Monday, September 15, 2008
Some light reading
After learning that The Elements of Style is online, I think I'm going to curl up with a blanket and a glass of wine. I WILL become a better writer.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Facebook: an exercise in personal branding
I joined Facebook in 2005, at a time when the only people using the social networking site were those affiliated with a college or university. Today, it's captured pretty much everyone.
It's used to catch up with old friends, to share photos and exchange information and ideas, but in recent months I've been looking at the wider implications of Facebook and how it's used as a free and convenient way to market and brand you we've become and to put forth a public image of our own creation.
Branding is used in business as a way for the public to easily identify organizations. The words and images that the company puts forth in an effort to create its image are the things that remain in the public consciousness. It also determines our views of these companies. I'd argue that much in the same way it works for business, people use Facebook in much the same way. Some people have a better handle on this, while others have no problem sharing their nice, and not-so-nice moments with their public, however they've defined it.
The information people post allows them to create a public image of themselves. This image can be tailored to portray themselves as partiers, perverts, professionals or parents. It's all in the hands of the individuals.
Facebook allows users to tell readers what they're doing at the moment, change their relationship status, post photos, join groups and create events. Put them all together, and, over time, people brand yourself, whether they realize it or not. I've got a "friend" who joins "hot girl" groups and another who is working toward a career in business and updates her photos each week with images that show too much of her "business." Their personal branding forces me to judge who they are as people, even though I don't consider myself to be judgemental in my day-to-day life. In addition, I've actually dumped a "friend" (twice in fact) for his personal choice to join a group that I found particularly offensive.
Make no mistake, we do judge people by what they reveal and the affiliations they choose to align themselves with on Facebook. It's personal branding for the 21st century.
It's used to catch up with old friends, to share photos and exchange information and ideas, but in recent months I've been looking at the wider implications of Facebook and how it's used as a free and convenient way to market and brand you we've become and to put forth a public image of our own creation.
Branding is used in business as a way for the public to easily identify organizations. The words and images that the company puts forth in an effort to create its image are the things that remain in the public consciousness. It also determines our views of these companies. I'd argue that much in the same way it works for business, people use Facebook in much the same way. Some people have a better handle on this, while others have no problem sharing their nice, and not-so-nice moments with their public, however they've defined it.
The information people post allows them to create a public image of themselves. This image can be tailored to portray themselves as partiers, perverts, professionals or parents. It's all in the hands of the individuals.
Facebook allows users to tell readers what they're doing at the moment, change their relationship status, post photos, join groups and create events. Put them all together, and, over time, people brand yourself, whether they realize it or not. I've got a "friend" who joins "hot girl" groups and another who is working toward a career in business and updates her photos each week with images that show too much of her "business." Their personal branding forces me to judge who they are as people, even though I don't consider myself to be judgemental in my day-to-day life. In addition, I've actually dumped a "friend" (twice in fact) for his personal choice to join a group that I found particularly offensive.
Make no mistake, we do judge people by what they reveal and the affiliations they choose to align themselves with on Facebook. It's personal branding for the 21st century.
In good company
This week marks the beginning of my "Writing for Public Relations" course, and I have to say it looks like it's going to be fabulous. The homework seems reasonable, I found my textbook online for about $8 through Better World Books and the course content will definitely prove to be helpful in my job. Already, it's helped me to identify some of my big writing weaknesses, including my improper use, or lack of use, of commas and my tendency to write in a passive voice.
I'm also impressed by some of my classmates, including a professional ballet dancer, a publicist for Warner Brothers Music and someone who recently landed a great job with Thornley Fallis Communications. My former classmates include a former national TV reporter, a festival publicist, an airline marketing manager and someone who landed a job in Geneva as a regional director for the World Health Organization at the end of last semester. I think I'm in good company.
The diversity of the students should translate into some great discussions and hopefully some great contacts for all of us.
I'm also impressed by some of my classmates, including a professional ballet dancer, a publicist for Warner Brothers Music and someone who recently landed a great job with Thornley Fallis Communications. My former classmates include a former national TV reporter, a festival publicist, an airline marketing manager and someone who landed a job in Geneva as a regional director for the World Health Organization at the end of last semester. I think I'm in good company.
The diversity of the students should translate into some great discussions and hopefully some great contacts for all of us.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Words for a PR junkie to live by
I came across this quote tonight, and found it to be quite clever.
"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, and a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell."
-Strunk and White's The Elements of Style
"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, and a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell."
-Strunk and White's The Elements of Style
Three down, six to go
Today marks the beginning of another new semester for me at Ryerson, where I'm working toward a certificate in public relations. With three courses under my belt, I'm diving into my fourth. It's a snappy little ditty called "Writing for Public Relations."
Some of it will focus on things I've already done, like writing news releases, backgrounders and newsletters, but I know there's always room for improvement and that's why this program has become such a focal point in my life.
When I started working in PR, I was in heavy competition with candidates who had years and years of experience. I came in with nothing but a hope and prayer along with five years of writing experience, which was all done part-time. Since then I've gained tons of on-the-job experience, but I still feel a void that formal education is starting to fill.
There's a lot of talk about the value of a certificate in public relation when I've already jumped into the field. Why bother when potential employers are more interested in a candidate's job experience? Sometimes I grapple with this question as well, especially when the mid-semester crunch hits.
The answer is simple.
It makes me feel like I'm better prepared to do my job. The things I learn through my readings, assignments and discussions with my classmates have all added depth to the way I think about my profession and make me better equipped to advise the people I work with and for.
This weekend, I poured over "Public Relations for Dummies," written by Eric Yaverbaum. It was a great read that solidified some of what I know with a focus on creativity and thinking outside the box.
I now await the arrival "Public relations writing : the essentials of style and format" by Thomas H. Bivins. I found this gem, which retails for $71 at the campus bookstore for $21, including priority shipping, at Better World Books. I'll be checking this site from now on for all my junkie reading.
Some of it will focus on things I've already done, like writing news releases, backgrounders and newsletters, but I know there's always room for improvement and that's why this program has become such a focal point in my life.
When I started working in PR, I was in heavy competition with candidates who had years and years of experience. I came in with nothing but a hope and prayer along with five years of writing experience, which was all done part-time. Since then I've gained tons of on-the-job experience, but I still feel a void that formal education is starting to fill.
There's a lot of talk about the value of a certificate in public relation when I've already jumped into the field. Why bother when potential employers are more interested in a candidate's job experience? Sometimes I grapple with this question as well, especially when the mid-semester crunch hits.
The answer is simple.
It makes me feel like I'm better prepared to do my job. The things I learn through my readings, assignments and discussions with my classmates have all added depth to the way I think about my profession and make me better equipped to advise the people I work with and for.
This weekend, I poured over "Public Relations for Dummies," written by Eric Yaverbaum. It was a great read that solidified some of what I know with a focus on creativity and thinking outside the box.
I now await the arrival "Public relations writing : the essentials of style and format" by Thomas H. Bivins. I found this gem, which retails for $71 at the campus bookstore for $21, including priority shipping, at Better World Books. I'll be checking this site from now on for all my junkie reading.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Confessions of a PR junkie
I have a confession to make. I'm a PR junkie.
In layman's terms I'm addicted to the field of public relations. As a kid, I thought journalism would be my path. Although I did have a brief stint as a reporter and columnist, I stumbled into public relations nearly four years ago, lured by the prospect of steady income, a 9-to-5 schedule and the opportunity to challenge myself with an exciting job and work for an organization I love. Now I can't imagine doing anything else.
With current PR trends espousing the power and value of bringing one's message online through blogs and social media campaigns, I'd be foolish to not try my hand at bringing my own experiences to life in this way. After all, how can I advise my colleagues about blogging if I haven't tried it myself?
In addition to sharing my thoughts, victories and challenges with an audience that extends well beyond the confines of my modest home office, I feel this vehicle will allow me to track my own growth as a PR practitioner. So here you have it. "Confessions of a PR junkie."
There are a number of distinct elements that make a blog successful. The first is honesty and portraying oneself as authentically as possible. That I can do. No third-party ghost-writer for me.
Next is timeliness and fostering an interested and engaged audience. One-way communication has gone the way of the dinosaurs, making way for up-to-the-minute two-way communication that will hopefully lead to some wonderful discussions.
Keeping it conversational and finding ways to measure how I'm doing through examining hits to the blog are also key. Are people reading? Do they care? We'll see.
Finally, I must pledge to be committed to this format and update my posts regularly. With a full-time job, a part-time freelance business, part-time school and two young children, this may be my biggest challenge yet. But I'm confident I can make it work. After all, I'm a PR junkie and this could well give me my greatest fix.
In layman's terms I'm addicted to the field of public relations. As a kid, I thought journalism would be my path. Although I did have a brief stint as a reporter and columnist, I stumbled into public relations nearly four years ago, lured by the prospect of steady income, a 9-to-5 schedule and the opportunity to challenge myself with an exciting job and work for an organization I love. Now I can't imagine doing anything else.
With current PR trends espousing the power and value of bringing one's message online through blogs and social media campaigns, I'd be foolish to not try my hand at bringing my own experiences to life in this way. After all, how can I advise my colleagues about blogging if I haven't tried it myself?
In addition to sharing my thoughts, victories and challenges with an audience that extends well beyond the confines of my modest home office, I feel this vehicle will allow me to track my own growth as a PR practitioner. So here you have it. "Confessions of a PR junkie."
There are a number of distinct elements that make a blog successful. The first is honesty and portraying oneself as authentically as possible. That I can do. No third-party ghost-writer for me.
Next is timeliness and fostering an interested and engaged audience. One-way communication has gone the way of the dinosaurs, making way for up-to-the-minute two-way communication that will hopefully lead to some wonderful discussions.
Keeping it conversational and finding ways to measure how I'm doing through examining hits to the blog are also key. Are people reading? Do they care? We'll see.
Finally, I must pledge to be committed to this format and update my posts regularly. With a full-time job, a part-time freelance business, part-time school and two young children, this may be my biggest challenge yet. But I'm confident I can make it work. After all, I'm a PR junkie and this could well give me my greatest fix.
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