PROpenMic is a great social networking tool for students, practitioners and faculty. There are members from all over the world, which provides a unquie learning experience for all involved. I learned about PR Open Mic through friends that are also PR Majors at Georgia Southern University and I think that it is a great tool to use for networking as well as finding out new information in the PR world.

PROpenMic now offers connections with Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. This allows several different ways to access PROpenMic as well as share information with several different social medias. I would defintly suggest using PR OpenMic for online resoucres and networking.

Some Quick facts about PR OpenMic are as follows:

• PROpenMic has 5,400+ members
• Faculty: 427
• Students: 2,639
• Practitioners: 2,499
• There is, of course, some overlap as that does not add up to the 5,396 members listed on the site.
• Some people identify themselves as both faculty and practitioner.
• PROpenMic has 450+ colleges and universities represented as members
  
• Members from over 70 countries.

In my Public Relations (PR) class, PR Publications, we were assigned to take an online class called The Language of Image. It is put on by News University and provides free, online classes in a variety of topics such as image, journalism, elements of photographs, ect. It provides about an hour of interactive information that you can learn on your own time.

I found the course very interesting because it was a lot different from learning in a regular classroom. I had my own time to take the class, choose what I wanted to focus the most time on and then test what I had learned. I really liked looking at the different photographs in the image section and how an image can really describe more than what is focused on in the photo. They discussed the three categories of photo types: informational, passive, and active photos. It showed how adding objects or just a solid action in a photo can either break or make what you are trying to get across in the photo. What do you want the readers to get from the photograph is what I really took away from that section.

The other Image section was also very interesting talking about the single and multiple elements of photographs. I never imagined how many different elements photographers have to think about when shooting… emotion, light, mood, sence of place, surprise, mood, and many others. I really liked how the program gave me many examples of each type of photograph because it gave me a better idea how each element truly effected how you can view a photograph. For example, the emotional elements of the photos can offer a connection with the photograph and can also bring out private moments for the people photographed or those seeing the photo.

You can see in each photo that it brings out a different type of emotion and for each person it is different. It is important to look at each element and determine what there is behind each picture. 

 I think that the program could have added a little more video learning by having the Instructors, John Davidson and Maria Mann maybe say some information or tips on how they would suggest finding, or taking such in depth and detailed pictures or where to use certain types of photos. Overall I enjoyed the class and have looked through the many other courses that News University offers on their site.

This YouTube video will defiantly make anyone think twice about how our world, cultures, and traditions are changing dramatically everyday. It points out facts based on language, websites, and overall how much technology is changing right in front of our eyes. The researchers that deigned this presentation are Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod, and Jeff Brenmhan.

Some of the facts that the video states are:

• China will soon be the #1 English-speaking country in the world.
• India has more honors children than the USA has children.
• The top in-demand jobs for 2010, did not exist in 2004.
• 1 out of 8 couples married in the U.S. last years met online.
• 200 million registered users on MySpace.
• 31 Billion searches on Google every month.

I saw this video in one of my Public Relations (PR) classes at Georgia Southern, and in class we related the video to how this information can help think about PR practitioners, professionals, and firms and how they would all need to alter their ways in some way. Specifically in my PR Publications class I thought about the increasing online reliance to social media. It’s changing will alter how much print resources will be utilized for various PR publications. Online publication, news letters, and in general the web is being used more and more frequently. What does this mean for print publications such as,flyers and brochures? Are there going to even have paper publications in the coming years?

We do not know the future of PR publications, but I do feel that publications will become more reliant on online publications and websites. Almost all information is available on websites like Google and Wikipedia and I believe that PR professionals will be able to use this information to make their campigns and publications the most effective way they can.

I am sure that everyone has heard this on the news yesterday and today, but here are a few articles from PRSSA of balloon boy. Was it a publicity stunt or not? People have many opinions after hearing about the families episode on Wife Swap, the reality TV show show on ABC. I will let you decide for yourself…Balloon Boy!

This can show you how much press and publicity one incident can receive just from an “accident”. This family was front page on every news paper, website, and news station as the story unfolded. This was defiantly bad PR for the WifeSwap reality show in my opinion because what else are these families pulling stunts about on the show?

In my Public Relations (PR) publications class an assignment was to teach your classmates a practice that you had learned from designing a WordPress blog, or after using Adobe Indesign for several different publications. Each student made a few minute presentation and demonstrated or explained what and how the practice was done. We learned very helpful hints for both applications.

One thing that I learned from the presentations was how to add a poll to your blog post. An example of a poll is below. There are about 15 different designs of polls that you can pick from and you can also pick how you would like the answers to show up. There are many different ways that you could use the poll for hot topics, suggestions, and advice because there is an option for typing in your own answer. overall, I thought this was a great idea to add to a post!

Typography is a fancy word for something that we see and analyze each in every day in advertisements, school work, and on television. Our text book, Strategic Publications: Designing for Target Publics, said that “Typography comprises an important design decision because fonts portray meanings and feelings that should be matched to the key message” (p. 73). For example, if there is a serious message trying to be reached like the TRUTH campaign for anti-tobacco awareness the fonts are very clear to read and formal fonts, such as Times New Roman rather than a fancier font like Lucida Sans like in the middle photo that says “typography” on the wall.

“Typography is a visual form of communication. It is much more than a grouping of letters that form a word. Typography has form, shape, personality and character, texture, and the power to express mood, meaning and idea.”

-Strategic Publications: Designing for Target Publics

I found that it was also important in designing publications to recognize different typography on web pages. An article on Web Page Design for Designers stated, “In every situation where type is used — in publishing, signage, packaging, television, etc. — designers have to adapt their techniques to suit the medium”. Because type in on a computer screen it is just as important than it is on paper. No one wants to look at a screen and not be able to tell what to do and where on the web site.

The article had a few suggestions with typography for web design…

Always make the same font for body text, headings and sub titles.

Make headings bold and body text normal to differentiate the two from each other.

Break up paragraphs so that new ideas are easily seen.

Test your web pages and sites before you publish them.

In my Public Relation Publications class we have been asked to pick a client to design our work for this semester. My client that I have chosen is based in Kissimmee, FL, called Give Kids the World (GKTW). It is a resort that allows children that have life-threatening illnesses to have a week with their families for free. They can spend their time in the village, or at the theme parks in Orlando, all for free. I will be designing a brochure for my client to use.

In my PR Publication class we have been talking about segmenting publics in design. I think that my clients public would be best determined by income and life stages because GKTW is a non-profit organization, and I need to focus the brochure on publics that would be interested in donating and volunteering. I feel that the Second Adulthood age group, 55 to 85+, would be a good target audience for GKTW because they are looking for new relationships and volunteer opportunities with their favorite causes, says our Segmenting Publics textbook. Also, because I have volunteered with GKTW before, I know that there were many individuals in this age group that helped with the village. The Upper class and middle class will be another segment to target because of their interest in donating to worthy causes.

My brochure will be impacted by the segmenting because I will need a brochure that appeals to these two segments. I think I will need to include in-depth information with a clean structure and fonts. It is important to have a good design to engage the audiences, but more information will be needed to target my segments. For example, I think that the brochure on the left would not fit my target. It is only one shade of color, which is particular bright for an older public. The brochure on the right has a calming color scheme, but still allows the design to be unique. There are photos to grad attention, but also good information. I think that this brochure would be more appropriate for GKTW.

In my Public Relations class, PR Publications, we have discussed “CRAP”. The acronym CRAP is used for four design principles! They are:

Contrast- makes objects and words to stand out and be unique. Creates dynamics on a page.

Repetition- helps to create consistency and unity through the page.

Alignment- creates an easy “flow” and makes things easy on the eye and to read.

Proximity-groups related segments all into one and puts unrelated things together.

*Robin Williams is the author of the acronym CRAP.

I would like to talk a little more about the element ALIGNMENT.

Alignment is very important for several reasons. Alignment is very similar to balance in a publication. Our text book, “Strategic Publications Designing For Target Publics”, it discusses the difference between Formal Balance and Informal Balance. Formal balance arranges similar items, so that one half mirrors the other and informal balance arranges different items so that the right half visually looks the same as the left.

This picture shows the difference of the text alignment and how it can change the look and balance of a design. Either one can work, it just depends on what audience you are trying to reach.

DaY OnE…

Today is my first day as an intern at Engine Room Audio. Engine Room is a facility that provides several services under one roof.

These services include:

• Mastering
• Recording (6 Studios)
• CD/DVD Manufacturing
• Graphic Design

 

I commented on Sarah Jane’s blog post, “How am I supposed to explain THIS to my Future Employers?”

“LOL. I cannot believe that this is what we have to go through in the ‘Boro’… I hope that they get a hold of your blog and it helps their style… Maybe they just don’t have cable to watch their own commercials? I hope at least…”

I commented on Marilyn’s blog post, “Secrects to Life” on April 30, 2009.

“Marilyn, I love that your mom still sends you the forward e-mails! My mom does too! I love this one though, and all of it is true! We should listen to our elders… I really liked #45. “Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift!~ SARAH”

I commented back to Marilyn’s comment on my blog post, “One on One with Mrs. Jernigan” on April 30, 2009.

“I know, I agree… after everything that we have done, I can really tell that networking, even from blogging, is going to help us in the future!”

TIMES released two article that really stunned me… “So Why Does the Air Force One Need Publicity, Anyway?” Also, another article, “Jet Flyover in Manhattan Sets Off Panic”

The whole panic was a scare…by the United States Department of Defense. There were many reports of a low flying 747 with a F 16 jet flying behind it, circling the Statue of Liberty, and around lower Manhattan. The director of the White House military office, Louis Caldera, took the blame a few hours later… The airliner was a 747 that is called Air Force One when used by the president, and they were having a “photo op” with the President’s 747 flying in front of national land marks.

In the article Caldera’s statement to the TIMES:

“Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision,” Caldera said. “While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it’s clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.”

“When told of the flight, President Barack Obama was furious, a White House official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations”(TIME).

The PR photo opportunity with the President’s 747 caused much controversy in the White House and for NY, and NJ residents after buildings were evacuated and many precautions were taken in the cities, for fear of another attack.

I was so surprised by hearing this story after everything that we have learned in Intro to PR this semester… What a PR crisis form our government. This was a prime example of bad communication and how when you do not work with all aspects of your team then crisis is possible at all levels of expertise.

Here is a video taken by a pedestrian on the street… you can tell the panic and fear they were feeling…

Other Articles:

Washington Post

New York Times

In my PR class today we did an interesting in class assignment called, “Punctuate This!” Our Professor handed out a letter that said this:

Dear Tom I want a man who knows what love is all about you are generous kind thoughtful people who are not like you admit to being useful and inferior you have ruined me for other men I yearn for you I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart I can be forever happy will you let me be yours Sheila

We were then told to put our own punctuation into the letter if we “hated Tom” or “loved Tom”… After the class had put in our own punctuation, we discussed out loud the completely different meanings that the letters had, just from the punctuation! It amazed me how much you could distort the meaning of something by simple punctuation, and really showed me the importance of a final product in PR. If you did not have the correct punctuation for what you meant, it could potentially have the meaning changed before publication… Main lesson, proof read and have someone else read it too!

The New York Times put out an article about the a new idea that colleges in the Northeast have been trying recently… cutting out trays in cafeterias,  as simple as that. It was shown that this has helped cut down on the “freshmen 15″, the typical weight rumor that college students put on from the food. This was because students were only eating what they wanted and not everything they could fit on a tray.

I think that this was a great idea and more colleges should try to implement the idea. Our campus does not offer trays at any of our cafeterias, but there are big portions that they could cut down on. I do not know if this would be the only way, but a great start at healthy eating on college campuses!

Another GREAT aspect that was talked about in the article was the environmental impact that it had on campuses…

“As part of her senior honors thesis, Sarah Whateley, an environmental studies major, conducted a research project to demonstrate how much food was still wasted in the dining hall” (NYT).

“She asked students to scrape their leftovers into plastic bins over two days, yielding 330 pounds of food on a Sunday and 403 pounds on a Monday. The food services staff then illustrated that quantity by stacking the equivalent weight in boxes of rice in the entrance of the dining hall. “People were really surprised,” she said. “Entire sandwiches were being thrown out, and a whole slice of pizza” (NTY).

This could be great PR to talk about on college campuses during entry sessions!

Check out the full article from NYT  HERE!

I commented on Ally’s blog post, “Why do PR Practitioners Get a Bad Reputation? on April 28, 2009.

I commented on Meghan’s  Blog post, “Dove & GOSSIP GIRLS Go Fresh” on April 27, 2009.

Read Full Story

Replied to comment from Uninvoked’s comment on my post, “Craig List Killer” on April 24, 2009.

The 13 parts of a News Release that we discussed were…

In the world of Public Relations the subject of News Releases are frequent. In my Intro to Public Relations class we discussed the 13 parts of a news release. I have learned about news releases and the commonality and format for them, but have never had it explained it such a simple format, such as the 13 parts…

• Letterhead with address
  • usually at the top of the release
• The words…”News Release”
  • this seems obvious, but it never hurts to be simple and explain everything!
• “For Immediate Release” or “Embargo”
  • Immediate release meaning can put out as soon as received
  • Embargo means to not be put out until the embargo date indicated
  • Make sure you trust the journalist before sending a News Release with top secret information…the journalist are not legally bounded to not release it early.
• Media Contact Information
• Headline & Sub line
  
  • Usually bolded
• Dateline
  • This is the city and state NOT the date
  • Larger cities only include city (ie- ATLANTA, NEW YORK CITY)
• Lead
  • Contains the 5 W’s
    • Who, what, where, when and why and how
• Quotations
  • Make sure the quote sounds reliable/personable
• Body
  • AP Style
  • More detail, inverted pyramid
• Page Slugs
  • Written to allow readers to know there is a next page…
  • ie:  -more-
• Additional Contact Info
• Boilerplate
• End Sign
  • Shows the end of the News Release…
  • Many versions used:  -###-, -END-, -30-, or -XXX

Check out my professor, Barbara Nixon’s, slide show below on the 13 parts, so that News Releases come easier for you too!

Anatomy Of A News Release

View more presentations from Barbara Nixon.