman’s David Armano breaks down six social media trends for 2011. Read story.

From Mr. Public Relations via PR Daily Newsfeed
35 Twitter hashtags for PR pros
As a PR professional looking to extend the reach of your message, it isn’t enough to just talk the talk anymore. You’d better be able to tweet it, too. And perhaps one of the easiest ways to take advantage of the Twitterverse is through hashtags. But are you using the right ones? If you’re not sure, here’s a list from the blog Mr. Public Relations of 35 every PR pro should know. So now lets all say #Thankyou, Mr. Public Relations. Read story.

From Social Media Examiner
26 tips to spice up your Facebook page
Have you made Facebook an integral part of your communications strategy? If so, you married to a beast that needs constant tending and feeding. Can be a bit of a pain, can’t it? Social Media Examiner offers 26 ways to help you take care of the beast. Read story.

From All Facebook via PR Daily Newsfeed
11 Facebook pages PR pros should follow
This list from All Facebook blog features 10 pages; Ragan Communications’ Facebook page is not among them. That’s No. 11. Here’s the link. Take a look at the rest.

From PR Fuel via PR Daily Newsfeed
10 directories to list your blog
We all want to grow the visibility of our blog. A directory is a great way to help. Mickie Kennedy at PR Fuel has come up with his 10 best blog directories to help you increase your blog’s exposure. — Matthew Royse Read story.

From Higher & Higher via PR Daily Newsfeed
13 Twitter chats every PR pro should follow
“PR chats on Twitter are a helpful way to connect and communicate with PR specialists from all around the world, to build relationships and personal network, to meet new [and] interesting people, and to learn the current tendencies in the field,” Bulgarian PR pro Petya Georgieva writes on her blog. She summarized 13 PR chats every pro should consider following. — Jody Koehler Read story.

From Social Media Examiner
21 Ways Non-Profits Can Leverage Social Media
Like their for-profit brethren, many non-profits understand that using social media can help them reach and engage their audience, create momentum and build community. However, there’s uncertainty around how to create a sustainable social media campaign, although the tools are plentiful and often free. Here are 21 ways non-profits can leverage social media: #1: Use a blog to [...] Read article

From Tripwire Magazine via PR Daily Newsfeed
30 e-mail newsletter designs to inspire you
Thinking about redesigning your e-newsletter — or maybe launching one? Might be a good idea. “Many Internet marketers consider e-mail list building one of the most important elements of making business online,” Dustin Betonio wrote for Tripwire Magazine. “Reason is that once you have a large list of targeted subscribers you can generate traffic yourself and this means your business is less vulnerable to changes in Google rating algorithms.” Take your inspiration from these 30 e-newsletter designs, Betonio advised. Read article

From PR Daily
57 lessons and tips about PR agency life
What was life like when you couldn’t share lessons and tips as easily as you can today? I’m glad those days are behind us because we wouldn’t be able to collectively learn as much as we can today. Here are two great examples. The blog renaissance chambara has 27 lessons from agency life; Earlin’ PR Abuse has 30 ways to survive and thrive in PR. Together, they add up to 57 lessons and tips. Enjoy! — Adam Vincenzini Read story.

From The Comms Corner via PR Daily Newsfeed
11 (mostly) FREE social media tools to try in 2011
Adam Vincenzini, PR Daily Europe’s contributing editor, has spent the last few months testing social media tools. He created this list of the tools he plans to use next year. Best part is all of them are either free or offer a free version. Read story.

Media Relations and HIPAA

2010-12-08T15:41:00.000-06:00

One of the major functions of my work in the communications department of a large health system is media relations. Although I’ve always worked in non-profit public relations, I had never worked in healthcare before my current job. I’ve been in this position for three years, and I love it, but it was a big adjustment for me.

We have fantastic stories to tell: new procedures that let patients stay close to home for care, physicians with specialties that are desperately needed in our area moving to town, new treatments that are literally lifesaving. And don’t forget the always fun First-Baby-Born-in-the-New-Year story! There are, however, a lot of stories that can be difficult to tell.

We are a faith-based health system, and we are very protective of our patients. Even if we weren’t protective, we are also bound by HIPAA to protect our patients. HIPAA is the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.” This rule offers protection of individually identifiable health information. The rule is written so that it permits the disclosure of personal health information needed for patient care and other important purposes.

Much to the frustration of many journalists, and to those of us in the healthcare field, “other important purposes” doesn’t cover giving out information on patients. Every patient has an expectation of privacy and, if they choose the option, we are often unable to even confirm that a person is a patient in our hospital.

Because HIPAA can be so restricting in the information I can provide a reporter (even on fun stories), I find it even more important to have a good relationship with my media colleagues. They have to understand – to really know – that I will tell them everything that is within my power to share. They have to know that when I don’t have information on a person that they *know* is in one of our hospitals it’s because that person has asked for privacy and not because I’m not being forthcoming.

The flip side of working with HIPAA is that if a health system is accused of misconduct by a patient or former patient, and permission is not given by the patient to discuss the case, the health system is unable to answer the accusations. The patient has all the freedom to discuss the situation while the health system can only talk in very general terms.

As a potential patient, I am very appreciative of HIPAA and the policies many hospitals have in place to protect the privacy of their patients. I don’t want anyone in my medical business! As a media relations person, it can be a frustrating policy; but, it has forced me to work on my relationship-building skills with journalists. Luckily, most of the moms of the New Year babies are happy to sign the consent form to have their photos taken and to do interviews on their happy day.

What challenges have you faced when working with the media & a delicate situation? Thoughts?

This is a cross-post from The Root Report.

Intel Sponsors Social Media Scavenger Hunt at Moms Event in San Antonio

2010-11-12T10:23:00.000-06:00

I finally got to participate and the annual Manic Mommies Escape when it was held in San Antonio this last weekend. In case you haven’t heard, the Manic Mommies are a couple working moms who have been hosting a podcast pretty much ever since podcasting was invented. I’ve written about their amazing online community building before. The Escape is a kind-of moms’ retreat.

Because of their large listenership and community building (one is a full-time PR person), they’ve gotten some big sponsorships. Let me tell you about a couple.

Intel used social media tools like Twitter and Foursquare with Escape participants. First, an Intel rep led a presentation with tips on how to choose the right computer for your needs or your family's needs, in this case. They have a handy tool for this online.

Then they had participants form teams of four for a social media scavenger hunt in downtown San Antonio. They had a list of 10 locations where teams would go, check-in using Foursquare, follow the instructions that Intel had set up in the Foursquare Tips section, and post a photo on Twitter via Twitpic. Teams that went to at least five spots were entered into a drawing for free laptops that were awarded the next day.

Key to this promotion was that it was integrated into the goals of the event for moms to network with each other and meet other moms as well as to experience San Antonio. And they learned a bit about Intel in the process.

Another big sponsor is Chevy. Moms were able to test drive different models, including the new Cruze and a Corvette Grand Sport (there was a big line for that one). The test drive route took the moms to see a San Antonio mission and they were entered into a drawing for free tickets to a suite at the Spurs game that evening.

Finally, there was a hospitality suite where moms could test out the new XBOX with Kinect that lets you get on your feet to play without a remote control.

So if you’re wondering how to integrate social media into a promotion strategy. Intel provides a great example.

Open Leaders Give Up Control

2010-11-10T12:55:00.003-06:00

This was the loud and clear message from Charlene Li, founder of the Altimeter Group and bestselling coauthor of Groundswell, the keynote speaker at the PRSA International Conference.

Her latest book “Open Leadership: How Social Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead” was at the heart of her keynote comments.

Giving up control is uncomfortable for organizational leaders because the outcome seems uncertain and organizational leaders have been sensitized to more controlled outcomes. Li’s first example was a now well-known news story about Dell laptops catching on fire. The company bravely chose to acknowledge the story and include a popular photo of an exploding laptop in its response strategy. Li asked the audience if, (four years later) “Would your organization have the leadership and fortitude to acknowledge something as serious as a product default in such a public way?”

Li believes that strategy, leadership and preparedness are the keys for leaders to give up control but still be in command. She offered four ways leaders can do this:

1. Discipline is the key to success. Programs to develop open leadership cannot happen on an ad hoc basis. It must become part of the business process.

2. Create a culture of sharing. It’s not just about particular social media tools or using a specific technology or service, it’s about learning to share – inside and outside – your organization.

3. Ask the right questions about value. Using a quote from John Hayes at American Express, she highlighted that we often undervalue what we cannot measure but overvalue what we can.

4. Prepare for Failure. No relationships are perfect, so Li suggests using the Google mantra “Fail fast, fail smart.”

“Open Leadership” was given to early registrants of the PRSA International Conference. The book is filled with case studies of organizations of all sizes and their journeys to embrace a more open culture. Beyond the case studies, Li’s book features models, assessment tools and metrics that add meat to the message and allow organizations to have action plans for openness. Even better, Li offers a robust companion website with assessment tools and downloads which organizations can utilize to benchmark their starting points against other organizations.

In an environment where businesses are struggling to understand openness and the concept of sharing, Li offers a blueprint that even the most resistant of organizations could find useful.

Grunigs' Update on Excellence in Public Relations

2010-11-05T15:22:00.002-05:00

Drs. Jim and Lauri Grunig have been teaching and researching public relations for decades. Their research on the characteristics of excellent public relations has been widely published. At the PRSA International Conference last month, the two presented an update on their findings to an audience mixed with educators, practitioners and researchers.

Jim presented thoughts on the value of relationships in public relations. The relationship has always been central to the practice of public relations but now we are able to measure them, using indexes of trust, commitment, loyalty, satisfaction and mutual influence.

Refreshing their findings on excellence in public relations, the Grunigs offered these eight qualities of the practice:

1. Public Relations should be a managerial function;
2. Public Relations should be strategic;
3. Public relations should be integrated, but not Into Marketing;
4. Public Relations should be symmetrical–bridging the relationship between a corporation’s interest and stakeholder interests
5. Public Relations needs to promote social responsibility
6. Public Relations should advocate for diversity
7. Public Relations advocate ethical practice in organizations
8. Public Relations should be global.

In one of the best quips of the conference, Grunig stated that “not all public relations adds value. Some of it is quite worthless.” Not an unexpected observation, given that the Grunigs have been advocating for standards in the practice their whole careers.

They also shared two observations about changes in public relations practice today. The first change is a social responsibility crisis resulting from crises of confidence and trust in our society. Citing the collapse of the financial industry, the mortgage crisis and the BP oil spill from earlier this year, Grunig believes that the sustainability of organizations has come into question.

Second, the growth of digital media is another change in public relations practice. Digital media are more participatory in nature, which has led many organizations to mourn the loss of control of the message, but the Grunigs believe we never had control. Calling this the “illusion of control,” the Grunigs assert that the public is no longer constrained by what the media report, as the power to publish is shared by all.

This was a fascinating combination of theory and practice. I wonder how many practitioners in San Antonio feel that what they do is "excellent." What's excellent about your practice?

The Magic of Article Marketing

2010-11-03T11:19:00.000-05:00

Robert Deigh of RDC Communication presented a session at the PRSA’s 2010 International Conference where he showcased a new tool for our communication arsenals. “Article marketing” is the placement of short articles on topic-specific websites that are looking for good content and then promoting them using Internet-based and traditional media.

This strategy, he says, can be beneficial for putting your expertise in front of millions of people, for getting you a higher ranking in Internet browser searches, and providing another value-added service you can offer to your organization or your clients. And best of all, it requires minimal time at almost no cost.

The process involves writing a short article (500 to 800 words) on any topic, posting it on the most appropriate web sites that accept articles and promote your work in all of your communication. The article can be new or repurposed from a speech, newsletter article, white paper or existing content on your website.

Robert explains: “The best article marketing web sites -- the ones that people read and take articles from – actually have people who review and edit the articles if necessary! They have a reputation for quality. The lesser sites will publish almost anything as long as it is not offensive.”

Another tip he shared is that these same article sites are a great source of free articles (written by other people) on any topic for your website or your clients’ websites.

Robert is the author of How Come No One Knows About Us?

Tyson Foods & Hunger Relief Programs

2010-10-27T14:36:00.002-05:00

Cause marketing is a hot topic these days. Consumer companies seek alliances with causes for a variety of reasons. Tyson Foods’ Director of Community Relations, Ed Nicholson, APR, presented a synchronous partnership between Tyson Foods and a multitude of hunger relief programs around the U.S.as one of the presentations at the 2010 PRSA International Conference in Washington D.C.

Tyson’s early efforts to embrace hunger causes were campaign-centric, according to Nicholson. The company looked for publicity opportunities when assisting community causes. Like many companies, Tyson’s executives had many favorite causes which dominated early community efforts.

When Tyson started formally working in hunger causes in 2000, they found a very enthusiastic community working in the area and they found that this community was not recognized for their work. As Nicholson recounted, “acceptance into the community takes time; you can’t buy your way in.” Over time, the organization found that the more they gave in a genuine way to the hunger relief community, the more they became engaged and the more Tyson got back.

In 2005, Tyson reviewed and revised their strategy. They began to engage their 104,000 employees, their customers and the one hundred communities in which they have a presence. They followed a model from Jane Austin’s book “Collaboration Challenge” and used a traditional four step process: research, planning, execution and evaluation.

Here’s what they did:
• Sponsored a research project with Feeding America to discover who is hungry in America
• Surveyed the 100 communities where they do business for sources of hunger information
• They went beyond the publicity of annual food donations –they give 8-10 million pounds of food annually – and began telling the stories of people who help defeat hunger
• Launched the Tyson Hunger Relief blog in 2007 to highlight these stories and invited guest bloggers from the hunger relief community
• Used Twitter and Facebook to connect with others on the issue of hunger
• Created the “Hunger All-Stars program” which allows public to nominate someone from their community for their work in hunger; Tyson foods donates a truckload of food to their community every time a winner is named
• Supported local & regional events with organizations like Share Our Strength, RAGBRAI, LULAC and others, often matching food donations.

Now, as the program gets more ambitious and increases in sophistication, Nicholson is hoping to reward Tyson employees who participate in relief events, create a measurement strategy and is pursuing tie-ins with other food companies who are committed to the cause of hunger relief.

The bottom line, says Nicholson, “most people are invariably surprised about hunger in their own community.” How does he stay motivated? On his Outlook calendar, he has a daily reminder which says: “Do one thing for the community.”

Mining Search Trends

2010-10-19T10:20:00.000-05:00

Keynoter Bill Tancer told participants in PRSA’s 2010 International that PR practitioners need to “become aware of the possibility of search.” Bill is general manager of global research at Hitwise and author of the book Click: What Millions of People Are Doing Online and Why It Matters.

He shared stories of how he analyzes and monitors search data. By looking at the volume of searches in the United States on specific search terms, you can uncover seasonality spikes, such as an unsurpising increase in searches for “diets” in January.

A surprising find he described was a spike in “prom dress” searches in January, suprising because proms are typically held in May. He investigated further by talking to companies that make and sell prom dresses who told him their big sales are March through May. So why the spike in January? The mystery continued until he relayed the story in a conversation with some fashion magazine publishers. They weren’t surprised. In order to increase circulation in their slower months, they publish stories and fashion shots of prom dresses at the beginning of each year. Those in the prom dress business were missing a huge opportunity by waiting until March to start their season.

Tancer said, “Public relations is one of the best uses for this data, and that’s listening to the conversation and making the business case for what we do in public relations.”

Read more and see a video interview on the PR Tactics blog.

Creating Measurable PR Objectives

2010-10-17T22:29:00.000-05:00

If a PR program is designed to “generate buzz,” how would they know if it was successful?

Objectives, by definition, must be more clearly defined than that. By developing objectives early, you’ve given yourself a way to measure your success, and you set expectations for your client or employer.

I attended a session today at the PRSA International Conference entitled, “Setting Quantifiable Objectives – The Key to Proving PR Value and Building the Business Case for PR,” presented by Mark Weiner, CEO of PRIME Research North America.

He explained that PR objectives should be “meaningful, reasonable and quantifiable.”

He suggests conducting an “executive audit,” with questions like: “What is management trying to achieve and what will help or hinder our success?” and “What barriers have hindered our meeting objectives in the past?” (Details are in his book, Unleashing the Power of PR: A Contrarian's Guide to Marketing and Communication.)

Three areas to cluster objectives are: outputs (e.g., total mentions, reach, media mix), outcomes (i.e., awareness, comprehension, attitudes, behavior), and business results (e.g., market share, employee retention).

I really liked his summary points:

“Objectives are not fate; they are direction.
“Objectives are not commands; they are commitments.
“Objectives do not determine the future; they are means to mobilize the resources and energies of the business for the making of the future.”

As the Q&A portion of the session was coming to a close, one participant commented that this session alone, made her trip and registration worth it, which was followed with applause.

A Good Communication Plan Can Feed the World

2010-10-17T17:08:00.002-05:00

The Opening Keynote at the PRSA International Conference 2010 was Bettina Luescher, the chief spokesperson for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). As the largest aid organization in the world, the WFP reached out to 100 million people last year alone. They are charged with going into the world’s most impoverished places like Darfur and Somalia, as well as places hit hard by disasters, like Haiti and Afghanistan.

Luescher spoke about the amazingly difficult conditions of her job nonchalantly. Recalling the conditions after the Asian tsunami of 2004, she shared the grueling schedule of 20-40 television interviews daily, sharing a leaky tent in the rain with 20 others and a shower with 200 plus the logistics of delivering food by helicopter as casually as we might discuss our morning commute.

As well, Luescher told several funny stories about working with actor George Clooney in recent fundraising efforts – a light-hearted note to an otherwise thought-provoking presentation about hunger in the world today.

The biggest takeaway I got from her keynote was how the simplest act, if communicated well, can effect great change. Here are two examples from her presentation:

Darfur: Women who leave supervised camps to gather wood are often raped. The men cannot leave the camps at all, because they will be killed. The WFP made a case for providing women in these camps with a more environmentally efficient stove so they wouldn’t have to gather wood as often and they could better take care of their families.

Afghanistan: Traditionally, Afghan girls did not attend school. The WFP can feed a child for 25 cents a day or about $5.00 per month. If the WFP can keep the children in school and fed, this takes the burden off the parents. But, they went one step further: to make sure that girls got to keep attending school, the WFP gave girls a ration of cooking oil, elevating the value of the girls who brought the oil home and encouraging parents to keep them in school.

Luescher’s presentation was a reminder of how hunger can affect so many and how easy it can be to communicate in the name of change.

The World Food Programme has numerous partnership and donation plans on their web site.

Reporting from the PRSA International Conference

2010-10-17T11:34:00.005-05:00

Representing the San Antonio Chapter at this year's PRSA International Conference and Assembly are Fran Stephenson and Christie Goodman, APR. Yesterday the team served as the chapter delegates to the Society's Assembly and beginning today, will bring you news of the speakers, keynotes and workshops.

Special thanks to esd & associates for sponsoring the PRSA San Antonio Chapter's delegates to the conference. Watch for more news throughout the week.

PRSA National Assembly Maintains Status Quo on Board Service Requirements

2010-10-16T16:39:00.002-05:00

This year, the PRSA Assembly had a smaller agenda than last year’s conference in San Diego. Two amendments to the Bylaws were somewhat housekeeping in nature. Defining terms of Board service and softening the language on the Code of Ethics. Both passed without debate.

Another amendment, dropping the proposed requirement of the APR credential for service on the national board, was far more contentious. The debate was civil, with many speakers citing the pros and cons of the amendment. A similar amendment was proferred at last year’s assembly and on other occasions. All those amendments have failed.

Those in favor of the amendment cited opening up board leadership to those who serve but who have not taken advantage of the accreditation credential. A number of APRs and Fellows spoke in favor of the amendment, urging the group to separate governance and certification. Others who spoke in favor of the amendment sought the change to eliminate the divisiveness among membership about what the meaning of an APR credential really reflects. They also cited the rigorous process by which a member who is seeking national office must undergo to make that happen.

Assembly delegates speaking against the amendment spoke about the need to maintain standards and expectations among our national board. One speaker against the amendment said “anyone can take that test,” for the APR credential.

It is interesting to note that among the PRSA membership nationwide, only 25% of the membership are accredited. In the San Antonio chapter, the percentage is 20%. The PRSA San Antonio Board is challenged with filling board positions each year that require APR. Most of our board leadership positions do not require the APR credential, and in fact, our board could not function if it was a requirement.

As chapter delegates to this Assembly, Fran Stephenson and Christie Goodman, APR, we voted for this amendment because the board wanted more opportunities for chapter leadership to serve at the national level. Because the motion failed, the San Antonio chapter will have a more difficult road to having a voice at the national level. While we strongly believe in the power of the credential for many public relations practitioners, we see this as a governance issue, not an accreditation issue.

Watch for more as the International Conference gets underway in Washington D.C.

Learning Opportunities for Non-Profits

2010-10-15T09:10:00.002-05:00

San Antonio-area nonprofit organizations have three new opportunities to develop expertise in public relations, planning, social media policy and social media practices at three upcoming events.

Gift of Guidance
This is the annual counseling program sponsored by the PRSA San Antonio Chapter. Nonprofits without the benefit of public relations counsel – either staff or agency – can apply to be the recipients of a tabletop planning sessions sponsored by the San Antonio chapter. The counseling session happens during the chapter’s December professional development luncheon, but chapters must apply by Nov. 5. Fill out the application online.

ActionCamp SA
On October 29, ActionCamp SA kicks off at the UTSA Downtown campus. Designed in the “unconference” tradition, “campers” will get the benefit of the expertise of the organizers on the day of the conference, as well as breakfast, lunch and a lunchtime keynote speaker. The registration is being held at $25 because of recent sponsor additions. Event will be held from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Register here.

SmoochSA
SmoochSA (or Social Media Opportunities for Charities) is a quarterly workshop series designed to help nonprofits break through the barriers of accepting new technologies into their organization. The next workshop will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health. The topic will be adopting social media policy. This event is free and runs from 9 – 11 a.m., with a Continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Watch for registration to open in early November here.

PR News Round-Up ~ Octobe 13, 2010

2010-10-13T13:56:00.000-05:00

Forbes via PR Daily Newsfeed
Study: Twitter followers more valuable than Facebook fans
Not sure which social media channel to pour your marketing dollars and time? A recent Forrester study found that — while it’s difficult to quantify Facebooks fans and Twitter followers with an absolute value — Twitter followers are “more likely to buy from brands they follow (37 percent vs. 21 percent) and recommend brands to friends (33 percent vs. 21 percent),” reported Forbes. “These two factors are the yardsticks by which many social media branding campaigns are measured,” Patrick Vogt noted for Forbes. Facebook’s big perk: The opportunity for advertising on the social network is “unparalled,” said Vogt. Read Story.

The Guardian via PR Daily Newsfeed
Survey: 27 percent of Web users share 87 percent of the content online
Some interesting and useful results from a CNN survey on how stories are shared online. Turns out most articles are shared by only about a quarter of the users, according to the survey. As you probably imagined, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube trumped e-mail for how people share links. Perhaps most fascinating is the research identifying the reasons people in different regions share news and what kinds of stories they share. In North America and Europe, users had more altruistic reasons for sharing content, the survey said (as reported by The Guardian). “The majority of shared content, around 65 percent, was major current news stories, 19 percent was breaking news and 16 percent was made up of watercooler funnies or quirky news,” according to The Guardian. Read Story.

From Communication Overtones
A Commonsense Approach to Measuring Social Media
The problem with communication and relationships, which are both the hallmarks of social media, is that their effects are often a challenge to quantify. Most people don’t know how to connect online efforts to bottom-line sales, amount of funds raised or other business results, or even to softer measures like improved relationships and competitive advantage. Read Story.

From The Business Insider
9 ways companies blow press ops
“Getting the media to pay attention to a company announcement is one part common sense, one part timing, and one part luck,” writes Beth Monaghan of IngLinks. “Luck aside, there are some things you can do to increase the chances that the media will take notice and prioritize your news over the hundreds of press releases they see each day.” How do you make sure that you don’t sabotage your press announcement? Learn from these common mistakes that companies typically make. Great advice. — Matthew Royse Read Story.

From Open Forum
5 trends that will shape small business in 2011
Every “trend prediction post” I have read has included the emergence of mobile as a trend. Now that it's come true, it's safe to predict it again! Next year should also hold some much-needed cooperation between traditional and social media, online and offline strategies, and the automation of “social circle” recommendations. Take a look at what’s new for 2011. — Claire Celsi Read Story.

Lies, damned lies and statistics
The largest and most comprehensive study of the global digital consumer — ever . What if I were to tell you that you could have access to the most complete study of the global digital consumer for free — is that something you might be interested in? Show of hands? Thought so; this stuff is gold dust. Now, go soak it up! — Adam Vincenzini Read Story.

NPR via PR Daily Newsfeed
NPR releases survey results on its users’ Twitter and Facebook habits
It’s not every day you gain access to the online insights of a media outlet’s followers. That’s why I love this summary and presentation by NPR. From a purely selfish and public relations perspective, I would love to see more outlets publish this type of information on their users. If you’ve seen other outlets provide this type of information share the links with us.—Allan Schoenberg Read Story.

From Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media via PR Daily Newsfeed
Mayo Clinic announces new social media network for healthcare communicators
If you work in PR, marketing, or internal communications, sit up and take notice. The Social Media Health Network is “a group dedicated to using social media to promote health, improve health care, and fight disease,” says Lee Aase, the head of social media at Mayo and a huge pioneer in the online healthcare revolution. Members of the network will learn best practices through conferences and webinars, and by sharing training materials and resources on a new member-only website. Mayo announced the network at the sold-out Second Annual Social Media Summit, which was produced by Mayo and Ragan Communications. The website for the network, socialmediahealthnetwork.org, will launch Oct. 25. (Mayo and Ragan will partner on three major healthcare conferences in 2011, concluding with the biggest event of them all in Rochester, Minn., in September. Members of the network will receive big discounts.) Read Story.

PR News Round-Up ~ October 1, 2010

2010-10-01T09:32:00.000-05:00

by Brian Clark
The Three Key Elements of Irresistible Email Subject Lines
Email is back. Despite repeated proclamations of its extinction, rumors of the death of email marketing have been greatly exaggerated — especially since email and social media are a powerful combination. You might not reach the average college freshman, but for slightly older types (you know, the ones with the money), email is still the way to go in many lucrative mainstream niches. Read story.

From Newsworthy via PR Daily Newsfeed
New (and free) website compiles contact info of reporters and editors
Looking for a journalist’s e-mail address or phone number? Have your tried PressWiki yet? It’s a free database packed with contact information from countless media outlets. For instance, want to pitch a healthcare story at the Billings Gazette? On PressWiki you can find the e-mail and phone number for the paper’s medical reporter. Read story.

From Justin case you were wondering via PR Daily Newsfeed
Don’t hire millennials to run your social media
Remember when Pizza Hut let the interns run the company Twitter account? It made the Stupid Business Moves Hall of Fame. One year after the “Twintern” incident, as it was called, Fleishman-Hillard’s Jay Goldsborough has extracted a few lessons for other companies. He wants organizations to ask a few questions before they make big choices about social media, among them: “Why are you looking at social media as a position you have to fill?” and “What does the millennial you want to hire know about strategic communications?” Read on, and you won't end up with egg — err — pizza on your face. — Jackson Wightman. Read story.

From Adweek via PR Daily Newsfeed
The 25 most important brands to women
On Monday, Women at NBCU — which is NBC Universal’s female-targeted marketing initiative — unveiled a monthly brand index to measure the 25 brands that are most important to women. The index is based on online search data, social media buzz, and person-to-person conversations, according to an NBC Universal press release. The top five brands for the month of August are Walmart, Target, Verizon, eBay, and AT&T. Check out the remaining 20 brands. (Image via) Related The Daily Beast In terms of women and political brands, a Gallup poll shows white females are deserting the Democratic Party “in droves,” reports The Daily Beast. Read story.

From Mashable via PR Daily Newsfeed
Study: Fewer people creating content on the Web
New data from a Forrester study that tracks consumer trends and behavior broke down Web users into seven types, one of them being “creators.” In the U.S., the creator type has shrunk 1 percent since last year, according to the data. Meanwhile, the “joiner” category saw an increase of 8 percent, indicating social media is still on the rise. Read story.

From Brooke Nolan's Blog via PR Daily Newsfeed
5 reasons hyperlocal news sites should be part of your next campaign
Newspaper sales are declining, but one sector is benefiting — the hyperlocal news site. For example, there is AOL’s Patch in the U.S. and Northcliffe’s Local People in the U.K. PR Daily Europe contributor Brooke Nolan explained five reasons why you should include these platforms in your next PR campaign. Good advice. Read story.

From The Toronto Sun via PR Daily Newsfeed
Study: Quarter of all social media users are older than 65
Grandpa loves social media. Grandma, too. Citing a Pew study, The Toronto Sun reports, “A full 26 percent of Internet users over the age of 65 are now visiting social networking sites such as Facebook.” This means that you must not only focus your campaign on young whippersnappers, but also for those 65 and older. Related Ragan.com How AARP built a social media hub for the 50-plus set. Related MyRaganTV AARP's chief communication officer spoke with Ragan CEO Mark Ragan about the myth that people 50 and older don't use social media. Read story.

By David Kirkpatrick, Washington Post
Five myths about Facebook
Movies often have Web sites, but it's not so often that Web sites have movies. Facebook, of course, is not just any Web site; in the 6 1/2 years since founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg started the social networking service in his Harvard dorm room, it has acquired 500 million active users worldwide. It may be the fastest-growing company in history. And now, yes, it is the inspiration for a movie, "The Social Network," opening Oct. 1. Even before Hollywood got involved, however, Facebook was the subject of quite a bit of lore -- not all of it true. Read story.

From By Brian Solis - PR 2.0 via PRSA Issues and Trends
Exploring and Defining Influence: A New Study
Influence is bliss…The socialization of media is as transformative as it is empowering. As individuals, we’re tweeting, updating, blogging, commenting, curating, liking and friending our way toward varying levels of stature within our social graphs. With every response and action that results from our engagement, we are slowly introduced to the laws of social physics: for every action there is a reaction – even if that reaction is silence. And, the extent of this resulting activity is measured by levels of influence and other factors such as the size and shape of nicheworks as well as attention aperture and time. Read story.

From TopRank Blog via PR Daily Newsfeed
22 tools for social media management
For roughly the last nine months, Lee Odden, CEO of TopRank Marketing, has researched and reviewed a variety of social media management tools. The result is this list of 22 management tools, platforms, and services to “help manage and scales your online marketing efforts on the social Web,” Odden writes. Read story.

From Liberate Media via PR Daily Newsfeed
3 great tools to help your social media research efforts
This is SO useful! Andy Merchant from Liberate Media describes three tools that you can use as part of your social media preparation routine. I particularly like URLAI, which can tell you the gender and age of the author of any blog. How nifty is that?!? — Adam Vincenzini. Read story.

From All Facebook via PR Daily Newsfeed
Facebook pitches its services to PR professionals with live meeting, Facebook page
PR pros from companies and agencies visited Facebook’s Palo Alto, Calif., headquarters last week. “A report on the Reuters Mediafile blog says Facebook officials … explained how tools such as live-streaming special events or finely targeting marketing pitches could help PR campaigns, with the formal presentation followed by canapés and drinks on the roof. The social networking site has also set up a page for PR professionals with information such as how to ‘like’ any article online, using a Firefox plug-in, or tips on live-streaming. The page, set up at the end of last week, has 258 fans so far.” Read story.

From Socialbrite, via PR Daily Newsfeed
10 tips for planning a successful webinar
Webinars are a great marketing tool for your organization. They can help your brand or client share valuable information with your stakeholders. But what are the major steps in organizing one? Here are 10 ways to help you host an engaging online seminar. — Matthew Royse. Read story.

Does your crisis communications plan include social media?

2010-09-28T16:54:00.000-05:00

Last month, research came out indicating that web users increasingly rely on social media to seek help in a disaster. A survey by the Red Cross shows that 74 percent expect response agencies to answer social media calls for help within an hour.
According to the news release, if web users knew of someone else who needed help, 44 percent would ask other people in their social network to contact authorities, 35 percent would post a request for help directly on a response agency’s Facebook page and 28 percent would send a direct Twitter message to responders (couldn’t reach 9-1-1).

Also, 69 percent said that emergency responders should be monitoring social media sites in order to quickly send help. And nearly half believe a response agency is probably already responding to any urgent request they might see.

Does your crisis communications plan include social media for dissemination and response?

One thing that can guide you is our chapter’s upcoming crisis communications professional development seminar next week on October 7. Our speaker will be the leading industry expert, James E. Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA.

Here are the topics we’ll cover…

Crisis-proofing Your Organization – How to Avoid the Crucial Mistakes that Cause Most Responses to Fail (Morning session)
Getting Your Boss to Listen to You – The Seven Disciplines of the Trusted Strategic Advisor (Luncheon presentation, during our regular chapter monthly luncheon)
When You Are the Target – Coping With Activists, Antagonists and New Media Attacks (Afternoon session)

Hurry! Registration closes this Friday!
Get details online.
Download the flier
Register for the full day
Register for the luncheon only

PR News Round Up ~ September 9, 2010

2010-09-09T14:05:00.000-05:00

From PR Tactics
In Memoriam: John R. Beardsley, APR, Past PRSA President
John R. Beardsley, APR, retired CEO of Minneapolis-based communications firm Padilla Speer Beardsley, died Thursday night from complications following heart surgery. He was 73. Read story.

From The Lead Blog by Matt Kucharski
Everything's Dead But The Future -- Fitting Epitaph for John Beardsley
My mentor, inspiration and friend John Beardsley, Padilla Speer Beardsley's former CEO, died Thursday evening after complications from heart surgery. He was 73, and he wasn't ready to go. Too many truths left to discover, too many ideas left to share. It was an honor to be one he shared them with, and like the others, I'm a better professional and person for it. Read story.

From The Next Web via PR Daily Newsfeed
AP begins crediting bloggers as news sources
It’s a huge step with huge implications, although Lauren Fisher writes on The Next Web that it’s too soon to tell how bloggers will affect the news agenda. “We’ve already seen some developments in this area, such as publishers employing bloggers on the ground, but I think this goes one further than that,” she writes. “The announcement has served to recognize the work that bloggers put into breaking and reporting stories.” It’s also not clear what the blogger attribution will look like. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one. — Susan Young Read story.

From PR Fuel via PR Daily Newsfeed
Tips for including video in your press releases
A PRWeb study last year found that 94 percent of PR pros see value in including videos in press releases; however, only a handful of respondents had actually tried it. Want to join this exclusive crew? PR Fuel offered tips for including video in your next press release. Read story.

From MarketingProfs via PR Daily Newsfeed
4 reasons content can help build relationships
We all know that content is king. When you come across great content, do you share it? I do through my contributions to PR Daily, Twitter, and my blog, and I bet you do, too. Maria Pegolino, director of marketing at Marketo, shares four reasons why content is one of the most important factors in building relationships. — Matthew Royse Read story.

From MediaPost Communications/Online Media Daily via SmartBrief on Social Media
Study: Social networks change the way people behave
Researchers at MIT have found evidence that social networks can have a profound effect on the way people live their lives. The study showed that the structure of networks influenced the way people signed up for a health forum, offering insights that could also hold hints for marketers. "It's easy to see how a cluster of connected networks or communities could facilitate the spread of a new product adoption," notes Laurie Sullivan. (9/7) Read story.

From HubSpot.com via SmartBrief on Social Media
60 ways to become more influential online
At a recent event, 60 social-media experts tried to condense all they knew about boosting digital influence into a one-minute-long talk. Their top tips included the importance of picking the right partners, listening before speaking, and mapping your social-media strategy onto your business' existing goals. (9/8) Read story.

And the Winner Is….Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City School District

2010-09-07T09:10:00.001-05:00

Last in the series on Award Winning Programs from the 2010 PRSA Del Oro Awards
Award Recipient of a La Plata Award of Merit in the Category: Crisis Communications

When swine flu hit the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District in April 2009, they had no idea how large the public health matter would become over the course of two weeks. When the Health Department ordered a school to be closed indefinitely, followed by the entire school district, the communications team had to move into crisis mode. The crisis communication plan for these events was fluid and challenged repeatedly due to the changing circumstances. With the help of social and traditional media, the school district was able to relay timely and accurate information to its target audiences.
“I actually had no idea a crisis like the Swine Flu would explode into such a large scale,” said Rebecca Villareal, Communications Officer. “I truly became my superintendent’s press agent for those two weeks. When NPR called to interview her, she was so excited. I think for both of us it was one of those experiences we never imagined we would experience in our careers.”

Public relations in school districts is by no means uneventful, but Villareal reported that this crisis was the extreme. “We had swarms of media - day and night. I mean 24/7. I had the early morning guys calling me at 1:30 a.m. and wanting interviews between 3 and 5 a.m. I did not even know the media was out on the street at that time,” she said. “I am just glad they were okay with call-in interviews for those.”

Villareal reports that the organizations had some key learnings after the crisis, which resulted in strategic changes. The district purchased a Content Management System (CMS) for the website for quicker updates. The Tumblr blogging platform is now used to post cancellations and schedule changes and is linked to the Twitter account for instant updates. As well, electronic marquees that can be managed from one remote site were installed at all district facilities.

Randy Escamilla, APR, is a member of the PRSA San Antonio board and Director of Communications for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

PR News Round Up ~ September 3, 2010

2010-09-03T16:54:00.000-05:00

AP announces editorial guidelines for credit and attribution

From The Power of Presence via PR Daily Newsfeed
13-point checklist for social media releases
Social media press releases are becoming more commonplace. To make sure that you have all the elements needed to create one, Dna13’s Amanda Laird put together this 13-point checklist. — Matthew Royse Related PR Daily Want more? Check out the audio recording of a best-selling PR Daily webinar, How to produce a social media news release. Read story.

From Brooke Nolan's Blog via PR Daily Newsfeed
8 tips for using photography in your PR campaigns
PR pro Brook Nolan shares her thoughts on how you could double your coverage via photography, including this nugget: Do you even need a press release? “Perhaps you don’t even need to bother writing a story to go along with images,” she says. “Great exposure can be [won] through an image alone. Without sounding too corny ‘a picture speaks a thousand words’ and all that. Send pictures with a simple photo caption and short paragraph outlining the story — this works especially well for the ‘social’ pages in magazines. Read more.

Don't confuse traffic with engagement
Viral content can generate huge traffic boosts -- but that's not necessarily the same as generating real engagement, writes Matt Owen. Many visitors are simply surfing aimlessly without any real interest in your offerings, Owen argues, and it's only by actively participating in conversations that you'll be able to sort the wheat from the chaff. "Rather than monitoring how many customers you have, watch what they are saying," he adds. eConsultancy.com (8/26) Read more.

From Webbiquity via PR Daily Newsfeed
The best social media and PR resources of the year
Get your bookmark button ready. Online marketing exec Tom Pick selected a batch of useful posts that PR pros will cherish. Included in his 2010 “best of” compilation is some great advice from Chris Brogan about blogger outreach. These are resources you'll come back to again and again. Read more.

From If Only Blog via PR Daily Newsfeed
9 tools to help understand your audience's social media behavior
We're all trying to find ways to prove to clients that we really do know what we're talking about. Richard Pentin at If Only Blog pulled together the latest stats to provide an overview of the essential tools for understanding customers’ social media behavior. At the very least you can wow your co-workers with your statistical knowledge. — Beth Carroll, contributor to PR Daily Europe Read more.

From Social Media Monitoring Wiki via PR Daily Newsfeed
Check out this collection of social media monitoring solutions
Are you looking to find the one-stop shop for monitoring social media conversations? Unfortunately, it doesn’t exist yet. However, there is a one-stop shop for the overwhelming high number of social media monitoring solutions. Based on your organization’s budget or specific goals, hopefully this wiki will help you find one that works for you. — Matthew Royse Read more.

And the Winner is….PayDay Plus! Paycheck Stuffers Done Right

2010-08-25T17:03:00.001-05:00

Next in a Series on Award Winning Programs from the 2010 PRSA Del Oro Awards
Award Recipient of an El Bronce Award of Excellence

Can the humble paycheck stuffer be an award-winning communications tool? Absolutely. Case in point is CPS Energy’s Payday Plus. The one-sheet publication received an El Bronce award of excellence at PRSA’s Del Oro competition in May.

The local utility company produces the internal newsletter twice a month and mails it to employees’ homes along with their pay statements. Home delivery is one of the keys to success, says Scott Wudel, the publication’s editor. He explains that while the company maintains many electronic communication outlets, the printed newsletter is the most convenient way for employees who work in the field and their families to receive information.

Along the same lines, Wudell stresses that the newsletter’s content must be valuable and relevant to its approximately 3,600 readers. As the website and intranet editor at CPS, Wudel receives news tips from across the organization. He filters them from the vantage point of the employee and crafts short digestible articles that are useful and interesting to readers. Typical Payday Plus stories focus on health benefits, rebates, personnel changes, volunteer and family events and hot topics in the company.

It’s easy to underestimate the importance of good graphic design for a routine, internal publication. Payday Plus avoids this pitfall and entices its readers with fresh, full-color layouts that mix the right amounts of white space, images and text. The company’s in-house graphic artist Barbara Burris is responsible for the look of the newsletters.

Employees appreciate CPS’ efforts to keep them informed, and the newsletter has proven a valuable tactic for aligning a diverse workforce.

By Abbey Forney, PRSA board member and Communications Director at Urology San Antonio

And the winner is…Bromley Communications for “¡Sí! Western Union Helps Make Dreams Come True”

2010-08-23T15:03:00.001-05:00

Next in a Series on Award Winning Programs from the 2010 PRSA Del Oro Awards
Award Recipient of La Plata Award of Excellence – Marketing Consumer Services
Award Recipient of La Plata Award of Excellence – Multicultural Communications Campaign

Public relations professional Deborah Charnes of Bromley Communications is a well known name in the Del Oro circle. Every year, she’s the first to submit her entries, which arrive long before the competition’s deadlines. And, her entries always win the coveted Award of Excellence.

This year, her “¡Sí! Western Union Helps Make Dreams Come True” campaign was the competition’s highest scoring entry with 98.5 out of 100 possible points.

How does she do it?

“You can have stellar execution, but if there are no quantifiable results to meet or surpass the communications objectives, then you’ve missed the mark,” says Charnes.

For more than 12 years, Bromley communicators have worked with Western Union to produce a number of extremely successful campaigns.

As the 2009 banking and real estate collapse was top of mind among consumers in the U.S. and abroad, Western Union set out to depict the tremendous power and impact money transfers have in the lives of people around the world. In collaboration with Bromley, the global money transfer giant partnered with a popular Hispanic TV personality, Ana Maria Canseco, to tour the country and capture human interest Western Union testimonials, reality-style.

Across six cities, in six weekends, brand ambassadors completed 800 consumer intercepts and Canseco conducted 33 media interviews, which generated 59.41 million impressions via 707 placements.

In NYC alone, Bromley and Canseco conducted 10 interviews in one half-day period, generating 30 placements. The agency obtained 22 video testimonials, 11 Mother’s Day testimonials and 165 contest entries in the Bronx and Queens.

In Los Angeles, Bromley and Canseco completed nine interviews in one half-day session, resulting in more than 40 placements. In addition, it recorded 14 consumer stories at retail venues, part of the campaign’s objectives.

“Western Union has very unique needs which make for more challenging campaign development. At the same time, the company understands that PR is not just about publicity,” says Charnes. “We have to connect with the consumer, in and around where the consumer interacts, and in a manner that is relevant and appropriate to the consumer.”

The next time you evaluate your Del Oro entry, ask yourself if your write-up includes results that show you met your goals. If so, you probably have a winner. After all, the proof is in the pudding.

By Christi Fish, a PRSA San Antonio Board Member and a Public Affairs Specialist at The University of Texas at San Antonio

PR News RoundUp ~ August 23, 2010

2010-08-23T14:39:00.000-05:00

From The Business Insider, via Ragan’s PR Daily Newsfeed
Promotion with the Gap creates a $4 million day for Groupon
Do you subscribe to Groupon? It’s a Web-based coupon service that’s creating huge revenue for itself and the companies it partners with. On Thursday, it offered a coupon that cost $25 that could be redeemed for $50 worth of merchandise at the Gap. By dinner time, Groupon had already sold more than 300,000 coupons. That equates to a banner day for the Gap — and $4 million in revenue for Groupon. — Claire Celsi Read story.

By Arik Hanson, via Ragan’s Daily Headlines
5 recent Facebook changes you really should know about
Updated features, tools and functions might alter the way you employ the site. Read story.

From The Telegraph, via Ragan’s PR Daily Newsfeed
New entries to Oxford dictionary include ‘tweetup’
More than 2,000 new words have been added to the Oxford dictionary. Tweetup is one of them. So are cheeseball, turducken, bromance, wardrobe malfunction, frenemy, and vuvuzela. Read story.

ExactTarget (press release) , via Ragan’s Daily Headlines
Study: Twitter users three times more likely to impact your brand
A new survey by ExactTarget and CoTweet insists that “consumers active on Twitter are clearly the most influential online.” That’s a bold statement. What do you think? Here are some results from the study: 72 percent publish blog posts at least monthly; 70 percent comment on blogs; 61 percent write at least one product review monthly; and 61 percent comment on news sites. Read story.

From Convince and Convert, via Ragan’s PR Daily Newsfeed
PR firms are asking 8 questions about social media — and they’re all wrong!
Here’s one, from social media consultant Jay Baer: “How can we find a social media guru to add to our team?” Baer says a better question is, “How can we distribute social media knowledge across the entire firm, including ongoing training and knowledge sharing?” Check out the other seven questions.

From eConsultancy.com, via Ragan’s PR Daily Newsfeed
25 brilliant examples of Facebook brand pages
Standing out from the crowd on Facebook is one of the big challenges facing communicators. Everyone recognizes how important the platform is, but is that reflected in the creative output of the brand pages we want consumers to connect with? This great selection of best practice design examples from the eConsultancy blog is one way of getting those creative juices flowing. — Adam Vincenzini Read story.

From Inc. Technology, via Ragan’s PR Daily Newsfeed
5 secrets of highly effective Twitter users
What’s the best day of the week to spend time on Twitter? Why are retweets so important? These are just two of the questions that journalist Minda Zetlin answers to help us maximize our Twitter activities. Here’s how to get the biggest marketing bang for your tweet. — Susan Young Read story.

From SAS, via Ragan’s PR Daily Newsfeed
8 practical tips for social media measurement
How are you measuring your social media efforts? Whether you're just getting started or have spent years fine tuning your goals and measurments for social media, you'll learn something below from industry pros Katie Paine, CEO KDPaine & Partners, and Mark Chaves, Director of Media Intelligence, Customer Intelligence Product Marketing at SAS… Read story.

From Mashable, via PRSA Issues & Trends
A Field Guide to Using Facebook Places
Facebook has just announced Places, the long-awaited feature that brings location-based functionality to the most popular social network in the world. (Includes section on privacy). Read story.

From PC World Business Center, via PRSA Issues & Trends
Three Ways Business Can Take Advantage of Facebook Places
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the new Facebook Places location-based check-in service at a press event yesterday. Following in the footsteps of services like Foursquare and Gowalla, the Facebook Places service provides businesses with a platform for marketing and promotion, and provides an opportunity to build customer loyalty. Read story.

San Antonio Corporate and Community Leaders Elevate Public Relations

2010-08-06T13:52:00.003-05:00

Jaime Castillo, Office of the Mayor talks as(pictured left to right), Mike Bennett of the American Red Cross, and Dan Decker, SeaWorld San Antonio look on during in a social media discussion at the PRSA-San Antonio August luncheon at the Bright Shawl.

· SeaWorld San Antonio saved $2.6 in advertising costs when it opened

its 100-foot tall Journey To Atlantis rollercoaster several years ago.

· The American Red Cross raised $38 million dollars in donations by using a text

message campaign to help the Haitian earthquake victims.

· The Mayor of San Antonio invites a video blogger from the San Antonio Express-News

and documents his first day in office.

These three examples are indicative of the major shift social media is leveraging among San Antonio’s corporations, non-profits and government.

At the August PRSA luncheon titled, “Empowering Communicators,” Jaime Castillo, Senior Policy Analyst for Mayor Julian Castro, Dan Decker, SeaWorld of San Antonio President, and Mike Bennett, American Red Cross, San Antonio Chapter, CEO, discussed how social media tactics are crucial to their organizational success.

SeaWorld’s Decker said his bottom line is to sell more tickets. SeaWorld’s communications team is using Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare and bringing in more people. Castillo says the Mayor’s Facebook page , with 4400 friends, is an integral part of their public relations tactics. “We know reporters are monitoring it,” he said.

“Exposure is good but what we want is a move to action. We get that when people send in checks to help or call in to volunteer,” said Bennett of the American Red Cross.

Randy Escamilla serves as Vice President of Public Relations for the San Antonio PRSA Chapter. He is the new Director of Communications for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. You can reach randy by email at randye@sahcc.org.

Make Your Plans Now to Attend the PRSA 2010 International Conference

2010-08-03T11:25:00.000-05:00

I've registered for the PRSA 2010 International Conference: Powering PRogress (October 16–19, Washington, D.C.). Have you? The description below is from the PRSA national web site.

The value of public relations has never been more critical than it is today. If you are responsible for your organization’s communication outcomes, learn how public relations can enable you to reach your goals.

Today’s “information environment” is the new business environment, and you must learn how to navigate this terrain or risk being left behind. Innovative technologies and trends have extended the communications playing field and changed the game. There are new channels and new opportunities around every corner. The lines are blurring between communication disciplines, due to economic need and audiences’ insatiable thirst for information.

Now is the time to extend your skills and leverage the power of communications. Join thousands of communications professionals in Washington, D.C., the epicenter of thought leadership, for the PRSA 2010 International Conference, Oct. 16–19.

This year’s conference features keynote presentations from some of the most influential and respected thought leaders in the areas of social technology emergence, online research, branding, crisis communication, and public affairs, including: Bettina Luescher, chief spokesperson, United Nations World Food Programme; Bill Tancer, author of “Click: What Millions of People Are Doing Online and Why It Matters — Unexpected Insights for Business and Life”; Jeffrey Hayzlett, author of “The Mirror Test: Is Your Business Really Breathing?”; Charlene Li, author of “Open Leadership: How Social Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead, and co-author of “Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies”; and Shaping the Debate: Public Affairs Strategies and the Health Care Reform Bill public affairs panel.

Take part in more than 80 sessions within four tracks focusing on innovative strategies, effective tactics and techniques, specialization and practice areas, and the Business Case for Public Relations. The conference also features additional emphasis on the latest strategies in social media and public affairs.

This is the one event that covers all aspects of public relations and communications for the price of registration. Plus, if you aren’t already a PRSA member, you will receive a free one-year PRSA National membership with your paid PRSA 2010 International Conference Package 1 registration**. Be a part of a vibrant community of public relations practitioners who count on PRSA for their professional needs. As a member of our community, you will engage with experts, learn new public relations and communications strategies, shape your career, and have opportunities to participate in networking and leadership at the local and national levels.

It’s all here at the PRSA 2010 International Conference in Washington, D.C. You should be here too.

Register by Aug. 27 and save $200*.

See the Interactive Brochure

Registration Bonus: *The first 750 Package 1 registrants will receive a free copy of Li’s new book, “Open Leadership: How Social Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead,” which you will receive during conference check-in.

Conference Schedule at a Glance

** This offer applies to Package 1 Conference registrants only and is valid for PRSA National membership. Chapter and Professional Interest Section dues are additional.

Member Rediscovers River during Chapter Event

2010-07-30T08:41:00.003-05:00

The history of the River Walk can be traced back to 1536, and has been the lifeblood of the area ever since…first with life sustaining water for both visitors and eventually inhabitants, and now as a tourist attraction that significantly impacts the economy of the area.

On June 30, the PRSA/SA Chapter and local IABC Chapter held a joint mixer with the San Antonio River Foundation at the oldest VFW Hall in Texas. The Southern-style plantation home was the perfect setting for us to get on a barge to float on the year-old Museum Reach of the River Walk.

The weather was perfect. The storms held off, the temperature cooled, and the evening was extremely relaxing and tranquil as we passed through lush landscaping and under some amazing artwork. Probably the most famous artwork are the 25, 7-feet long fish under the I-35 overpass adjacent to Camden Street. My favorite was the “sonic passage,” where world renowned sound artist Bill Fontana placed sequenced speakers under the bridge to emit a blend of recorded and live broadcasts from multiple locations along the river. It is eerily calming to the senses.

Another highlight for me was going through the lock and dam system. I’ve been through many of these across the U.S., but big or small, it is always amazing and a thrill for me. I don’t understand the engineering of it at all, and that mystery helps make it special.

As we glided along, we were told about the next phase for the River. It won’t be accessible by barge, but will form a unique park space throughout the Missions area with new hike and bike trails along the banks of the San Antonio River. Through the work of the San Antonio River Authority and the San Antonio River Foundation, this Mission Reach will be completed in 2014.

Those earlier explorers knew what an important gem the river flowing through this area was going to be to the survival and vitalization of the area. The San Antonio River Authority’s mission is to protect and preserve our shared water resources and pursue innovative solutions that will serve generations to come. I’m grateful for what our forefathers and our current leaders are doing to revitalize the river, while keeping its charm and even some mystery intact.

Guest Post by Monica Faulkenbery, APR, Assistant Communications Director for NISD and a board member for the PRSA San Antonio Chapter. This event was free to members. For more PRSA events, visit the chapter web site.

And the Winner Is...The Million Bulb Challenge by CPS Energy

2010-07-27T13:52:00.002-05:00

Next in a series on winning entries from the Del Oro Awards 2010
La Plata – Community Relations entry

As the nation’s largest municipally owned natural gas and electric utility with 707,000 electric customers and 322,000 natural gas customers, CPS Energy needed to lower the cost of operating their rebate program and increase community awareness of the value of saving money while saving energy through rebates.

The Million Bulb Challenge campaign improved an existing compact fluorescent light (CFL) rebate program and presented the community with a clear goal – to distribute and rebate 1 million CFLs in 2009. Partnering with HEB and Home Depot would lower rebate costs through providing customers instant rebates and also helped overcome price barriers to the bulbs. A successful campaign would save more than 30 million kilowatt-hours and eliminate 4.4 million pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions.

CPS Energy publicized the program through its Energy Connection newsletter and held community events throughout the year to educate consumers on the cost-saving benefits of CFLs. A press conference in May, beginning the time of highest energy-use, gave a big push for awareness. By October, CPS Energy met its goal of distributing one million CFL bulbs and by the end of 2009 had distributed 1.6 million. It also exceeded its energy demand reduction target by 3.87 MW (saving a total of 38+ million KWH of electricity).

CPS Energy team members saved campaign pieces throughout the year with the idea of submitting an award entry, making the award process very simple. Not only were they able to raise the awareness of CFLs and energy savings but they were also able to publicize and reinforce the campaign’s excellent results with the Del Oro La Plata award recognition!

By Paige Ramsey-Palmer, APR, Corporate Communications Officer for San Antonio Credit Union and a board member of PRSA San Antonio.

PR News Round Up ~ July 21, 2010

2010-07-21T16:50:00.000-05:00

via SmartBrief on Social Media
How to avoid a social-media lawsuit
Social-media marketing and customer service can be a legal minefield, and companies need to stay alert, writes Indra Gardiner. Sharing copyrighted materials or failing to adequately protect your users' privacy can lead to serious legal problems, Gardiner warns. Convince & Convert (7/21) Read story.

From MediaPost via PR Daily
21 social media tips for your next event
David Berkowitz, senior director of emerging media and innovation at 360i, provides excellent tips for attendees, speakers, and event organizers about the use of social media at events. His advice for speakers: Stats and tools are more likely to get tweeted. His suggestions for attendees: Mention on at least one social network that you are attending the upcoming event. And for event organizers, he recommends they create a Twitter list of the event speakers. — Matthew Royse Read story.

By Paul Sutton via Ragan’s Daily Headlines
Not getting Twitter followers? Here are 10 key reasons why
Check out these all-too-common practices that almost beg people to unfollow or block you. Read story.

via SmartBrief on Social Media
10 strategies for promoting your brand on Facebook
Facebook has enormous potential for marketers, writes Kevin Gibbons, but it's easy to overlook the basic strategies needed for a successful campaign. Start with the obvious and build a brand page, he suggests, and focus on making it interesting and engaging for your fans. "If you're marketing a lively brand or product, don't make do with a dull standard Facebook page, make your landing page lively and interesting," he advises. eConsultancy.com (7/16) Read story.

via SmartBrief on Social Media
5 things every social-media policy should include
Every organization should have a written policy setting out its expectations of employees who use social media, says Wall Street Journal career columnist Alexandra Levit. The key is to be clear and not to take anything for granted, she says: define your terms, spell out precisely what you consider acceptable, and explicitly tell employees the kinds of information that should never be shared on social networks. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (7/14) Read story.

via SmartBrief on Social Media
5 steps to successful social-media customer research
When the National Sleep Foundation wanted to boost literature sales without breaking the bank, digital director Suzette Gardner turned to social media to figure out what her customers really wanted. She advises casting a wide net, then building groups and starting conversations focused around the key issues you want to explore. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (7/20) Read story.

From PR Daily
Attend the two-hour webinar that’s all about the Flip camera
Three speakers, two hours, tons of useful advice — and it will cost you only $99. Read more about this PR Daily webinar. Read story.

By Mickie Kennedy via Ragan’s Daily Headlines
7 PR do’s and don’ts for commenting on blogs
Commenting on other people's blogs—when done properly—has many upsides. Read story.

From YouTube via PR Daily
How to pitch the Associated Press
This two-minute video, produced by the AP and featuring two AP editors, explains in detail how to pitch a story to the Associated Press. The editors break down what makes for a good AP article and provide tips about the kind of art the AP wants. Although it appears this video was produced for reporters, it definitely applies to your next pitch. Consider this a must-watch.

From Mashable via PR Daily
6 tips for search optimizing your website
Making sure that your website is searchable is one of the most important parts of driving eyeballs to your site. Mashable co-editor Ben Parr highlights six best practices to make your website search-optimized. My favorite tip: Use the Hubspot tool, website grader, which gives you a report card on where your site stands. With a couple improvements, you are on your way to an “A” in search. — Matthew Royse Read story.

From PR Daily
17 social media sites to help you save time and money
A few months ago, PR Daily held a webinar that walked attendees through the most popular and powerful social media sites for communicators. The presenter, Pete Codella, is back with an updated version. Read more about it.
From Knowledge Enthusiast via PR Daily
7 ways to win friends and influence people on Facebook
Ever read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie? It’s one of PR Daily contributor Matthew Royse’s favorite books. “It recently occurred to me,” he blogged, “that a lot of what he writes in the book applies to interactions on Facebook.” Royse offered seven ways you can use Carnegie’s advice for your client or company's Facebook presence. Good advice. Read story.

River Authority “reaches out” with a win!

2010-07-20T14:54:00.003-05:00

Next in a Series on Award Winning Programs from the 2010 PRSA Del Oro Awards
El Bronce Award of Merit

How many cities have a river that runs right through it and has an impact to the local economy of millions, perhaps billions, each year?

We all know that San Antonio and its River Walk is a special place, and it’s the job of the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) to make sure it stays that way.

Recently the City and SARA expanded the River Walk with a 1.3 mile stretch of new walkways, landscaping, parks and public art. This also included a lock and dam system to be able to access the upper river area linking several downtown historic, commercial and cultural institutions.

The SARA created the Museum Reach Grand Opening Celebration brochure as a self-guided interpretive tour to be used during the weekend celebration. This award-winning brochure uniquely displayed the many different facets of the multi-million dollar project to the general public while demonstrating the ease of participating in all scheduled events. The design showcased the Museum Reach Grand Opening project’s facts, sponsors and event details.

The writing of the brochure was a group effort from the Intergovernmental and Community Relations Department (IGCR), and in-house graphic designer Clint Marzee. The result was a resounding success for both the grand opening, with 40,000 brochures being printed and distributed. It has since been updated and is now serving as a map of the area for future visitors.
Recently, the PRSA/San Antonio Chapter held a joint mixer with the local IABC Chapter to see first hand the Museum Reach end of the River Walk, plus find out more about the next phase—the Missions Reach.

For a peak at the Museum Reach go to http://www.visitsanantonio.com/visitors/play/the-river-walk/index.aspx.

By Monica Faulkenberry, APR, PRSA board member and assistant director of communications for the Northside Independent School District

Class C: One PR Man’s Story

2010-07-14T08:57:00.000-05:00

By Deborah Charnes, VP Director of Public Relations, Bromley Communications

In Mexico and Latin America, where class distinctions traditionally are very marked, demographics are segmented by socio-economic status. Class A and B are the top tiers, representing the most affluent. Mexico’s association for market research, AMAI, describes Class A/B households as those that live in six bedroom homes in exclusive neighborhoods with round-the-clock armed security guards. The head of household has a doctorate or master’s degree, and children attend private schools with tuition of $10,000 or more each year. These families typically have an exclusive country club membership, and they also own a vacation home or condo abroad.

Class C is a big jump down and therefore picks up a significant piece of the human pie. This population has, until recently, been largely ignored by marketers as working poor consumers not worthy of advertising dollars.

At the 2010 International Public Relations World Congress held in Lima in June, Laura Schoen, chair, Latin America, Weber Shandwick, a major PR multi-national, spoke to attendees about the evolution of Class C since the 1980s. She cited a multi-year McCann Latin American Emerging Consumer Study. There are more than 200 million people that fit in the Class C sector, Schoen explained, making this population the third largest economy in the world. Spurred by a solid economic spurt in many of the countries in this region, a significant percentage of Class C families now own cell phones, homes and cars even though the average household income is $500 to 800 per month. Their parents were likely raised in poverty and never able to receive an education. This generation, however, is hungry for upward mobility. They use credit cards wisely. “They are natural born fighters,” said the speaker, and achievements are very important to them and their families.

Nelson (not his real name) was at the three-day conference. He was the picture of professionalism. Dressed in handsome suits each day, a smooth networker, he was able to make friends with seasoned professionals from other countries. After a few pisco sours, he talked about his personal challenges and dreams.

Nelson acknowledged his family fit between Class C and Class D. He was committed to move up the ladder. His mother sold her jewelry and other items to pay for his first year at a private university. Public institutions don’t look good on a resume, are sub-par, and have staff on strike every year, delaying the students’ progress, he explained.

After Nelson’s first year at the university he had to drop out to work and save money. He returned, with a partial scholarship, but by the age of 29 he still had more than a year left to complete his degree in communications.

When he learned an international PR conference was taking place in his hometown, he felt it was an invaluable learning opportunity and stepping stone. However, the price of student registration was $800, which he equated to his annual food expenditures. He spoke to his older brother who had left Peru to work in Spain. Although there are still challenges for South Americans living in Spain, the older sibling agreed the cost of the conference registration would benefit him in the long run. Thus, Nelson received the registration money from Spain.

While this may sound like the start of a rags-to-riches story, the moral won’t be told for many more years. What we do know is that 3,000 Peruvians receive a degree in the field of communications each year, and only a small percentage finds work in the field. The dean of one of the leading universities school for communications affirms that in the last 16 years, the number of students choosing public relations as a field of study has increased 200 percent.

This is a common story in Latin America. The new thread may be that more and more people from historically disadvantaged households are getting a quality education. There is enlightenment among the lower middle class, but the light at the end of the tunnel may flicker out. There is a great struggle among the Class C Latin Americans to emerge as a strong middle class. The quest for advancement, however, often leads them out of their comfort zone to Europe or the United States. Few Latin Americans from the Class C segment want to leave, but with their improved educational status they are more aware of opportunities beyond their borders. If some Americans think building a wall or reinforcing our border patrol or sending troops to the Rio Grande will stop immigrants from leaving their families, their culture, their language and their lands, they are wrong. The only deterrent to the exodus is when peoples’ homelands are safe havens and lands of opportunities.

And the winner is… The Coronation of a King

2010-07-12T10:19:00.000-05:00

Next in a Series on Award Winning Programs from the 2010 PRSA Del Oro Awards
El Bronce Award of Merit

Fiesta royalty events organized by The Order of Alamo and LULAC Council # 2 typically carry a hefty admission price. aMAEzing Marketing, Special Events, PR, Media Services and Entertainment found a way to allow ordinary people to witness the crowning of Rey FEO XLV Charlie Garza at a free public event during the 10-day San Antonio celebration in 2008 and increased attendance from 200 to 400 in 2009.

The Public Relations Society of America, San Antonio Chapter, recently awarded aMAEzing with El Bronce Award of Merit for the “Coronation of a King” media kit, which garnered front page coverage in the San Antonio Express-News.

Twenty-six year PR veteran and aMAEzing owner Mae Escobar assembled a stellar team consisting of Rudy Arispe, Torrie Bethany and Kendra Puente. Input from a committee of former kings and Cavaliers and hand delivering the regal media kit, a black folder with a gold embossed crest of the present and past Rey Feos, proved to be valuable tactics. The folder included a fiesta medal, press release, VIP access invitation, the Garza’s biography and a fact sheet on the El Rey Feo tradition.

Efforts paid off when the next day the San Antonio Express-New ran a front page story with the headline,”Fiesta fit for a king.” CBS affiliate KENS-5, Univision, local talk radio KTSA, Telemundo and local FOX affiliate KABB-TV were among the media outlets that covered the event.

By Irma Orozco, PRSA board member and community relations coordinator for CPS Energy

CPS Energy Magazine Hits Home Run With its Employees

2010-07-09T13:41:00.002-05:00

Third in a Series on Award Winning Programs from the 2010 PRSA Del Oro Awards
El Bronce Award of Excellence – Magazine category

The Broadcaster, published continuously since 1922, captures the accomplishments and monumental moments in CPS Energy’s history. Beyond this, the magazine showcases individual employees, their achievements and their personal stories. It is an “employee” magazine, so we make employees the focus of the publication. We have a
saying that The Broadcaster is the “CPS Energy family in print.”

At the end of 2008, our Corporate Communications Department conducted a survey of all employees to help measure how well we communicate with them. Asked “In general, how satisfied are you with the contents in The Broadcaster?” more than 40 percent of the respondents selected “Very Satisfied,” the highest-rated choice.

In 2009, even knowing the contents received an A+ CPS felt the cluttered, outdated look needed a make-over and could be more reader-friendly. The designer used a refined font and three-column grid, plus incorporated more white space. Additionally, a better balance between photography and illustrations was achieved. It’s apparent that the new look was a success.

“What an amazing facelift. You guys really hit it out of the park!” is what one CPS Energy employee wrote upon receiving upgraded version of “The Broadcaster”. With this kind of rave reviews it wasn’t surprising that the historical magazine received an El Bronce Award of Excellence at the 2010 PRSA Del Oro Awards.

By Trisha Box, PRSA Board Member and Director of Development at the Winston School San Antonio

PR News Round-Up, July 9, 2010

2010-07-09T09:03:00.000-05:00

From MediaPost via Ragan’s PR Daily
Survey reveals why moms follow your business on Twitter
According to a new study by marketing firm Lucid and freelance analyst Lisa Finn, 68 percent of moms follow businesses on Twitter to receive useful information, 67 percent follow a business to learn more about products or services, and 60 percent are looking for deals. Meanwhile, the top two reasons moms use Twitter are networking/meeting new people (77 percent) and keeping up with news (60 percent), the study said. Bottom line: The study highlights that moms want info, connection with others, and to follow a Twitter account with personality. — Matthew Royse. Read story.

From Social Media Explorer via Ragan’s PR Daily
6 tips for dealing with the haters
Does this sound familiar? You suggest a social media initiative at your company — a new blog, for example — and the boss immediately asks, “What happens if someone writes a nasty comment about us?” Instead of calling your boss an old sissy and questioning how he ever got rich acting like such a wimp, refer to social media consultant Jason Falls’ suggestions for dealing with detractors. Good tips. Read story.

From Mashable
The eye candy of social media: 10 info-graphics that pop
Visually appealing social media graphics that engage people and share important stats can make or break your presentation or pitch. Gone are the days of dull pie charts and bar graphs. Web designer Grace Smith provided a colorful array of 10 sharp info-graphics. “Naturally, info-graphics have proven an excellent aid in expressing high volumes of social web information in a clear, visually appealing manner.” My favorites are the compass and prism. Yours? — Susan Young. Read story.

From Ragan’s PR Headlines By Lindsey Miller
4 techniques for spicing up corporate photos
Photographers and newsletter editors share how they stay away from hackneyed images. Read story.

From Ragan’s PR Headlines By Andrew Hennigan
Three essentials for recording a video interview
Less-than-obvious guidelines for making your on-camera exchange valuable. Read story.

From The PR Roast by Hugh Burnham
History is One Big PR Lesson
Independence Day has been a nationwide celebration of patriotism and pride since the “Declaration of Independence” was debated, revised, and approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776… This is the day that brings me to pause and contemplate the singing of the anthem that highlights the annual spectacular, “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Read story.

From ReadWriteWeb.com
Twitter hopes "@earlybird" will catch users' attention
Twitter is rolling out @earlybird, a service promoting deals from selected advertising partners. The account will be run by Twitter, but it will retweet Twitter-specific time-sensitive deals from participating brands. Read story.

From Convince & Convert
Finding the social-monitoring tool that's right for you
To find the right social-monitoring tool for your business' needs, it's important to have a clear sense of exactly what you're planning to do with it, writes Katie Van Domelen. Identify not just the area you'll be monitoring, but also the kinds of data you need, the specific users who'll be handling the tool and the operational and budgetary constraints you're facing. Only once you've figured out your real priorities can you get a sense of which tools would work for you, Van Domelen writes. Read story.

From AllFacebook.com
Increase your Facebook following 1,000% in 4 days
When BlitzLocal took over the Facebook account of Weekly World News, the brand had 3,244 fans; within four days, they'd boosted that number to more than 40,000. Here, BlitzLocal chief Dennis Yu reveals the eight strategies he used to boost the brand's following, including creating a landing page that explicitly asks users to "like" your brand and gives them incentives to do so. Read story.

And the winner is… Sombrilla

2010-07-07T13:52:00.001-05:00

Second in a Series on Award Winning Programs from the 2010 PRSA Del Oro Awards
Award Recipient of El Bronce Award of Excellence (2010) – Publications

Sombrilla is the official magazine of The University of Texas at San Antonio. It is published by UTSA’s Office of University Communications and is mailed without charge three times each year to more than 60,000 UTSA alumni, donors, lawmakers and friends of the university. Through carefully crafted storytelling, Sombrilla aims to keep its readers connected and informed.

The key to Sombrilla lies in its execution.

Naturally, UTSA’s publications team conducts a significant amount of research and extensively plans each issue. However, Sombrilla doesn’t come to life until its stories and images are paired in a beautiful design that invites the reader to learn more about the university.

Sombrilla seeks high standards of reporting, writing, editing, photography and graphic design, resulting in a publication that is attractive, substantial and engaging. Each 9” x 12” issue of Sombrilla boasts 36-pages and four-color processing.

Captivating stories with a welcoming tone invite readers to become reacquainted with UTSA.

Gorgeous photos, illustrations and designs take readers into university research laboratories, into classrooms and into the homes of the people whose lives have been permanently changed by their connection with UTSA. Historical images from the university’s archives are also a common component of each issue, reminding readers of the university’s steady growth toward Tier One.

“Whenever someone asks me what my goals for the magazine were, I’d say I wanted people to read it,” says Rebecca Luther, former editor of Sombrilla. “They’d usually scoff and say there must be something more to it, and there is. But it all starts with getting people to read it and if the magazine is no good, they won’t.”

View Sombrilla online.

By Christi Fish, a PRSA San Antonio Board Member and a Public Affairs Specialist at The University of Texas at San Antonio

PR News Round-Up, July 2, 2010

2010-07-02T12:10:00.000-05:00

From Bulldog Daily, By Terri Thornton, Owner, Thornton Communications
PR 101: How to Tick Off a Journalist in Four Easy Steps
It was three in the afternoon—an odd time to be asleep on a weekday—unless you're working overnights as a TV and radio reporter and producer, which I was. I answered, fearing an emergency. The caller said yes, it was an emergency! She insisted that the newsroom give her my home number because Jesus told her I needed to put an amateur gospel group on my morning show. While a God-fearing music-loving suburbanite wouldn't necessarily know better, it's surprising that otherwise great PR and marketing people put almost as much energy into making themselves ineffective. Here's how to do it wrong.

The Washington Post via Ragan PR Daily Newsfeed
10 mistakes organizations make with social media
Business reporter Steven Overly, of The Washington Post, says one of the top mistakes organizations make with social media is, “Doing too much at once.” He writes that simply creating a Facebook or Twitter account does not mean you are “plugged in.” Check out the other mistakes organizations make with social media, according to Overly. — Matthew Royse

AdamSherk.com via Ragan PR Daily Newsfeed
The 75 most overused buzzwords and marketing cliches in press releases
PR pro Adam Sherk scoured a multitude of press releases to determine how often certain buzzwords and clichés are used. Here are the top five, starting with No. 1: leader, leading, best, unique, and solution — and the list goes on and on. Read more.

Poynter Online via Ragan PR Daily Newsfeed
Speak IT: A handy glossary of tech terms
Not sure what the folks in your IT department are talking about? This story could help clear that up. The Poynter Institute published a glossary of tech terms. “They relate to Web standards, programming, online tools, social networking, online advertising, and basic technology. If you're particularly challenged, this thing called an iPhone is even defined for you.” (h/t Allan Schoenberg) Read more.

From iMedia Connection via SmartBrief on Social Media
How to engage the 1% of your fans who really matter
As many as a third of social sales are spurred by just 1% of a brand's online fan base, writes Jon Siegal, so identifying and targeting those influencers can pay big dividends. Forget splashy broad-gauge promotions, Siegal suggests, and focus instead on highly targeted campaigns designed to reach and reward your power-users. "Your key influencers are incredibly important, so make sure to treat them that way. By rewarding their loyalty, you'll reap more sales across the entire social web," he explains. Read more.

And the Winner is…The Event Center at Plaza Lecea

2010-06-30T08:26:00.001-05:00

First in a Series on Award Winning Programs from the 2010 PRSA Del Oro Awards
Award Recipient of El Bronce Award of Excellence – Web Design

It is no doubt that we are an Internet-driven society. Whether it is reading the news, searching for the right gadget or even buying cars, we go to the World Wide Web as our first reference. For many companies and organizations it has meant revamping their marketing strategy to include a website that is both dynamic, diverse and user friendly.

When The Event Center at Plaza Lecea needed to market to more corporate and business clientele, they brought the Ashford Davis company (AFD) on board to determine how its website could be redesigned to attract weekday event clientele. Their weekends were quick to book with weddings and anniversaries, leaving weekdays and week nights available for other events.

The Event Center’s website wasn’t user friendly and the wedding product line received all of the emphasis. AFD established three main goals: increase functionality, establish conversion ratio goals and increase search engine visibility. “Much like any campaign, a website must be built around a strategy, says AFD owner Ashleigh Davis. “All too often people build websites “because they need one.” The only true approach is to first determine what it is you want your website to do; how you want your website to help you achieve your goals. Only then will you be able to accurately determine and implement the functionality necessary to make your website work for you.”

With the new site structure, each product line received the attention it deserved by funneling traffic efficiently. In order to monitor ROI and watch traffic patterns, AFD established separate “Requests for More Information” with goals defined in Google Analytics. These new goals will allow Plaza Lecea to decipher precisely from where converted leads are coming – referring websites, specific keywords or CPC campaigns. Functionality had increased by 26 percent, and new visitor traffic had grown by 140 percent..

Ashleigh Davis launched AFD in November 2008 with the intent to bridge offline marketing strategies with emerging Internet visibility initiatives such as search engine optimization and social media marketing. After only one year in business, AFD has received several awards including the El Bronce Award of Excellence for Web Design. Davis was pleasantly surprised. “Receiving the El Bronce Award was truly an honor. I never imagined I’d be receiving recognition for the work I completed my first year in business!”

By Trisha Box, PRSA Board Member and Director of Development at the Winston School San Antonio

PR News Round-Up – June 29, 2010

2010-06-29T14:28:00.000-05:00

From BusinessWired via Ragan’s PR Daily
4 reasons your press releases won’t make Google News
A worthy argument against the “die, press release, die” crowd is search engine optimization — press releases help drive a brand’s Google ranking. But what if your press releases aren’t appearing on Google News? BusinessWired blog, a part of Business Wire, offered four reasons why this might happen and how you can fix it. Read more.

From Bulldog Reporter's Daily Dog
Highlights from the PRSA Counselors Academy 2010
BurrellesLuce's Johna Burke interviews Tom Gable, APR, Fellow PRSA, CEO Gable PR, LLC, who discusses key takeaways from his presentation on strategies for agency success. View video.

From Richard Edelman’s 6 A.M. blog
The Third Way--Public Engagement
I am speaking this morning at Edelman’s fourth New Media Academic Summit, jointly hosted by New York University and Syracuse University, attended by more than 100 professors from 10 countries. My bold assertion is that there is a Third Way for companies to communicate, beyond paid and earned media, by embracing Public Engagement. Read more.

From Fast Company via Ragan’s PR Daily
New study says social media triggers ‘generosity-trust’ chemical in our brains
Looking for ways to justify social media to your boss? Now, you have science on your side. A Fast Company article describes how a neuroeconomist has discovered — for the first time — that the chemical oxytocin in our brains, which is responsible for empathy, generosity, and trust — can be increased simply by tweeting! Yes, folks, you have to read the story — it sounds too good to be true. — Matthew Royse. Read more.

From Communications Conversations via Ragan’s PR Daily
The people have spoken: Winners feted for PR Readers’ Choice awards
On Friday, PR pro Arik Hanson announced the winners of his 2nd annual Readers’ Choice awards for PR blogs. The big winner: Chicago-based PR pro Gini Dietrich. Her blog, F.A.D.S. (The Fight Against Destructive Spin), won the award for PR Blog of the Year. Check out the other winners. Read more.

By Bill Sweetland via Ragan’s PR Daily
7 ways to stop CEOs from boring the audience
How to bring out your executive's human side. Read more.

From PRNewser via Ragan’s PR Daily
Survey: Majority of people place more trust in companies with Twitter feeds
Need to sell Twitter to upper management? Here’s a compelling case for it. According to the 2010 Digital Influence Index, a seven-country survey of 4,243 people by Fleishman-Hillard and Harris Interactive, “75 percent of people surveyed said they view companies that [tweet or post status updates to Facebook] as more deserving of their trust than those that do not,” according to the survey. Read more.

By Adam Holden-Bache
7 More B2B Social Media Tools You Haven’t Heard Of
Read story.

From Public Relations Matters via Ragan’s PR Daily
5 ways to stay current on PR trends and news Read more.
You’re busy. You hang out with your family and friends and think, “How do I have time for a fulltime job?” Then you’re back at work thinking, “How do I have time for family and friends?” In this environment, staying on top of industry news and trends often hits the backburner. But there are ways to stay current without investing too much time, says PR professor Barbara Nixon. She offered five suggestions. (One way is to subscribe to PR Daily. Definitely agree with that.) Read more.

From Ragan.com
Vocus buys Help A Reporter Out: What can subscribers expect?
Don’t worry, subscribers to Help A Reporter Out (HARO), nothing is going to change. On Thursday (6/10), PR software-maker Vocus bought HARO, and the question bouncing around Twitter was how the acquisition will affect the free service. “There will be absolutely no difference,” HARO founder Peter Shankman told Ragan.com. “I’m still running HARO; the editors are still running HARO. And we will never charge—it will still be free.” Read more.

Hear from the Communicators' Point of View in the BP Oil Spill Crisis

2010-06-16T17:06:00.000-05:00

There’s naturally a lot of conversation online and off about the BP, federal agencies, the President and anyone else who is or could be involved in the clean up of the Deepwater Horizon oil mess. There’s the environment angle, the coastal resident livelihood angle, the worker safety angle, the regulation of oil drilling angle, etc., etc. And for readers of this blog, there’s the public relations and communications angle.

Interestingly, there are a couple of podcasts that have interviewed communicators who are in the middle of the crisis.

The For Immediate Release podcast by Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson posted an episode on May 15, 2010 where Neville interviews Neil Chapman, BP Head of Refining and Marking Communications.

The On the Record Online podcast by Eric Schwartzman posted an episode on June 4 titled: “BP Oil Spill Crisis Communications: Inside the US Government's First Attempt at Using Social Media to Communicate a National Disaster.” Eric interviewed U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer Jim Hoeft, who is coordinating communications at the Official Site of the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command for the Joint Command Center in Louisiana.

The On the Media NPR podcast by Bob Garfield and Brooke Gladstone had a story on June 04 about the Coast Guard, BP, and media access to the Gulf oil spill.

And then there’s the PR critic, “Leroy Stick,” who started a Twitter feed, @BPGlobalPR, in order to poke fun at BP and its “BS” PR statements. He has no connection to BP. Advertising Age landed an interview with him that you can read online. Whether or not you agree with his tactics (e.g., brand-jacking), he does make some thoughtful points.

Print Media Learning Readers Have Value

2010-06-14T10:19:00.002-05:00

Print journalism may not be dead, but print media is going the way of the railroad. That was the message from Bill Conroy, of the San Antonio Business Journal at the June PRSA luncheon. In the years before social media, according to Conroy, media dominated one way communication. Conroy noted that Marshal McLuhan’s mantra “the medium is the message” served to reinforce the power of the press. He referenced this relationship as the hypodermic syringe model, a painful one for the audience to absorb.

Now with Facebook and Twitter and thousands of other social technologies dominating our lifestyle, everyone has journalistic power in the new two way communication model. This is difficult for media companies to accept, but Conroy was confident that the money stream will catch up to social media because they are perfectly poised to deliver quality content.

Conroy told the audience that print media still draws advertising revenues and cited some statistics that show health in his own paper, but said that the ad revenue structure is still changing. He suggested that media outlets “have to have a message that makes you a must-read.”

Offering the gamely suggestion that objectivity has been used by the media as a smokescreen because they owned the conversation, Conroy believes that a more symbiotic relationship with audiences was needed. He even went so far as to say that “the people that matter most are the readers, and frankly, we forgot that in the arrogance of (wanting to) dominate the market.”

For public relations practitioners who have always struggled with this arrogance, it seems like a fairytale ending that local print media actually acknowledged the power of readership. Conroy continued by saying that media need to have a more symbiotic relationship with audiences, giving them stories in the form they want it. And he even suggested that media will need to offer “less lecture and more dialogue.”

One thing Conroy said will not change for print media are the principles of fair reporting, honesty and lack of bias. This is an important statement to public relations practitioners who often suffer at the hands of newer, citizen journalists who don’t play the rules of the game between news media and PR folks. Time-honored principles like full disclosure, embargoes, conflict of interest and ethical behavior have not necessarily been adopted by the online community in the devotional way to which the public relations community has grown accustomed. It’s anyone’s guess if some of those principles will carry on in the new world of journalism.

PR News Round Up ~ June 11, 2010

2010-06-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

From This Just In/PR Tactics
Grocery Rivals Funding Stealth Campaigns Against New Wal-Mart Stores
As Wal-Mart has grown into the largest grocery seller in the United States, competitors threatened by proposed new Wal-Mart locations have often hired a company called Saint Consulting Group to secretly run antidevelopment campaigns against the retail giant, The Wall Street Journal reported this week. Read more. (Related on PRSAY: A Glimpse Into the “Dark Side”)

From Social Media Examiner
Top 5 Social Media Myths Debunked
As with any new technology, social media has spawned its share of misconceptions and myths that keep people from interacting. It’s time to debunk the big myths that are keeping business owners and marketers on the social media sidelines. Myth #1: My Customers Aren’t on Social Media Wow, if I had a dollar for every time I heard [...] Read more...

By Lee Odden (via Ragan)
5 steps for building a marketing strategy on Twitter
Engagement with your target audience is crucial, so follow these guidelines. So you want to succeed with Twitter, eh? Before you run off and chase shiny butterflies and little blue birds, take a seat and collect yourself. Then read the following tips on creating a potential Twitter marketing strategy that will help you become more productive and successful using Twitter for business. Read more.

From MediaShift (via Ragan)
How 6 big summer films are embracing social media marketing
Just as corporations and small businesses alike are experimenting with social media, so are Hollywood studios. “Facebook is rocket fuel for word-of-mouth and studios are experimenting with how to best engage users in order to convert those who ‘Like’ a movie to someone who purchases a ticket,” writes Nick Mendoza, the director of digital communications and ad firm Zeno Group. He explained how six big summer movies are using social media. Read more.

From BusinessWired (via Ragan)
Study: Only 13.5 percent of PR pros put links in press release
Scary statistics on press releases from a study by Business Wire's blog, BusinessWired. It asked 268 PR pros if they include links in their press releases; 85 percent said they do. However, BusinessWired then looked at roughly 1,000 press releases and found that a mere 13.5 percent contain links. Oops. So, what’s the advantage of including links in your press releases? “Relevant, timely hyperlinks in your press release … can amplify your message, help increase your search engine optimization, and drive traffic to your website or other relevant sites,” according to BusinessWired. — Susan Young. Read more.

From TVNewser (via Ragan)
Report: CNN close to dropping Associated Press
If the report is correct, and CNN drops the AP, then the 24-hours news network will operate without a wire service — it dropped Reuters in 2007 — instead opting for its own in-house wire service, which CNN has reportedly nurtured as a potential revenue source. Read more.

From The Christian Science Monitor
Study: Web tools cement local communities
Social-media tools are helping people to renew their ties to their local community and to forge stronger relationships with their neighbors, according to a new Pew Internet and American Life study. Web users are substantially more likely to meet their neighbors offline, the study found. Regardless of Internet use, the study found that knowing neighbors' names was the most important factor in increasing community engagement. Read more.

From The Christian Science Monitor
Primary voters used Twitter to learn about candidates
Confronted by intimidating 80-page voter-information pamphlets, primary voters in California and other states have been using Twitter and Facebook to find out about the candidates. Peer recommendations help voters cut through the clutter and get the information that matters to them, say political-media experts. Read more.

From USA Today
Ford trades auto shows for Facebook
Ford Motor's latest Explorer model won't be introduced at a glitzy auto show -- instead, it will make its debut on Facebook. The company will launch the car with a campaign that focuses on drivers' real-world experiences, rather than glamorous TV ads. "We live in a 140-character society ... When we have people's attention, we want to make sure it sticks," says Scott Monty, Ford's head of social media. Read more.

There’s Definitely a Business Case to Be Made for Public Relations…

2010-06-10T09:15:00.000-05:00

by PRSA Chair & CEO Gary D. McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA

I recently had the opportunity to ring the opening bell for the NASDAQ – a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I clearly had never placed on my bucket list. Even more curious, it was done for an organization that is not a listed or public company. I was there representing a professional association of public relations professionals, which represents a multibillion-dollar global industry.

So how did this happen? It was the result of an advocacy program for public relations launched by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) to outline the value and impact that public relations has on an organization’s success – The Business Case for Public Relations™.

Many don’t understand the essence of our business. Stylized notions of celebrity publicists and Beltway spokespeople pervade the news and popular culture, and the term “PR” itself has become common shorthand for the impression – good or bad – that organizations create.

That’s why PRSA developed The Business Case for Public Relations. The program showcases the role of public relations and the professional value it delivers to essential business outcomes:

Distinct skills provide services like crisis mitigation, reputation and brand building, wealth creation and consumer engagement.
More than other communications and marketing disciplines, public relations engages all stakeholders of an organization, identifying and delivering impacts that are strategically aligned with concerns of the boardroom, employees, customers and investors.

Public relations skills are critical to restoring waning public confidence in government and financial institutions as well as being essential to define, develop and maintain the transparency that consumers expect from the companies with whom they choose to do business.

Today more than ever before, companies and organizations need the value that public relations can deliver. As consumer engagement grows through social media, companies will need to outline an increased ability to manage the relationship and conversation that impacts their success in the marketplace. But companies need to engage a public relations professional that understands how to research, plan, execute and evaluate based upon the organization’s defined objectives in order to achieve value.

If your public relations activities are focused on business output and media clips instead of business outcomes, then you are coming up short in a return on your investment. On the other hand, your investment in public relations will garner attention when you can show how that investment delivers value in financial performance by generating sales, revenue and profit; improves your brand equity and reputation; allows for stronger and more efficient employee recruitment and retention; and increases the support you seek for policy decisions or achieving market position.

I hope that you will take time to find out more about the value of public relations on an organization’s performance by visiting www.businesscase@prsa.org. Moreover, I hope that you find and define the value that public relations is currently delivering or can definitely deliver in your organization.

PR News Round Up -- June 8, 2010

2010-06-08T09:29:00.000-05:00

From Brian Solis
Rules of Engagement in Social Media
As social media continues to evolve, establishing not only policies and guidelines but also defining the “rules of engagement” will encourage thoughtful interaction as it benefits the business, brand, customer, peers, and prospects at every touchpoint. In the end, we earn the attention, relationships and business we deserve. Following is an outline of best practices to help you craft a practical set of rules that guide representatives as they engage… Read story.

From Pew Internet and American Life Project
The State of Online Video
Seven in ten adult internet users (69%) have used the internet to watch or download video. That represents 52% of all adults in the United States. Moreover, video creation has now become a notable feature of online life. One in seven adult internet users (14%) have uploaded a video to the internet. “We are seeing a surge in online video watching that is driven by a combination of broadband access, the increasing use of social networking sites, and the popularity of video-sharing sites,” explains Kristen Purcell, Associate Director for Research at the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and author of the report. “To tap into these trends, untold numbers of websites now showcase online video as part of their content.” More.

From Web Worker Daily via Nonprofit Online News
6 New Terms to Use When Measuring Social Marketing Efforts
I'm normally pretty disgusted when consultants (such as myself) make up fancy new hyped-up terms for well-established concepts in order to draw attention to themselves and create anxiety-based demand in their market. But these 6 New Terms to Use When Measuring Social Marketing Efforts actually seem pretty useful. Plus, they are not named in that annoyingly cutesy way that many firms use to glue the terms to their own brand and marketing. The six terms are Attractions, Participations, Interactions, Actions, Transformations, and Transactions. Not all of these apply to every campaign or program, but I encourage you to familiarize yourself with them. Using them will lead to better designed and managed social media efforts. Read story.

From Social Media Examiner
How to Make Twitter More Useful for Your Business
If you’ve been using Twitter, you’ve likely checked out an app or two to make your Twitter experience more robust, or even just a bit easier. TweetDeck, Twitpic and Tweetie are all examples of Twitter apps. What if I told you there was a magical place that could easily be your one-stop shop for all your Twitter needs… Read more.

From PRBreakfastClub
At GM, four communicators oversee the Facebook page
PRBreakfastClub recently spoke with Christopher Barger, GM’s director of global social media, who mentioned that four employees have direct responsibility over the company’s Facebook page and its roughly 90,000 fans. Six employees, on occasion, tweet from GM’s Twitter account, he also said. Check out the full interview with a whole lot more about GM’s social media efforts. Read story.

PR News Round Up - June 2, 2010

2010-06-02T14:15:00.000-05:00

From Mashable
42 new guidelines for social media added to AP Stylebook
Not sure how to correctly write acronyms and phrases related to social media? The AP Stylebook has you covered. Mashable reported this morning that the Associated Press released new social media guidelines, which includes 42 definitions, use cases, and rules for writers to follow. “Among the more interesting changes — at least from a grammar and style standpoint — are separating out ‘smart phone’ as two words, hyphenating ‘e-reader,’ and allowing fan, friend, and follow to be used both as nouns and verbs,” according to Mashable. Read story. Read the guidelines.

From Reuters
BP taps former Department of Energy PR chief as its new spokesman
Over the weekend, the oil company announced that it hired Anne Kolton, the former head of public affairs at the Department of Energy and one-time aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, as its chief of U.S. media relations. As you might imagine, the PR team at BP is a bit … overworked. “BP's media team has been overwhelmed by press and public attention since the Deepwater Horizon rig … The company has flown in staff from London to help deal with media requests, but has also been forced to put its media hotline on voicemail to process the many calls — some abusive — that come in,” reports Reuters. Related Hullabaloo One blogger thinks the hiring of Kolton is a bad PR move. “They think they can do anything if they have the right public relations — but they can't even do that right,” he wrote. More

From iHealthBeat
4 hot summer trends in healthcare social media
Are you keeping an eye on what’s happening in healthcare social media? It’s a lot to wrap your brain around, from HIPAA regulations to the latest techniques for Flip cams. But there are four other trends you should be paying attention to. Here is one: Engaging e-patients. “E-patients can provide feedback not only on improving hospital websites, but also as participants in quality improvement within the health system,” iHealthBeat says. Read story.

From Bulldog Reporter
Video interview: Todd Dezen- March of Dimes and D S Simon Productions Win Big Apple Award
Doug Simon, President and CEO of D S Simon Productions spoke to Todd Dezen, Associate Director, National Media Relations, March of Dimes about how winning the PRSA-NY Big Apple Award for Use of Broadcast, can serve as a platform to help March of Dimes combat premature births. See short video interview. Read post.

From Mashable
More than 90 social media resources
This list is like the Library of Congress for social media advice — or at the very least it’s like a really big Barnes & Noble. Read story.

From PRNewser
PRWeek publisher calls it quits at magazine
Julia Hood, the publishing director and former editor-in-chief of PRWeek, is leaving the magazine to become president of the Arthur W. Page Society, a professional organization for chief communications officers, reports PRNewser. Read story.

Social Media Workshop for Non-Profits

2010-06-01T11:09:00.001-05:00

Confused about where to go next with social networking sites for your nonprofit? Does your organization seem to have more barriers than pathways? Explore solutions with colleagues and social media professionals at Smooch SA (Social Media Opportunities for Charities); coffee hour and workshop tomorrow at the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health. RSVP here. Participants will get a chance to explore current organizational barriers and start to develop solutions. It's free!

PR News Round Up - May 27, 2010

2010-05-27T15:12:00.000-05:00

From SmartBrief on Social Media
Facebook launches new privacy controls
Facebook has introduced a set of privacy controls that it hopes will finally lay to rest lingering anger regarding its use of user data. The tools replace the site's old privacy controls, which had about 150 different options, with the option of using a single switch to restrict access to personal information to a user's immediate network. "We probably should have been more sensitive to this issue beforehand," says CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Read The New York Times story: “Facebook Bows to Pressure Over Privacy”
Read Mashable story: “How Facebook’s New Privacy Controls Work”
Read All Facebook story: “10 Things You Must Know About Facebook's Privacy Changes”

From The Measurement Standard by Katie Delahaye Paine
I'm 100% Convinced that 50% of PR and Social Media Metrics Are Wrong
...and if this was accounting, you'd be in jail.
I’m convinced that most marketers and communications professionals are cheerfully going through life with blinders on. Those blinders are made out of a flimsy gauze of questionable accuracy, incomplete variables, and general apathy. Today’s marketers have taken “fuzzy math” to an all new level. No one seems to mind about this sloppy work because it’s “just PR” or “just marketing.” Well I'm here to tell you it's your job and our industry, and our credibility is on the line. The only way we in PR and communications can be credible is to at least attempt to base our decisions on reliable, complete, and accurate data. Click here to read more.

From Copyblogger
73 ways to become a better writer
Here are some quick tips to help you become a better writer. For instance, tip No. 22 says, “Go back and cut 10 percent of your word count”; tip No. 60 says, “Read Zinsser’s On Writing Well at least once a year.” Good advice. More

From PRSA (Voice of Public Relations)
Silver Anvil Awards Podcast Series: Creating a World with More Birthdays
The PRSA 2010 Silver Anvil Awards podcast series features finalists from this year's program… Listen in as Deb Radman, APR, PRSA Fellow, speaks with the American Cancer Society’s Amy Swygert, vice president of strategic communications planning and Greg Donaldson, national vice president of corporate communications, about the “Create a World with More Birthdays” campaign. More