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Watch Out for Digital Dirt

When you’re preparing for a job (or internship) search, it’s time to be sure that you don’t have any “digital dirt” that a potential employer may uncover.

Sweep Away Your Digital Dirt

Imagine you’re in a job interview right now. How would you answer this question? “After our interview today, I am going to look you up online. How do you think my impression of you will change after I do this?”

Think about what’s visible in your Facebook profile, MySpace page, your blog, Flickr photos, LinkedIn profile and anywhere else that you’ve posted info about yourself. Check to see if others have tagged you in photos. Even if you’ve made your info “private,” it’s still possible that the information is accessible. (Even if a web page is taken down, you may still get to it through the Way Back Machine if you know when it was accessible.)

A discussion on this topic at PR OpenMic brought several things to consider:

” We google/facebook/myspace everyone we hire, and it’s pretty much standard practice out in the trenches.” — Michael Dolan

“I have, in the past, Googled and Facebooked my students before each new semester begins. The stuff I’ve found. So, I copy the photos and, when classes start, put the photos up on the large screen in class as I call roll. My point to them is, “If I can find it, your potential future internships and employers can find it, too.” Freaks them out, but certainly makes the point. Again, only rarely, but still … the stuff I’ve found… yikes!” — Robert French

“A good point a new PR professional brought up when speaking to one of my classes is blocking your friends list from public view. Who you associate with can be digital dirt sometimes.” — Beth Evans

Let me close with a profound thought by a PR practitioner in Washington, DC :

“Just ask yourself: Would they trust their organization’s reputation to someone who can’t keep his or her own intact?” — Felipe Benitez

Just some food for thought.

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What PR Writers REALLY Need to Know About AP Style

In my PR Writing courses that I’ve taught over the years, it seems as though the biggest struggle for the students is writing using Associated Press style.

To help combat this, I sought feedback from a variety of public relations practitioners and faculty members, trying to come up with a list of what PR writers REALLY need to know (cold, without even looking in the AP Stylebook) about AP Style. The most helpful advice came from colleagues on PR OpenMic, a new social network for PR students, faculty and practitioners. (See the individual responses I received in the PR OpenMic PR Writing Discussion Forum.)

The most important (and sometimes confusing) parts of AP Style for PR writers are:

  • dates (especially when to abbreviate)
  • addresses (especially when to abbreviate)
  • names (when to use titles, etc.)
  • numerals (when to spell out, when to use digits)
  • datelines (which cities need to be identified with their states)

Many PR writers can also benefit from brushing up on standard grammar. My favorite site for general grammar advice is Mignon Fogarty’s Grammar Girl. Consider subscribing to Grammar Girl’s podcast through iTunes.

Additionally, I found several websites that help my students with AP Style: see http://del.icio.us/listeningmatters/APStyle.

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PRCA 3339: Blog Assignment (Brochure Alternative) Spring 2008

UPDATE (4.16.08): Comments are closed for this posting, as the deadline to make your decision on whether to do the brochure (as originally planned) or the blog (as described below) has passed.

As a project for Georgia Southern University’s PRCA 3339, you have two choices. You can create a brochure using InDesign as we originally discussed in the class. OR, you can add several postings to your blog that relate to the content of our PR Publications class. Please let me know your decision about the assignment by Friday, April 11, at midnight. (Comment on this post to let me know.) If I don’t hear from you, I’ll assume that you’re doing the brochure as originally planned.

The Blog Assignment

  • Write & publish at least three postings of 200 words or more between now and the due date of April 23 at midnight.
  • The topics of your postings can range from using InDesign, using typography, choosing the best kind of paper, taking effective photos, storing photos online, pricing the printing of your publication using online sources, or any other topic related to public relations publications.
  • The postings need to be your original work (don’t copy and paste from another website or blog). If you use info from another site, be sure to cite your source. (No APA Style needed for this citation; you can just hyperlink to the original source.)
  • In each posting, offer at least two hyperlinks to relevant sites.
  • Also, comment on at least two of your classmates blogs; see http://del.icio.us/listeningmatters/PRCA3339blogs for a listing of them.

Questions? Please let me know.

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Start a PR-Themed Blog

For my PRCA 3330 Class

On Wednesday and Friday this week, we will not be meeting in our usual PRCA 3330 class, as I will be at the International Listening Association conference in Maine. Your assignment for the week, which will count as your attendance and participation for the week, is as follows:

  • Sign up for an account at WordPress.com if you don’t already have one
  • Create a public relations-themed blog by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 25. Add a comment here to let me know  what the name and address (URL) of your blog are
  • Write at least two postings, again with something related to PR as the theme
  • In each posting, offer at least two hyperlinks to relevant sites
  • Comment on at least two of your classmates blogs; see http://del.icio.us/listeningmatters/PRCA3330blogs for a listing of them. This listing will be available by the end of the day on Wednesday, March 26
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Review a PR-Related Blog

For my PRCA 3330 class

Find a PR-related blog, and read through several of the postings. Then add a comment to this message here at Public Relations Matters with your thoughts. Be sure to include:

  • Name of the blog
  • Website address of the blog
  • Intended audience (if you can determine that)
  • Your thoughts on the content of the blog 

If you need some ideas of what I mean by PR-related blogs, see my links: http://del.icio.us/listeningmatters/PR_blogs for a starting place. (Please don’t use one of these, but you can use one that is linked FROM one of these.)

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Edelman Digital Bootcamp: Energizing and Exhausting

exhaustedHave you ever felt exhausted at the end of a day? I’m sure we all have, especially when the day is filled with physical activity. But have you ever felt worn out after a day when you spent the day involved in intense listening?

That happened to me just yesterday. Even so, I didn’t even once feel the need to raise my hand, like the student in Gary Larson’s Far Side cartoon, and say, “May I please be excused? My head is full.” If it’s possible, I came away from that day both exhausted and energized . . . so many great ideas were generated and shared on how to make social media an integral part of the public relations strategies.

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Edelman Digital Bootcamp, hosted by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. This intense one-day workshop was designed for students and educators from throughout the Southeast. In addition to a large contingent from UGA, several other schools were represented: Kennesaw State College, Clemson University, University of West Florida, Georgia Southern University and Auburn University (War Eagle!).

The news release prior to the event described Edelman Digital Bootcamp like this:

Edelman, the world’s leading independent public relations firm, seeks to provide students and educators hands-on skills integration training about the professional use of new media.

Bootcamp participants will break into teams and Edelman practitioners will direct them in a mock campaign. Students will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Edelman facilitators to research, design and implement a social media solution for the assigned client. This approach will allow students to network with professionals while also gaining hands-on experience.

An additional track will be available to educators, focused more on sharing ideas and encouraging the adoption of new media in more communication curricula throughout the Southeast. Educators will have the opportunity to discuss the practicalities of teaching new media, share lesson plans and more.

Edelman intends to expand its Digital Bootcamp to other college campuses across the nation in what they hope will become an annual event.

As the day progressed, I had my notebook computer out and used del.icio.us to make note of the websites mentioned during several of the presentations. You’ll find that list below; most of the sites are free to use. I’ll share more of my thoughts on the bootcamp later this week, especially on Tweeting and its effect my listening during the day.

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Less-Than-Flattering Quotations on Public Relations

“Public-relations specialists make flower arrangements of the facts, placing them so that the wilted and less attractive petals are hidden by sturdy blooms”
– Alan Harrington

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers.”
– Daniel J. Boorstin
 
“All the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.”
– Harry S Truman
 
“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.”
– Richard Feynman