For those who do not know, I am working on my dissertation for my MA in PR, which is exploring barriers PR professionals are having with new media. This is also a reason my blog is not at all up to date and I apologize. I would love for you to take my survey to help contribute to my research.
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Tuesday 21 July 2009
Thursday 9 April 2009
SportsChallenge: Skills for Sport. Skills for Life.
Thursday 26 March 2009
Is a Degree Necessary?
Jobs are hard to come about now a days and the work place is becoming more and more competitive. Young adults are spending a lot of time and money on degrees and, in return, just moving back home and sleeping on mom and dad's couch while they struggle to find work. This scenario is extremely common, which brought about the debate in class that asked the question:
The problem with that system is that agencies/corporations are hiring people who, yes might have creativity and common sense, but do not understand the ethics of PR. While I have not done intensive research on it, I feel it might have a link to the unethical reputation that PR suffers. Here are two cartoons that represents this:
You can see from these cartoons that agencies/companies are hiring people who are not really good for the PR industry in general, and that is what happens when people are hired without degree's because they don't have a true understanding of what PR is. Sadly, as companies continue to hire people without an education in PR, the industry is going to continue to hold people who do not practice ethically as well as encourage people that they do not need a degree to work in the field.
So, in final thoughts, I suggest a degree because, in the end, it's going to make one a better PR practitioner, and I personally think that agencies/corporations need to realize this and start choosing more wisely.
"Is a PR degree even necessary?"
This is a question that cannot be answered through research or text books. CEO's or HR departments, of course, are going to always promote education and a degree, but the question comes to what it is they are looking for when looking through resumes/CV's. They are looking for someone who is going to make a difference in their agency. So, is it the applicant with a degree or the applicant with work experience? I feel that the answer is going obvious especially in an industry where thinking quick on your feet and common sense is more of a qualification than anything. You can teach someone the ways of public relations and the theories, but you can't teach them common sense.
The problem with that system is that agencies/corporations are hiring people who, yes might have creativity and common sense, but do not understand the ethics of PR. While I have not done intensive research on it, I feel it might have a link to the unethical reputation that PR suffers. Here are two cartoons that represents this:
You can see from these cartoons that agencies/companies are hiring people who are not really good for the PR industry in general, and that is what happens when people are hired without degree's because they don't have a true understanding of what PR is. Sadly, as companies continue to hire people without an education in PR, the industry is going to continue to hold people who do not practice ethically as well as encourage people that they do not need a degree to work in the field.
So, in final thoughts, I suggest a degree because, in the end, it's going to make one a better PR practitioner, and I personally think that agencies/corporations need to realize this and start choosing more wisely.
Thursday 19 March 2009
Social Media brings support and change.
In today's class we had a guest speaker who was talking about change and social media. He brought up a very interesting point which was "Always consider whose support you need to bring about change." This really made me start to think. In PR, it is our jobs to gain support, so what is the best way to do this? Well it does depend on the brief, but, with the world changing, it seems the best way to bring about change and support is now through social media. This includes social sites such as Facebook and Twitter to video and pictures sites like YouTube and Flickr.
A lot of people are confused about what social media is or what is does. Don't worry! It can be challenging to figure out. Watch this short video that will hopefully give you some insight into what social media is and how it works.
I hope that helped!! There are some key things for PR practitioners to take away from the video. First, the Internet is very crowded and there are many messages, which, as the video explained, can be very overwhelming for people. That is where PR practitioners really need to use their skills. They need to find places where their target audiences will find each other and be able to talk as well as a place where the organization and/or cause they are working for can speak with their targets and form relationships. Social Media is a great communication tool to bring about support that, in result, will bring about change in the future.
Change is hard to bring about. People are creatures of habit, so getting them to think a different way or change is not easy. Social media is a great opportunity to bring about this change by allowing people to have the change they want by opening up lines of communication with organizations. It is from there that change can start.
A lot of people are confused about what social media is or what is does. Don't worry! It can be challenging to figure out. Watch this short video that will hopefully give you some insight into what social media is and how it works.
I hope that helped!! There are some key things for PR practitioners to take away from the video. First, the Internet is very crowded and there are many messages, which, as the video explained, can be very overwhelming for people. That is where PR practitioners really need to use their skills. They need to find places where their target audiences will find each other and be able to talk as well as a place where the organization and/or cause they are working for can speak with their targets and form relationships. Social Media is a great communication tool to bring about support that, in result, will bring about change in the future.
Change is hard to bring about. People are creatures of habit, so getting them to think a different way or change is not easy. Social media is a great opportunity to bring about this change by allowing people to have the change they want by opening up lines of communication with organizations. It is from there that change can start.
Thursday 12 March 2009
Who really controls communication during crisis?
When the idea of crisis comes up, a lot of people's minds run directly to public relations. Thoughts of strategic communication and how it can be used to smooth over the situation at hand. Some research into corporate communication has revealed that it is not the PR department who is controlling the communication but instead the legal department. Recently, Microsoft had problems when they allowed their legal department to handle a mistake within the corporation setting. Excuse the language, but the video really gets the message across to how Microsoft's decision has effected the opinions that people have on the company.
This is a prime example of what happens when companies do not consult their PR departments about communication methods. The funny thing about this video is that even this gentleman even has a proper response to the situation. Everyone knows that Bill Gates has a lot of money, so when he, one of the richest men in the world, asks for money back, it is very disturbing to the public. The gentleman in the video made a valid point, if they were going to make it publicly known, than they should have just admitted their mistake and Bill Gates should have just put it behind him and accept that he was going to lose a little bit more money. So, he would need to get rid of one of his many cars in order to help feed a family.
This issue started out as an internal crises and quickly escalated to a big public crisis was due to Microsoft's lack of planning and consideration. It was the legal department who wrote the letters that were distributed to the laid off employee's, and they did not consult with the PR team. What is extremely interesting is that Microsoft did not consider that this might turn into a big crisis for Microsoft. They are not denying any of the claims, yet they are not releasing any more information on the subject.
This is a lesson to all company's. When it comes to company communication, whether it is internal or external, a company needs to consult with their PR team in order to make sure the message was correct.
This is a prime example of what happens when companies do not consult their PR departments about communication methods. The funny thing about this video is that even this gentleman even has a proper response to the situation. Everyone knows that Bill Gates has a lot of money, so when he, one of the richest men in the world, asks for money back, it is very disturbing to the public. The gentleman in the video made a valid point, if they were going to make it publicly known, than they should have just admitted their mistake and Bill Gates should have just put it behind him and accept that he was going to lose a little bit more money. So, he would need to get rid of one of his many cars in order to help feed a family.
This issue started out as an internal crises and quickly escalated to a big public crisis was due to Microsoft's lack of planning and consideration. It was the legal department who wrote the letters that were distributed to the laid off employee's, and they did not consult with the PR team. What is extremely interesting is that Microsoft did not consider that this might turn into a big crisis for Microsoft. They are not denying any of the claims, yet they are not releasing any more information on the subject.
This is a lesson to all company's. When it comes to company communication, whether it is internal or external, a company needs to consult with their PR team in order to make sure the message was correct.
Thursday 5 March 2009
Does Global PR Exist?
In today's class, there was an intense debate on whether international PR actually exists or if it is simply a ploy by big companies to make profits. The debate was constantly going back and forth with fierce looks and gestures, but, when it came down to it, each side really just kept reciting the same things to each other. One side was fighting that PR cannot be global because it only works on a local level, so international PR firms are just a ploy to get more money while the other side was constantly repeating that it was possible because international PR agencies work with local offices to make it localized. Either way, this is the way I see it. When it comes down to it, PR is a business and they work for other businesses to improve their reputation and financial achievements. People can debate it all day long or argue what they wish, but, in the end, when you take away all the fluff of each argument and simplify it down, that is what you get. Before you start to think that I am saying the global pr is a lie, hear me out. The world is becoming smaller and smaller as the technology advances and businesses are wanting to test their boundaries to see what markets are out there for their brands. With that in mind, PR agencies are smart to move global as well because it is making the agency stronger for their clients. Let's take a look into Weber Shandwick for an example. They are the top global PR agency due to number of employees and offices on a global scale. Weber Shandwick started as an American company and soon became an industry leader in the United States. Well, as said before, companies are beginning to move global as the world becomes smaller with technology, therefore, if Weber Shandwick wants to stay competitive and give the best services to their clients, they too need to stretch globally.
Taking all into consideration, I do not think that global PR is just a fake ploy to draw in more money. It is in fact a way to increase profits, but it is also a way to help their clients and future clients enter the international market, but with a local touch.
Interested in how international PR works? Take a look at the campaign the Weber Shandwick did for India to increase the use of condoms. It's not all in english, but you will be able to get the idea. Enjoy! :)
Wednesday 25 February 2009
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a worldwide growing trend. What started as fair trade groups and green peace movement groups has now grown to inspire companies to lower their carbon footprint as well. As the public becomes more and more informed, businesses get more pressure from consumers to be socially responsible. It is no longer just about the product that a company is supplying, but, now, it is about what they are doing for the local community and the environment. We had guest speaker Adam Garfunkel visit our class today to discuss his experience with Corporate Social Responsibility. In fact, he works with companies in order to improve their CSR. It was interesting and astonishing to hear some responses and attitudes of companies when dealing with CSR. Adam mentioned that companies a lot of time responded to other companies CSR plans with "Why are they getting so much credit for that?" What Adam's clients aren't understanding is that in CSR, a simple approach is the best approach. Naked Juice, a California based company, has succeed in its CSR efforts and mastered the simple theory that Adam spoke of in class. Instead of trying to reach out in every possible way, Naked has chosen to promote their company by sending the message that they the Naked product strives to have a low carbon footprint.
Naked's CSR tactics are easily found on their website and are broken down into the ways that they are lowering their carbon footprint. These things consist of Packaging, Manufacturing and suppliers. All sections give a break down into what they are doing and how it is helping the environment. Just as their tagline states "Nothing to Hide", Naked really is hiding nothing, which is resulting in a gain of trust by consumers as well as brand loyalty as consumer feel they are a environmentally friendly company.
Don't get discouraged when you don't get headline news!
A lot of companies are conducting similar campaigns and tactics, so in the media, there is a lot of noise right now on the subject. It is always nice to get a lot of coverage on positive things your company is completing, it is important for companies to remember a key point of public relations, which is third-party endorsements. In CSR third party endorsements are really going to help a company and eventually possibly gain local and/or national media attention. For example, a Naked Juice costumer may visit their website and notice that they are socially responsible. In turn, they will tell their friends who will tell more people and, in today's technology savvy world, people will blog about it or talk about it on social sites. All of these conversations will improve brand reputation all from their website.
Another quick point to make before I leave you to ponder the benefits of CSR, Naked also gave suggestions on how consumers can make a difference, which is a great idea, especially in today's market where consumers like to feel involved. It is a great call for action on the site and something that other companies can learn from.
A lot of companies are conducting similar campaigns and tactics, so in the media, there is a lot of noise right now on the subject. It is always nice to get a lot of coverage on positive things your company is completing, it is important for companies to remember a key point of public relations, which is third-party endorsements. In CSR third party endorsements are really going to help a company and eventually possibly gain local and/or national media attention. For example, a Naked Juice costumer may visit their website and notice that they are socially responsible. In turn, they will tell their friends who will tell more people and, in today's technology savvy world, people will blog about it or talk about it on social sites. All of these conversations will improve brand reputation all from their website.
Another quick point to make before I leave you to ponder the benefits of CSR, Naked also gave suggestions on how consumers can make a difference, which is a great idea, especially in today's market where consumers like to feel involved. It is a great call for action on the site and something that other companies can learn from.Ever wonder how socially responsible you personally are or how much stress you are putting on the planet? Find out how big your ecological footprint is now by taking a short quiz!
Sunday 22 February 2009
PR in the Next Generation
Hey everyone! For those of you who have been reading my other blog this podcast will not be a surprise and will most likely be of interest to you. New Media is effecting the PR industry, especially the corporate sector who for years has tended to stay private with their information. As new media begins to increase, transperency of companies needs to as well, but it doesn't seem like corporate leaders are quite ready for that yet. Watch my podcast to find out more about the subject of Corporate PR and New Media. Enjoy!
Thanks for watching. Feel free to leave comments and make sure to stay tune for more issues in PR.
Check out my other blog as well! PR in the next Generation episode one is also there.
Thanks for watching. Feel free to leave comments and make sure to stay tune for more issues in PR.
Check out my other blog as well! PR in the next Generation episode one is also there.
Thursday 19 February 2009
The ongoing debate... Women in PR
Women in PR is an issue that I feel like I hear at every corner. There is the constant debate that the PR industry is mostly made up of women, yet none of them actually run the industry. Well, my opinion, it has nothing to do with them being women. As a woman, I should maybe be a bit more sympathetic, but I'm not. A woman is just as powerful and able as any man and our societies see that today, so instead of sitting around whining about how unfair the world is, women need to put in the hard-work it takes to make it to the top. I can't help but think of the movie The Devil Wears Prada when talking about this subject. Yes, it's a bite cheesy, but watch this trailer and maybe you'll see what I mean...
What really needs to be taken into account is the last bit of the trailer were Meryl Streep says "People think that success just happens to you- it doesn't. Want this life? The decision is yours." It may be a movie, but she makes a valid point that can applied to the whole world. Success does not just happen to people. It comes from hard-work and dedication, which women seem to lack. Not all women, but some women seem to be a bit more concerned with their personal lives than with their jobs. This is also seen in the trailer when Ann Hathaway tells co-worker Stanley Tucci, "My personal life is hanging by a thread" and Tucci responds with "That's what happens when you start doing well at work. Let me know when your whole life goes up in smoke that means your up for a promotion."
I think that the previous quote has a lot of validity into the business world for women. Men will put in the extra effort. They will work extra hours and devote their lives to work. They will do what it takes to make it to the top. Women have that same opportunity, yet they choose to not do it. They would rather have lives.
So, what can we learn from this? The debates need to stop and women just need to become more aggressive in the workplace. Yes, people might talk about them, as they did Meryl Streep in the movie, and, yes, their personal lives might go down the drain, but, hey, if you want to be successful at work, that means that work is your life.
What really needs to be taken into account is the last bit of the trailer were Meryl Streep says "People think that success just happens to you- it doesn't. Want this life? The decision is yours." It may be a movie, but she makes a valid point that can applied to the whole world. Success does not just happen to people. It comes from hard-work and dedication, which women seem to lack. Not all women, but some women seem to be a bit more concerned with their personal lives than with their jobs. This is also seen in the trailer when Ann Hathaway tells co-worker Stanley Tucci, "My personal life is hanging by a thread" and Tucci responds with "That's what happens when you start doing well at work. Let me know when your whole life goes up in smoke that means your up for a promotion."
I think that the previous quote has a lot of validity into the business world for women. Men will put in the extra effort. They will work extra hours and devote their lives to work. They will do what it takes to make it to the top. Women have that same opportunity, yet they choose to not do it. They would rather have lives.
So, what can we learn from this? The debates need to stop and women just need to become more aggressive in the workplace. Yes, people might talk about them, as they did Meryl Streep in the movie, and, yes, their personal lives might go down the drain, but, hey, if you want to be successful at work, that means that work is your life.
Thursday 12 February 2009
The Spotlight is on the PR Industry...
Public Relations and Ethics. It is an issue that is discussed on a daily basis or shall we say criticized. Public Relations is definitely a profession that is not known for it's good ethics, but instead, its lack of it. For some time now, I've done everything I could to defend the public relations industry, but lately even I have been questioning the validity of the profession. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to put down PR in any way, but it is amazing as to how dishonest and manipulating some PR practitioners can be.
The cartoon above, sadly, explains what is happening within the industry. PR practitioners are doing their best to increase the reputation of their clients that they are putting their ethical standards on the line. The cartoon is classic:. "Make sure everything is done ethically, within reason, of course." PR Professionals will do everything in their power to come across ethical or show good judgement but when it comes down to protecting their clients or making a bigger paycheck, it can almost be guaranteed that a professional will step over the ethical line.
Isn't that kind of human nature though? As we discussed in class, ethics are based on personal values. The problem is, even people with really strong personal values, do not have the confidence to stand up to a boss or coworkers in the work place. Also, their values may get lost. When one things about it PR is about changing the opinions of the public. Making them like whoever your client is. Well, you may have extremely strong values, but when it comes down to the goal of your job, your values may get lost or forgotten about in the middle somewhere. Myron Curry, President and CEO of businesstrainingmedia.com, makes a terrific point in an article when saying:
Curry brings up an exceptional point with that statement. Yes, people all have personal values, but don't most people tend to try to keep their personal lives separate from their work lives? Either way, this brings up another question...
How is PR different than any other profession??
So, as Curry is saying, it is not just a PR thing, but an overall trend in business to be unethical, so why is PR getting such a raft for it? Public Relations is an industry of power. We control communication, and let's face it, communication is what our world is made up of. PR professionals are in the center of all the controversy, therefore, our industry is getting a lot of the heat. In the end, everyone struggles with ethical decisions, they just might not work in industry that have so much power over communication and the thoughts of others.
As a closing thought, while I do think that PR professionals have it hard due to the extra spotlight, I do think that they should try to bring their personal values to work more often. I think they will find the public likes it and will result in stronger reputations for their clients. The public seems to be more sympathetic and reactive to the truth.
Interested in PR and Ethics? Check out Craig Miyamoto's website and Edelman's annual Trust Barometer.
The cartoon above, sadly, explains what is happening within the industry. PR practitioners are doing their best to increase the reputation of their clients that they are putting their ethical standards on the line. The cartoon is classic:. "Make sure everything is done ethically, within reason, of course." PR Professionals will do everything in their power to come across ethical or show good judgement but when it comes down to protecting their clients or making a bigger paycheck, it can almost be guaranteed that a professional will step over the ethical line.
Isn't that kind of human nature though? As we discussed in class, ethics are based on personal values. The problem is, even people with really strong personal values, do not have the confidence to stand up to a boss or coworkers in the work place. Also, their values may get lost. When one things about it PR is about changing the opinions of the public. Making them like whoever your client is. Well, you may have extremely strong values, but when it comes down to the goal of your job, your values may get lost or forgotten about in the middle somewhere. Myron Curry, President and CEO of businesstrainingmedia.com, makes a terrific point in an article when saying:
Ethics are thought of by many people as something that is related to the private side of life and not to the business side. In many businesses, having ethics is frowned upon or thought of as a negative subject. This is because business is usually about doing what’s best for number one, not about what’s really the right thing to do. You probably are already feeling uneasy just reading this.
Curry brings up an exceptional point with that statement. Yes, people all have personal values, but don't most people tend to try to keep their personal lives separate from their work lives? Either way, this brings up another question...
How is PR different than any other profession??
So, as Curry is saying, it is not just a PR thing, but an overall trend in business to be unethical, so why is PR getting such a raft for it? Public Relations is an industry of power. We control communication, and let's face it, communication is what our world is made up of. PR professionals are in the center of all the controversy, therefore, our industry is getting a lot of the heat. In the end, everyone struggles with ethical decisions, they just might not work in industry that have so much power over communication and the thoughts of others.
As a closing thought, while I do think that PR professionals have it hard due to the extra spotlight, I do think that they should try to bring their personal values to work more often. I think they will find the public likes it and will result in stronger reputations for their clients. The public seems to be more sympathetic and reactive to the truth.
Interested in PR and Ethics? Check out Craig Miyamoto's website and Edelman's annual Trust Barometer.
Thursday 5 February 2009
Obama Brings Back Faith in Politicians
So many politicians work to win the trust of the public. For generations, politicians and their PR staff have work on slogans and schemes to make them seem more appealing to the public eye. As time has passed, citizens are becoming frustrated with broken promises and misled messages of who a candidate truly is. There is one man in all of this madness that has found the perfect message and the perfect balance in order to gain trust and support of his country. President Barack Obama's campaign was one to go down in history. You may ask what makes it so special? Unlike other candidates, Obama did his research and learned how to reach not just one public but a variety. The key thing to take away from his campaign is that he found a way to do it while also being consistent across all publics, which created a feeling of trust and motivation among Americans and, quite honestly, most of the world. So, how did Obama do this?
There are many factors that go into Obama's success, but the most important, in my mind, was the use of New Media. From a PR perspective, it was executed perfectly and will most likely change many PR professionals attitudes toward new media. Let's take a look into some of the key elements of Obama's New media campaign.
Website- http://www.barackobama.com/
- Obama's website was constructed by Chris Hughes, one of the creators of Facebook. This may be a small reason why it appealed to so much of the youth, but, needless to say, it worked wonderfully. The site gave insight into who Obama was, gave links to where else on the web you could find him, and allowed supports to download some pretty fun applications, which I'll discuss a little more below. All in all, Obama's website worked as a tool to get members of the same community together to work toward one common goal, which was getting Obama elected.
Social Networks- Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Youtube...
Obama truly was EVERYWHERE. He was was on every social site from Facebook to LinkedIn. This made Obama extremely appealing to the youth of America by making him human. His Facebook page had things about him, things he liked to do, and most importantly over FIVE MILLION supporters. These social networks not connected Obama to his supporters and gave those who were unsure a place to feel him out, but it also allowed supporters to come together and speak with one another.
Targeting Cell Phones: genius move
- Barely anyone in this world is without a cell phone anymore. It is almost a little bit scary as to howobsessed people are with their phones. Well then, what better way to target people. Obama used this, as some say annoying habit of todays socities, to his advatnage by creating ring tones and phone applications. There is a ring tone for every person, no matter what his/her style is. This tactic not only inspired people, but it left people wondering what was going on and asking where they too can get an Obama ringtone, which just funneled more traffic to his website, and, as sad before, Obama's website is amazing enough to convert even the most doubtful voter.
Ending Thoughts
I could write pages and pages on Obama's campaign. There is so much to be said of it even just within the new media realm, but, for the sake of my readers sanity, I have attempted to keep it some what short. Feel free to comment or ask any questions about Obama's campaign. I'll do my best to get back to you with answers or my thoughts.
Thursday 29 January 2009
Don't worry! PR is here to stay.
How is new media affecting the PR industry? You could ask 100 people within the industry and most likely get 100 different answers. Some may get a grin on their face and embrace the new movement, while others might go white in the face and run for the door. Some are scared by the new technology and what it means for their jobs. PR practitioners for years have been in control of communication between their clients and their audiences. No matter what, they were in the know and somehow tailored a message to apply to their targets. That power is slowly slipping away and PR professionals are starting to get worried. Are journalists going to stop calling them for information? Are they no longer the answer to the media's questions? PR professionals can take a deep breathe because they aren’t going anywhere. Yes, new media is changing the way the PR industry communicates, but it is not going to leave us without jobs. The trick of the trade is to join in. Laura Sturaitis, Senior Vice President of Media Services and Product Strategy for Business Wire has the right concept when saying “it is first important to recognize that you must be part of the converstation,” (Breakenridge, 2008). Do not worry for all of you out there who are getting more and more concerned by the minute. You don’t have to be tech savvy to stay connected through new media. It might take some humility and a learning curve, but, in the end, it is completely possible to learn. Once you have the foundation of new media, you can connect with publics and journalists easily.
A lot of PR professionals have picked up on the new media concept, others, especially corporate, have decided it is just not for them. They fall into this "scared" category, but I do not think that they are just scared of the technology. They are scared of what it is going to do to their business. New Media results in transparency. Blogs, Twitters, YouTube Video and Flickr pictures do not leave much to be hidden in the corners, and corporate businesses are not ready for that. They prefer keeping to themselves and only allowing the public to know what they need to know. That is the first thing to learn about New Media, so take notes. New Media is beyond even two-way symmetric communication. It is about communication within networks, between groups, and corporations need to realize this and become part of this communication as active members not just as spy's to get information. They need to understand what people are saying and really embrace what these communication channels have created, which is power to the third-party. Isn't that what PR used to be about? I've embedded an interesting interview below with Richard Edelman where is is speaking of the Trust Barometer and the results it showed toward corporations this year. Take a look.
There are some key points to take away from this video. First, there has been a major collapse in the trust of Business. People do not believe in businesses or in what they are telling them. This is a valuable point, and is a result of a lack of communication. The public does not hear what is happening within corporations until it is a message that they want to hear, which, in turn, most of the time is a cover up. Richard is right, businesses need to "get out there and tell their stories". That is the only way they are going to rebuild trust. People respect the truth, and they definitely respect it more than a lie to cover up a mishap. Corporations need to evaluate what their secret strategies are doing to their reputation and make changes. New media is that perfect change that will allow for them to connect with societies to make an impact.
Find more about the results of Edelman's 2009 Trust Barometer.
A lot of PR professionals have picked up on the new media concept, others, especially corporate, have decided it is just not for them. They fall into this "scared" category, but I do not think that they are just scared of the technology. They are scared of what it is going to do to their business. New Media results in transparency. Blogs, Twitters, YouTube Video and Flickr pictures do not leave much to be hidden in the corners, and corporate businesses are not ready for that. They prefer keeping to themselves and only allowing the public to know what they need to know. That is the first thing to learn about New Media, so take notes. New Media is beyond even two-way symmetric communication. It is about communication within networks, between groups, and corporations need to realize this and become part of this communication as active members not just as spy's to get information. They need to understand what people are saying and really embrace what these communication channels have created, which is power to the third-party. Isn't that what PR used to be about? I've embedded an interesting interview below with Richard Edelman where is is speaking of the Trust Barometer and the results it showed toward corporations this year. Take a look.
There are some key points to take away from this video. First, there has been a major collapse in the trust of Business. People do not believe in businesses or in what they are telling them. This is a valuable point, and is a result of a lack of communication. The public does not hear what is happening within corporations until it is a message that they want to hear, which, in turn, most of the time is a cover up. Richard is right, businesses need to "get out there and tell their stories". That is the only way they are going to rebuild trust. People respect the truth, and they definitely respect it more than a lie to cover up a mishap. Corporations need to evaluate what their secret strategies are doing to their reputation and make changes. New media is that perfect change that will allow for them to connect with societies to make an impact.
Find more about the results of Edelman's 2009 Trust Barometer.
Thursday 22 January 2009
What really goes on at War? Guess we will never know.
Ever wonder what happens behind enemy lines? or even on our own lines? We all do. War is a dark and mysterious time that leaves the countries involved confused and unsure of what is happening. Not only is there no clue as to what is happening on the battle ground, but why did they even go to war is yet another question that is so twisted that even the leaders of the countries may not know the answers a few months in.A point was brought up in class today regarding the theme of the GOOD guys vs the BAD guys during war, and, well, after thinking about it and watching a film on public relations and war, I couldn't agree more. Each country is fighting so hard to make themselves seem like the good guy. They are doing no wrong, everything is perfect. Well, I guess I can't speak for everyone, but, personally, I say it's a lost cause. This might have worked on our parents generation who were unaware of gatekeepers and news angles, yet the younger generation is definitely aware and cannot be fooled by a couple of happy go lucky, hero advertising news-clips and Youtube videos.
This is where the main issues come to hand. So, we know that war is not happy and fine and we understand that during war some things happen that countries may no be proud of, so why not allow journalist to write about the truth instead of covering it up and pointing fingers. As a country, don't we deserve to know the truth. No one likes being at war, and knowing the truth is not going to change that and nor is being lied to. How about this for an idea? Why don't the leaders of countries stop doing things during war that they are ashamed of? Than maybe they won't try to hide the truth. In the movie Remember the Titans, Julius tells the captain of his team "attitude is a direct reflection of leadership". Well that may be a line from a movie, but i think that we can all learn a little something from it. Leaders, stop being ashamed and hiding things and maybe we can all stop being ashamed, lying citizens and be happy to say we are from our country,
As for all you PR practitioners out there, you are not off the hook. Maybe take a stand. I understand it's hard to stand up to authority and could mean your job, but shouldn't there be a line drawn at some point. It is your job to relay the message to the public and be the link between the war, the media and the public. I understand that there are some things that are to be left unsaid, but for the most part reporters deserve to be able to do their jobs and citizens deserve the truth. So, I think that it is time to stop pretending that we are all "GOOD" guys because in war there is no such thing. Let's grow up as a world and start to take some credit for what we are doing. If we make a mistake, it shouldn't be how do we cover this up, it should be how do we make this right, how can we rearrange and regroup. It is not always possible in war for "the truth to come out" because well everyone is brainwashed. There are so many lies that by the end no one really knows what had gone on, but I think that is is safe to say that a nation knows when they were lied to and well nothing good is to come from that as Bush knows.
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