Jami

When writing our weekly blog posts it’s hard to stop and listen to what we are actually saying. I have received comments from fellow bloggers who say that I have a habit of simply presenting the facts and details and not including my own thoughts on the subject. In many cases this was so true. I was too busy explaining the situation or topic and not talking about why or what about the material was interesting to me.

I just finished commenting on Jeremy Pepper’s “Finding a Voice” post. It really made me think about the voice that I present and its affect on my identity as a blogger. Along with Jeremy Pepper, Scott Baradell of Idea Grove is a good example of establishing your own voice. He says what he means and he means what he says, sometimes at the dismay of others. I am not recommending that we go out of our way to disagree with others to simply get attention. However, sometimes I find myself holding back because of the reaction I am afraid it will get from other people.

As a new and young blogger, it is hard to possess the confidence to establish a distinguishable voice. Experience is a key element in the “sound” of a voice. Your own personal style is also imperative. Be honest and truthful, but be real.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, Dee Rambeau posted a “congrats” to the Auburn Tigers on Marcomblog.  I had to respond after being there, in Athens this weekend.  Everyone may not have had the same experience but mine was a very positive one.  The sportsmanship demonstrated by each teams’ fans made it a very enjoyable event.  As we all know, this is not always the case. 

As I added on my comment to Dee, in the end of the 4th quarter I think I was more concerned about Vaughn making the field goal than Auburn winning.  Can you imagine the pressure after the LSU game?  He pulled through for his Tigers, as they knelt hand-in-hand on the sidelines.  Tommy Tuberville and his Auburn Tigers are a class act and I am proud to be a loyal fan.    

In comparison to the UGA game, the Iron Bowl is usually a much different experience.  I don’t know if this has to do with the in-state rivalry or what?  I have high hopes that the Tigers can pull through for AU fans again this weekend!  Also, that everyone present remembers that it is only a football game and there is always next year.

My final point in this ”college football” post is the opportunity that comes along with the coming together of thousands of fans from all over.  The networking achieved is similar to that of any business or PR planned event.  By the end of the weekend I had met so many people from various places and different professions.  They offered beneficial advice, contacts and positive support, after learning that I am soon to be heading out into the “real world.”  A few people even asked to see my resume and if they couldn’t help me they knew someone who could.  As Peggy Noonan referred to in her article linked by Dee’s post last week, this could all be a direct result of “the Grey Goose flowing.”  However, it never hurts to establish the connections.  Even if they may not remember, I will.       

The American Journalism Review published the article Journalism’s Backseat Drivers by Barb Palser in their August/September 2005 issue. The article touches on some similar issues from Dee Rambeau’s latest post in Marcomblog, “Peggy Noonan again.” In my comment regarding Dee’s post, I wrote about blog filtering and how the good bloggers build reputations and are able to judge other bloggers by their own knowledge and expertise.

Palser explains the various assortment of blogs and then goes on to say, “Certain bloggers have earned reputations for being consistently good at deftly filtering the Internet and providing sharp analysis of current events. The so-called “A-list” of political bloggers generally falls into two categories: partisans and pundits.” You can read more on this subject from her article.

This all provides further argument into the whole bloggers vs. journalists debate. There are always going to be sketchy journalists as well as bloggers. This is like comparing apples and oranges. Tabloid writers exaggerate and embelish, so do certain bloggers. Just because blogs are written over the Internet and are a newer form of media, it some how makes them more questionable. Why is this? We all use our own common sense to filter the things we read whether they be in the form of print or on the Internet.

Finally, I must include an interesting comment from Palser’s article. David R. Perlmutter, a senior fellow at Louisiana State University’s Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs says, “Traditional journalists look at bloggers like Major League Baseball players look at some guy in the cheap seats yelling advice.” It really can’t be said more clearly than that.

Recently the Auburn Plainsman, the Auburn University student run newspaper, won its 23rd Pacemaker Award. The Pacemaker Award is given by the Associated Collegiate Press and is the most prestigious award in college journalism. According to an Auburn University News press release, “The Plainsman, the second most honored collegiate newspaper in the nation, was the only Alabama college newspaper this year to receive the award.” This is wonderful recognition for the Plainsman and for the Auburn Department of Communication and Journalism.

Honors and awards promote hard work and dedication to the advancement within a program or professional field. When recognition is received it creates attention for the specific program and can increase its performance to an even greater level. People want to work for a successful program where they feel that there is more to be learned and eventually gained.

This somehow relates to the whole, “the rich get richer” philosophy. Organizations that thrive are those that have the resources to do so and a significant amount of success under their belt. Therefore, when looking for an internship or job, it is crucial to learn about the company. The more you know, the more likely it will be to land beneficial work that can lead down the path you would like to go.

This week marks the beginning of my internship interviewing process. My mind is flooded with information, tips and advice from various sources. After the discussion in Marcomblog regarding the “are you detail-oriented” question, I know that I am at least prepared for this.

While searching for more tips and advice I came across several helpful websites. Collegegrad.com is definitely worth checking out. Here, you are given the ins and outs of different typical interviewing situations. You can also research potential employers, learn about salary expectations and negotiations and receive valuable input on resumes and cover letters.

At jobweb.com I found the 10 steps to a successful interview. These are pretty self-explanatory.

• Arrive on time.
• Introduce yourself in a courteous manner.
• Read company materials while you wait.
• Have a firm handshake.
• Listen.
• Use body language to show interest.
• Smile, nod, give nonverbal feedback to the interviewer.
• Ask about the next step in the process.
• Thank the interviewer.
• Write a thank-you letter to anyone you have spoken to.

My one question is, as a woman, is it good to have a firm handshake? Also, I have been told only to write a thank-you note to the person that you spent the most time with. There is so much contradictory advice given when it comes to interviews. I guess we must go with the approach that seems most appropriate for each of us. Good luck to everyone who is going through the interviewing process!

In the fifth grade, I was so excited to get a chance to attend the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was every bit as wonderful as I had imagined it to be. Every year, while my mother was busy preparing dinner, my sister and I would lay in front of the television watching the gigantic cartoon characters and other elaborate floats go by. Celebrities are always eager to join in the festivities. The Parade is even a major part of the classic holiday movie Miracle on 34th Street.

This year will mark the 79th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Macy’s released a press release that can be found at PRNewswire about Walt Disney World’s affiliation with this year’s event. Macy’s gives everyone the oportunity to get involved. Marching bands from around the country come to perform and numerous companies sponsor floats and pay for advertising segments throughout the program which airs on NBC. Fisher-Price has chosen to kick off their 75th birthday celebration at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This parade is not only a wonderful public relations tactic, but a truly historical event. Everything that can be accomplished in a campaign, has been with this parade.

Recently, there has been a great deal of discussion into the subject of employee bloggers. Josh Hallet’s post in Marcomblog, What Should Companies Do, addresses this subject again after his first post sparked a heated discussion, resulting in 33 comments, regarding the topic and various related issues.

Talking From The Inside Out: The Rise of Employee Bloggers, by Edelman and Intelliseek provides an in-depth look into the effects of employee bloggers. David Weinberger, co-author of The Cluetrain Manifesto, was quoted in the study saying, “Weblogs are going to eat home pages. Within five years, corporate sites that don’t feature blogs are going to look like nothing but brochureware.” Companies need to be made aware of this useful communication tool that is available to them.

“Blogging,” has come to be known as the ultimate “no,no” for employees because of the highly-publicized cases of people being fired over their personal blogs. Who knew that you could get fired by releasing controversial employee information? This should have come as no surprise to anyone. Also, this should not stop companies from using blogs to their advantage. I will be interested to see what will come of this tactic in the future.

Last weekend, I began researching and applying for internships. Friday night, after five hours on the computer and only five resumes submitted, I came to the realization that this is going to be a lengthy process. When looking for an internship, we know that it is not going to be easy. However, when looking for a public relations internship you are required to submit writing samples and in some cases an appication form, including essay questions to be answered. My answers got better as I worked, but now I wish I could go back and redo the “priority” applications that I chose to submit first. I learned a valuable lesson while working through this process. My greatest advice to others applying for internships, “get your feet wet with the companies that you are not seriously interested in and you will gain experience before applying for the positions that you really want.”

All About Public Relations was helpful in my internship search. I recommend taking the time to read through some of the various links. MonsterTRAK also provides valuable insight and information into all kinds of internships. You can post your resume online for employers to view and search posted available positions to apply for. Also, consider purchasing The Princeton Review’s guide to The Best 109 Internships. The book has received superior ratings on Amazon.com and appears to be a worthy purchase. I cannot go without mentioning InternQuest, a site created by Emily Melton and Katie Smith, two Auburn PR students that have gone the extra mile in helping others in their internship search.

Take the time to apply for internships that you really like. Your excitement and passion for a specific job may be your best advantage. Dale Wolf wrote an interesting post in Marcomblog this week about the qualities that employers are looking for. Put forth the extra effort to find an internship that you will thrive in and it can lead to far greater things.

Last weekend I wore my sixth bridesmaid’s dress in the past two years. Each time I return home for a wedding I find that my best friends are all doing something different. This time it seemed that most of them have found jobs or internships. “Overwhelmed,” does not even begin to describe the way I was feeling. Everyone, I mean everyone, knew what they wanted to do or either they were really good at faking it.

A few of my friends have decided to adventure off to a new place, but most of them have opted to use their close-to-home connections. By the looks of things, the close-to-home connections are not to be dismissed easily. I am equally proud of both groups. They are all working hard and have achieved a significant amount of success for our age.

The whole experience inspired me to spend next weekend applying for internships and exploring my options. Not that I haven’t been already, but it’s time to start making some serious decisions. First of all, where do I want to go? What would be the most beneficial place to work in at this time in my life? Does this really matter in the grand scheme of things as long as you are good at what you do?

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that, “Public relations specialists are concentrated in large cities.” The top 10 PR firms are all concentrated in big cities. For example, Hill & Knowlton, #3 on the list, has many office locations exclusively in large cities around the country. The same goes for Fleishman Hillard, the #1 PR firm. I guess in PR the old saying rings true. It is all about, “location, location, location.”

After my post about breast cancer awareness yesterday, I came face-to-face with the topic again today. While checking out at Kroger, the cashier approached me and asked if I would like to donate $1 to breast cancer. At the moment, I was too busy thinking about the amazing coverage that the cause has achieved and just handed her the money. She then brought back a pink bracelet with my receipt. My very own pink bracelet, with the words “Support The Cure” written across it, for only $1.

If there has ever been anyone to figure out the key to public relations, breast cancer certainly has. The very bracelet that I am wearing is for sale in a boutique downtown for $20. Of course, not the exact same bracelet but you get my point. Making a donation “trendy” is brilliant. The Lance Armstrong Foundation was the first to introduce the rubber bracelets in its mission to help fund cancer research. Lance’s yellow bracelet with the motto, “Livestrong,” was hard to miss in the Tour de France.

As soon as I got home from Kroger, a commercial came on tv with a guy in a pink hard hat. I turned up the volume out of curiosity. This was the beginning of a Payless commercial endorsing the pink ribbon pins its stores are selling. What next? It seems that “pink” has succeeded in displaying itself everywhere.

My point is, if you believe in your cause/campaign then you can spread the concept. Granted, breast cancer is a very common cause but look at all of the company’s willing to cooperate. Be creative and get people’s attention. Know your target audiences and go after them.