Lara’s side of the story…

A member of both Facebook and LinkedIn, I believe the possibility of an emerging business networking capability for Facebook does pose a threat to LinkedIn’s growing popularity. But my question is how much of a threat? After reading this article detailing the potential addition of this new capability, I asked myself the same question Barry Parr, Jupiter media analyst, addressed in the article: how many networks do you really want to belong to?

Personally, I am a member of multiple social networks with the number climbing each day. Although joining most of these networks has been out of curiosity as I’ve found most of the pioneers in the social media realm involved in several, my all-time favorite is Facebook. Second only to blogging, it was an early endeavor that I hold dear to my heart. I spend entirely too much time immersed in the climbing number of applications, and at times neglect my other networks, but that doesn’t mean I will delete my accounts. I am relatively new to LinkedIn and find it rewarding and appealing, especially as I am currently seeking my first real job. But, with a potential LinkedIn spin on Facebook, will I remain faithful to my LinkedIn membership? It’s actually harder to answer than I expected. Here’s my best shot:

Another reason, other than curiosity, I am a member of so many social networks is each channel’s diversity. I appreciate the different uses and benefits of each and every one. Plus, each channel attracts a different audience. I understand the appeal of simplifying multiple channels into one conglomerate, but if I decide to leave one, who is to say everyone I’m connected to through that specific channel will join me? This presents a problem because ultimately, it could cause a loss of a contact which is the purpose of social media in the first place, contact with others (hence the name: social network). Unless every person left all networks to join one specific, the threat of losing a contact is ever present. Being a member of multiple networks is rewarding, not disadvantageous. Each social channel offers access to diverse individuals eager to connect. So, as an aficionado of multiple accounts, I don’t see Facebook’s potential business networking acquisition as a serious threat. I do understand the concern from LinkedIn’s supporters, but I don’t think if Facebook makes this move it will eliminate LinkedIn. Yes, I think Facebook’s popularity will continue to surpass LinkedIn, but there can only be one Number 1.

We have to remember we are talking about technology; something that will never be tamed. Each day a new development is in the works that will potentially be bigger, better and faster that will pose a threat. It’s business and it’s risky.

Until next time

I’ve already expressed my distaste of the media’s obsession with Britney Spears’ life to a few people and ranted away in less than 140 characters in twitterland, so why not use one more social media outlet to fully describe the extent of my disgust. I understand the public has a direct influence on what are “hot topics” in today’s society, so we are somewhat to blame but I think it has reached an all time low when all the mainstream news’ channels are posted outside of the courtroom in Los Angeles awaiting her arrival.

I was chatting with a friend of mine, Katie Smith, (you can find her on twitter: katiesmith, she asked me to plug her in my blog) who expressed the same feelings toward the issue, and I made the comment, I don’t understand it, she has been in a downward spiral for quite some time and we all knew this was due to happen. She’s getting all this attention and she didn’t even kill someone. I know to say that is morally wrong and politically incorrect, but it made us laugh and is, in a sense, true. And is now a quote on my friend’s Facebook wall.

I’m really surprised this has become such a ‘hot button’ issue, but I guess it does have that emotional appeal we learned about in Newswriting. It is heartbreaking to watch her suffer live on TV, and I do have compassion but some of her actions have been self-deprecating and could have been avoided. I’m just looking forward to the day when the world has left her at peace, only for her to reemerge in the limelight as another child star on a reality show on VH1.

Although I have targeted much of my posts toward new media and how it will affect my future in PR, I just couldn’t get off my soapbox. I was recently reading a 2005 interview of a PR professional, and one of the pointers he gave to young, up-and-coming PR students was to become a sponge, absorbing as much news as possible. And when I reflect on this advice, I can’t help but think Britney Spears’ wardrobe nor failure to appear in court was what he had in mind.

But then again, all this attention has made “Britney Spears” a household name, and does have me blogging but not in a positive light, even devoted fans are having a hard time defending her now. Through all this, I find it difficult to defend the age-old tale that, “all publicity is good publicity.”

Until next time!

I confess, tonight I reverted back to my early college years and watched the pilot episode of the new up-and-coming teen obsession, Gossip Girl. The new series aired on The CW Network and is a product of the creators of The O.C. Money, rumors, jealousy and popularity, it’s The Eastside O.C. And I predict it will have much of the same effect on the targeted demographic as did The O.C.; Wednesday night get-togethers over dinner and wine, disappointment as the last five minutes approach leaving the viewers in anticipation for scenes from next week.

So, why have I decided to blog about the new show? Yes, I can justify it. I found Gossip Girl to be another example of how social media’s popularity and online presence is undeniable. The synopsis of the show explains:

“The privileged prep school teens on Manhattan’s Upper East Side first learn that Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”) is back in town the way they learn all the important news in their lives — from the blog of the allknowing albeit ultra-secretive Gossip Girl.”

The entirety of the show is narrated by Gossip Girl’s blog and drives the turmoil following these teens. Each show will unfold as an entry in this blog, and I believe, as a direct result, ignite the popularity of blogs among young teens.

Although the show doesn’t show the benefits of a blog in the corporate world or its potential of developing mutually beneficial relationships among a corporation and its publics, I feel it does answer the question many people find themselves asking, whether or not the buzz about social media is valid. If you find yourself still questioning this medium’s future, simply turn on your TV. Social media has arrived and is here to stay.

Until next time…

After reading several articles debating the relevance of The Princeton Review’s advice to reconsider the curriculum in Public Relations’ programs nationwide, I felt it was time a recent student gave its perspective. And that is exactly what I intend to do. I graduated from Auburn University with a BA in Public Relations in December and having recently completed the curriculum, I want to give my take.

For those of you who have not read the article, let me explain. The Princeton Review recently advised students who are considering a career in Public Relations focus much of their studies in liberal arts as well as writing courses rather than actual PR courses. The article also states the PR industry needs well-rounded communicators and emphasizes the benefits of liberal arts courses to help develop these skills.

So, what do I think? I feel that the review is almost an insult to Public Relations’ programs. I do not understand how someone can believe that through PR courses students will not learn how to communicate effectively; it’s the focal point of the courses. Don’t get me wrong, I agree that it is important to have a solid background in a variety of courses such as liberal arts to become a well-rounded individual, but I think it’s ludicrous to suggest that PR courses cannot prepare a student for a career in the industry. Obviously the people at The Review have not sat in a classroom lately. I think the PR courses at Auburn have actively prepared me for a career in PR and have helped develop my communication skills. My Style & Design in Public Relations course at Auburn not only taught me how to work with creative software, but also involved me in the world of social media. I’m blogging for crying out loud, and PR courses aren’t supposed to prepare students to be well-rounded communicators???? Also, in this specific course we used Skype and spoke with PR professionals all over the world. And that’s just ONE course of many in the PR program here at Auburn.

I’m not saying that courses in the arts are not important to a student. I actually think it is important to take a variety of courses while in school. My advice to students: take advantage of all the knowledge available to you in college and soak it in but understand the importance and benefits of PR courses and TAKE THEM. My advice to the people at The Princeton Review: Enroll in a PR program, sit in the classroom, work on the projects and THEN release an article advising hopeful PR students. PR is a booming industry for a reason, apparently the PR programs have been doing something right.

Until next time…

Surveys are done, and I am sure I speak for the entire class when I say a weight has been lifted off our shoulders. Radio listening habits have been assessed, shopping preferences analyzed, and the new age of online news has been critiqued. A few things that I have found after working hours upon hours on my survey:

1. Have faith. At first when we discussed how we would reach the entire student body to be able to generalize about the population, we were hesitant using email. We expected a small response pool, and even has formulated a plan B to try to reach students in a face-to-face approach. We wanted 400 responses to our emails…we received 1,982 responses. Didn’t see that one coming.

2. Be consistent. We found that being consistent with our survey and creating an introductory paragraph, and sending the exact same survey to everyone is the most sufficient way to conduct a survey.

3. Contact is key. Staying in contact with our client constantly, as well as each group member proved to create a group that meshed well. Without communication we would have been lost, and had all been working on the same thing getting nothing done.

Sometimes group projects can be a headache and stress all students out. Worrying with who will do what is something that is a familiar problem. These are just some key points that we, as a group, have worked on and polished to create what I think was a great project.

This past week one of my best friends was involved in a car accident outside of my hometown. The morning I found out, I waited to hear her condition and found out that she was air-lifted to the hospital in Birmingham to be placed in NICU. Her mom called and let me know that things were not looking up for her, and within two hours I was in the hospital sitting side-by-side with her parents and grandparents.

At the time, nothing related to school or Public Relations crossed my mind, but as her condition begins to improve. I began thinking about one thing that displayed the positive relations Regional Medical Center has instilled in their company. My friend was a nurse at this hospital, and was actually on her way to work when the accident happened. She arrived at the hospital at 11 in the morning, and by 2 I was there.

The one thing that I just realized, was that the hospital that she works for sent two employees to the hospital to be with her family. Within 30 minutes of my arrival at the hospital, two people who were members of the staff at Regional Medical Center came into the waiting room and spoke with her family, letting them know they were there and supporting her recovery.

It is a simple gesture and a simple task to send two people representing the hospital to the hospital my friend was at because it is only an hour away, but I thought that simple gesture spoke positively for the hospital. To me, it showed that Regional Medical Center places a high emphasis on employee relations and shows that they really do care about their employees. After speaking with my friend’s mother, she told me that Regional Medical Center has been in contact with her regularly checking her status. I gained a lot of respect for that hospital after I set back and began thinking about these kind gestures. I know if it means a lot to me, it will mean a lot to my friend when she gets well.

With this post, I am going to veer off from my usual discussion of hot topics in the media. I’m not going to reference an article I read, or express my opinion about any issue. I am going to talk about the advice I gave to an underclassman who was contemplating majors. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I think it is good advice that can be applied to many different situations.

My friend is a sophomore approaching her junior year which is typically the time when students begin making major decisions, and begin the long haul to receiving their degree of choice. I was working on one of my projects for class, and she said to me “I could never do that.” She explained to me that she had no idea what she wanted to do because she felt intimidated by some aspect of all the majors she had contemplated. I remembered back to my junior year when I was making the same decision, and I remember my advisor saying to me, “Now public relations is not going to be easy,” well I knew that going into it so I tried not to let that discourage me.

So now on to the advice I gave, I told her that every major is going to be hard no matter what some aspect is going to challenge you. I told her that a major will be as difficult as you make it, and although it seems unrealistic to think that you will be able to do some of the things that scare you now, if you are passionate about it you will overcome those obstacles. I stressed to her the fact of being passionate about what she is doing. I have read many articles, and listened to many lectures in marketing about passion being the “fifth P,” and how important it is that you are passionate about either the product you are placing in the market, or in this situation how passionate you are about your work.

Passion can lead to success. If you are passionate about something, then you will work hard and accomplish your goals. It may be time-consuming and tedious work, but passion drives you to do your best and to keep on going. Passion will push you that extra step and make you go above and beyond. I told her that the reason most people excel in their major/work is because they are passionate and are willing to go that extra mile.

I thought what I told her was good advice and could be applied to many different circumstances, so I wanted to share what I told her and hope that I was leading her in the right direction.

We, as students, no longer have an excuse to not know what is going on in the Public Relations world. We can’t say we don’t have the inside scoop or that we are not linked in to the hottest topics to hit the press anymore. Those days are over. Thanks to O’Dwyer’s Public Relations News website we are now “in the know.”

Yesterday we were let in on a little secret that O’Dwyer’s was going to allow us to access most of their stories. O’Dwyer’s is a paid subscription service that contains some of the biggest news in Public Relations each day. But now we are allowed to actually go in and read some of the articles, actually most of them. Being able to read 50 % would even be a great thing for us students, so we are so grateful that we are able to do this.

I just wanted to extend a big “thank you” to the editor-in-chief and mastermind behind O’Dwyer’s, Jack O’Dwyer. So on behalf of all the students here at Auburn, thank you so much. We greatly appreciate you allowing us to access such valuable information.

Is it really okay for a freelance journalist to accept money to leave certain people’s names out of their articles? I know I disagree and other credible journalists do as well. It is a violation of a journalist’s ethics to accept these “gifts.” A journalist is supposed to report truthfully and without bias, and I want to know how you can say you are doing that when you are accepting “hush” money on the side.

That is the current debate arising out of a new scandal with freelance journalist Jared Paul Stern who frequents “The New York Post’s” Page Six section. Stern writes in the saucy section dishing the latest gossip about celebrities and prominent figures in the public eye. Recently he wrote an article about supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle. Apparently Burkle was not pleased with some of the things written in the article and decided to write a letter of complaint to Rupert Murdoch whose company owns the tabloid.

In response to Burkle’s complaints, Stern requested $100,000 and a $10,000 month stipend” to ensure that he would “go easy” on Burkle in the future in Page Six. As a journalist, whether freelance or not, Stern should know that accepting these “gifts” is against all journalists’ code of ethics, but Stern sees no wrong in it. It has raised some question about the future of the racy world of celebrity news. In the article Donald Trump was quoted as saying if he knew he could have paid money to stay out of Page Six he would have been willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This issue really makes you wonder how far some journalists will take this. Will celebrities use this instance in the future to try to pay off journalists to stay out of the media? Will some journalists be willing to take it? It will be interesting to see where this scandal will go or if it will just fizzle out, but for the time being it seems a concern to many people.

With the launching of higheredblogcon being only yesterday, I am anxious to see what these professionals,as well as me as a student, will gain from the website. I think it is a great idea to use this website to allow professors from all over the United States to go and discuss different teaching techniques and their results.

The purpose of this website is to offer a place for professors to post articles and communicate with each other via the Internet about different types of technology they have used in the classroom. The website is going to be active for about a month, and has a grand list of contributors to back it up.

I am anxious to see what each professor has found useful in their classroom, and what has turned out to be a total flop. It is a great way for professors to offer tips to others, all with the students’ future and success in mind. It really does show that professors care about their students. It makes you appreciate all the hard work that professors do go through to teach their students, and it makes all the social media and technology we are learning here at Auburn seem worthwhile.

It seems hard to argue that social media and technology are not beginnig to play a major role in public relations after the launching of the website. These types of things are what professors are teaching, and I feel lucky to have these things taught to me before I enter the workforce. I feel almost a step ahead.