The PR Road to Happiness

I'm Making my Wish

2010-06-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

It has been officially been 4 weeks since the start date of my first ever internship in the Public Relations field. Walking into the door on day one was the most terrifying part...not knowing exactly what to expect. I was quickly at ease as I could not have been greeted with more excitement and generosity. Orientation was a quick overview of what exactly Make-A-Wish is and how it makes a difference in so many families lives. I learned alot that I would not have ever known.

Orientation was over and it was time to meet with out supervisor's. My supervisor, Kelly Henderson, had also interviewd me and I was very excited to be working with her. Unfortunately, she had bad news for me. Her time at Make-A-Wish was coming to an end as she had taken a different position in a more corportate setting. She was the point person for the annual Tournament of Wishes golf tournament and had planned the event from top to bottom. She had 2 weeks left to show me the ropes and give me all the bits of information about this tournament that it took many people months to fully absorb.

Only after a few printing errors and paperwork mistakes I felt like my feet were finally on the ground. The amount of responsibility and job duties that were assigned to me was very overwhelming, but it felt great to play a big role and have people look to me knowing I was capable of getting it done.

So far I think the one thing that I enjoy the most is able to take the reins and run with things no my own. I feel confident in my abilites and actions that I don't have to ask permission before I do every single thing. It is also great that this organization trusts me enough to do that. This tournament consists of everything from live and silent auctions, celebrity appearances, awards, breakfast and lunch arrangements, wish children appearances, contests, and a reception. Attention to detail has proven to be very important and I can't wait to see the execution of this tournament!

Final PR Class...and I learned so much!

2010-05-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

Words can't describe how much this PR program and Dr. Miller has taught me. I feel like I am ready to take on the real world and be a successful PR professional. When asked what the 10 things I learned I knew I would easily be able to come up with many things.

1. You're idea is not always the best idea.
When working for a client it is your responsibility to make them happy. Even if you believe you have the best idea in the world, it may not be exactly what the client wants and it is inportant to learn how to compromise.

2. Have a plan B.
For our event at the Milledgeville Mall we were banking on having promotional magnets to hand out. When they did not arrive on time I had to come up with a different form of promotional material to hand out. Always have a back up plan.

3. The client is always right
In my career I am sure I will be working with a client who I do not agree with and get along with, but it is my responsibilty to put those feelings aside and get the job done.

4. Procrastination NEVER works
Waiting until the last minute to so something never pays off. Having things done ahead of time gives you room for error and time to correct it.

5. How to work with a team
I have also been the type of person who like to do things on my own, but these courses have shown me how beneficial groups can be. I believe the best ideas come when they can be bounced off each other.

6. Make connections
I know small thank you e-mails and calls can be a hassle, but they surely pay off in the end. Taking time to do the little things really shows when you need a favor.

7. Friends that turned into family
I have learned that each one of thse girls in my program has so much to offer the world. Each one holds a different talent that they should be proud of. I know I can count on any of these girls in the future as they can count on me.

8. Take great notes
My head can not hold as much information as I used to think it good. Even if you think you can remember it....write it down anyway! It will come back to haunt you if you don't!

9. Save your work
Although I was not in seior seminar this semeste I have seen how important it is to save your work and follow up on press releases, PSA's, etc. It makes it much easier when you need to find them.

10. If you don't love what you do...get out!
I love this field. I have learned that nonprofit is a huge passion of mine and I would not have known that without this program. I don't want this to ever seem like "work" because I want to enjoy the ups and downs and learn something new everyday!

Thank you Dr. Miller and thank you to the amazing girls I got to share this experience with. I wish all of you the best of luck with graduation!

Starbucks IS Socially Responsible

2010-04-27T15:14:00.001-07:00

Starbucks

Brewing high quality coffee since 1971, Starbucks has formed its own global culture. Serving coffee is not the only expertise Starbucks has to offer. Their globalization, community service and environmental concerns have left a heavy impact on their consumers always keeping them coming back for more.

From the day Starbucks opened it has dedicated their business to the community because they believe in earning trust and respect of their consumers. Being socially responsible and doing things that are good for the planet and good for each other is their main goal. Starbucks divides its social responsibilities into four categories: Community, Environment, Ethical Sourcing and Wellness. Each program represents a different part of society.

The Community program is their largest program. Their goal is to have Starbucks employees, partners and customers contribute more than one million community service hours by 2015. Their Youth Action Program inspires young people through innovation and youth grants. In fiscal 2009, Starbucks made 71 grants totaling $2.1 million to organizations supporting young people. Starbucks has also partnered up with Product RED to help fight AIDS in Africa.

The second program is the Environmental program. 70% of all stores recycle at least one type of waste where commercial recycling is available. Starbucks also focuses on energy and water conservation by increasing efficiency of electricity and implementing new alternatives to reduce water usage.

Ethical Sourcing directly affects the consumers making it a top priority program for the corporation. It’s their goal for all of coffee to be grown under the highest standards of quality, using ethical trading and responsible growing practices. Their merchandise, furniture and uniforms are guaranteed to be bought from suppliers and manufacturers who share the same morals and values.

The last program Starbucks offers if the Wellness program. Their commitment to wellness starts with the foods and beverages offered in their stores. All of foods are no more than 500 calories and free from unnecessary ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, dyes and artificial trans fats. Starbucks will soon be posting calories and continue to look for innovative ways to share nutritional information.

Starbucks puts as much effort into their social responsibility as they do into running their business. Each day is not a success unless they have positively affected the community in some way. Their diverse programs have allowed the corporation to reach all aspects of the community and truly make a difference. Globally, Starbucks has stayed on CNN’s top 10 Socially Responsible Corporations list for the past ten years.

The general idea of social responsibility is to inspire community involvement and improvement, but it is important to detect the corporations that are practicing this for the wrong reasons. There are many arguments that a corporation’s purpose for community involvement is only to maximize returns for the corporations and not for society as a whole. Ethical corporations that are truly socially responsible care about their community involvement as well as their profits.

As a consumer and public relations professional I see the importance of corporate social responsibility. A reputation in the community goes a long way and in order to be successful it is crucial to be seen in a positive light. Starbucks uses their community programs and involvement to spread awareness and gain popularity and it has paid off.

Summer Internship

2010-04-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

As a
Mass Communication major at Georgia College & State University I am required to complete a 300 hour internship for course credit. Many people think sure, finding an internship would be easy right? WRONG! Many companies have had to cut their internship and learning programs due to the current economy. In the past 5 years students have really noticed the effects and have found it very difficult to land an internship.
I began my search in November and began applying to a select number of companies and organizations. I was looking for internships that dealt with PR, development, communications, and event planning. I also began to realize that I was paying extra close attention to internships in non-profit organizations. In November of 2009 my Public Relations Admin class spent the semester planning the Relay for Life Kickoff Dinner. After that night, I knew I was meant for non-profit work. Knowing your are making a difference in someone's life is rewarding in itself. Most of my work here at GC&SU has involved event planning, campaigning, writing and editing. I have thoroughly enjoyed what I have done and want to continue on to learn as much as I possibly can.
I was granted a phone interview with Make-A-Wish Foundation. I was extremely nervous but answered the questions as best I can. A week later I got a phone call from the head of HR and was asked to come in for another interview. I prepared as much as I could and left the interview feeling great. I felt it was a great fit for me and I could really shine in this organization.
I was offered a position as part of their Development Team working on the annual Season of Wishes and wrapping up the Tournamant of Wishes.
I am extremely excited about this opportunity and hope I get as much out of it as I can. Having the opportunity to see sick children in need have their wishes come true is something that will be indescribable and knowing I was a part of it will be extremely rewarding.

Digital Bridges Event: ShopLocalMilledgeville.com

2010-04-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

ShopLocalMilledgeville.com is a new website that is being launched at the end of April as a part of Digital Bridges. This new website will allow every business in Milledgeville to have a FREE web presence. It is also a one stop shop for customers. Consumers will be able to search all possible businesses in Milledgeville and even print out coupons, search sale events, and be exposed to a business of the week.
My campaign for the semester was taking on ShopLocalMilledgeville.com. The website needed everything from promotion, promotional material, and support. Myself, Cara Wilmer, and Brooke Brookins took on this project and turned it into a success. We wanted to show the consumers of Milledgeville that staying local with your money will greatly benefit the community in the end. My team designed and ordered promotional magnets, designed flyers, and organized an event to spread the word.
In Mid-March the Milledgeville Mall hosted a business fair. My team set up a booth to help the community gain awareness of this great business opportunity. We wanted the community understand why shopping local is so important. We played a game where customers would guess how many local businesses were in local Milledgeville. A jar was filled up with pennies with the correct number of businesses. Guesses ranges everywhere from 1,200 to 450. The correct number was revealed the week after the event and many were surprised to hear it was 650. We also had handbills, candy and design work to show off to the community.
We found that our biggest challenge was getting the elderly involved. Most people over the age of 60 do not own a computer, let alone know how to work one. We wanted to show them that technology can bring great things, but it was hard to keep them interested.
I could not have asked for a better team to work with. We got along great and worked together like we have known each other for years. I would have been completely lost without Cara's dedication and design and without Brooke's attention to detail. Everyone contributed equally and I am so happy to have been able to work with them on this campaign.

Sidney Crosby wins hearts of all Canadians...

2010-03-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

I do live in the South, but born and raised in Canada I am a HUGE hockey fan! The 2010 Winter Olympics that were held in Vancouver kept me glued to the TV. When the US beat Canada, 5-3, during their first encounter the American's believed they had this tournament in the bag. With huge recognition to Ryan Miller, who was named MVP of the tournament, the Americans had the hottest goal tender. However, Canada did not give up and fought until the end. They beat Germany, Russia, and Slovakia puting them back in line to the gold medal game. This game was going to be epic and could have turned out to be one of the biggest upsets in history. The Canadians had control most of the game, but the US came out of no where and tied it up 2-2 with only 27 seconds left. The arena went silent when the US scored, but the momentum was in the hands of the Americans. A four on four 20 minute sudden death over time was played only to be won out by the Canadians. Sidney Crosby, who has always been an idol to many in Canada, made the winning goal that awarded Canada the gold medal for men's hockey. The arena began chanting "Crosby, Crosby" over and over and everyone knew he was the hero.

The Olympics ended, but many heroes remain. Miller has left a huge impact on the Americans as Crosby has left an even bigger one on Canadians. These two players came into this as well-known sports professionals, but left as two of the most famous and influential players in hockey. Everything with the name Crosby or Miller on it is sold out. They are receiving endless amounts of publicity and gaining more and more recognition each day.

So what does this mean? This is an example of how influential sports stars can be on people. They are seen different than actors or musical artists and I believe have a bigger influence on the public. They are heroes to many and idols to young hockey players who dream of becoming a "Sidney Crosby" or "Ryan Miller". Big name companies are dying to use them for endorsements and these players will be offered millions of dollars to do so. Using these players as spokespersons can really influence the public. This is a great example of using effective PR skills to gain exposure and public acceptance.

Marketing v. Public Relations...What's the Difference?

2010-02-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

People often put public relations and marketing in the same category. They classify it as the same thing and don't really know what the difference is. The two professions have been growing more and more similar with the Internet and companies being able to do their own marketing and PR, there are still a few differences to keep in mind.

Marketing is used more with the selling of a product. The ultimate goal of both marketing and PR is to gain customer and business, but public relations is more focused on building a long lasting relationship. PR is used to maintain relationships and to build new ones. It also helps maintaining and building relationships between the company and the public.

Customers want to see more to the company then just the product it is selling. Public Relations professionals wants to show the company in their best light. Not only does the company or corporation want to have the public believing in their excellent products, but consumer to business relations are just as important. Public Relations want to allow the public to make their own interpretations of a company, but a little help won't hurt!

Marketing pushes the product and uses advertising and endorsements to make the public believe that their product is the best. It pushes the product on the consumer not allowing them to make up their own mind about what they think. It is all about the money and selling for marketing reps and their persuasion is what pulls the customers.

Overall, the customer is going to make up their own mind and go to the better end product. It has been said that PR professionals are much more trustworthy, but the process would not be complete without marketing. It is easier for them to like your company when they hear about you from someone else, when they read about you in a newspaper article written by the paper's staff, when they see your press conference on the news, or when they see the news at your awesome fundraiser event.

PR for Mr. and Miss GCSU

2010-02-10T14:01:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year again here at GCSU. Cars are painted, banners are hung, and flyers are distributed everywhere in promotion of Mr. and Miss GCSU. The process is taken very seriously, especially among the Greek organizations. The initial PR campaigning began at the stroke of midnight Monday night. No campaigning was to be allowed before Feb. 9, and if the rules were not followed it resulted in disqualification.

As a apart of the Delta Zeta sorority I am very knowledgeable about how much time and effort goes into the preparation for Miss GCSU. Our candidate for 2010 is Starr Jarrard, a junior Mass Comm student. She is very well known on campus and has friendships in many clubs and organizations. Her slogan is "Shine Bright, Shine Far, THINK DZ, VOTE FOR STARR!"

Flyers were designed weeks in advance that are now hung up in dorm rooms, front doors of apartments, and around campus. Stickers were printed and handed out to the student public to wear to support Starr, and buttons are being worn by the ladies of Delta Zeta. Shirts were also ordered for the sorority members in support of Starr and are being worn around campus. 7 banners were painted and hung up on many different houses and locations around campus. The sorority also has tables set up on campus by the fountain everyday to hand out candy and stickers to students who are in support of Starr.

This will be my fourth year witnessing the PR and campaigning for Mr. and Miss GCSU and it has only grown in intensity. Through past experiences, PR has been very important. Students have been known to vote for a candidate simply for giving out the best candy, having the best slogan, or just because they like the name! It is very important to focus on the students who don't personally know any of the candidates because one small detail can be the deal breaker. Campaigning can not slow down until it's over, or the competition is lost.

The winner is announced at the Homecoming basketball game, which will be held in Saturday, Feb. 20. The best campaigning will take home the prize and I can't wait to see who it is!

TWEET TWEET!

2010-02-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

Our PR Campaign's "challenge" this semester is to utilize twitter more professionally and more often to increase awareness. Having only started to use twitter in August, I am fairly new to the process. Do I really have things to say that peple actually care about? Well apparently I do! As of now I am following 98 people and have 68 followers. I have chosen to follow alot of corporations, companies, and Mass Communication professionals.

My goal is to tweet at least 5 times a day and pass on valuable information. I do the PR for The Colonnade and I use twitter to send out information about meetings, any important changes and any awards won. I tweet about interesting news reports and articles I have read and share the link with others.

I have found it is a great way to successfully get out information quickly. I like how you have a limited amount of characters so you have to get to the point and post the most important information! Can't wait to learn more about Twitter!

How to Pick the Right PR Program?

2010-01-26T21:36:00.000-08:00

I'm in my third week of my FINAL (and hopefully last) Public Relations course here at GC&SU. Public Relations Campaigns is a more hands-on do it yourself class that really pushes us to see what we are capable of on our own. Digital Bridges is a new non-profit organization located in downtown Milledgeville and is our client for the semester. This organization hopes to redefine Milledgeville by bringing a wave of technology and innovative thinking to the small business's and entrepreneurs.

This organization has a very big target audience in Milledgeville which can make it challenging to spread awareness. My group consists of Cara Wilmer and Brooke Brookins and we are excited for all the ideas we have to make this organization a success. Our main target audience are the small business's and entrepreneurs who would be more successful if they knew how to utilize technology and social media. With this said.....how to we acheive this?

I did some research on selecting a PR program that fits your need. I found an article that is very helpful and wanted to share it.
http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing/public-relations/803-1.html

Selecting a PR Program

To determine the types of public relations programs that are right for your business, there are several considerations to keep in mind.

Your company’s goals and budget will determine which public relations programs will be most suited to your company. Do your homework first! Always know what your working with before you dive in!

Evaluate your business goals: Are you a local, regional, national, or international business?
Determine a timetable: How fast do you need to build awareness?
Make a budget that's in line with your working capital and your goals.
Create an action plan of programs and personnel to reach your goals — whether in-house or outsourced.

Then take a look at what your industry is doing and see what works for your competitors. Look to other industries for some innovative schemes.

Keep your PR function in-house and even do it yourself. Media types love entrepreneurs', energy and enthusiasm for a new business. Learn how to write effective press releases. Create reportable events and excitement about your business so that the press wants to give you publicity.

If you have national ambitions and sufficient capital to fund a powerful PR campaign, hire the experts. This is what they do for a living, so they are focused, knowledgeable, and results-driven. On the other hand, your business presents you with constant challenges — product development, building a work force, securing funding for expansion, etc. Without a dedicated team of experts, public relations are often left out, mismanaged, or forgotten.

Last Weekend of Shopping Before CHRISTMAS

2009-12-20T17:17:00.000-08:00

The weekend before Christmas is one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. It's the last chance for the working public to get their shopping in before the big day! However, the east coast took one of the biggest snow storms they have seen in years. Roads closing and cars in the ditches held many shoppers back from getting to their destination.
Meteorologists called for 20 inches of snow in the Washington D.C area and up to 10 inches in the Carolina's. So what does this mean for retailers relying on the big crowd? Treacherous roads and near whiteout conditions kept many shoppers away from shopping malls and other stores. Retailers hoping for a better holiday season than last year’s dismal sales, the bad weather was especially painful.
When it comes to snow, shoppers didn't think it was worth the risk. Spending more time pushing your car out of the snow than shopping was not a top priority.
So what does this mean? HOPE YOU DID YOUR SHOPPING EARLY!

2009-12-07T22:10:00.000-08:00

My example of PR in Action is the Midnight Breakfast at GCSU. Every year before the start of final exams Sodehxo sponsors a free breakfast from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. for all the students. Bobcats cards are required for entry, but this doesnt stop hundreds of students from making the trip to the dining hall.

This event was publicized and promoted on Bobcat Vision, OrgSync, and Facebook. It has also been a GCSU tradition for many years, resulting in many older students already knowing about it.

This event gives students time to get away from the library and enjoy a meal with their friends. It is also a great opportunity for other organizations on campus to promote and advertise themselves. For example, WGUR had a table set up at the door handing out free gifts and prizes. Its was a great way to promote their station to the student body.

Games, such as bingo, food, photographers, and giveaways were only a few perks of attending the Midnight Breakfast event. In my video, I recorded a group of students who attended the event. They were very energetic and talked about how they heard about this event. After asking many students how they heard about this event it was obvious that Facebook is the most effective way get information out to college students. It is a great form of social media.

Relay For Life Kickoff A Success? YES!

2009-12-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

I could not be more proud of my classmates and all of their hard work to make the Kickoff Dinner for Baldwin County's 2010 Relay For Life a huge success! It would not have been as wonderful without everyones help because each person had a major contribution that obviously proved to pay off! The candles set up around the room (Tori), the AMAZING cupcakes (Marianna), beautiful slideshow (Keri & Andrea), and all the food that was donated (Brooke) is only the start of how great the evening went.

I was a part of the decorations committee under Cara Wilmer and I really enjoyed it. We all got along great and worked together to to come up with some of the best ideas we could. Painting boxes, wrapping boxes, making a banner, and setting up the table place settings were all something I took apart in and I was glad to be a help.

Personally, I thought the room looked beautiful. It was very elegant with black and white and the purple and pink accents really made the room stand out. It was hard to picture in my head what exactly it was going to look like, but it turned out great.

Our class was also very concerned about food. The last thing we wanted was to run out of food. It is always better to have more than enough so we got enough food to feed about 130 people. However, we had TONS of leftovers! All the guests were welcome to as much food and candy as they wanted.

Attendance of team captains was also another obstacle we had to battle. Getting the awareness out about this event was one of our main goals. Press releases, invitations, flyers, and radio ads were all some of the PR work we had done to spread awareness. Almost all the seats were full in that church banquet room and it put a smile on all of our faces.

Last but not least, I believe one of the biggest accomplishments of this PR Admin class is the bond, trust, and respect we all have began to see in each other. Some of these girls have shocked me with all their talent and I am proud to have worked with them. We all worked together as a team and provided encouragement when someone needed it. It was a great experience and can't wait for next semester!!

and PS....THANS YOU DR. MILLER FOR ALL YOUR HELP! WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!

TEAM CAPTAINS WANTED!

2009-11-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

All Relay For Life can ask for is support. No matter how much money one can raise, it is made very obvious that every penny counts. After reading all the survivor stories my classmates have written I have learned so much about how this horrible disease can change people. It also amazes me how strong and courageous these survivors are. Some survivors have even called their experience a blessing in disguise because they now life life so differently and treat every day like its their last.
Trying to put myself in their shoes is a hard image for me to imagine. I don't know what I would do. Would I be sad? Angry? Confused? Wondering "why me?". Being able to work this closely with Relay and all of the dedicated volunteers has really made a difference in myself. Even a small contribution can make a difference. I look up to these survivors and see them as supernatural to have battled this awful disease and still have a smile on their face while wanting to help others.
Helping with Relay For Life was not an assignment for me, but it was an honor. I enjoyed every minute of it and so thankful to have my wonderful PR Admin classmates that helpes make this event a success!

Cancer Survivor Story

2009-11-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

Although this story is not being used or featured, thought I would share this story anyway!

Staring straight at her doctor with a strong face of emotion, the only thought running through her mind was, “No, surely not me?”
McGill, 51, said shock was the only emotion she could grasp when told she had been diagnosed with ductcal carcinoma in Aug. 2004, just four months after marrying her husband Ken. Showing no signs or symptoms, she could not understand how this happened because she did all the little things right.
“I just was in shock because I did everything the right way,” McGill said. “I was on a healthy diet and I exercised regularly. I never missed a yearly mammogram and performed monthly self exams.”
McGill had no choice but to fight the cancer and had undergone her first surgery just days after her diagnosis. The linguine shaped tumor made it very difficult for doctors to remove, and after two unsuccessful attempts she was referred to an oncologist specialist at Emory.
McGill waited anxiously for two weeks to see the specialist, but said it was great to finally slow down and really take in what was happening. Everything had happened so fast and she needed this time to think for herself. There were so many options to investigate and discuss with her family.
Feeling much more relaxed, McGill arrived to Emory ready to fight. She remained very positive and was ready to have the surgery that would leave her cancer free.
“It was an amazing feeling,” McGill said. “I went to sleep with breast cancer and then woke up without it.”
The third surgery was so successful that McGill required no further treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation. After removing her breast and five lymph nodes the only battle left was the reconstructive surgery. McGill opted for a TRAM flap reconstructive surgery, taking tissue, muscle, and skin from her abdomen to rebuild her breast.
“Healthcare is amazing today,” McGill said. “I had so many reconstructive options to choose from. I had to remember there was no right or wrong, but to embrace the treatment that was comfortable for me.”
McGill was back to work only three and a half weeks after her final surgery. She said her journey wouldn’t have been as positive without the love and support from her family and friends. Women she had known for years called and offered comfort and support, and opened up about their battles with cancer.
“These women were my lifeline,” McGill said. “I had no idea half of these women had ever been diagnosed with this disease. It’s great that us cancer survivors can stick together.”
McGill also said she could not have gone through this without the undying love and support from her husband. She never once thought she would marry again and couldn’t be more thankful that Ken came into her life when he did.
McGill now looks at her life very differently and couldn’t be happier to be alive. She has chosen to embrace this experience and live her life to the fullest. McGill also allows her name to be given out as a referral to talk to women who are battling the same fight that she once did.
“This experience will change who you are forever,” McGill said. “But in some ways it may be for the better.”
McGill continues to see the oncologist once a year for routine screenings. Her family just recently celebrated her five year mark of being cancer free. This is a huge accomplishment for McGill, but said she was ready if anything would arise.
“It’s not that I don’t think about it,” McGill said. “It’s just a normal part of my life now.”

The Tipping Point

2009-10-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I put off reading "The Tipping Point" for a while, but I found it hard to put down as soon as I opened it. The book opened the doors to many things I have never thought about, but proved to be very effective.

I started thinking about all the trends and new fads that had come about over the past few years. I remember the first time I saw a pair of Crocs because I thought they were the ugliest things in the world, but now I own a pair. I also remember the era of low carb diets, such as ATKINS and The Southbeach Diet, that swept our nation. All of these were ideas that were used by a few and then spread by many. Malcolm Gladwell refers to the spreading of trends as a contagious disease or virus. He states that it is easiest to think of these ideas and trends as epidemics because just as a contagious virus or disease spreads, so do ideas, trends, messages, and behaviorx (9). All it takes is one person.

There are many factors in making an epidemic, and all of them are required to lead to that one dramatic moment. Gladwell uses an example of the Hush Puppy shoes that were going to be discontinued in 1994 because of bad sales (3). The company was only selling about 30,000 pairs a year. Strange enough the company found out the the shoes were a huge hit and becoming a major fashion trend in Manhattan. By the next year, the company sold 430,000 pairs of the classic Hush Puppies and the numbers continued to rise each year (4.) Manhattan, of course, can not take full credit for the sudden urge to buy Hush Puppies, but it was definitely where it started.

Gladwell defines The Tipping Point as that one dramatic moment in an epidemic when everything can change all at once (9). The world of the Tipping Point is where the unexpected becomes the expected, and where radical change is more than just a possibility (14). Hush Puppies had no expectations of sales rapdily increasing as they did, but it happened. The company learned that this change was no longer just a possibility, but it was reality.

In the book, Gladwell breaks it up into the Three Rules of Epidemics, also known as the Agents of Change.

The Law of Few states that the success of any kind of social epidemic is heavily dependent on the involvement of people with a particular and rare set of social gifts (33). Gladwell classifys the involvement of people in one of three ways.

Connectors are those who know everyone worth knowing. They are well-known in society and have inside connections with alot of people. Their relationships may not always be a friendly, but simply a business relationship that allows calling in for favors (46).

Mavens are the infortmation specialists. They help and teach others around them what they have learned. They accumulate the knowledge that leads to solving problems (69).

Salesmen are the persuaders. Their charismatic personality contributes to their powerful negotiation skills. They have the ability of gaining peoples trust and selling them an idea(80).

I can see where each one of these roles comes into play because all three are needed for overall success. If I had to place myself into a catagory, I definitely consider myself a Maven. I like having all the information at hand so I can make the best and most rational decision. I don't have a salesman personality, and I definitely do not have as many connections as I would like, but I think I work well with others have have good ideas about how to pass along a message.

The second rule of epidemics is the Stickiness Factor. This means that the specific content of a message needs to make an impact and be memorable. Gladwell uses Sesame Street as an example. Joan Ganz Cooney set out to start an epidemic in the late 1960's. The agent of infection was a television series, and the virus she wanted to spread was literacy (89). Cooney made television sticky because it left its viewers with information that left an impact and was memorable throughout their lifetime. Information that leaves an impact and that will be used later in life will more likely be remembered.

The third and final rule of epidemics is the Power of Context. This focuses and emphasizes on the environment and conditions that influence human behavior and epidemics. Human behavior is very sensitive and epidemics can be affected simply by the time and place in which they occur.

All of what I have learned from Gladwell applies to many of the projects and events that I have worked on throughout my PR carreer this far. We have all become Connectors simply by creating a blog, making active updates and staying connected on twitter, and by utilizing facebook. We have all become Mavens by researching and finding outside information and bringing it to class and sharing to solve the problems at hand. We have all also become salesmen by going out into the community and simply trying to raise awareness and get them involved through donations and participation. As Gladwell said, all three personalities and skills are needed and it is now easy to see, especially in my PR Admin class, who follows which role.

Our current Relay for Life event allows our class to fully utilize these concepts. The Stickiness Factor will play a huge role in raising attendance numbers and getting more teams and team captains involved. Our class needs to find a way to reach out to these people and leave an impact on them. This KickOff Dinner needs to be memorable and something that they will take with them for a lifetime. Human behavior will be very sensitive at this event simply because of the time, place, and theme. But if our class can leave a positive impact on these cancer survivors and their families, I would say it was a success.

Blog Action Day - Climate Change 2009

2009-10-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

After reading all of the details on the Blog Action Day website it has definitely won me over. I think it is a great idea and think everyone should take a stand and get involved. It allows the whole world to state their opinion and be heard.

The subject of this years Blog Action Day is Climate Change and how it is affecting our world today. To be honest, the only times I think about the climate and weather is when I am deciding what clothes to wear or if I need an umbrella or not. However, whether we realize it or not the climate plays a huge role in our everyday lives. In recent years we have suffered from many natural disasters caused by climate and weather. Hurricane Katrina left unthinkable damage to New Orleans, hail damage left many families needing new roofs, and most recently the flooding in Atlanta. I know it's silly to think that climate change has anything to do with this...but what if we are wrong? Small continous damage can lead to big repercussions.

Small and simple adjustments can make a huge difference. As a Public Relations student in a college town, I believe that a simple campaign is the first leap in making our world a better place. Educating students and community members is the first step and it can only grow from there. We have the ability to reach the public and send out a positive message, so why don't we? Why don't we put climate change in a positive light to show everyone that small adjustments can go along way. Walk to class for a week instead of drive. Open your windows instead of turning on the AC.

Small adjustments can go a long way...

Kicking it Off Right...

2009-10-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

This was the first of hopefully many to come. This past week was my first formal pitch in my PR career. My team consisted of three members, Andrea Lowery, Rachel Ledford, and myself. We worked great together and I really learned how to bounce ideas and work as a team. It also gave me the chance to get to know them more alot better and I really enjoyed that.

Our assignment was to plan and implement the Kickoff Dinner for Baldwin County's Relay For Life. Our duties consisted of creating a menu, adopting a theme, finding decorations, designing an invitation, and maintaining excitement for Relay For Life. Because all of our food will be donated our menu option contained a wide varitey of options. Everything from Mexican food to Chinese would be offered. Our theme for the Kickoff was "Unwrap the Cure." Because the national theme for Relay was "Creating a World with More Birthdays", our team wanted to stay within a birthday theme. We wanted to make the room look like a huge birthday party. A balloon arch, colorful birthday presents, and lots of sweets would be all around the room.

This assignment taught me alot and I got to see how much work goes into an event like this. It also feels good to do an event for such a good cause. I am glad to be apart of Baldwin County's Relay For Life and I am very excited for our class to put all of our ideas together and come up with a Kickoff that will be remembered!

Ethics?

2009-09-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

Social responsibility and ethical issues has been a strong topic in my classes for the last few weeks. Public Relations professionals will deal with social responsibility issues on an everyday basies. But how does one define making an ethical decision? How does one know what is socially responsible? It all boils down to knowing the difference between right and wrong. For example, McDonalds is known as one of the most socially responsible corporations in the world. Everything from their community involvement to their commercials bring a positive light on this restaurant. For my advertising class we were asked to research top corporations and give our take on what we thought was socially responsible. McDonalds was one that I researched and I could not seem to find one flaw. Yeah of course McDonalds is probably not the best food for you in the world and it should not be eaten everyday, but there are HUNDREDS of things our there that should not be eaten everyday. There was a lawsuit that came out a few years ago involving a young child. Her family was suing McDonalds for her obesity. NO WHERE does McDonalds promote obesity or an unhealthy lifestyle. Their website is full of all the nutritional information and healthier lifestyle choices. The menu has also adopted many healthy food options such as salads and apples as a side instead of fries.

There is good and bad in every company, but it is important that the PR professionals promote the good and send out a positive message. The ethical decisions and social decisions made by big companies can make or break them.

But the questions boils back down to what is being socially respronsible? It is not a black and white answer. In fact, it contains alot of grey. But as a PR professional, it is our job to know the grey area like the back of our hand. It is our job to know the difference between right and wrong and to always send out a positive message.....even when the positive is hard to find.

Skills Skills Skills....

2009-09-13T22:14:00.000-07:00

Todays Public Relations professional require many skills to be successful in this fast-pace world. Twitter, Blogs, and Facebook have taken over our world and are a key communication tool now commonly used.
I am learning more and more everyday, but I do believe I am strongest in my communication and writing skills. I feel very confident in my ability to write efficient and professional news releases. I am also seieng the importance of continuous communication and can see how useful communicaion tools, such as Twitter, can be.
Work ethic is also something I take very seriously. I put forth alot of effort and time when I know what I want. Failure is not an option for me, but I need to realize that I can't always do everything by myself.

As I am learning how useful Twitter can be, I still need to learn how to use it properly. Alot of important information can be put out through these communication tools, but I need to fmake sure it reaches the public.

Last but not least I need to trust myself. When it comes to event planning I get frustrated if I can't see the full picture all at once. I can get overwheled and not trust that it will all fall into place.

We're learning everyday.....I think alot of this will come with time, experience, and practice!

WHY PR?

2009-08-31T16:39:00.001-07:00

Dr. Miller asked us in class to write a blog as to why Public Relations was our major of choice. I wish I had a long drawn out story as to why I chose this major, but its an simple answer. I grew up loving Sex and the City, and Samantha Jones was one great PR woman. PR to me was partying, staying out late, wearing the best clothes, and knowing everyone. But as I came to GC&SU, Dr. Miller has shown me a brand new PR world.

I always knew that Mass Communication was going to be my major, but I was not sure exactly what direction I wanted to go. I enjoyed writing and designing in high school, so I figured PR would be my best bet! I wasn't positive as to exactly what it was, but I think I have a pretty good hold on it now. I also decided to choose PR because anything is possible with this degree. I'm not loking for an 8-5 desk job. I want to be in the field and putting my skills to use. I love a challenge and I think this major will be full of many!