Why PR is important as a college major

Top 10 tihnks learned in PR Publications Class

cdixon14 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:50:41 +0000

This is a list of only 10 of the many skills I developed while taking Professor Barbara Nixon’s PR Publications class. This class taught me a lot about print publications and introduced me to new technologies and programs I did not previously have experience with. Take a look!

How is Woods’ PR move effected by new trends in media?

cdixon14 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:54:48 +0000

A big topic in the media recently is a car crash involving Tiger Woods at his home on Friday, November 25. A particular article I found focused on the public relations tactics used when dealing with the media in this issue. Titled, “Tiger Woods: Is Tiger Woods’ public-relations strategy all wrong?” This article used Ron Sachs, president and CEO of Ron Sachs Communications in Tallahassee, and Christine Brennan, USA Today columnist Christine Brennan, to pin point what was done in Wood’s public appearance and what effects it will have.

Sachs says Woods took a ‘nobel’ stance by protecting his privacy and his family, but also claims that by leaving most of the story unanswered Woods opens the door for a lot of accusations to present their selves.

Brennan points out the importance of the internet, particularly in the ‘blogosphere.’ Although Woods has given efforts to lay this situation to rest, Brennan explains, the internet never stops. People will continue to blog and post opinions about the incident past its ‘shelf time.’

In this new age we are still learning the effects of technology trends. As a public relations practitioner, one should always be aware of how their announcements will affect the public. I feel that Woods is a victim of new media ethics trends. The fact that people are continuously blogging about his car crash is nothing special to that done to every other character in the public eye. Woods took a good public relations strategy to deliver information using one-way communication with a set agenda.

Framing theory in the Media

cdixon14 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:33:49 +0000

While reading a tabloid today, I discovered the accusations around Obama’s gay lover who has decided to run against him in the efforts to lessen his power. Larry Sinclair claims to have had sexual relations with the president in 1999 in a limo, and once after in a hotel. Sinclair also claims to have snorted cocaine with Obama during this time. Sinclair is a convicted drug trafficker who is now planning to run for the senate in the efforts to over through President Obama in his rise to power. The Obama administration has worked diligently to silence Sinclair’s voice, but have recently met their match.

As a media issue, the newly elected president will be faced with a method of keeping these accusations out of the public’s eye to prevent distrust and a lack of support. From a PR practitioner’s perspective, this event was handled by eliminating any of Sinclair’s claims from influencing the public’s view of his character. By using a framing technique by shaping the information presented to the public to only include those ideas that shine good light on the current president, the Obama administration was able to contain any unconfirmed rumors.

Instilled ion our culture are trendy media outlets such as the tabloid discussed. These types of cultural norms influence our society with (sometimes) little truth and journalistic value. In some other cultures with which the media is directly governed by the government, these types of cultural developments (especially one concerning the president) would never have reached the public eye. Technology is one of four social trends our class discussed earlier in the year. Among these new technologies is the advancement of feedback and heavily opinionated individuals. The fact that these accusations have made it to the public eye shows the diversity in culture we have among other nations, and the effect that new technologies in media have on us.

Extra Post #4: How to Add a Poll to a Blog

cdixon14 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:31:51 +0000

During my Public Relations Publications class, Sheila Cost (a student) gave an interesting presentation about how to insert a poll into a blog. In this class and other related classes, we have been exposed to WordPress which is a free and easy blog site. Sheila used this sight to explain to the class about poll inserting.
After logging in to WordPress with your user name and password, go to the Dashboard button on the top of the screen. Scroll down until you see the Polls button located under the Ratings button. Under Polls, click Add New.
Under this selection you will be able to insert the question your poll will ask viewers, and an area for your answer choices. Under the answer space you will be able to customize your poll’s answer style (Multiple choice, random order, and allow other answers). By choosing the Share This Link you can make your poll public.
Next, locate the Poll Results button on the right to choose a preference. After customizing your poll results, decide if you want to block repeat voters by selecting the indicated button.
Now that you have created and customized your poll, go up to the right hand side of the screen and look for a Publish button atop a Save button. First select the Save button. A Message will indicate that your poll has been updated. To the left hand side of the page you will discover a Posts button in which you will select Add New.
I would recommend titling your post as it will be optional at this time.
Under the title space will be a selection called Upload/Insert. Click on it. Your poll will pop up in a window at this point, below you will notice a button Send To Editor, Click it. Your poll will appear in the message part of your post that you started with!

Extra Post #3: Defining the Importance and Structure of Newsletters

cdixon14 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:11:26 +0000

As explained Linda P. Morton’s book Strategic Publications: Designing for Target Publics, ‘newsletters are small publications designed to deliver information promptly to a narrow target public.’ When compares to newspapers and other similar publications, they are smaller simpler, and give information quick and with ease. When first produced, newsletters resembled letters than newspapers. After today’s developing technologies, newsletters have become more advanced.

Strategic newsletters can be divided in to two categories: Special interest and employee. Special interests are for external publics to reach out to a potential audience while employee newsletters are internal and focus on inner publics.
When reaching external publics, use a message that directly affects them, like how-to, product news, or recent updates. Internal publics want information that is more concentrated. Under the basis of that company, they would like to be informed about organizational plans or changes; new policies, products, or services; competition information; and any other information that may effect their current or potential role in the company.
When creating either internal or external newsletters it is important to keep it simple. You should be able to catch the reader’s eye and then inform them. Common used elements in a newsletter are sidebars, quotes, and pictures to support your articles and features stories.

Extra Post #2: Designing Flat Publications

cdixon14 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:45:44 +0000

Chapter five of my publications book, Strategic Publications: Designing for Target Publics by Linda P. Morton, steps to designing flat type publications are explained. Before starting the steps to designing you must first do research (as with any publication). Define the problem, opportunities of the publication, issues surrounding it, your key message, and your target audience.
Step 1: Format
Decide on size and shape. Standard size is more widely used than legal for these publications. When creating a flyer, you can use a portrait (hotdog) or landscape (hamburger) style.
Step 2: Choosing Content
When placing information in a flat publication, the most common mistake is including too much information. Keep in mind that a flyer has only 3 seconds on average to catch a readers attention! Using large word text, art, and simplify the message to get the readers attention and keep it.
Your head should focus on one central idea, and have two to five subheads that support it. Subheads should only emphasis the main points. At the end, create a closer or punch line that will stick with the reader after they have moved on from your publication.
Step 3: Text
This step focuses on choosing the right font, style, and size for your publications text. Your text should be easy to read. Again- you only have a few seconds to catch a reader’s eye. Using fancy and busy fonts will confuse the reader and probley not hold their attention. You can use the style of your font to convey a certain message that relates to your overall focus.

Vs.

Step 4: Art
Art fives you a chance to express your publication’s meaning quickly. Don’t get over creative and clutter your work though! Use only one piece of art per page. Select the art work you think is the most communicative and relative piece. Make it large enough so that the reader can easily make out what it is. If you do decide to use multiple art work items, differing their size helps eliminate visual confusion.

Step 5: Thumnails
Create thumbnails using your design decisions. Placement is important in this step. Placing art high helps the flow of the publication. Close-ups should be placed at the bottom and should either bleed photographs or keep them inside column guides. Use as few separate visual elements as possible and make sure their design lay out fits accordingly.
Step 6: Testing & Production
When you are satisfied with your work, it is time to make copies!
Making copies on a copy machine limit the use of color. Although more expensive, using an ink jet or color laser printer use better quality and color variety. Using paper that is already colored is a great way to avoid paying to color an entire page and saves money. The amount of pages you wish to print will set your budget for what quality you can afford to print with.

Diversity at GSU: Benefit of Foreign Exchange Program

cdixon14 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:05:40 +0000

Georgia Southern’s campus has a diverse crowd of different ethnic back grounds. I would like to focus on an organization that helps make this diversity possible. Across the state, Rotary Clubs sponsor foreign exchange students each semester to come be a part of GSU’s educating system. Students from all around the world are picked from a number of applications based on their community involvement and education. Once a host family has chosen their student, they will act as the students mentor and supporter for their time in the USA.

Georgia Southern covers the students housing and creates an agenda of activities for the foreign exchange students. During these events they will learn our culture and interact with campus mentors and other foreign exchange students. Host families take care of the students on weekends and other off days.

I think this is a valuable system that brings diversity to our campus. My parents have hosted five students ranging from Poland, Iceland, and Norway. Each person has given me great insight on their different cultures and way of living. I think these types of people are important to our campus because they bring a different way of thinking and can teach us important things about their cultures.

Diversity Choice: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

cdixon14 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:44:20 +0000

On November 9th, I hade the opportunity to watch a foreign film that was presented on campus at the Russel Union. This screening was part of Georgia Southern’s Cinema Arts Series (For current GSU calendar events, click here). The film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, directed by Julian Schnabel, is a French film that is based on true story, about an editor for Ella who has been paralyzed by a disease called Locked-In Syndrome. Wanting to still express his creativity, the editor, Jean Dominique Bauby, develops a technique for communicating by simply blinking his eyes.

The audience was typical to what is usually seen around campus at any given time/place. There were a few possible ethnic students. The majority of the audience was typical. I was expecting a more diverse crowd to attend an international film, but since it is a French based film, it would be silly of me to try and pin-point a French student by looking at them. I realized the similarities that we as Americans share with students from other countries.

I felt it was interesting to learn about the French culture through this film. There were a lot of similar interactions I connected with the way American films are constructed. The main character, Bauby, was portrayed as a brilliant man who over comes a great limitation. This is a common theme presented throughout American films as well.

The diving Bell and the Butterfly was worth my three dollars I would attend another international film similar to this one. I felt comfortable in the environment. Although next time I would like to experiment with a film that is not similar to American culture and has a great deal of diversity when compared to films I see today. Viewing this film opened me up to the possibilities of learning new cultures through seeing, and not just hearing about.
The film was an overall success and I enjoyed being a part of GSU’s Cinema Arts Series.
To see movie reviews on The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Click here.

News University’s ‘Image of Image’

cdixon14 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:36:29 +0000

By participating in the ‘Language of Image’ online class, I was able to learn about using layering, mood, and light to create different types of photographs which have a more effective meaning. This lesson was administered by the News University and gave insight to how changing elements of a photo can make a different meaning. During this class, three types of photographs were described:
Informational – Simply a visual record of a person or event
Passive- Pictures taken specifically for publication after the event has occurred. These photos are usually taken with the intent of being in a publication. These types of photos are sometimes about past events and can involve props.
Active- Pictures taken while the event is occurring. This type of photo can depict emotion, mood, or invoke feelings. Active is preferred by journalists.
Through my lesson, I was given an example of how using a different approach to a topic can create a different emotion. When using a child’s birth as a topic, a photo illustrating the mother’s point of view verse the father’s point of view can bring about different emotions and different meanings.
I enjoyed learning about how to create different types photos and use additional tools to create the desired result of a photo. As public relations major, I realize the importance of making a photo that fits the intent of the project at hand. When making a flyer, brochure, or press release; creating the perfect image to accompany it would be improved by using the elements described in this lesson.

Guest Speaker: Elizabeth Albrycht

cdixon14 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:02:32 +0000

An important part of public Relations is extending to a global market. After living across the United States, to now residing in France, Elizabeth Albrycht has explored the Public Relations field from many different angles. Albrycht has went from owning her own Public Relations company, to now teaching International Public Relations at East Communication, and a mix of Public Relations and Business Disciplines at Paris School of Business. I find it amazing that her Paris School of Business class ranges 17 different countries among 25-40 students. Living in a diverse class room, as a student or teacher, would expose one to a cross-cultural experience.
Albrycht defined the meaning of individual perspective, which is how people across cultures want to be communicated with and get truthful information. They want to be treated as equal individuals and hate feeling hopeless. After her explanation, it was apparent how important this factor is in Public Relations from an international perspective. In Public Relations it is important to develop relationships with people.
I learned through Albrycht’s lecture that Public Relations may be similar across cultures through their principles and modowes, but differ by region according to the tactics used to reach the designated area. Because cultures are different, it is important to pay respect to the region by adapting your tactics to fit the audience you are reaching. Also, organizational and power issues are tricky across cultures. It is smart to not let your ego get in the way and to be open-minded of others upbringing.
Creating shared meaning, was an important aspect of Public Relations discussed. “No man is an island,” said Albrycht. Everything we do interacts in conjunction with our lives. We socially construct meaning for the things we see and the people we interact with.
Albrycht touched on the new developments in multimedia and mobile media. Both France and the United States have exchanged these trends according to their cultural norms. With all the developments in the media, Public Relations has developed a two-way communication where the audience can send feed back.