PR

Some Public Relations for Public Good

Life, Public Relations, Social Media

In recent weeks I’ve been impressed by a trend of blog posts from people I’ve met online who are doing some great work to help or lift up others.  This is one of the most positive aspects of social media that can be lost amongst the negative stories (Facebook privacy issues, security challenges, and sites that may put your information at risk like Spokes) that accompany use of new technology.  However, for each horror story, I’m guessing there is an equally positive case of social media connecting good people or advancing important change.

I want to share a few examples with you illustrating the concept of good:

Erica Mayer:  Erica began a campaign for Charity Water to celebrate her birthday.  She created a page that outlined her reasons for getting involved and began sharing the page with her online network. What happened? Well, over $10,000 later, Erica has changed a lot of lives for her birthday.

Jeanne Bowerman: Inspiration also comes in the form of inspiration and insight. On her blog, Jeanne outlined a moving experience she had by connecting with a single person…who is often overlooked. Through her kind actions, Jeanne created a moment that changed his life, hers, and those that read her story.

Danny Brown: I couldn’t leave out one of my favorite social media for change guys. Danny is the driving force behind The 12for12k Challenge.  Over the last couple years, Danny has raised well over $100k to help out a number of worthy charities and connect a huge list of supporters that also work together to create change.

These are all just a few top of mind examples in my world of people making a real difference in their communities. Chances are if you’re reading this blog you’re working in a professional job, likely college educated, and connected with a variety of different networks. While we each have our own struggles, between a tough economy and the business known as life, there’s also a good chance you’re in a position to make a difference to someone.  It doesn’t have to be a gigantic commitment, it may be a single event that helps someone (much like Jeanne’s example) but in finding an issue that is meaningful to you, it actually engages others to help too.  I am blown away by many of the kind and smart people I’ve met in my community (both physical and online) and feel so blessed to say that you all inspire me. When you’re in a position to help someone, you can truly change lives…including your own.

The First Key to Writing is to Write

Communications, Public Relations, Writing

Some of you may recognize the title of this post immediately as a quote from a great film created a decade ago. The film Finding Forrester had a number of great writing related references throughout the story line of a young, talented writer who connects with an author that fled into virtual hiding after finding literary success.

As a communicator, my daily work centers around finding ways to write and share information in a manner that will resonate with an audience.  And some days, it’s difficult to even begin. It’s writer’s block on a grand stage. What do you do when you just can’t get started or you aren’t sure how to phrase something that you’ll be happy to present to your boss or the audience? You write.

My favorite scene from the film is one where character William Forrester (played by Sean Connery) is helping young writer Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) get started and to write with his heart. Wallace doesn’t know where to begin, then Forrester provides one of the great movie quotes of all time (at least to a guy like me who spends hours in front of a keyboard daily): “No thinking, that comes later. You write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head.”

I’ve been stuck lately. I’ve been worrying about every word and framing phrases. Thankfully, I remembered this little piece of Hollywood advice and I hope you’ll find it helpful as well when you need a reminder that the best way to start writing is to write.

Finding Forrester- 2000, Columbia Pictures Corporation

PRSA Progression

Business Communications, Leadership, Public Relations, Social Media

Let me get this out-of-the-way right at the beginning.  I am a huge PRSA supporter.  I’ve been a PRSSA and PRSA member for roughly 15 years now.  This could be construed as negative but I want to make sure that everyone understands it is meant only as a valid question in the hopes of continuing to consistently improve the offerings provided to the organization’s membership.

When I began as a recent graduate, I recall attending monthly meetings featuring some of the best and brightest in the Twin Cities.  I was honestly in awe of what many of these professionals had accomplished as I was starting my career.  Over the next decade, I was able to build relationships and connections that helped me along as I learned how to stand on my own.  PRSA played a valuable role in enhancing my career.

However, in today’s environment when so many senior communications professionals are only a Tweet or webinar away, I”m wondering if PRSA needs to alter its traditional approach to delivering value to its membership.  Access that was stunning to me years ago is now commonplace, and expected.  As professionals continue to shell out a few hundred dollars each year to be a member, what can the organization do that really delivers a significant benefit to those of you out there that support it?  What methods of programming are you interested in? Should there be a greater emphasis on webinars or perhaps more focus on a regional set of programming versus strictly local?  Or does the price point need to change to more frequent but targeted lower cost events?

As more and more professionals are struggling with justifying the cost of professional development to their employers (or paying it on their own during a tough economy) what’s the mix you’d like to see?

Meet Elyse Kyro

Business Communications, Public Relations, Social Media

In this entry, as part of Help A PR Pro Out or HAPPO, I’d like you all to meet Elyse Kyro who is seeking a full-time job or paid internship here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  She’s looking to expand on a great start to her career thanks to an internship at the Mall of America and is open to a variety of opportunities but has a particular interest in gaining agency experience.   

In May 2009 I graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in studio art. My emphasis of study in mass communications was public relations.

After graduation I was a public relations intern at Mall of America. During my internship with the Mall I frequently wrote press releases and media advisories; worked with members of the media and maintained Mall social network sites including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube; maintained coverage reports; and helped plan and execute the Big Green Conference, an environmental conference held at the Mall with more than 100 guests.

I enjoy working with people, posses a high level of energy, complete assignments with efficiency and enjoy the challenge of working under pressure. I have experience working with the Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe PhotoShop and InDesign.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,
Elyse Kyro
Elyse.kyro@gmail.com
651-470-0063
www.twitter.com/ElyseLynnae

A HAPPO Introduction to Amanda Oleson

Public Relations, Social Media

As part of the Help A PR Pro Out (HAPPO) effort to assist some of our fellow PR pros connect with employers that could benefit from their skills, I’m happy to turn over my blog to Amanda Oleson to tell you why you should consider her as a part of your team. 

Dear future boss,
Hello! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I heard that you are looking for a few sharp folks to contribute to your team’s success, and I’d be delighted to offer you my talents and expertise.

First, let me tell you a bit about myself. I graduated Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas with a B.A. in Public Relations and in Spanish. I’ve spent the last few years in an agency setting, doing consumer marketing as a Media Relations Specialist, mostly in the Health, Wellness, and Alternative Medicine industries. I have experience in creating strategies and implementing PR and social media tactics in the health, retail, community outreach, non-profit, events, beauty and sports categories. I have secured media placements that have sold-out past client’s products for weeks at a time, successfully launched community youth programs, assisted in event PR from planning to media coverage, and assisted in re-invigorating corporate blogs and social media channels. I’d be tickled-pink to bring my enthusiasm and passion for all of it to your team.

My natural curiosity, background in traditional public relations and marketing and borderline obsession with all things social media allow me to bring fresh and unique insights to your team’s efforts to connect with and engage your key audiences and influencers. Growing up, I was always the kid that talked to strangers- telling them about my latest adventures with my Barbie doll or serenading them with a favorite Madonna track. Since then, I’ve learned that telling stories to random strangers isn’t the best idea. However, I’ve figured out that telling a specific story to a specific set of strangers IS a great idea if you’re looking to build trust in a brand, increase awareness and influence a certain outcome. I would be thrilled to help your team find the set of “strangers” that need to hear your stories the most- through the channels they want to hear them in. (Which is not likely to be a little girl tugging at your sleeve with a Barbie and an off-key Madonna song in most cases, for the record.)

I’m eager to tell you more of my adventures, how I can make them work for you, and maybe even serenade you with a Lady Gaga jam (for old times’ sake of course). Feel free to peruse facts about me on
LinkedIn, listen (and chime in!) to me babble on Twitter, or beg me for a story via e-mail (amanda.oleson@gmail.com). It’d be my pleasure to entertain you for a while. I look forward to hearing from you!

All the best,
Amanda