Where Was the PR? Miss Teen South Carolina’s Attempt at Redemption
A few days ago in the Miss Teen USA pageant, a very confused Miss Teen South Carolina, Caitlin Upton, stumbled through what she thought to be an adequate answer to a fairly simple question: “Why can nearly 1/5 of Americans not locate the United States on a map?” After rambling about nothing of relevance for almost a minute, it seemed the wannabe beauty queen would have done better to just stand there and smile. When her turn was finally over, America was left almost as confused by her answer as she seemed to be by the question.
On August 28, the bumbling beauty got a chance to redeem herself on the Today Show. However, the second time around may not have been her saving grace, either. The question undoubtedly took Caitlin off-guard--she described it as “overwhelming.” Her follow-up response to the same question consisted of her mainly talking about her friends and their knowledge of geography. This made me conclude that in the reality outside of beauty pageants and scripted reality television shows, most of us are not typically allowed a do-over.
This, to me, is where strategic public relations should have entered the contest. No doubt Ms. Upton was coached before her second, on-camera interview, but I can’t help but think her coach left her high and dry on the field. In this specific instance, Upton’s rep should have been doing the type of public relations dealing with the minimization of damage to her image. In order to save her from the “dumb blonde” stereotype, her rep should have prepared her a little more for her second battle. By attempting to redeem herself, Caitlin may have ended up damaging her reputation further. Most individuals are not given the privilege of a re-do, but Caitlin Upton was. It’s too bad for her that she did not maximize this to her advantage. If you’re ever lucky enough to get a second chance in public relations, make it count.
http://www.javno.com/slike/slike_3/r1/g2007/m08/x36149191048482137.jpg
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
The Wonderful World of NonProfits
The Wonderful World of Nonprofit Organizations
By Dr. C
I bet a lot of us do not often think about how much nonprofit organizations are a part of our daily life. For instance, as a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma I am constantly reminded about how vital a contribution this “nonprofit” makes to the community, the state, the nation and beyond. Our big events, from athletic games to commencement and graduation ceremonies, have enormous social and economic impact upon our home town of Norman, OK, for instance. Our faculty members and researchers impact people throughout the world. Our students take their places as employers, entrepreneurs, citizens and leaders of the world. If you multiply our impact by hundreds of other leading institutions of higher education, you can get a genuine sense of awe about the impact of this one nonprofit sector.
Another nonprofit organization that plays a key role in the life of our community is the local YMCA. I usually venture into this facility’s wide halls during the wee hours of the morning, as I try to squeeze in some exercise. But as I peruse bulletin boards and watch activity around me, I notice it is some much more than a gym. This organization offers daycare and aftercare support for parents and families, athletic sport competition, an source for information about nutrition, diet and health issues, and a social network for friends who have shared interests.
But this is just a local snapshot that is limited to my own experience. What does current research say about the state and wellbeing of nonprofits generally? Perhaps, not surprisingly, national research shows that nonprofits face continual challenges to fund and support their services economically. For instance, the Corporation for National and Community Service recently completed a trends study that show many factors, including corporate mergers and increased federal spending for homeland security, challenges some of the traditional revenue sources that such organizations have used.
One consultant, Nancy E. Schwartz, offers one type of support through an online network of resources, tips and conversation about nonprofits. Getting attention is the theme of her blog, and getting attention will be part of the efforts of my PR Campaigns class this semester. The real question, though, is not only how to get attention, but to understand the “whys” and “whats” such attention entails.
All of our clients for class represent nonprofit organizations and initiatives this semester. Stay tuned for more details!
By Dr. C
I bet a lot of us do not often think about how much nonprofit organizations are a part of our daily life. For instance, as a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma I am constantly reminded about how vital a contribution this “nonprofit” makes to the community, the state, the nation and beyond. Our big events, from athletic games to commencement and graduation ceremonies, have enormous social and economic impact upon our home town of Norman, OK, for instance. Our faculty members and researchers impact people throughout the world. Our students take their places as employers, entrepreneurs, citizens and leaders of the world. If you multiply our impact by hundreds of other leading institutions of higher education, you can get a genuine sense of awe about the impact of this one nonprofit sector.
Another nonprofit organization that plays a key role in the life of our community is the local YMCA. I usually venture into this facility’s wide halls during the wee hours of the morning, as I try to squeeze in some exercise. But as I peruse bulletin boards and watch activity around me, I notice it is some much more than a gym. This organization offers daycare and aftercare support for parents and families, athletic sport competition, an source for information about nutrition, diet and health issues, and a social network for friends who have shared interests.
But this is just a local snapshot that is limited to my own experience. What does current research say about the state and wellbeing of nonprofits generally? Perhaps, not surprisingly, national research shows that nonprofits face continual challenges to fund and support their services economically. For instance, the Corporation for National and Community Service recently completed a trends study that show many factors, including corporate mergers and increased federal spending for homeland security, challenges some of the traditional revenue sources that such organizations have used.
One consultant, Nancy E. Schwartz, offers one type of support through an online network of resources, tips and conversation about nonprofits. Getting attention is the theme of her blog, and getting attention will be part of the efforts of my PR Campaigns class this semester. The real question, though, is not only how to get attention, but to understand the “whys” and “whats” such attention entails.
All of our clients for class represent nonprofit organizations and initiatives this semester. Stay tuned for more details!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
