Quick on the Trigger


I was hard at work but decided to take a brake and check out industry stories. What did I find? Another PR debacle caused by someone who was quick on the trigger.

Here is a nice (by nice I really mean funny) story about a person at PR firm, Waggener Edstrom, who accidentally sent a reporter an email intended to go to their client Microsoft.

Right here we have a problem, but it gets better!

Attached to the email was a 5500-word memo containing notes on how Microsoft could manage a story that the reporter was writing including details on his interviewing style and possible biases.

Interestingly enough, the story was centered on Microsoft's recent attempts to change the perception that it is an overly secretive company.

Now it's all over the web. Why? Because someone was a little "Send" happy.

The full story is can be found here.

Check out the story and avoid being quick on the trigger!!

Job Hunting Season has begun!

Hopefully you all are squared away for your summer/full t jobs and internships, but if you aren't, you need to check this message that was posted by an employer on craigslist.com.

Here's a quick teaser from the post:
"Most applications I receive go straight to the deleted-items folder because of a few simple mistakes. I'm beginning to feel bad, so if you are going to make the effort to apply for a job here, or anywhere else, I'd like to offer you some advice."

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/101949754.html

Good Luck and may High Salaries be with you!

Cause Related Marketing and PR


I'm sure we've all at some point or another bought a product ourselves or promoted one among our group of friends because the proceeds were going to a good cause.

Well, if you interested in putting together your own campaign or would like to read up what is becoming a huge component of PR campaigns for corporate giants, check out Cause Marketing 101 .

PR Week Student of the Year Contest!


PR firm Hill & Knowlton is sponsoring the 2007 PR Week Student of the Year Contest.
Entrants will have the opportunity to test their public relations and communications skills creating a full on campaign for Motorola. By entering, you have the chance to win $5,000 and a paid internship at one of the world's largest PR firms - not to mention the honor of being the PRWeek Student of the Year 2007.

You must be enrolled as an undergraduate student at a US college or university between November 21, 2005 and November 21, 2006 to be eligible for the award.

I know a good deal of you in Influence PR could definitely win this award! I encourage you to enter!
The guidelines can be foud here: http://www.prweek.com/us/events/

If you have trouble accessing it, email influencepr@gmail.com and I will see what I can do to help you out.

Shortlisted contestants will be flown to New York in January 2007 for a final day of judging and a trip to the PRWeek Awards gala on March 8, 2007. Enter today!


Here's the timeline of events:

December 22: Student of the Year Award Entries Due

December 2006: Judging

January 2007: Shortlist announced

March 8, 2007: PRWeek Awards 2007 at Tavern on the Green in New York City

I hope you'll take the challenge!

Grad School or Full time Job?


Are you pondering this question?

I am, along with a few more including where, for which company, agency, non-profit, government or not?

Well this post from Forward Blog doesn't help me answer all of my questions, but it is a start.

Check out their discussion on Graduate degrees in Public Relations:

http://www.forward-moving.com/blog/2006/09/04/graduate-degrees-in-public-relations/

Podcasting Tips


Want to learn how to make your own Podcasts? Listen to Forward Podcast #6 for an
interview with Phil Gomes, senior counsel for online communications at Edelman. Phil talks about the effect he believes podcasting will have on PR and gives some great tips for creating your own quality podcast.

Working on your own PR campaign? If you check it against this guide, you wil have covered all your bases.

I know its been a while since my last post. I was going to take a summer vacation from blogging but after a few people asked about updates I decided to start things up again.

Here's something that I think will really push PR pros to use the great technology out there in there quest to spread awareness. Shift Communications' Social Media Press Release is a truly nice merge between new technology and traditional PR practices.