Yesterday afternoon, I was at the Savannah Botanical Garden with my #2 son. He was helping me find flowers to take extreme close-ups of. We came across this calla lily. I was struck by how white the petal was. It wasn’t until last night when I was showing my husband my latest photos in Adobe Photoshop Album that I learned that there was a little surprise inside the lily. Can you see it? It made me smile.
News Release Pet Peeves
On Twitter this evening, I noticed that Jeremy Pepper (host of Pop! PR Jots) had started a discussion about things that drive him crazy in news releases. The discussion started like this: “Press release pet peeves: For Immediate Release. Really!? Is that why you sent it out over the wire at that time? Or did you want a delay?”
I started wondering what some other news release pet peeves are.
As for me, mispelt misspelled words make me want to pull my hair out. If I find a misspelled word, it always makes me concerned that will be other, less obvious, mistakes, too.
So (here’s where the audience participation part comes in), what are YOUR pet peeves in press releases?
Drats! I Forgot to Include the Attachment . . . Again
Ever forget to include an attachment when you sent an e-mail? I bet we all have. It can be frustrating at best and can help you lose a client at the worst.
Here’s my #1 tip that may help you avoid forgetting in the future:
Before you write anything in the message, attach the file.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used this little tip. Easy, no?
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.
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.
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.”
HINT: 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!
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.
PRCA 3330 End of Semester Recap
In today’s class, I shared some of the key things I learned while teaching Public Relations Writing at Georgia Southern University. Since I’m a huge Wizard of Oz (and Wicked) fan, I related what I learned to my favorite movie of all time.
How to Fail a Class Without Really Trying
As spring semester draws to a close, I’m reminded of a blog posting I wrote at the beginning of the semester and shared with my students. I’m hoping that my students heeded the “what not to do” comments . . .
See http://listeningmatters.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/how-to-fail-a-class-without-really-trying/ for the What Not to Do list.
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.)
