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Working with the GSU Eagle Print Shop :: Fall 2009

[Updated from a post from Fall 2008]

Not long ago, my PRCA 3339 (PR Publications) classes took a field trip to the Eagle Print Shop on the Georgia Southern University campus. Our goal was to learn how students in the PR program could work most effectively with the print shop, especially for their PR Publications, PR Research and PR Campaigns classes. Here are a few of the tips shared by Eagle Print Shop Manager Brenda Aytes:

In General

  • Allow enough lead time for the work to get done. For most PR class projects, two to three days are appreciated.
  • Know what you want the output to look like before you go to the Eagle Print Shop. For example, for the PR Pubs brochure, you’ll want to tell them you need “80-lb. glossy paper, 8.5×11, printed duplex in color.”
  • Design your document so it will cost you less. For example, rather than creating one small handbill and centering it in the middle of a page, put four copies of the handbill on one 8.5×11 page. Then the print shop can cut your document into fours.
  • It is possible for the Eagle Print Shop to print your brochure as a bleed, with the print running to the edge of the paper. However, it will cost you a bit more and take a bit longer. You’ll need to ask them to print the brochure on 11×17 paper and trim it to 8.5×11.
  • Photos and other graphic print best when they are a minimum of 300 dpi; 150 may print fairly well, too.
  • If using the Georgia Southern logo, be sure to use the correct logo and be sure you have permission to use it. See the GSU Identity Standards for guidelines. (Note: Only the Athletic Department can use certain logos.)
  • Have your flash drive or CD prepared. Create ONE folder with all the necessary files in it for this specific print job. (Necessary files include the .indd file, .pdf file, fonts and photos.) Name this folder with your name and the contents; for example, “Barbara Nixon, PRCA 3339 Brochure.”)
  • If printing something from InDesign, it’s best to export the file as a PDF and print the PDF. This will ensure that the file looks the way you intended to when it prints (fonts, layout, etc.). Also have the original InDesign file with you, just in case you notice something that needs to be changed at the last minute. You can’t easily edit a PDF.
  • The Eagle Print Shop has InDesign CS3 (the version we have in the Veazey Hall computer labs). If you’ve downloaded the newest trial version of InDesign from Adobe’s website, it will be InDesign CS4 – and the print shop will be unable to work with your file, unless you export the file as InDesign Interchange first.
  • The Eagle Print Shop will give you a price quote after you answer a series of questions detailing exactly what you want. They cannot give you a complete printed price list, however.
  • If you choose to e-mail your project to Eagle Print Shop to printshop@georgiasouthern.edu, be sure to include the following:
    • A clear subject line
    • Your name & phone number
    • Date & time you wish to pick up the printed project
    • Number of copies
    • Exact type of paper you need
    • And the PDF file, of course 🙂

For PR Campaigns or Research Books

  • To save you money and time, when preparing your PR Campaigns book files, make two (no more, no less) files: one for all your color pages and one for all your black/white pages. If you have multiple PDF files, combine them into one file by using Adobe Acrobat Professional’s Insert Pages feature. (Note: The Insert Pages feature is not available in the free Acrobat Reader; it’s only in the Professional version, which is in most of the labs on campus.)
  • If you want tabs or dividers in your books, you’ll need to purchase them elsewhere and bring them in. Be sure that the dividers have square, not rounded, corners – or they cannot be bound into your books.

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The Ethical Public Relations Professional

This week, I had the opportunity to share some of my thoughts on ethics in the field of public relations with classes from Georgia Southern. I promised the students that I would post my slides here, and since the presentation was on ethics, it made lots of sense to follow through on my promise — so here are the slides.

The Ethical Public Relations Professional (Slides / Notes)

(Note: Information in this class presentation was gleaned from various sources, primarily the textbook for the Introduction to Public Relations course, Public Relations: Strategies & Tactics.)

Something that intrigued the students was this image. What do you see here?

What do you see in this image?

Now tilt your head to the right . . . do you see anything different?

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Facebook: wld u do this IRL?

What passes for normal on Facebook might never happen in real life. Would you literally write on a friend’s wall? Do you really want to be friends with someone you didn’t like when you were in class together? Do you poke people with your index finger often? Idiots of Ants (idiot savants?) created this great little video clip. Gotta love the British humour.

Thanks go to Donna Pappacosta‘s Twitter feed for pointing this clip out.

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How Not to Lose Your USB Drive

Ever lose your USB drive? I think we’ve all left it someplace at one time or another. It’s an awful feeling to think you’ve lost everything. Here are some tips that may help.

First, and most importantly, ONLY use your USB drive for transport. Never use it as the only place you’ve saved a file. Ever. (Got that?)

Second, e-mail critical files to yourself before you leave the library, lab, or wherever you’re using your USB drive. That way, if the drive gets misplaced, you’ll still have a copy of the really important stuff. 

Third, attach your USB drive to your keys. It’s unlikely that you’d leave your keys behind.

Fourth, write your name on the outside of your USB drive with a Sharpie. Or, if it’s a dark USB drive, write your name on a tiny piece of paper and tape it to the drive. 

Fifth, create a simple TXT file that you put in the root of your USB drive. Save the file with the name “Thank you for finding my USB drive” so that if an honest person finds the drive, it will be easy to get it returned to you. Put the following information in the file:

Owner Information:
Your Name
Address (optional)
Phone Number(s)
E-mail Address

And finally, if you decide that your USB drive is dirty and needs washing in the pocket of your jeans (like I did last week), it may still be usable. Take the cap off and hang or place it upside down to dry. Let it dry for a day or two before trying to use it again.

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My End-of-Semester Rant, Kinda

On my campus, and probably on most campuses, it’s finals time.

If you’re a parent, it’s time to send off a final exam care package.

If you’re a faculty member, it means even more. Here are a few of my thoughts as the semester winds down.

Students are stressed because “they are so busy.”

Juggling KnivesHINT: Yes, I know you feel busy now. And this is great prep for you when you get into the working world. You’ve known all semester that you have these projects due at the same time. In the world of PR, you’ve got to be ready to juggle. And not just juggling scarves or bowling pins; those are too easy. Think juggling knives while walking on a tightrope over flames. (Isn’t that an awesome graphic? It came from mike r baker‘s website. Check out his other stuff!)

Students are coming to me (usually by e-mail, but sometimes in person) asking about what their grades are so far.

HINT: I post everything in WebCT Vista, so this is info that you have immediate access to all throughout the semester. Please don’t wait until the end of the semester to check your progress.

Students (not all, but some) are upset about their grades and seem surprised it’s because they left out big parts of their projects/assignments.

HINT: And this one’s a big one. I give detailed assignment guidelines for all major – and most minor – assignments. I even provide a link to the rubrics (here’s one for the Newsletter for my PR Publications Class) for most assignments early in the semester. What more can I do to ensure that you know how you will what needs to be included and how you will be graded? (That’s a real question, not a rhetorical one.)

Students follow the advice and guidelines they’ve been given and do extremely well on their assignments. These are the kind of students that employers look forward to hiring.

HINT: It does happen every semester. At least a few people in each class “get it,” and make it all worthwhile for me. If you’re one of these people, THANK U! 

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Media Kits

What should go into a media kit? Why would a public relations practitioner want to use one? How are they distributed? And what’s this about a new Social Media Release?

These were the topics in this morning’s PR Writing class.

For a lot more information on the Social Media Release, see the PR Squared blog (thanks, Todd!). And for an easy-to-use SMR template that will let you publish to WordPress for free, see PRX Builder.


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PRCA 3330: Web 2.0 Scavenger Hunt

Though our discussions this semester in PRCA 3330 at Georgia Southern University, you probably are aware that public relations students should know about Web 2.0. If you need a refresher on what Web 2.0 is, see the video below. (You do not need audio to benefit from the video; there are no spoken words in the video.)

For Monday’s class, you’ll be divided into groups. Based on the group you’re in, do some quick research and brainstorming on your assigned Web 2.0 concept:

  • RSS, including readers/aggregators
  • Podcasting
  • Microblogging
  • Blogging
  • Tagging, including social bookmarks
  • Social Media Press Release
  • Social networking
  • Wikis

Each person in your group should respond to these questions by using the Comments feature. You can either answer directly in your Comment, or provide a hyperlink to your blog, and respond in your own blog.

  • What does the concept mean? (Briefly define the concept, including a hyperlink.)
  • What are some examples of service providers? (Include hyperlinks)
  • In general, how is the concept relevant for public relations students (or practitioners)?
  • How could you apply the concept for your client for this class? (You do not need to identify your client, unless you want to.)
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PR OpenMic: A Social Network for PR Students, Faculty and Practioners

 PRCA 3330 Students

Join PR OpenMic. Spend some time in class looking around within the site. Respond to the following questions in the Comments area of this blog posting. You can either put your entire comment in the posting, or provide a hyperlink to your own blog and respond there.

  • What is the most beneficial area (or areas) of PR OpenMic? Why?
  • Who are some “big name” PR practitioners who have already joined PR OpenMic?
  • How do you think you could benefit from PR OpenMic?
  • How could you contribute to PR OpenMic?