The Many Hats of Alyssa Gardina

The Many Hats of Alyssa Gardina

By: Andrea Segura

Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Gardina

Alyssa Gardina describes herself as wearing many hats when she refers to her position in public relations. As a graphic designer, copywriter, media strategist and social media aficionado Gardina is on the new media side of the profession and represents where the field is heading in the future.

Gardina began with a brief background on herself. She is originally from New Jersey and still proudly describes herself as a ‘Jersey Girl’ She graduated from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York with a B.S. degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and a minor in American History. Gardina says she counts museums and London among her favorite things. “I love good wine, good food and good conversation, especially when I can find all 3 in one place.” Gardina also runs a successful blog on which she discusses current technology trends mixed with a refreshing bit of her quirky humor.

Gardina held two previous positions as Social Media Supervisor at Ansira and Social Media Specialist at Razor before moving to Dallas, Texas. Today Gardina is an Account Supervisor at Weber Shandwick in Dallas where She works on a variety of brands, developing their social media strategies and tactics in order to increase brand awareness and customer engagement. She is also the Vice President of Branding at Social Media Club - Dallas Chapter. She also counts co-founder of fiveoclockdallas.com, a review site and community for Dallas bars and happy hours, among the extensive list of her accomplishments. Her responsibilities with Five O’Clock Dallas included creating content for bar listings, happy hour listings, blog posts and video reviews.

Gardina says her goals are to use her well-rounded computer, creative, research and communication skills to seamlessly combine the fields of research, marketing and media production. She also is ready and willing to share her expertise and says thinking simple is key in the public relations industry.

Advice from a PR Professional

Influences from the Past

Four years ago as I considered what my ideal career path would be, I remember looking back to my conversations with our family friend Julie, a Public Relations professional at CBS San Francisco. These conversations have impacted my life and helped with my decision to enter the world of Public Relations. I recently got in contact with Julie to fill her in on my time at the University of Oklahoma and learn more about her life in San Francisco.

History of Success

Julie Pearson graduated at the University of Texas and has now been a public relations professional for 35 years. Pearson and her family of four moved to California after her husband found a job, and for the last 22 years she has worked at CBS Broadcasting in San Francisco. What she loves most about her job is the large number of people she gets to meet and the opportunities it provides her.

“Working at CBS, or rather in the Public Relations field in general, has introduced me to so many interesting people,” Pearson said. “Not only do I come in contact with so many people, but I actually form relationships with them that will last a lifetime.”

Advice

Pearson was enthusiastic to give me advice for my career as I told her I would be graduating shortly. She emphasized my need for networking and keeping in contact with everyone I meet, and explained the many opportunities made available to her through networking.

“You never know what the smallest conversations with new people can do for you,” Pearson said. “It’s extremely important to keep in touch with someone after you first meet. A simple e-mail can make all the difference.”

Additional links:

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/

http://www.cbscorporation.com/corp_careers.php?id=268

http://www.blogger.com/PRBlog

http://publicrelationsblogger.com/

http://www.pr-squared.com/

Photo: Courtesy of Julie Pearson

Public Relations: Follow Your Dreams

Choosing a Career Path

Megan Hundahl knew what she wanted to do with her life in grade school. She looked on with teachers and peers as the space shuttle Challenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. From then on, Hundahl became infatuated with national television news.

Achieving Goals

After graduating from Baylor University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, Hundahl moved to New York. During her junior year in college Hundahl interned with Good Morning America and kept in touch with her boss; as a result, after graduation she began work in the booking department of Good Morning America. For 10 years, Hundahl was responsible for booking all the live guests for the show.

Currently, Hundahl is working in Uvalde, Texas as the head of public relations for Uvalde Memorial Hospital.

Everyday Challenges

In her public relations career, Hundahl finds the most difficult part of her job to be keeping ideas fresh. In order to do that she says, “You have to do a lot of reading and research.”

Advice for a Young Professional

Hundahl offered some valuable advice for those thinking of entering the public relations profession, “You have to work your way up. You have to learn every level because every level is important to your overall strategy—which is to do the best work for your organization.”

Lastly, Hundahl added, “Don’t get frustrated because you’ll learn more from failure than from success.”

Additional links:

http://www.umhtx.org/

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/topics/show/good-morning-america/

http://youngie.prblogs.org/

http://www.pr-media-blog.co.uk/

http://propr.ca/

Molly Myers

Public Relations Pros and Their Cons

            Public relations is not just a people profession, or an exercise in deceit for politicians and big corporations-- It is hard work, and quite a bit of it. Few people see the intense work environment in movies and television programs, and fewer people see the intense competition for opening positions. You are different. Not only do you get to see what the profession is like and how to become a professional, but you also get to learn a few tips from a real professional.

            I interviewed Kristy, a professional who works for Cox Communications. She, like many other professionals, received an education unrelated to public relations. She began her education at Wichita State University, with a Bachelors degree in journalism. After graduation, she began her career as a reporter at the KNSS radio station in Wichita. If you are from a different field like journalism, take heart. Writing experience and communication skills matter greatly in public relations, not just a public relations major.

            Kristy's job required her to cover city hall, which also meant she developed close relationships with the people there. When a public information position opened up at city hall, her relationships helped her take it. In short, a few well-placed relationships can help as much as talent and drive.

            The most interesting and potentially most challenging aspect of public relations, she says, is the need to learn new information constantly. There is "something you always have to get up to speed on," she says, and she loves it. The field moves quickly and can leave practitioners behind if they do not prepare themselves. In short, if you like a dynamic work environment, public relations is for you.

            Her advice to aspiring public relation practitioners: find an internship early and network. First, a good internship is the best way to learn about the job, and provides you with the best training. Second, as a public relations practitioner, you need to know the right people in an organization you want to work for. Success can be tough to find, but with the right skills and attitude, never impossible.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wichita-ks.jpg  - Source for image at top

bls.gov/oco/ocos086.htm

knssradio.com

comprehension.prsa.org

ww2.cox.com/aboutus/our-story.cox

PR Professional: Kenneth Kracmer

PR Professional: Kenneth Kracmer

By: Courtney Clark

Kenneth Kracmer is the Managing Partner and PR Director of HCK2 Partners in Dallas, Texas. As the namesake of the latter initials in HCK2, Kracmer confidently leads the PR side of the business and manages new-business efforts. He is approaching his 20th year of working in the PR industry, and credits his journalism experience for leading him to where he is today.

After graduating from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in journalism, he attended Dallas Baptist University where he earned his M.B.A. degree in management. Kracmer spent his first five years out of school at the largest PR firm in Dallas, Temerlin-McClain, which has since changed to Weber Shandwick. He gained valuable experience working with many different markets, and then decided to go corporate, where he worked another five years at Excel Communications. Kracmer then took another corporate job, working for a security software company called Entrust. After two years there, he was given the opportunity to become an owner of HCK2 Partners.

Having been with HCK2 for seven years, Kracmer is a huge part of the firm’s success. Combining his corporate experience with his passion for account service, Kracmer is able to provide value for his clients and continues to earn their respect. He is an active member in the exclusive business knowledge network called Dallas Roundtable, which helps him to grow his networks while maintaining his business and leadership skills.

Kracmer considers strong writing as one of the top skills necessary for this industry. “You have to be a good writer at the very core, I don’t hire many people that aren’t journalists first,” Kracmer said. He believes that it is also important to have a good understanding of business and how businesses operate, as well as any marketing skills.

According to this industry veteran, future PR professionals should first gain as much experience as possible on the agency side. This will teach aspiring practitioners how to work across a number of companies and a number of roles in the PR profession.

“Once you get the agency experience, you can choose what you want to specialize in,” Kracmer said. “If you specialize too soon, you box yourself in and may get stuck for awhile.”

Learning Moore: An Interview with Pattye Moore

Learning Moore: An Interview with Pattye Moore

By: Aran Coleman

Photo Courtesy of The Persimmon Group

Pattye Moore is a brilliant example of a successful public relations businesswoman. Moore has been in the PR industry for 30 years, and she has continued to show her expertise by moving right on up the business ladder throughout her extensive career. Her achievements are admirable and should empower any woman, or any PR professional for that matter.

We began the interview with a rundown of Moore’s past. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1979 with a degree in public relations. She is an accredited member of PRSA, the Public Relations Society of America. Moore’s career began in 1980 when The Williams Companies in Tulsa, Okla. hired her. She worked there for four years until she moved to Advertising Incorporated where she eventually served as the Account Supervisor on the Sonic account. Moore’s success on the account got her hired by Sonic Corp. By 2002, Moore became the President and a board member at Sonic Corp. In 2005, Moore became the co-owner of Instincts, LLC. “We specialize in leadership development, brand strategy and communications management,” said Moore about her company. Since 2010, Moore has also served on the board of directors for ONEOK, Inc. and QuikTrip Corporation, and she is the Chairman of the Board at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.

After discussing Moore’s career accomplishments, I wanted to learn more about her strategies for becoming a success in the PR field. She said that good communication skills are a must for any PR practitioner. The ability to write well coupled with the ability to speak make a world of difference in the realm of public relations. The next piece of knowledge Moore relayed was the need to keep up with and have a sense of curiosity about current events. It is always important to know what is going on when current events can shape the industry you work in. Finally, Moore said business savvy is extremely helpful, as a public relations practitioner. It is important to understand all of the aspects of the business you work in, including knowledge about how the companies make money and an understanding of financial terms.

To end our time together, I asked Moore for a word of advice from a PR professional to an aspiring PR practitioner. The main recommendation she left me with was to take as many college classes as possible, especially business classes. She even suggested pursuing a double major. She said, “Many PR professionals graduate with no understanding of business.”

Moore is an inspiration to PR students who want to make a difference and achieve even their biggest dreams. She used her drive and determination to get where she is today, and when it comes down to it, those attributes contributed to the majority of her success.

Courtney Sanders, Manager of Communications and Events at Child Study Center

Courtney Sanders, Manager of Communications and Events at Child Study Center

By: Diana Truss

Image taken from http://www.cscfw.org/

Courtney Sanders found her passion for corporate communications at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating from college in 2006 with a degree in Corporate Communications, Sanders has worked in public relations for four years. Immediately after college, Sanders went to work in politics. She worked as a Legislative Correspondent and was in charge of all constituent Correspondence for a United States Congressman. Following her position as a Legislative Correspondent, Sanders worked as the Grassroots Director and Communications Manager for Texas State Official, Susan Combs. Sanders worked as the liaison between the media and the Comptroller. After her career in politics, Sanders currently holds the position as the Manager of Communications and Events at the Child Study Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Child Study Center is a non-profit organization that offers a wide range of services to children who have developmental disabilities and related behavioral problems. As manager of communication and events, Sanders coordinates numerous events to raise awareness of the Child Study Center’s mission and vision with the public.

In order to work in public relations, Sanders says you must constantly be networking with other professionals. It is important to get to know all outlets of communication and be “in the know” of everything that is going on in the world of public relations. Sanders says it is also important to understand how to direct questions to the particular person you are interviewing or corresponding with, whether it be with your client target public.

Sanders offered some advice for future public relations professionals. “My main advice is to stay in touch with the people that you meet throughout your career. It is very important to network and get to know others in your field,” Sanders said. She also explained that it is valuable to follow current events that are happening not only in the United States, but also all over the world.

Elisa Milbourn

Elisa Milbourn, Public Relations, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau


By: Jenna Taylor



Photo taken from http://www.okccvb.org.

The Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau (OKC CVB), which is located in downtown Oklahoma City, is a division of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. According to the website, the purpose of OKC CVB is to promote Oklahoma City to visitors and enhance the city’s name and image. The Bureau also is in charge of planning and servicing conventions and other group related occasions. Elisa Milbourn has been working for the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau for over two years.


Milbourn graduated with a major in public relations from Oklahoma State University. Before pursuing her job OKC CVB, Elisa worked as a student assistant in the Athletic Media Relations Department at Oklahoma State University during her senior year of college. She then moved back to Oklahoma City after she graduated from OSU in May of 2007. After moving back, she started to search for jobs in order to begin her career. She found that it was very difficult to find a job.

Unable to find anything that was a good fit, Milbourn took a secretarial position at Hefner Middle School while she continued to research and interview for jobs. She left Hefner Middle School in 2008 and accepted her current position at the Bureau. Milbourn stated that most of her job opportunities were brought to her because of connections she had through friends and family. For example, she got hired for her current job with the help of her friend that was the PR director for the Oklahoma City Chamber at the time. She also got hired for the Hefner Middle School secretarial position because her mother worked as a teacher there.


Milbourn plays an important part of every aspect of the company. As the marketing and communications coordinator for the OKC CVB, her main job requirements include fulfilling media requests and setting up visits for the media. She also helps the Bureau’s advertising agency, Ackerman McQueen, with placing advertisements in various publications. Mostly all marketing or print materials that come out of the Bureau usually go through her before they are sent out to the public. She is in charge of the “Welcome to Oklahoma City” banners and buttons for various events that are happening around the city. She has also taken over all of the CVB promotional items such as bags, t-shirts and coffee mugs that are handed out around the city. Milbourn is currently working on updating the annual “Visitors Guide to Oklahoma City”, which is a big task toward the end of each calendar year.

When asked about what advice she would give to future PR professionals, Milbourn said, “People that want to come out of college and become a PR professional need to first network as much as possible, and second, have a passion for what they are doing.” Elisa said she loves working for the Bureau because of the people she works with and the great hours that she gets to work.

Christine Frank: The Face of Noble, Oklahoma

Christine Frank: The Face of Noble, Oklahoma

By: Molly Luton

Christine Frank decided to enter the public relations field because she genuinely thought it "would be fun." She admitted, like so many students today, that she originally wanted to get involved in PR for the more exciting glamorized aspects like event planning. She said it didn't take her long to realize that PR entailed far more than planning fun events.

She began working for the Noble Chamber of Commerce five years ago and says she has truly "learned the ropes" through the process. Her official title is the Noble Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. This entails not only managing the PR side of her office, such as their Facebook page, press releases, etc. but also the necessary management functions. Working for the Noble Chamber of Commerce is her first official PR profession, but she notes that there were many times at her previous places of employment (which she preferred that I did not disclose) where she helped develop PR tactics. She attended the University of Oklahoma before transferring to the University of Tulsa where she graduated with a B.A. in Journalism. She expressed how excited she was to finally be putting into practice what she learned in college many years ago. "I didn't particularly plan on it taking almost twenty years before I landed my first PR job, but opportunities for PR positions are few and far between, she said. "When I heard about this opportunity I immediately applied and the rest is history," she noted.

When it comes to professional advice she made many valuable recommendations. She recommended that before you ever send any document, communication, e-mail etc. that you proofread it personally three times, and if possible let as many other eyes as you can look over it before you officially send it. She also said to always dress professionally. "You never know who might drop in your office, or where your day may lead you," she said. "Therefore wherever you go look your best because if an opportunity presents itself, you must be prepared to take full advantage of it. Part of that equation is looking your best to ensure that your interests and the interests of your organization are taken seriously," she said. When asked about what advice she could offer to future PR professionals she said to never give up. She emphasized that finding a job in PR is no easy task, but if it is what you want to do it is by all means worth the wait.

Michaela Webb: Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator

"Michaela Webb: Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator"

By: Cathleen Shelby

(Image taken from the Facebook page of the Academy of Ballet and Theatre Arts)

Recent graduate Michaela Webb never thought that she would be able to combine two of her greatest passions in life: the arts and public relations. Webb had to work hard to achieve her dreams. But with a lot of dedication and enthusiasm, Webb got her dream job.

Webb graduated from the Gaylord College at the University of Oklahoma in 2008 with a degree in public relations. She has now been in the work force for about two years.

Webb reports that she did not have a lot of professional work experience before graduating. Webb worked as an intern at Starr Tincup, and as an ‘Outside Sales Associate’ at CBeyond.

Currently, Webb now is a ‘Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator’ for the Academy of Ballet and Theatre Arts. Webb began working there in September 2009, and has loved it ever since.

When asked what some of the most important skills are for public relations professionals, Webb responds “writing, writing, writing!” She also states that it is important to be able to make connections with people you didn’t know previously, to self motivate, to have good time-management skills, and to know how to use social media.

The best advice Webb has for future public relations practitioners is to intern as much as they can before graduation and practice their writing skills.

Webb claims that she has learned a lot since graduating from the University of Oklahoma. “The fast moving world of public relations ensures that I will never be bored!” Webb said.

Tanna Vu, Director of Funds Development for Hospice of Southwest Oklahoma

Tanna Vu, Director of Funds Development for Hospice of Southwest Oklahoma

By: Amber Rogers

(Photo taken from Hospice of Southwest Oklahoma Web site.)

Tanna Vu is the Director of Funds Development for Hospice of Southwest Oklahoma. Hospice of Southwest Oklahoma is affiliated with the United Way of Lawton-Fort Sill. Vu always wanted a career that matched her personality.

"I chose the PR field because it appealed to my personality style," said Vu. "I'm a people person and enjoy interacting with groups and creating relationships."

Vu has been in the public relations industry for 15 years and has worked with many corporations.

"The PR field is very diverse, meaning it allows for many job opportunities and experiences through your lifetime," said Vu. "It is very rewarding and exciting to cultivate and interact with people and know you have a part in making the company you work for successful."

Vu graduated from the Cameron University in Lawton, Okla. with a bachelor's degree in Communication. She received her master's degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. Vu has an extensive PR professional background which includes: Southwest Medical Center, BancFirst and Springhill Suites and Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. Vu had a personal connection with Hospice along with a working relationship from a previous job. She applied to Hospice for her current position for those reasons.

Plenty of responsibilities come with her title. Vu is responsible for ensuring funds, writing grants, holding special events, and writing donor appeal letters. She oversees marketing and education at the agency. Vu also creates brochures, creates and maintains social networking sites and creates other tools to help Hospice stay ahead of competitors. Vu is tasked with speaking on behalf of Hospice at civic groups and other venues about how Hospice impacts the communities they serve.

According to Vu, the top knowledge that is needed in the PR field is communication, marketing and human relations skills. She believes the skills necessary include the ability to relate to people on a personal level and the ability to articulate information to the community using various media such as print, radio, television or other groups.

The most rewarding part of Vu's position is knowing that she contributed to the success of continuing the legacy of Hospice by making sure the public is educated about Hospice's services. The advice she wants to give to students studying in the PR field is to look into a PR internship to ensure that PR is one's passion and to allow students to begin developing skills outside of the classroom.

Shelly Hill, Sales and Marketing Manager at S.P. Richards

Shelly Hill, Sales and Marketing Manager at S.P. Richards

By: Laura Hill

Shelly Hill has won over 20 awards at S.P. Richards, which is a fully owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company. Just to name a few awards, Hill is now of one the top sales people in her division, has been in the President’s Club seven times, and was included in the 1^st Inaugural Sales Advisory Board.

Hill consults business owners on market conditions, and instructs her clients how to advertise and market their business against mega accounts, like Office Depot and Staples. She also creates sales campaigns and identifies sale opportunities. Hill said public relations is a large part of what she does.

“I use public relations in two ways. I have to build a good relationship between my company and my clients. I meet with top clients week-to-week to keep a strong relationship. I consult with them on their business. I show them all the resources we have to off them, so they do not go to the competitor,” Hill said.

She also helps her clients build strong relationship with their clients.

“It is important for my client to have good public relations with their customers. It keeps their name in the forefront of their minds,” Hill said. “Public relations builds trust, loyalty and relationships, which increases sales.”

Hill often uses Constant Contact to design newsletters and Websites. She says this a tool that helps her and her clients contact their customers. She designed a Website for Wilson Office Supply, one of her customers, to help them build public relations.

Ironically, Hill started out at Office Depot. She went from Office Depot to an office position at S.P. Richards. She worked in the office for eight years in the customer service department.

“It was difficult to get an outside sales position. You pretty much had to wait for someone to die,” Hill joked. “A gentleman was going to retire, so I asked for that position.”

Hill said it was an easy transition. She had built many relationships with her soon-to-be clients over the phone in customer service. She said she felt like she had an advantage.

“I did a terrible job at first. I was so overwhelmed, but after six months I became one of the top sales people in the company,” Hill said.

Currently, Hill has 49 clients, and her market is worth $18 million.

Jennifer Haveman

Photo taken from andersonhansonhlanton.com

Jennifer Haveman, Account Executive at Anderson Hanson Blanton

By: Christy French

Anderson Hanson Blanton is an advertising, marketing and public relations agency in Dallas, Texas. They take a no-nonsense approach to ensure they meet their clients’ needs and work within their desired budgets. Their core philosophy is to appeal to their clients’ target publics by making their clients’ products emotionally appealing.

Jennifer Haveman has an undergraduate degree in English Literature. The majority of her experience in PR and marketing was learned on the job. She expressed she has had some great mentors along the way, as well as some mentors who pushed her to her full potential.

Looking back, Haveman says she has been involved in the PR /Marketing industry since the 8^th grade. She was on the yearbook staff in Junior High, the newspaper staff in high school and then was in news radio during college. She took a small detour in the nonprofit world working with at risk youth before stepping back into the advertising arena. “I learned a lot about marketing and PR working for a nonprofit,” says Haveman. “There was never a budget for PR so I learned quickly how to gather the facts, tell the story and then sell the story in order to raise money to reach the people in need.” Haveman says it was just a natural progression that she came to work for an Anderson Hanson Blanton in 2007.

Haveman says the most challenging part about working in this industry is unearthing the needs of their clients. Most clients have an agenda when they meet with her. “It is important to take the time to talk to them and find out the story they don’t see,” says Haveman. “Then the company can help them develop this story to build a strong message for their target audience.”

“For new PR professionals, first, they need to be professional, and show a smile and good attitude,” says Haveman. “Second, be a self-starter and take the extra effort no matter what you are asked to do. Research your clients, competitors, relevant industries and media trends.”

Haley Downing: Account Manager for Waller & Company

Haley Downing: Account Manager for Waller & Company
By Callie Gillock

Haley Downing, a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma, found her niche in public relations when she entered college. At a young age, Downing knew she had a passion for writing like none other. After completing her first PR entry class she discovered an industry where writing was integrated with social interaction and client relations, which was what she was looking for.

Downing graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree from Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. She is now the Account Manager for Waller & Company, a PR firm located in Tulsa.

Waller & Company is a full-service public relations firm that was founded in 1996. This organization believes having a strong PR firm requires mutually beneficial relationships with all clients. Waller & Company strives to build lasting relationships with clients by creating resourceful ideas and solutions that will satisfy companies’ needs.

Not only does her job allow her to fulfill her passion for writing, but it also permits her to explore different areas in public relations. “I love working with such a diverse spectrum of clients,” Downing exclaimed. “Our firm has restaurant and hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare and technology divisions so we are always busy doing something different and coming up with new ideas for each of the client industries.”

When getting into the PR business you need something that sets you apart from everyone else. “My advice to young PR professionals is to complete as many internships as you possibly can before looking for an entry level position,” said Downing. “The University of Oklahoma adequately prepared me for an entry level PR position, but my internships set me apart from other applicants while job searching.”

For a successful career path, PR professionals should have a creative mindset and a proactive approach with all client relations. Also, Downing insists, “a PR practitioner should have knowledge of AP style writing, familiarity with PR writing, document formats and research techniques.”

"Think Outside Your Bubble" Shows Impact Public Relations Can Have in Government

photo courtesy of Ogilvy PR

By Kylie Schneider

In 2006, Ogilvy Public Relations was hired by Planned Parenthood California to help create a campaign against Proposition 85 in California. Prop. 85 would have forced physicians to report any abortions performed on minors to a parent or guardian. Prop. 85 barred abortion for minors until 48 hours after a Doctor notifies a parent or legal guardian, except in a medical emergency or with a waiver from a judge or parent. Married or emancipated minors were to be exempt. The main argument against Prop. 85 and the reason Planned Parenthood wanted to develop a campaign against it is because it was believed that it would force a young girl to tell an abusive parent or guardian that she was pregnant which could cause her harm. The campaigns key message was that not every girl lives in a home where she can go to her parent for help.

Prop. 85 had previously been defeated as Prop. 73 in 2005. As a result, Ogilvy needed to make certain that every dollar had maximum impact on voters. Ogilvy began by researching people’s stances on certain issues. Data showed there was a shift from 2005 to 2006 in which supporters of the proposition had gained favor by exploiting the danger of child predators on the Internet. From polling and focus groups, research showed that focusing on domestic violence and less fortunate girls had the potential to change women’s’ votes from “yes” to “no” on Prop. 85. Ogilvy chose to focus on teens who could not speak openly with their parents for fear of violent repercussions by.

A test TV spot called “Think Outside Your Bubble” was created to measure the effectiveness of its message delivery to voters. The commercial shows a large bubble floating through a yard as a voice over featured a woman speaking about how she knows her daughter would feel free to come to her for help if she was pregnant. At the end the bubble travels to a home where the viewer can hear yelling and the bubble pops as the narrator realizes not every girl is as lucky as her daughter. The ad’s main goal was to remind people that, although they may have positive and trustful relationships with their daughters, not all young girls live in safe environments where she can communicate with her mother or guardian.

Test results showed that the ad successfully moved women and had a very strong emotional effect on men as well. Satisfied with the results, Planned Parenthood and Ogilvy launched the “Think Outside Your Bubble” ad campaign.

Upon evaluation, “Think Outside Your Bubble” was a clear success. The campaign helped raise support against Prop. 85 among major Democratic officeholders and the public. All major California newspapers published pieces against the proposition and the campaign also changed the stance of two newspapers which had supported Prop. 73 in 2005. Additionally, eight California counties, which had voted “yes” on Prop. 73 voted “no” on Prop. 85. In the end, with the help of “Think Outside Your Bubble”, Prop. 85 was defeated by a 9.5 percent margin which was a 4.5 percent increase from the defeat in 2005.

To accomplish their goals, Ogilvy appealed to people’s emotions on the serious issue of child abuse to garner support against a proposition that could have potentially put young girls in danger. Women voters were especially targeted because of their likelihood to relate what they saw to their relationships with their own daughters and feel sorry for girls who cannot depend on their parent or guardian for support. Through research of attitudes and political stances, as well as testing the emotional responses of an ad before airing it, Planned Parenthood and Ogilvy were able to prevent an unfair law from being made a reality. This campaign shows what a powerful role Public Relations can play in the political spectrum.

Blog: Short for Web Log

Blog: Short for Web log

Courtney Knutson

The latest and greatest form of social media and one of the largest outlets used by all kinds of people are blogs. Not only are people using blogs to write about their personal experiences, but public relations professionals are using blogs to communicate with clients, stakeholders, other professionals, colleagues and future clients. As the newest trend, blogs are also most conveniently used to convey and expressing other fast growing, creative trends converging in public relations.
Dr. Mihaela Vorvoreanu, professor at Purdue University and creator of People Research Connections (PR Connections), a blog about research in public relations and other topics, explains, “Blogs move the profession to…higher professional standards and help prove the value of the profession to clients and society,” Vorvoreanu says. “Through blogs, public relations practitioners can [educate] each other. They can create and share knowledge and best practices.”
According to PRSSA.org, there are over four million blogs on the internet today, with a new one being created every seven seconds. Not only do blogs help with networking and trading of ideas, blogs also help public relations professionals research about other topics and information. Also, because blogs are more popular and more widely read, they can sometimes substitute for traditional public relations practices, such as media pitches and news releases.
While blogging is an up and coming trend with professionals, so is the convergence of entertainment and publicity. This idea incorporates entertainment with the publicity or promotion of a organization or product. In an article in PublicRelationsIdeas.com, an example of this is how the Army provides viewers of their Web site with downloads of realistic war games that are created to give the audience an idea of what combat would be like. This trend is found commonly successful with a younger audience.
Some other common trends in public relations include Twitter, Facebook, online media rooms, and RSS feeds. Because public relations is modern and always leading in communication, there will continue to be new trends and ideas brought out in a variety of different forms.

Sources:

http://www.prssa.org/forum/article.aspx?issueId=151&id=525

http://www.feareygroup.com/our_news_trends.html

http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/pr_trends_000653.html

Just Facebook Me.

Just Facebook Me.
By: Lynley Kees

Public Relations professionals use social media though out their every day schedule. It is used so much in our daily lives that most of the time people are not even aware they are utilizing social media. PR professionals use social networking to generate awareness, promoting products, to staying in contact with work and their clients with the click of a button. I have seen an enormous amount in trends in social media over the past years. I hate that the words “Facebook me” is amongst my daily vocabulary along with asking myself, “what should I tweet today.” It is amazing to see how much social media has affected our lives in how we proactively communicate with others with a click of a button. I have only been a member of Facebook for three years and I have seen numerous positive changes in ways to communicate with people around the world. Now with the invention of Twitter, Blogger and Delicious and many other social networking services, the ways to communicate is never ending. For instance, take a look at this class. We are using Blooger to post assignments on the web to be viewed by our professors and fellow students. Also this semester my campaigns group and I have been using all different forms of social media for our client Big Brothers Big Sisters as an outlet to reach our targeted publics.

It is weird to think about how the world used to communicate to each other. Today the accesses we have to these types of social media have only made our job easier. I see the use of social media excessively growing in the future. In the past few years alone I have seen a change in how the world is communicating with one another for the better and look forward to seeing what the future brings.

Image Information: Social Media
Web source: Social Media Sites

Public Relations in a Digital World

The future of public relations is turning increasingly to social media. As the world of media keeps evolving, we will see an increasing reliance on social media. However, perhaps the use of social media is not as important as the social capital it can bring. Social capital is the value that comes from being known and trusted within a social network. Much like monetary capital, it can reap real benefits for a business or organization. Social capital is especially important for PR practitioners since our share of monetary capital is often notoriously low. The real beauty in social media then, according to tech expert Tara Hunt, is its capacity to build social capital for an organization. This also means, however, that one cannot just throw some information at a Facebook page or Tweet whatever randomly comes to mind. The old PR principles of researching, knowing your audience and what they want, answering the “What’s in it for me?” question, and common sense still apply. We can’t simply throw these ideas out the window but must be prepared for the future, which apparently, we are not. According to social media blogger Jason Falls, many colleges around the country are not teaching students to deal with social media. I feel very lucky to be here at Gaylord College, where most faculty understand the need for a more digital education and the facility and mindset of the college reflect that. In the end, relationships and networks are still going to be our most valuable asset, and we need to learn how to build that social capital in a digital, modern way.

by Laura Bennett
image courtesy of Amy Abrahams at amyabrahams.com