"Digital Nation"

I recently was assigned to watch a PBS special called "Digital Nation".  It turned out to be very informative and acurate.  It got me thinking about the world we live in and how it compares to how the way used to be.  It is not uncommon to see a family of 4 sitting in a room... all preocupied by different things.  The mom is googling recipies, the father watching golf on tv.  The youngest child texting away and their older brother playing a computer game online.

There are so many distractions and most often the worst is our phone.  You can access anyone in the world, google any question. get directions to a coffee shop, play games, text, take pictures, and make a video.  All of this is available on a device that fits in your pocket.  We live in a world where real conversations are few and where communication has been reduced to ... lol, g2g and brb.

Which world is better?  Sure our grandparents lives weren't as easy.  Everything was hand written and libraries were their Google.  But they seem happier than we are.  Simplicity may be better than convenience.  Times were simpler back then.  It was easier for advertisers to get people to trust them.  Now skeptisism is rampant.


I wonder what the future holds.  Perhaps a hundred years from now some kid like me will be blogging about our technology as "simple".  Whether we are heading in the right direction or we have taken things too far.. one thing is certain.  Change is inevitable and we can only hope it results in a better future.

One Step at a TIime

Earlier this year I blogged about a curve and wondered if I was already behind,  I am entering the summer before my senior year and have no hands on experience, no internship to my name.  But for the first time I did it! I submitted my resume for a marketing internship!  This is in no way a big accomplishment but for me it is a step.

The internship is for car2go, you know... the company that has all of thoes white little smart cars all around Austin?  It is a marketing internship that will require me to put everything I've learned to good use.  It would be the perfect foot in the door job.  It is no fancy internship at a big firm or anything, but for me it is perfect.

I consider myself to be driven. I got into the college I wanted to and have maintained a satisfactory GPA since being accepted.  However when it has come to gaining experience outside of my education, i haven't been very proactive.  Iv'e been scared of being rejected and scared that I would end up as something less than is expected of me.  But I know it is time, it is now or never.  I've been waiting for something to fall into my lap, until i finally realized it is ME that is supposed to be knocking down doors.

I am in the process or sending out resumes to other companies as well as well as preparing myself for the next scary process of making it to the top... Interviews! :(

Brand Profile- Coke

Considering the original recepie LITERALLY contained the drug Cocaine, it's a miricle the company was able to survive.  Not only did they weather the storm, but they thrived.  It's closest competitor Pepsi, although very sucessful, has failed to capure the hearts of its consumers in the way that Coke has.  The company inspired undying love for Coke in it's consumers.  The company success comes not necesarily from the quality of the product its-self but in what the product represents.  It has been branded as happiness in a bottle, and represents freedom as well.\

The company has had some of the most memorable marketing and advertising efforts of all time.  "Have a Coke and a smile" is a tag line that won't soon be forgotten.  The small child offering the mean football player a coke that melts his stern face into a smile.  These marketing efforts, along with the many others have made Coke more than just a product, it is an American symbol that is known around the world.

Brand Profile- Mcdonalds

Everyone knows when they see the golden arches in the sky what is to follow... cheeseburgers, french fries and of course the famous Happy Meals.  McDonalds has positioned itself in my memory forever.  As a child my mom would use thoes infamous Happy Meals to trick me into doing my chores. " Honey go clean your room and after I'll take you to Mcdonalds!"  I would dart off to complete my chores with a smile on my face.

Mcdonalds has done an exceptional job at marketing to children because I am not the only one who fondly associates McDonalds with a happy childhood.  Their marketing team has targeted us with scary accuracy and the impression they made on me has lasted into my adulthood.. Given the choice I ALWAYS pick McDonalds over any other fastfood choices.

The lesson learned here is the key to associate ones brand with happiness and if possible, reach em when they are young!

Nocturnal Festival 2012

Teenagers and twenty somethings are a hard segment to truly reach.  Although they are highly influenced by advertising, they have a keen eye for what is cool.. and what isn't.  This segment will be the first to deem a new commercial cheesy, or condemn a new product to lameness.

The best way to reach this group is to know what they love, especially what MUSIC they love.  This year will be the third annual Nocturnal Festival.  It features djs and artists who play music in the dubstep/ electronic genre.  This music is HOT HOT HOT in this age segment and if a company is able to associate its brand with this event, it will be sure to make a lasting, favorable impression.

Young adults come decked out in their rave gear and wear anything from a pancho to pasties.  The crowd is a wild bunch all looking for a good time.  If that speaks to your brand then this is a perfect pr/ marketing opportunity.  Although Disney may want to steer clear from this rambunctious atmosphere it would be perfect for a brand such as Red Bull or Monster.  If a company is looking to get in with the young cool kids, this is the place.

A company that markets here however should be careful.  Events like this are known to also attract drugs such as ectasy and LSD.  There is a level of risk in associating with Nocturnal because in past events put on by Insomniac there have been multiple drug overdose deaths.  In marketing with Insomniac you may be isolating thoes in their late twenty's and up, but for some it may be worth the while.



This festival is magical to me and any brand i see there will instantly become a part of my experience.  Music is a powerful tool for marketers because it stirs up emotions better than words.  I can't WAIT for April 26th to get here and I will keep an eye out to see which companies take advantage of this unique opportunity.

For more information visit nocturnalwonderland.com

Choosing a Worthy Non-profit

Working for a non-profit organization is one of the most rewarding things a public relations practitioner can do.  Whether the cause be children or puppies it is truly a way for a person in our field to make a difference in the world.  While most non-profits are truly nobel, there is a dark side to these organizations.

It is not uncommon to see stories on the news about corruption in non-profits.  Some CEO's have been caught taking money off the top or having overly generous wages.  And while any organization is bound to have overhead costs (supplies, wages.. etc) there are some non-profits that are better than others at efficiently distributing donations.

Choosing a non-profit to either work for or to donate to should be considered carefully.  Do some research and some online listening.  A big factor is to look up the overall reputation.  Are there any recent scandals? Is the head of the organization passionate about the cause?

Another key thing to find out is what percentage of donations actually go to the cause you are donating or working for.  Non-profits such as American Cancer Society donate only around 26% of the money they make to cancer research. The Susan G. Komen Foundation was recently in hot water about cutting the money they used to donate to planned parenthood.  These are the types of things you should find out before you pick a charity.

Although some have tarnished non-profits reputation, there is still a lot of good done by these organizations.  So pick a cause and an organization worth fighting for and make a difference in the world!

For more information on non-profit fraud click here

Communications job fair

On April 6th there will be a job fair for communication students on campus!  Its a great opportunities for students like me who have been procrastinating on the summer internship. But now its time to prepare!

STEP 1: RESUME
- Before you can go to any job fair you MUST have a proffesional and relevant resume.  The fact that you were in theater freshman year of high school is no longer that relevant.  Include ANYTHING that makes you a better communicator, especially the courses you have taken in college.

STEP 2: RESEARCH
- The first step is to select which companies/ agencies you are interested in working with.  It is your job to then do some background research on theses entities.  Know their history, their mission, and relevant and recent doings of the company. click here to view the complete list of attendees to the job fair.

STEP 3: DETAILS
-  Now that your resume is ready and you are familiar with the places your hopping to intern for it is time to put the cherry on top.  Shine your shoes, iron your shirt and pick out your most professional attire.  Sometimes how you look can make all the difference or even can distinguish you from thoes also applying.  If you don't look the part, chances are you won't get the part.

For more information on the communications job fair click here.

SXSW

 I have never seen the city of Austin so alive.  In broad daylight 6th street was cramed with Austinites and out of towners alike.  Live music drifted out from every bar and free merchandice was being passed out like candy.  World reknown artists such as Eminem, The Shins, 50 cent and Skrillex played along side underground local bands.  The festival spread all over downtown and posters, logos and advertisement was rampant on every corner.

SXSW is a PR dream.  The festival is sure to generate fond memories so associating ones brand with such an occasion will help make a lasting impression.  At Chiddy Bang I was pulled over by a concert goer who proceeded to pour my Vitamin Water (it was free, of course) all over his iphone.  I was amazed and shocked as he told me about his product which uses nano technology coating to protect any electronic device.. starting at only $80.  If that doesn't get a consumers protection, I don't know what would.

I ate free Salt Lick barbeque, drank all the free vitamin water i could handle, and even got free popcicles.  It was a battle ground of who could stand out and get their name out there.  I would say the most over the top thing was the dorito stage where Snoop Dog performed.  It stood out and was a centerpiece in conversation.

In the Eye of the Perceiver

In marketing, public relations, and advertising perception is everything. Suppose an advertiser uses a sweet Golden Retriver in order to illicit warm fuzzies for a product. And now suppose that the viewer watching the ad is grieving due to their own Golden Retriver being hit by a car.... this does NOT bring warm fuzzies but instead illicits a sadness that is now associated with the product being advertised.

My perception is that this dog is CUTE!

Communicating, rather it be from a marketer or a PR practitioner, is a risky buissiness. A person's perception is caused by all the events that have happened in a person's life. Communicating is a dance in which you sweep in and tip toe around. You have to be engaging without being overbearing, and interesting without being offensive. You never know when what you may say may strike a nerve and must always be ready to recover from these mishaps.

Some ways to avoid this is to KNOW who your talking to! Do your research to minimize the possibility of offending. You want to be peceived in the best light possible so even though you can not predict every bad topic, you can do your research and know what the client is interested in. If you falter in a conversation or hit a snag, a smile and an apology will do wonders. Always remember that you are talking to another human being!

While Golden Retrivers are usually a safe bet, the truth is that you will never know a person's life story and thus how and why they perveive a message the way they do. Be careful with your words because they are your trade.

Festivals and their Bad Rap

YES. I go to music festivals. NO. I don't do drugs. These days everyone thinks that if you listen to dubstep and electronic music you do drugs. That is not true! The music is on another level, the beats are so catchy and stimulating that every concert is a mind blowing experience in itself. From a PR standpoint however, these festivals are a nightmare.

You see in the media that teenage overdoses at these concerts are a reoccuring thing. These kids go to the festival in fuzzy boots, a thong and a bra and take drugs instead of appreciate the music. Not everyone at these concerts are ravers, but these unfortunate deaths have caused this misconception.

Insomniac Events is a bit of a PR nightmare. The company made a whopping $33 million from their events last year but also sent more than 200 teens to the hospital. 2 years ago in Los Angeles a 16 year old girl used a fake id to get into the venue and overdoesed on ectasy and died. It was a tradegy and many wondered how Insomniac let this happen. Artists walked off stage a year later at EDC festival in Dallas when 2 teens died and over 30 were carried away in ambulances for heat exhaustion.

These concerts can be called modern day Woodstock Festivals and it will be interesting to see if Insomniac will survive the lawsuits and controversy. I hope for their sakes they have a team of PR gods by their side. As for me, I am there for the music and I know there are many like me there for the same reason.

Check out these links to Insomniac Events and leave a comment on your opinion of these Rave Festivals!

Nocturnal Wonderland
Electric Daisy Carnival

Adverelations? =/

Any PR major will be quick to correct anyone that says " Isn't public relations and advertising.. uhhh, like the same thing?" NO!

Advertisers sell alcohol and cigarettes to teens, give young girls self esteem issues, and give us the need to buy products we don't well... need!  But public relations oh no, we save puppies and raise money for charities.  We are heroes for companies in their time of crisis.. we are no advertising majors!

Advertisers, they want your money!

PR kids just want to save puppies!

But as adament as PR majors about their field, it is hard to ignore all the courses that begin with ADV we have to take...

We had to get a B or higher to get into the college of communication in ADJ 318J... it claimed to be for PR majors too but we weren't fooled.

Next ADVERTISING research!  Couldn't it have been called PUBLIC RELATIONS research?  And most obvious of all is the Advertisng Planning class we all have to take in which we... wait for it... DO AN ADVERTISNG PLAN BOOK! We learned to buy ads and use guerrilla tactics to draw in vulnerable consumers.  It was very un-pr of us.

ALSO!  There is a graduate program for advertising here but not one for public relations.  If that is favoritism I don't know what it!

So for all thoes public relations majors at the University of Texas it is time for us to mobilize and become a force around campus.  We are no advertising majors! We are better. We are PR!

Chris Brown: talent or trouble?

The Grammy's this year stirred up quite the controversy!  Almost everyone is aware of the Chris Brown/ Rihanna incident that happened a few years ago.  The questions stands, Was Chris Brown deserving of the Grammy he received, and more importantly, should he have been allowed to perform.

Looking at this from a Public Relations stand point I believe the answer is crystal clear... no.  Although he may have deserved the Grammy because that is based soley on talent, I believe he should not have been permitted to perform.  By having him perform the people who put on the award ceremony were giving him their endorsement.

Chris Brown is not someone I would want my children to look up to.  The domestic abuse incident alone is reason enough, but to top it off he is known to tweet  negative and offensive comments.  I guess the question stands whether performers should be judged solely on their talent or on their merits and ethics as well.  Rappers receive street cred for going to jail and are worshipped all the same. 

When it comes to talent, NO ONE can deny that Chris Brown has it in spades.  But for me personally and from a PR perspective, anyone who is abusive should "Run It" right out of the industry...

I hate research.

It is a skill that is hard to master and yet vital to a public relations major.  It is the process of taking the responses of a study and crunching numbers to reach conclusions.  Personally, I prefer having a conversation with a person rather than crunching them into an excel spreadsheet. 

Corporations are paying top dollar to get inside the consumers mind.  Research is becoming more and more a part of the public relations field because at the end of the day, companies want quantitative data to reassure them that the vasts amounts of money they are spending is warrented.

When I envision myself in the corporate world as a PR major I conjure up images of crisis communications and writing speeches for top CEO's.... but the truth is that I will most likely be sitting at a desk interpreting data and... ugh... number crunching.  In order to make it to the top you have to put in your time as an unpaid intern doing really boring tasks.  And yup, that includes research.

Social Media's Role in Politics

In our modern society social media plays a daily role is people's lives.  Facebook especially allows us to post our thoughts, promote events, and like particular brands, music and movies.  But how much does social media effect government policies?


Two recent events have showed just how much sway social media and sites such as Google and Wikipedia have on public policies.  When the SOPA bill was looking like it was going to be passed in Congress it was the influence of the internet that shut it down.  Protests on social media sites as well as superpower sites such as Wikipedia drummed up millions of signatures and emails protesting the bill.  It was met with such an outcry that the bill was never passed.

Weeks later the power of the internet was again displayed during the Komen Fiasco.  The immediate outcry on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and forums caused the organization to reverse their decision to pull donations from Planned Parenthood.


Social media is beginning to reach its full potential in politics by not only gaugeing public opinion but also for drumming up support for political candidates.  Social media is not just for teenagers anymore, it is a powerful tool that literally is changing the face of politics in the United States.


For more on social media's role in the goverment click on this Washington Post Article

Really NOT Simple Syndication

As public relations majors we are trained to consume media.  It is our job to know what is going on in the world, as well as what is happening in our neighborhood.  From sports, to business, it is our responsibility to stay up to date on the newest information.
The problem is that there is just SO much going on. 

I keep an RSS feed on Google reader and sometimes going a few hours without checking it can give me hundreds of new stories. How do I know what is important?  What is relevant to me and my clients and exactly how do you apply all this information?

In public relations it is vital to appear to be well-spoken and educated.  Chances are if there is a story featured numerous times in an RSS feed it is something a client would want you to know.  Just being able to engage in political and business conversations is vital for a practitioner.

Public relations is a very dynamic field.  It has an elements of journalism and advertising, and also requires some business saavy.  Not only must practioners stay on top of the news, but they should be knowledgeable about how the market and econamy works as well.  Staying on top of stock prices is important as well.

It is important to be knowledgeable on basically... everything.  Practitioners must know all aspects of the envirionment (social, economic, political...etc) in which they are launching a campaign or a message. For example, it probably is not a good idea to make make public a CEO's bonus check amidst a time of economic hardship.

Even though RSS feeds are far from REALLY SIMPLE, as a public relations major it is vital that it becomes an everyday part of my life.

Iconic Critters



Gidget, The Taco Bell Chihuahua

Who ever said that sex sells best clearly never owned a pet. We've all seen that guy at the park with the adorable fluffy puppy... surrounded by cooing women. The truth is that people love animals. We cried at the end of Old Yeller, cheered on Free Willy as he dove to freedom, laughed at the little British gecko selling us car insurance, and collectively have all wanted to strangle the Aflac duck. As a Public Relations major I can't help but notice the power these furry creatures have over us humans.

I also noticed just how many advertisers have tried to harness this power.

The Geico gecko, Tony the Tiger, the Taco Bell Chihuahua, Micky Mouse, the Chick-fil-et cows, and the Meow Mix kitty all have one thing in common; they are memorable! Animals sell, and not just to children. I am spreading my Laughing Cow light Garlic and Herb spread on some Wheat Thins as I type this out and I can't help but smile at the happy laughing cow on the label.

See? Now tell me you don't want to laugh right along with this happy little cow! So what is it about animals that capture our imagination?

Animals are pure, they won't lie to you or mislead you. People seem to trust a gecko telling them about car insurance more than a person. The connection we make with animals is instantaneous and unfettered by the proper social etiquette we apply to members of our own species. We see a cute puppy and instantaneously scoop the critter up in our arms and let him lick our face. If a guy in a bar tried that with a cute girl I imagine it would not go over so well.

As a PR major I have a particular interest in the field of animal welfare. Advertisers have been tugging at heartstrings with cute critters for ages and these animals have proven just as effective in the field of Public Relations. We all have a soft spot for animals and even though they talk to us in commercials, they have no voice to speak out against animal cruelty.

To get involved with animal welfare check out The Humane Society or  Town Lake Animal Shelter

Sooo, what exactly is PR?

Public relations is undoubtedly a growing field.  Social media continues to grow and more uncontrolled conversations about brands are taking place via social networking sites, blogs, and forums.  More and more public relations practitioners are needed to clean up messes and promote a positive point of view in a world that loves too see others fail.

So while the field is growing, does that entail that the proffession is more recognized? I was in my PR Techniques class last year when something quite unexpected happened.  My professor ask a room full of public relations majors.... what is public relations?

He was met with silence.

And the truth is not a lot of people know a lot about our growing field... and apparently neither did we. PRSA says "Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other." According to the PRSA, the essential functions of public relations include research, planning, communication, dialogue and evaluation.

Although it is not as well known as the field of advertising, public relations can get a similar bad rap.  Some see public relation practitioners as being sneaky, conniving and manipulative.  And while our field does have its share of those who use their powers for evil, public relations does a lot of good. Non-profit pr in particular is a more rewarding profession than most. 

Even though most can not clearly define what it is that public relations proffesional do, their efforts are all around us.  It is in the news, on Facebook, in forums and even shapes societies conversations.  I hope someone asks me to define what public relations is... because this time I will be ready.

Is there a curve?

I am a 21 year old public relations major at the University of Texas.  I am proud of my school and I am especially proud of my chosen field.  Each passing day brings me closer to graduation and what once seemed so far away is quickly coming to sumation.

What is life after college? And what separates thoes who will suceeed from thoes who will obtain mediocracy? We are told to be profficient copy editors and concise writers. We are trained in the art of conversation and are supposed to know exactly what to do in a time of crisis.  When I look at my peers I know that I am receiving the exact same education as them, and yet some inevitably seem to be leading the pack.

As graduation approaches I am scrambling to distinguish myself from my peers and am constantly searching for networking opportunities and resume boosters.  I see Facebook status's about my classmates landing paid internships, and becoming the president of this or that club and I wonder; am I falling behind the curve?

In this day and age it isn't enough to just get the degree.  In this day and age you have to stand out. The career you end up with is a mixture of skill, luck, perserverance, and a little bit of who you know.  So far I have no fancy internship to my name, and I am not the president of any club.  Am I already behind? Or am I the norm?  I wonder what it is that determines success.

In public relations it is not enough to just coast.  You have to throw yourself out there over and over again.  Mostly you will get rejected, but all it takes if one break to get your career rolling.  I believe it is the fear of rejection that holds most of us public relations majors back.  When I stop and think about it I have realized that half hearted attempts at making connections will get me no where.

So I am making it my mission, and you should make it yours.  In our field giving 50 percent will get you no where when there are thoes giving it their all.  In our field only perserverence, professionalism and personality prevails at the end of the day.  Go beyond a handshake and a smile, and don't let opportunities pass you by.