Best Blog Posts from #PRCA3339 Fall 2009

Italia! by Kaptain Kobold.My Public Relations Publications students have been blogging all semester. Today, I’m taking the time to highlight some of the best blog posts from the semester.

I hope you enjoy reading these posts as much as I did.

Survive, and Maybe Even Thrive, in a Group Project

UPDATED 12/5/09 – Scroll to end to see update. [Originally published on 9/2/09]

Working Together Teamwork Puzzle Concept by lumaxart.

“Oh, no . . . you mean we have to work in GROUPS in this class?” Though my PR Research students didn’t lament this out loud, I wondered how many of them dreaded the thought of ever working in a group project in a class. I bet many of them did (or do).

In today’s PR Research class, we collaborated, using Google Docs, on tips for how to survive a group project. Here’s a summary of what our class recommended:

  1. Communicate regularly
    • Mass messages….so all are on the same page
    • Praise often; it will motivate the team to work harder to achieve a common goal
    • Summarize at the end of each team meeting to ensure that each person leaves the meeting knowing what’s expected before the next meeting.
    • Send out a weekly update (with what’s been accomplished and what’s left to do)
    • Communicate as a whole, by using group text messages
    • Form a Facebook group
  2. Ensure that you’re aiming to achieve the same goals
  3. Manage your time.
    • Consider making a group calendar filled with internal deadlines that you set for yourselves. (Google Calendar might work well for this.)
    • Show up on time for group meetings (let people know if you’re running late)
  4. Meet regularly, even it’s only to touch base and confirm you’re where you should be in your project work.
  5. Delegate task based on strong points, and make sure you complete what is delegated to you
  6. Remember the platinum rule: Do unto others as they want done unto them
    • Be considerate of others
    • Be patient with your group members
    • Be flexibile
    • Have a good attitude
    • Be respectful
    • Work together
    • Contributing the same amount of work and time

Finally, before you begin working together in earnest, make an inventory of the skills of each group member. Also find out what each person would rather NOT do, if given the choice. This will help you divvy up the work more effectively. And exchange cellphone numbers, e-mail addresses, Twitter usernames . . . whatever will help you stay in touch effectively.

UPDATE: Ensure that every member of the group thoroughly reviews the entire project before submitting it. (And reviewing is more than simple proofreading.) You don’t want any unpleasant surprises based on information that was primarily written by another group member.

What other tips do you have for working together successfully in teams?

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.

PRCA 3339 :: Getting Started With WordPress

 

So, you signed up for an account at WordPress, and you added an About page. Now what’s next?

FIRST: Let me know your blog address by replying to this post with a comment, sharing your name and blog address.

NEXT: How do you go about learning more to create a blog that reflects your personality and style?

Fortunately, WordPress offers many FAQ screencasts to help you with the step-by-step instructions. Here are a few of the best ones to help you get started on the right foot:

And though you may have a good handle on the technical aspects of blogging, remember that the technical side is only part of the blogging equation. Corinne Weisgerber, a professor at St. Edward’s University and fellow PROpenMic member, created this presentation for her Social Media for PR class. The emphasis? How blogging can help you create your personal brand online. Take a look. It’s worth the time.

 

View more presentations or upload your own. (tags: commenting identity)

 

Photo Credit: “1/365” uploaded to Flickr by PhotoJonny

The Joshua Tree Epiphany & CRAP :: Principles of Effective Design

In Friday’s PRCA 3339 (PR Publications) course, we discussed author Robin Williams‘ concept of the Joshua Tree Epiphany and how CRAP can help us remember effective design principles. 

Many thanks to Saul Greenberg for developing the original PPT that I based this upon.

I Signed Up for WordPress :: What Next?

Confused Ard by nielsvk.

For my PRCA 3339 PR Publications class:

So, you signed up for an account at WordPress, and you added an About page. Now what’s next?

FIRST: Let me know your blog address by replying to this post with a comment, sharing your name and blog address.

NEXT: How do you go about learning more to create a blog that reflects your personality and style?

Fortunately, WordPress offers many FAQ screencasts to help you with the step-by-step instructions. Here are a few of the best ones to help you get started on the right foot:

And though you may have a good handle on the technical aspects of blogging, remember that the technical side is only part of the blogging equation. Corinne Weisgerber, a professor at St. Edward’s University and fellow PROpenMic member, created this presentation for her Social Media for PR class. The emphasis? How blogging can help you create your personal brand online. Take a look. It’s worth the time.

PRCA 3339 Blogging Guidelines

In our PRCA 3339 (Public Relations Publications) course this fall, blogs are now a part of our curriculum. Below you will discover what components will make up your blog:

Your “About” Page

  • Write a short bio and post it on your blog’s About page (see some great tips)
  • Due: September 11, before class

Blog Post #1 :: CRAP: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity

  • Pick any one of these four elements of good design. Define it, and explain its importance to good design. Remember to give credit to Robin Williams (the writer and graphic designer, not the comedian).
  • Due: September 14, before class

Blog Post #2 :: Segmenting Publics

  • Thinking about your client for your brochure, how would you segment the client’s publics? How will your brochure design be impacted by how the publics are segmented?
  • Due:  September 21, before class

Blog Post #3 :: Typography

  • What factors go into a designer’s decision of which typefaces (fonts) to use? What sizes are considered best for business cards? For brochures? Where can beginning designers go to find legal, free fonts to use? Also, post a link to directions (written by someone else) for installing a font.
  • Due: September 28, before class

Blog Post #4 :: Photography

  • After completing the Poynter NewsU course “The Language of the Image,” respond to the following:
    • What did you learn?
    • What surprised you?
    • What do you want to know more about?
  • Due: October 26, before class

Four Additional Blog Posts

  • Write four additional blog posts about topics related to the content of PRCA 3339.  We’ll discuss potential topics in class.

Final Blog Post :: Top Ten List

  • Using PowerPoint and SlideShare, post the top ten things you learned about public relations publications this semester. (More details will be shared on this post as we near the end of the semester.)
  • NOTE: This blog post will be graded separately from the rest of your blog. It will count in with your participation points. This blog post will be worth 50 points, and take the place of your flyer (which we did not create this semester).
  • Due: TBA Wednesday, December 2, before classtime.

Each blog post should contain:

  • At least 250 words
  • Hyperlinks to relevant websites
  • The category or tag of Assignment PRCA 3339 (so that I can easily find the posts that you specifically wrote for this class)
  • Relevant tags

Blog posts can be written informally and in the first person; that is, they don’t need to sound like a term paper. However, there’s still an expectation for proper grammar, spelling and capitalization. If you have questions about how informal is “too informal,” please let me know.

When I evaluate your blog at the end of the semester, I’ll be looking for:

  • professionalism: clear, correct, thoughtful writing
  • frequency: sufficient posts
  • linking: identify other PR blogs (use PR Open Mic or my blogroll in my Delicious bookmarks as starting points) and link to them. Respond to others’ posts. Become a part of the blogosphere. Blogging should not be lonely.
  • readability: brief & concise writing style, use of white space, bold characters, images, bullet points

Questions? Just let me know.

barbara_is_listening

NOTE: Many thanks to Dr. V at Clemson University, who allowed me to use her blogging guidelines from her PRinciples class. They were so well-written that I made just a few tweaks for my own class. Dr. V knows that Blogs Matter.

Photo Credit: http://www.aoddesign.com/blog/resources/xmas-wordpress-logo-icons/

Arrive, Survive and Thrive in Prof. Nixon’s Classes :: Summer 2009

An Open Note to All of Prof. Nixon’s Students at Georgia Southern University:

We’re almost off and running in our Summer Semester classes at GSU. This semester, I’m teaching two classes; the classes, with hyperlinks to the syllabi, are listed below:

So that we can make the most of this semester, please (PLEASE) take some time to read through the blog posts I’ve included here. I promise you, it will be well worth your time. (How often do professors let you get inside their heads, letting you know their tips for success and their pet peeves?)

Additionally, here are a few more tips:

  • When communicating with me via e-mail (or Facebook), please put your course number (such as PRCA 3339) in the subject line to help me immediately identify who you are and frame your questions or comments. Do your best to write in full sentences, paying attention to standard English grammar and spelling. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name, as your GSU e-mail address will not make that readily apparent to me.
  • When submiting an assignment in GeorgiaVIEW, always put your last name as part of the file name, and also include your name in the document itself. Papers submitted without your last name as part of the file name cannot earn full credit.
  • If an assignment is due in GeorgiaVIEW, the only way to get full credit for the assignment is to submit it in GeorgiaVIEW. (E-mailing an assignment to me can be risky; I receive 250+ e-mails a day, and there’s a chance I will not see it in my inbox.)
  • Follow me on Twitter, if you really want to get inside my head. (What’s Twitter?)

Let’s make this a great semester together!

Public Relations Advising FAQs

If you are a Georgia Southern University student majoring in Public Relations, these frequently asked questions may help you in planning for advisement week. Thank you, Urkovia Andrews, for compiling this list.

After I finish my CORE, how long will it take to finish courses in my major?

Although major area F is only 40 hours, due to pre-requisites and a selective number of summer courses, students should be prepared to finish area F and their major in two years. Missing registration and not being advised during advising week will cause some students to take longer than two years to finish.

When do I register?

Classes fill quickly. Check WINGS and know when your registration time is. Register as soon as you’re able to! Set your alarm for 2:45 a.m. and be ready to register with the CRNs.

Grades?

In the core, students must earn a “C” or above in area A. This includes College Algebra.

In area F, students must earn a “C” or above.

Areas B, C, D, and E require a passing grade.

You cannot “double-dip” – each course counts only once on the curriculum sheet (COMM 1110 is an example, PRCA 3339 is another).

What if I don’t want to take a foreign language?

INTS 2130 is the course students most often take to fulfill the foreign language requirement if they don’t pursue a foreign language. There are also other options with significant international content in the catalog. Language courses MUST be at least 2000 level to count in this area. If a language class at the 1000 level has been taken, it counts toward the 14 general elective credits.

Is Photography (ART 1335) a good elective to take?

Check with the Art Department on availability for ART 1335 (Photography). Have a backup plan for this section of the curriculum. It’s a popular course.

What’s the recommended order of taking courses in the major?

Take JOUR 2331 (Introduction to Journalism) & COMM 2330 (Introduction to Mass Communication) as soon as possible. The only pre-requisites for these classes are ENGL 1101.

PRCA 2330 (Introduction to Public Relations) is the next course to take. It’s the gateway to the major. Students must take COMM 2330 before taking this class.

PRCA 3330 (PR writing) should be taken next. It’s a pre-requisite for many of the upper division PR courses. It’s also a non-negotiable pre-requisite for campaigns, practicum and internships. PRCA 2330 (Introduction to Public Relations) and JOUR 2331 (Introduction to Journalism) are pre-requisites for this class.

PRCA 3330 (PR writing) and PRCA 4330 (PR research) must be taken before PRCA 4339 (campaigns).

MKTG 3131 (marketing) must be taken before MKTG 3132 (advertising). Students cannot sign-up to take MKTG 3131 until they have completed 55 hrs.

In general, take one theory course at a time. These courses require a significant amount of reading and a research paper. It’s manageable to take a theory course and an applied theory course at the same time.

Read the format of the courses you are interested in prior to signing up for them. For example, it is not advisable to try and take campaigns, pubs, and events in the same semester as each of these courses require significant time commitments outside of class.

What’s the Senior Seminar?

Senior seminar is typically offered in the spring semester and serves as a substitution for an internship. If a student wants to complete an internship AND senior seminar, the senior seminar would count as an upper-division PR elective (it also could count in the “any upper-division comm arts elective” area).

What’s the Practicum?

The one-hour practicum course is designed to prepare you for life after graduation, whether that is graduate school or job placement. The student must complete PRCA 3330 (PR Writing) prior to taking the practicum course.

Where’s the list of “Upper Division Comm Arts Electives”?

Any upper-division comm arts elective means just that – anything with PRCA, JOUR, FILM, BRCT, THEA, COMS, or COMM as long as it starts with a 3 or a 4. Students just need to make sure they meet any necessary pre-requisites (which are defined in the catalog).

What about a Minor?

Consider using your general elective hours for a minor. Descriptions and requirements for minors are located in the catalog. One of the most common minors is business. Students also might be interested in communication studies, marketing, political science, English, art, print management, international studies, a foreign language, women’s and gender studies, and sport management.

What should I do about General Electives?

In general, save the elective section for times when you’ll have a heavy load or are unable to get courses in the major. There’s no need to fill that area up right away unless you’re interested in a minor.

Take any writing courses you can – feature writing (JOUR 3332), offered by journalism is a good course for PR students. Also, photojournalism is a good option, JOUR 3333.

Consider what you would like to do with your degree upon graduation and find electives that will provide you with additional knowledge of interest. General electives are anything offered on Georgia Southern campus.

What are the Upper Division PR Electives?

Students MUST take at least one upper-division PR elective. Upper division is anything at the 3000 or 4000 level. Examples include PRCA 4332 (PR Crisis Communication), PRCA 3331 (Corporate Public Relations), PRCA 3333 (International Public Relations), PRCA 4335 (Senior Seminar in Public Relations), and PRCA 3339 (Public Relations Publications).

What’s Offered When?

PRCA 3332 (PR Event Management) is offered only in the Spring semester.

PRCA 3330 (Public Relations Writing) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

PRCA 4330 (Research) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

PRCA 4339 (Campaigns) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

PRCA 3339 (Public Relations Publications) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

PRCA 3711 (Public Relations Practicum) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

Summer is a good time to intern, take general electives or core courses, but do NOT plan on taking specific, upper-division courses in the major. What’s offered in the summer varies each year.

The other upper-division PR courses are offered on a varying schedule, depending on the professors’ expertise and students’ interest level.

Currently there are no PR courses offered online, as many require a hands-on approach. Courses have been offered online in the past, such as PRCA 2330 (Intro to PR), but this is not, as of now, an every semester occurrence.

What About Internships?

Dr. Lisa Muller oversees the internships. Approved internship listings are posted outside Dr. Muller’s office door, Room 3010.
If a student takes 3 credit hrs. of internship, the 3 hrs. go toward PRCA 4791.

If a student takes 6 credit hrs. of internship, 3 hrs go toward PRCA 4791 and 3 hrs go toward one upper-division PR elective

If a student takes 9 credit hrs. of internship, 3 go toward PRCA 4791, 3 go toward one upper-division PR elective and 3 go toward the 14 hrs. of general electives.

If a student takes 12 credit hrs. of internship, 3 go toward PRCA 4791, 3 go toward one upper-division PR elective and 6 go toward the 14 hrs. of general electives.

Students may not complete internships for degree credit until AFTER they have successfully completed PRCA 3330 (PR Writing).

On-site hours to receive internship credit is as follows:

3 hrs=200 hrs at the job site

6 hrs=300 hrs at the job site

9 hrs=400 hrs at the job site

12 hrs=500 hrs at the job site

Students are welcome to submit proposals for their own internship site; however, these proposals are due the 30th day of the first month of school the semester prior to interning. For example, if a students wants to intern in the summer than his or her proposal is due Jan. 30, the semester prior to their internship.

Students should look for informational meetings concerning internships the semester prior to the semester they wish to intern. At this meeting, questions regarding the internship process will be addressed, along with paid and non-paid sites, and students can pick-up an internship application.

When Should I Do Graduation Clearance?

Students can clear for graduation four semesters (including summer) prior to their expected graduation date. Clearing provides a triple-check on a student’s academic program of study in that the student, the advisor, and the graduation counselor review all the courses remaining for a student to take. It is NOT recommended that a student complete this process his or her last term.

Students should pick-up a graduation clearance packet from the Registar office, make an appointment to meet with their advisor outside scheduling week, bring their unofficial transcript from Wings, and their folder from the main office. Once graduation clearance is complete a copy of the form should be placed in the students’ folder and the student should return the completed form to the Registar’s office.

Photo Credit: “THAT is the question”: http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/2726594777/