Go on and get your 15-minutes of fame!

On February 13, 2008, CNN officially launched iReport after buying the domain from Rick Schwartz for $750,000 in January (DomainWire). This is CNN’s attempt to bring iReport to YOU and make it easier for users (iReporters) to post videos on what they deem newsworthy. Users are able to post raw footage of events or news stories and are even given the opportunity to have their videos aired on CNN. With this new video technology, iReport users can watch news stories they might not have seen otherwise (since local news is more selective). This new website has been coined the “YouTube for news.”

Internet websites are becoming increasingly user-friendly. With websites such as YouTube, Current.com and iReport, “normal, everyday people” are getting airtime. These websites are giving individuals exposure to the general public and in some instances, they can even build a fan base and achieve celebrity status. Want to know who the next star TV anchor is? Keep checking back to iReport to find out.

Websites such as this post a problem. How credible is their information? One would think since it is affiliated with CNN, it is extremely credible and informative. However, since the site is free, anyone can sign up. I understand CNN’s reasoning for creating this site, but I wouldn’t get my information from it. Can I trust it? Or is someone going to create a false “breaking news” story that generates undeserved buzz across the country?

New websites and technology are developed everyday that enable people to connect and communicate in a unique way. Whether it is online video classified ads, such as RealPeopleRealStuff, or online virtual worlds, the ways people communicate with one another are rapidly changing.

Make sure you stay up-to-date on available communication technologies. Up until a month ago, I thought I was pretty "in-the-know", but I was wrong. Now I know I have a lot of brushing up to do on what's hot in the world of communication.

Get IN With The Media

Throughout my CCPA coursework and internships, it has been stressed numerous times how essential it is to build strong relationships with the media. Not only does this allow you (the PR professional) to get ink for your client, it gives you a consistent reliable source of information.

Tip 1: Don’t ignore the freelance writers! Nettie Hartsock wrote a blog in which she discussed their importance. Many of the largest magazines have freelance writers and they are always looking for story ideas (Nettie Hartsock). This is a way to get your foot in the door with one aspect of the media!

Tip 2: Maintain contact. Blog-writer, Liz Strauss, whose mission with her blog is to give advice and show you how to “connect[ing] people and ideas to make business irresistible” (Liz Strauss). She says visit them at least once a year, however, if possible, I would suggest more. You don’t have to spend hours together, a 30 minute lunch meeting is enough (a phone call would do also).

Tip 3: Comfort is key. Joe Mindo, writer of the sPRingboard blog, notes “the more comfortable a writer feels with you, the more likely he or she will utilize you as a resource.” He says to always be courteous and respectful and stresses the latter, maintain contact (sPRingboard).

Tip 4: Make sure your pitch and topic is newsworthy and relevant to the area the media covers. On Tuesday, Victor Godinez of the Dallas Morning News, talked to one of my other CCPA classes about this very topic—except from the opposite side of the spectrum. As a journalist, he said you must know who you are sending your information to and don’t send them press releases and pitches for sports if they are technology writers. Once you become a dependable source, that journalist is more likely to pick up your pitches.

Tip 5: Be persistent. Jeff Crilley gives a great example of how persistence can pay off in one of free PR tip videos posted on YouTube (Jeff Crilley).



Check back soon for more PR insights...

Are we TOO accessible?

I found myself pondering this a few days ago. Today, we have the ability of knowing what someone is doing at any given point throughout the day. We can thank the creators of text messaging and cell phones that are Instant Messenger and e-mail capable for this. Don't get me wrong, I am a frequent user of the latter and couldn't imagine what it would be like without them. However, do they make communication way too easy and take away from your concentration at work or school? I think so. With the simple click of a few buttons, I can communicate with anyone numerous times throughout the day-- no matter how busy I am. I have tried to ignore my cell phone while in class, but it just doesn't work because I am constantly wondering if I have a new text message or e-mail.

Just a little something to think about...

Blogging: An Effective PR Tool

I had never thought of blogging as an effective tool for PR. I always thought a blog was simply a place where someone ranted and expressed their opinions. However, after learning about it in several classes and actually writing one of my own, I believe it is a very effective PR tool. Today, most people get their information from the World Wide Web.

Nuts About Southwest, a blog about Southwest Airlines (SWA), presents blogs written by SWA employees. Blogs posted on the Nuts About Southwest site are personal stories (an employee woke up to a dead squirrel in his toilet), Southwest success stories or just plain ole’ blogs that focus on Southwest’s top priority—the customer.

These blogs were used as PR tools by both Mary Kay Cosmetics and Southwest Airlines. The corporations utilized blogging to reinforce their ideals by writing blogs that appeal to their target audiences. Each blog, in some way, mentioned an aspect of their mission statement to grab the attention of their consumers.

Check out:
http://mlmblog.typepad.com/mary_kay/
http://www.blogsouthwest.com/

Forget the Automated Voice System...

Earlier today, I found myself arguing with the automated voice response system operator at American Airlines. After saying "NO!" several times to the robotic woman on the other line, I asked myself, "What are you doing? There is nobody on the other line to hear you!" Finally after pushing every number on my phone several times, I was able to talk to a REAL person and get my problem resolved. It might be a long shot, but I bet most of you have been in a similar situation.

We, as Americans, are so focused on making our lives easier and getting things done faster. However, our solutions do not always result in reaching this goal. The automated voice system is a GREAT example (I think) to one of these many failed solutions. Half of the time, the automated system cannot understand you or pretends it can and sends you to the wrong place. Often it takes several attempts at pushing the number zero or loudly voicing "help!" to talk to someone with real intelligence. I can safely say that I miss the days before the automated system, where I could call and talk to someone who knew what they were doing, or at least most of the time knew what they were doing.

With the creation of the automated voice system, I feel that the importance of communication is decreasing and reliance on the so-called easier and quicker, yet less efficient way of communication (such as the automated system), is increasing. I would much rather stay on hold for 10 minutes listening to calming classical music than becoming frustrated with the unreliable automated voice systems that many companies have started using.

If you are one of those many individuals that have found themselves arguing with the automated man/woman on the other line, I feel your pain. What ever happened to real customer service? How can we get it back? In the meantime, if you hear me yell help, don't worry, I'm probably just on my phone.

Welcome to my blog!

Hello!

My name is Katelyn and I am a senior at Southern Methodist University majoring in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. I am new to the world of blogging and am excited to learn the ins-and-outs of this communications tool!

This blog is for my Communication, Technology and Globalization course. It will discuss current trends and topics in the fields of communications and public relations as well as my thoughts and experiences that are pertinent to the subject.

Feel free to give me any pointers or tell me your thoughts! I appreciate any feedback you might have. Thanks!