It's not going away - so find your voice!

You may be tired of hearing about social media, the value of Twitter, the need to be social, etc. There is a reason to put effort into this arena, though: it's not going away. Even if it is not the BEST way to reach your target audience, it is a valuable avenue for reaching at least part of a segment.

As we've talked about before, it's all about who you follow and maintaining a consistent voice. You don't need to share the minute details of your day - especially if your audience is primarily clients. Know your audience and share something valuable.

Read this article about sharing valuable information - and how to make yourself re-tweetable.

Social Media Is Not A Miracle Worker

At long last, social media has shown its Achilles’ Heel as a communications tool. It happened over the Thanksgiving holiday. A grassroots movement used social media to get people riled up about increasingly intrusive security screening at U.S. airports. Of course, mainstream media jumped into the ring with coverage. The idea was to get folks to refuse a scanning machine and demand a time-consuming pat-down. That would gum up the screening process. The end result – long lines, long waits and headaches galore for TSA. Thus a social media-generated grassroots protest.

Alas, the protest was a flop. Nothing happened. Judging by the news coverage I saw, few if any people demanded the pat-down and security lines moved efficiently.

So what’s the Achilles’ Heel? Quite simply, even powerful social media such as Facebook and Twitter cannot generate action where there is no passion. Flying over the long Thanksgiving weekend can be frustrating and tiring under the best of circumstances. All people want is to get to gradma’s house as quickly and easily as possible, followed by a repeat performance when it’s time to fly home. Who in their right mind would want to make the experience more difficult? Who would want to slow everything down to the point that they might miss a connecting flight and arrive at grandma’s just in time to leave?

No PR tool can get people to do something they don’t want to do. For PR to work, the recipient of the message must have a passion or a reasonable level of interest. The recipient may even want to know what’s in it for them. Clearly, there was nothing in it for the flying public last weekend. Thanksgiving proved that, regardless of its potential, social media is just another tool, not some newfangled wonder that can perform miracles.

Get everyone talking!

When you can't be there - whether it's an event or the conference - there is a growing expectation of still being able to participate remotely. Here is a good discussion on hashtags, engaging participants in conversation and possible missed opportunities.

Making a Twitter habit

In case you're still getting used to a regular Tweeting habit, all you need to remember is to follow the right people. People who are engaged in the same type of industry, who have relevant information to share. Read and retweet. Engage those in conversation. And find your own bits and pieces to share as well. You have a wealth of knowledge - now share.

Twitter may not be the best for communicating with your audience - it's true. But it can be helpful to you as a professional in staying atop industry trends and information.

Read "Four Reasons Why Everyone's Content is King on Twitter."

Worth a Look!

Check out our Chapter's Delicious account to see all of the latest bookmarks on great articles!

Think before you jump on a bandwagon!

QR Codes are one of the newest tools in the toolbox for many marketers or public relations professionals. As with any new technology or social media, an organization would be best served to approach these with curiosity, flexibility and strategy. Make these things work for you, and not the other way around.

Read "The Marketing Scan-gasm."

Don't forget to check out our newly restyled website at swmoprsa.org!

Sports fans utilize social media to stay updated on World Series

Social networking has changed the way people communicate - we all know that. But did you ever think how it has changed the way we watch sports? I know I didn't. But this article focuses on how people will stay up with the upcoming World Series - and it even discusses the types of "voices" people use on Facebook vs. Twitter. It's not the same audience.

I'm not posting this article because of the World Series angle. I'm posting about it because if sports fans are following these conversations (and they are), you or your organization could gain something from these media. Think about it, and make a strategy about the types on information you want to disperse, who you want to talk to, etc.

Read the article here

How serious do you look?

For your reading pleasure, I recommend this Journalistics blog post entitled "Is social media the cause of the casual office?" I think it brings up great points about how social networking has changed the job of customer service and public relations - to a more friendly and casual style. Can you adequately represent your company in jeans and flip flops? Do you think you have to be in a suit to be taken seriously? Or is there a happy medium?

Think about it.

What NOT to do on Facebook

So you finally were able to start a fan page for your business on Facebook? Well, don't let it go stagnant. The only reason anyone will visit your fan page regularly is new, dynamic content.
Check out this article about "The 9 Worst Ways to Use Facebook for Business."

And don't forget - we're bookmarking lots of articles on our chapter's Delicious account.

Social: IRL Coming to Springfield

After a great presentation by Ben Smith (@benasmith) at the recent professional development conference, he decdied to bring one of his Social: IRL events to Springfield - now, do yourself a favor and don't miss it!

Social Media Marketing Boot Camp with Sarah Evans (@prsarahevans)
7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursday December 9, 2010
Veridian Event Center, 309 South Avenue

Limited tickets will be available.

You'll spend a full six hours of session time with Sarah, taking an in-depth look at the role of social media in marketing your business or organization.

You won't just learn effective social media marketing techniques, but will look at how social media works in conjunction with traditional marketing and public relations and why that's important. This includes practical ways of engaging customers and prospects, case studies, help with creating a social media based marketing plan, hints and tips, ways to make your brand stand out online, effective engagement, latest trends, tools and resources, and plenty of opportunities for discussion and Q & A. This will be a very hands-on event designed to give you lots of practical experience and learning, and for you to leave with new ideas and tools you can implement in a very real way.

With attendance being limited there will also be some great opportunities for quality networking and building valuable relationships.

Discounts are available for multiple registrations. Special discounted rates are also provided for members of the PRSA or Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, for non-profit organizations, and for students. Standard registration is $225. PRSA members, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce members, and non-profit organizations receive a discounted rate of $195. Discounts available for multiple attendees. Special registration $125 only for full-time students.

Registration includes breakfast pastries on arrival and a day long refreshment station with coffee, tea, water and sodas. Lunch is not included. The Veridian is located in the heart of historic downtown Springfield with great lunch options within a very easy walking distance. We encourage you to use your lunch break to explore the downtown area and connect with other attendees.

A post event meetup will take place in the evening after the event. This will be open for anyone to attend. Watch for details!

Click here for more information about the event or to register. http://www.socialirl.com/events/.

Need a graphic? Make it yourself!

We're always looking for ways to add visual or audio interest to our daily tasks, and infographics are becoming increasingly popular. You don't have to be a graphic artist to produce them, though. Check out this article with great tips on spicing things up!

Think you know your audience? Watch for new trends!

Knowing your audience is HUGE in public relations and marketing....and using a consistent tone across channels helps to increase transparency and clarity of messages while communicating with your audience. It is important to note that demographic trends are changing, and this Ad Age article discusses one major lifestyle trend. Click here to read the full article.

They are a growing -- and graying -- force.


Never-married single people ages 25 to 34 now outnumber the married crowd by 46% to 45%, a stark reversal from just a decade ago, when couples held a 20-point edge in the age group, according to an analysis of new Census data by the Population Reference Bureau. In essence, selling to singles no longer means just targeting teens and those in their early 20s.

Remember: our chapter has a Delicious account to share and bookmark articles!

Like 'Em Or Not, Citizen 'Journalists' Are Part of the Mix

Leonard Pitts at the Miami Herald is certainly correct that citizen “journalists” are not really journalists. He rants about it in this article: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/06/1859362/citizen-journalists-spreading.html.

Whether it’s a neighborhood blogger who attends city council meetings or someone with a smart phone who snaps a photo or shoots a video of breaking news and then posts it on the Internet with commentary, that person knows nothing about journalism. They’re clueless. Having said that (and congratulating Mr. Pitts for his article), the fact remains that citizen journalists are now part of the mix. They are part of the journalism world and part of what PR practitioners must take into consideration. It will be interesting to see where all this leads. There is no doubt that citizen journalism will morph into something else. Who knows what that will be! But it is fascinating that the digital revolution now allows a vast number of people to report on what is happening in the world. Will they get it right?

Define your audience

Market segmentation or defining target markets has always been important in reaching our audiences. Facebook now has made it easier to do so, too! Read this piece from Ad Age to learn more.

Meeting - with a twist!

Have you ever felt like the youngest in your organization acted like they knew everything? Have you ever wondered what journalism/PR college students were learning in the classroom? Have you ever wished you could get a leg up and learn the newest industry trends?

This is your chance...

At the monthly October meeting, we'll be hearing from students from Drury and Missouri State - and the tables will truly be turned. You won't want to miss this!

Press Releases 101

Some of the most basic skills are the easiest to lose if you're not paying attention to WHY you do things the way you do them. This Journalistics blog reminds us of the inverted pyramid style - something every journalism teacher likely taught each of us at one point in time or another.

Read the article here

Remember: our chapter has a Delicious account to share and bookmark great articles!

BIG thanks!

Wow! What a great professional development conference last week, "Buzz for Your Business." We had a wonderful turnout of members, students and other guests to listen to our fantastic lineup of speakers. Thanks to the committee for their hard work in attaining sponsorships, scheduling speakers and attending to various details! All your hard work really paid off.

Accountability? Ethics? Who knows?

I stumbled across this article on Mashable this morning, which addresses online ethics in teenagers. While it's a short piece, it definitely made me think: how has technology changed the work we do? How does it change with different generations? And how do we maintain credibility as we lose some of the control of the information?

Check it out

Remember: our chapter now has a Delicious account in order to share articles, too!

Message from the President

Look who’s sitting next to you Sept. 30 at our exciting Professional Development Conference. It just might be a student of public relations from one of our area colleges. Which just might be an opportunity for you to switch places.

Not literally, of course, but by moving into learning mode, you may discover what these top students are thinking and doing as they prepare to leap into our career field. Then you might want to borrow some of these ideas back at your own office.

Students majoring in public relations bring a certain energy to the table, no doubt. And it’s not just because they’re out there on rim, trying out the newest trends and applications. Students, particularly those involved with campus chapters of PRSA, can teach us much about what next steps we should be taking with our own strategic public relations plans.

In planning our always-stellar Professional Development Conference, we made sure to provide a breakout session for students only with Josh Stoffregen, a social media pioneer now working in New York City for Prudential Financial but who only a few years ago was sitting in PR classes at Missouri State University.

Also at the conference, you’ll meet Jaclyn Cantrell, 2010 recipient of our chapter’s Dr. Joe McAdoo Memorial Scholarship. Jaclyn is a junior at Drury University.

In Washington, DC next month, the national conference of the student organization PRSSA will be meeting concurrently with PRSA’s international conference. There’s a session bringing professionals and students together and you can be sure the brightest new ideas will be shared. I’ll let you know what I learned from these stellar students.

On Oct. 26, our monthly meeting will feature students from area colleges presenting projects and portfolios developed in their public relations courses. The tables will be turned as the professionals learn from the students.

Finally, consider how a strong relationship with our student chapters can also be a way to find interns, recruit entry-level employees and cultivate future leaders for our chapter.

Maybe this is the fabled fountain of youth: When we tap sources like these, we bring to life new creativity and talents to share with the world.

Go ahead - register for the Buzz of Springfield!

Register now - EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION EXTENDED to Sept. 17: Save $10 off the prices listed below!

• $85 – PRSA, Chamber, Ad Club and AWC Members
• $99 – Non-member
• $40 – Student

Register online or send a check payable to Southwest Missouri PRSA, PO Box 4807, Springfield, MO 65808. Registration deadline is Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010.

 

CANCELLATIONS must be emailed to: lcox@servproofspringfield.com no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, or subject to $40 cancellation fee.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Paula Ringer, Plank Productions, paula@plankproductions.com or 417-865-7981

 

Some People Still Don’t Get It

My sister Judy, who is in her 60s, is tech savvy and computer savvy. She loves Facebook, so she’s doing the social media thing, too. But she doesn’t get it. She doesn’t understand the game-changing times that are shaping our world today. More specifically, she doesn’t understand that there is a communications revolution going on.

Judy and I chatted on the phone yesterday. Suddenly, she started ranting about Rev. Terry Jones and his church in Florida. Here’s her point: this puny church wouldn’t have stirred up the world over its plans to burn the Quran if the media had ignored the good reverend. I’ve been defending the news media for decades and I went on the attack. I explained that sometimes actions have consequences and it’s news when they do. My point: it was legitimate news because people could die if the church followed through on its plans. But my sister kept making the same point – it was all the media’s fault – and I realized she was stuck in the 20^th century. I had to explain that mainstream media doesn’t necessarily matter in big controversies anymore. All Rev. Jones had to do to send his message to the world was type one short sentence on Facebook or Twitter and post it. That’s all it would take. The news media would just be along for the ride, not creating the stir but reporting on it

My sister still didn’t get it and she’s an active participant in the digital age. I wonder how many smart, educated people don’t know what’s going on and don’t truly understand that our lives have fundamentally changed forever.

Membership benefits

Email prsa_swmo@live.com if you'd like a pdf version of this to share!

What about when the world tires of Facebook?

While no one is claiming that it has happened yet, there is a distinct possibility that the public will tire of Facebook. Growth slowed over the summer, and this article notes that "Some are concerned about privacy, certainly. Younger users, meanwhile, are probably irked that there parents are using the site too." What can we learn from Facebook? Where do we go from here? This article explains how an organization should build in the principles of Facebook to their own website.

Don't forget: our chapter has a Delcious account where we can share and bookmark great articles!

Remember, you are one press release among many

Although there are a million different ways to distribute information about your organization, you probably still write press releases in a traditional format as well. Here's one journalist's views about receiving them and an example of one that caught her eye. Read article

Don't forget: our chapter has a Delicious account to share and bookmark great articles.

Influential tweeters

Want to know who to follow on Twitter to keep up with the latest news? Here's a list! I've found that if I follow too many of the same type of organization, I end up with a lot of redundancy, so pick and choose....but this is a great place to start if you're starting out on Twitter.

Don't forget: our chapter has a Delicious account to share and bookmark great articles!

Think before you send

Here's a little piece to get you thinking about your media distribution list and strategy for distributing your news, and it will also refresh you on "pitching" stories.

The primary takeaway from the article is this: think before you send....easy enough, right?

Don't forget: our chapter now has a Delicious account to share and bookmark great articles!

Register for "Buzz for Your Business"

Ready to take your PR skills to the next level?

The southwest Missouri Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America presents our sixth professional development conference, "Buzz for your Business: Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Read." It’s a chance to learn from the best. You’ll discover how to use new media to create excitement for your business or organization, how to improve your relationship with the media—then get everyone talking.

"Buzz for Your Business: Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Read," a Professional Development Conference presented by the Public Relations Society of America

Thursday, Sept. 30

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Springfield, Mo.

REGISTRATION

$85 – PRSA, Chamber, Ad Club and AWC Members

$99 – Non-member

$40 – Student

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION before Sept. 10: Save $10!

REGISTER ONLINE at http://www.swmoprsa.org/prsa/index.php?/seminar or send a check payable to Southwest Missouri PRSA, PO Box 4807, Springfield MO 65808. Registration deadline is Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010.

CANCELLATIONS must be emailed to lcox@servproofspringfield.com no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, or subject to $40 cancellation fee.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Paula Ringer, Plank Productions, paula@plankproductions.com or 417-865-7981.

How can we use location-based social networking

While this article is focused on how journalists can use location-based social networking, I think it's worth a look for all of us. We all need to know how to harness these technologies to improve our processes and to stretch what we ever thought was imaginable.

Read "Location! Location! Location!"

Don't forget: our chapter has a Delicious account to bookmark articles to share!

Gmail launches a major time-saver

Would you love to save a week's worth of work-time by eliminating useless email messages? Who wouldn't? According to this Mashable article, Gmail has launched a new system for prioritizing emails based on who you email frequently, subject keywords and other options....and while Gmail may currently be the only system to filter through emails like this, it could be the wave of the future.

Read the article

Don't forget: our chapter has a Delicious account!

Sweepstakes article shares legality of promotions

Giveaways have been a way to build brand excitement for a long time, but there are rules to consider in order to keep things legal. Check out this Mashable article.

Don't forget: our chapter also has a Delicious account where we can bookmark and share articles!

Professional Development: Opportunities Abound!

Thanks to Tamera Heitz-Peek and committee for organizing the PR Boot Camp, held yesterday, August 26. There was a great turn out from the community and members - and it was a fantastic dialogue on tricks of the trade. Also, thanks to the speakers who gave of their time, energy and expertise!

Hope to see a great PRSA turnout for the upcoming professional development conference, "Buzz for Your Business," September 30 at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Evidence of a resurge for journalists

Here's a glimmer of hope for the journalism industry: The Evolution of the Journalism Job Market. For those of us in public relations, we still need to grow and change with technology and non-traditional media. The fact that journalism is experiencing a bit of a resurge, though, is definitely a good thing, even if it's in a less traditional setting.

Don't forget, we also have a Delicious account bookmarking interesting articles to share!

Get in the Game

Ever wonder what all the jargon means? Feel a little out of the loop? Read through this "Idiot's Guide to Understanding Today's Marketing Catchphrases" and get on the same page.

Don't forget - tomorrow is the PR Boot Camp - you can register now!

The relationship between journalists and public relations

I found this interesting post reminding public relations professionals that your PR efforts shouldn't solely be aimed at journalists - it should start at home. It's a good reminder - especially in an age where most PR pros are busy with social media and the web as well - that each of our actions should be part of a greater strategic and integrated plan. And that writing a press release alone means very little.

Read the post here

The 2010 Dr. Joe McAdoo Scholarship Winner is.....

Congratulations to Jaclyn Cantrell. She is the recipient of the 2010 Dr. Joe McAdoo Memorial Scholarship.  Cantrell, a junior at Drury University, is majoring in speech communication and international political studies and expects to graduate in May 2012.

The $1,000 scholarship is presented annually to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student and selection is based on interest and involvement in communications, academic standing and campus and/or community involvement.

Dr. Joe McAdoo is a founder and past president of the Public Relations Association of Springfield (which evolved into SWMO PRSA) and former chair of the Department of Communication at Drury University. He was committed to fostering educational opportunities that maintain the distinction and integrity of the public relations profession.



The Community Foundation of the Ozarks manages the scholarship fund.

August lunch webinar

How to Reach Audiences Via Mobile Devices - August 24 at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
The number of people using their mobile devices to access news and information more than doubled from January 2008 to 2009, with 35 percent of those surveyed now using their mobile devices for this purpose daily (according to ComScore). Are you in on the action? Learn how to reach your audiences by delivering “snack-sized” content to their iPhones, BlackBerrys and other mobile devices — aka the “third screen.” Mike Brewer will take you on a tour of global best practices to find out what public relations and communications efforts are most effective with mobile audiences. Learn to grab the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls of mobile communications.

Drury Student Awarded Dr. Joe McAdoo Memorial Scholarship

Congratulations to Jaclyn Cantrell. She is the recipient of the 2010 Dr. Joe McAdoo Memorial Scholarship.

Cantrell, a junior at Drury University, is majoring in speech communication and international political studies and expects to graduate in May 2012.

The $1,000 scholarship is presented annually to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student and selection is based on interest and involvement in communications, academic standing and campus and/or community involvement.

Dr. Joe McAdoo is a founder and past president of the Public Relations Association of Springfield (which evolved into SWMO PRSA) and former chair of the Department of Communication at Drury University. He was committed to fostering educational opportunities that maintain the distinction and integrity of the public relations profession.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks manages the scholarship fund.

PR Boot Camp – Tools For Public Relations Success

Enlist in this action-packed Boot Camp and take away tangible strategies and tactics on starting, building or improving upon your public relations efforts. This PR Boot Camp is presented by The Southwest Missouri Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Aug. 26. This half-day event will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway.

The program incorporates five sessions designed to help those who want to learn or brush up on tools to promote their business or organization – whether it’s a small business, non-profit organization, church or public office. Those sessions include: Starting from Scratch – A Recipe for PR Success; Keeping it Fresh – Tactics for Energizing Your Brand; Secrets From a Pro – 5 Things You Must Know Now; Crisis Strikes, Media Calls, What Now? – An Interactive Approach to Handling the Heat; and No Budget? No Problem! – 7 Strategies You Can Start Today.

Good public relations are important to every organization and every level. This event is open to the public. To register, visit www.swmoprsa.org. For Chamber members, the cost is $40 and for other non-members the cost is $50.

This fee includes a light breakfast, lunch and all program materials. For more information, contact Tamera Heitz-Peek at 417-328-7245.

Learning analytics

ROI is something we all try to gauge, and even experts will tell you that analytics aren't fail-proof. But with all of the different ways to communicate and ways to disperse your time and energy, it is important to try to understand this growing and evolving area.

This post deals specifically with web traffic, but it's worth a read to learn a little more about analytics. It may also help you in your writing, as it addresses keywords, SEO, etc.

Read the article

Crisis scenario

PRSA National posted today a case study from the Red Cross - a story told from the perspective of a young PR professional learning crisis communication during Hurrican Katrina. Although most of us won't be exposed to this type of scrutiny in our jobs, at least not regularly, communicating during a crisis is something we all need to be fresh on so that when and if the time comes, we are able to respond appropriately.

Read the article here

Job opportunity

Job Posting for Asst. Marketing Leader
The Springfield office of BKD, LLP the 10th largest CPA and advisory firm in the country, has an opening for an assistant marketing leader. This position will provide leadership and support in our management team’s efforts to complement our successful client service culture. Our clients represent a variety of industries including construction and real estate, financial institutions, health care, manufacturing and distribution and not-for-profit/government.

We are seeking an experienced marketing and business development professional focused on internal and external operations. Experience in marketing professional services and market research analysis is helpful in this position as well as strong writing skills.

This position will be responsible for our internal newsletter and intranet development and maintenance. Individual will assist in identifying market opportunities, implementing internal and external marketing programs and tracking. Strong interpersonal skills are required to work with partners and managers towards the successful execution of their marketing needs. Additional duties include conference planning, market data analysis, strategic planning, support of the sales process as well as media relations writing.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for candidates who are motivated, self-starting and possess excellent time management and communication skills. Dedication to client service is essential to managing and coordinating our marketing and business development efforts. Team orientation is essential. A college degree, preferably in business, marketing or other related area, along with a minimum 2-4 years experience in marketing and business development is required.

BKD offers competitive wages and a complete benefit package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life insurance, paid vacations and holidays.

BKD is a growth-oriented firm with excellent management and a top-notch reputation. Our most valuable asset is our people, and their collective values of passion, respect, integrity, discipline and excellence, PRIDE. You see our partners and employees “living the PRIDE” everyday as they provide solutions for our clients’ business and financial needs.

BKD, LLP is an equal opportunity employer with policies designed to ensure equal opportunities in recruitment, employment, promotion, compensation, training and development without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion or creed, disability, national origin or any other protected status.

For more information about BKD, visit bkd.com.

Contact Person
Marci Bowling
mbowling@bkd.com
417 865-8701 (phone) 417 865-0682 (fax)

BKD, LLP
P.O. Box 1190
Springfield, MO 65801-1190

Reading the right stuff to keep you on top of your game

Twitter is a great consolidator/aggregator - if you follow the right types of people who distribute the right types of information, you can receive links to the best news, tips, articles and research in your area. Jay Rosen is a professor of journalism at NYU, and in this article, he talks about who he reads and follows to stay on top of his field.

Read the article here

And don't forget, many of the great articles you find on here are bookmarked and available also through Delicious.

A few questions to ask yourself

Although this article is primarily aimed at PR professionals in the hospitality business, it is a great reminder of how to approach the news you want to release. By asking some basic questions (like who cares, is it a trend, do you speak as an impartial expert, and what else?) before you prepare anything, you can become more strategic in the approach to your job.

Read the article here

Three part series on integrating it all

Here is the third and final section to Brian Solis' series, "The Hybrid Theory Manifesto."

Nicheworks are highly coveted or soon will be as no brand is an island. Attention and interests are focused within social streams and as individuals are empowered to define their online experiences, connecting the dots proves pivotal. If conversations are markets, nicheworks represent the glue that binds disparate conversational ecosystems. And through effective engagement, we make inroads towards community and being the construction of bridges between our brand and each desirable market.


While many creative initiatives find their way into social networks extemporaneously, it is the intentional and manual act of linking content to new and traditional influencers. This, for the moment, is the most genuine and authentic way to demonstrate intent and drive awareness and activity among the very people we’re hoping to reach and galvanize directly within the communities where their attention is focused.

Read the rest of part 3 here

Read part 1 here

Catch up on part 2 here

Our chapter now also has a Delicious account, where we'll be bookmarking articles like these. Feel free to contribute!

A little skepticism

By the time you feel completely competent on one of the social media platforms, it seems there is something out there completely unfamiliar for you to get to know. Here's an article about the 12 types of social media experts, how they can be helpful, what to watch out for and the benefits of being skeptical of anyone touting themselves as an expert.

Read the article here

Here's a tongue-in-cheek look at designing your organization's persona - not only in voice, but in text or video. Take a look here to see what we can learn from Old Spice.

Read article here

Webinar presentation during regular monthly meeting

It’s no secret that social media is sweeping the Internet. Brands such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr are now household names commanding millions, sometimes billions, of dollars in market capitalization. But what, exactly, are the millions of friends, faces and followers doing on the social networks that social media tools created? Learn how their behaviors effect the production and distribution of news and information during this webinar entitled “Develop a Social Media News Strategy for Your Company.”

The meeting will be held at 12 p.m. July 27 at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway. Arrive at 11:45 a.m. to network with your colleagues!

Please RSVP to Tom Ellis, tom@elliscomm.com, by noon Friday, July 23. In your response, also indicate if you would prefer a vegetarian dish.
The next monthly meeting will be held at 12 p.m. August 24, also at the Chamber. We will take advantage of another webinar entitled “How to Reach Audiences via Mobile Devices: Public Relations on the Third Screen.”

For most regular meetings, we meet at 12 p.m. at the Midtown Carnegie Library, 397 E. Central St. (at the corner of Jefferson and Central) on the fourth Tuesday of each month, so plan to be there!

PR Boot Camp set for August 26

Need to know the basics of PR? Want to know the latest trends? Wonder how to get your name out there with a small budget? Mark your calendar for the PR Boot Camp.

Geared toward new professionals, nonprofits or small business owners, the PR Boot Camp will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, August 26 at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Cost is $40.

Sessions include:

• Starting from Scratch – A Recipe for PR Success

• Keeping it Fresh – Tactics for Energizing Your Brand

• Secrets From a Pro – 5 Things You Must Know Now

• Crisis Strikes, Media Calls, What Now? – Interactive Approach to Handling the Heat

• No Budget? No Problem! - 7 Strategies You Can Start Today


For more information, contact Tamera Heitz-Peek.

Article focuses on finding the right mix

Brian Solis offers insight into the marketing and PR mix in this new article, "The Hybrid Theory Manifesto," part one of three.

Hybrid Theory |ˈhīˌbrid thee-uh-ree |: The fusion of creative and communications, combining earned and paid media to enliven ideas, unite communities, amplify stories and spark desired outcomes.

Read the article here

Professional development conference focuses on 'buzz'

It's getting closer - mark your calendars for the annual professional development conference - September 30 at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.  The theme is "Buzz for Your Business: Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Read," and you won't want to miss an opportunity to hear what these speakers have to share. There will be something for everyone, no matter where you are in your professional career.

• 8:30 – 9 a.m.  Registration & Networking
• 9 – 10 a.m.  “Using Social Media for High-Impact Results” by Josh Stoffregen, manager, Global Communications, Prudential Financial, New York, NY
  The newest social media techniques may be just what your company needs to move to the next level. Learn to integrate digital media into your public relations plan and the results may wow you. As manager of global communications for Prudential Financial, Josh is using digital media to advance Prudential in the face of its traditional corporate structure. Josh will tell how he is building on skills he developed while a student at Missouri State University.    
• 10 – 10:15 a.m.  Networking Break 
• 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.  “Get the Media Coverage You Deserve” by Margo Mateas, owner, The Media Relations Maven, Oklahoma City 
  In a world where new digital media is blended with traditional media, you need to know – more than ever – how to prepare, craft and deliver winning pitches so your company’s story is told.  Learn to increase your business’s media coverage by as much as 300 percent.  Margo’s background in journalism and 20-year career in both agency and corporate public relations give her a unique perspective.  Clients include Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Six Flags Theme Parks, and Allstate Insurance Foundation
• 11:15 – 11:30 a.m.  Benefits of PRSA Membership 
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.  Lunch – Networking - Student Breakout Session with Josh Stoffregen 
• 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.  “Top Dog Barks First” by Dr. Joseph Trahan, APR, Fellow, PRSA, president of Trahan & Associates, McDonough, GA 
  Your “Top Dog” must be prepared to defend your reputation by being the communications heart and soul of your organization. This workshop will help you prepare your company spokesperson to Listen-Pause-Think-Answer and bridge to key messages every time, using The Control-Competence-Concern method of communication. 
  
  As an international media relations trainer and public relations strategist, Dr. Joe has two decades of work in public relations and has managed four joint information bureaus.
• 1:15  – 1:30 p.m. Networking Break – Afternoon Snack 
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Panel Discussion: Advance Your Career in Public Relations: How to Get Hired then Build Essential Skills to Keep that Job. Moderator:  Bill Perkin, Perkin Marketing. Panelists: Sheri Hawkins, president, 2balance; Dr. Samuel Dyer, associate professor, Missouri State University department of communications. Additional panelist awaiting confirmation.
• 2:30 – 2:45 p.m.  Networking Break 
• 2:45 – 3:15 p.m.  Q&A Learning opportunity with our keynote speakers 
• 3:15 – 3:30 p.m.  Closing Remarks, seminar evaluation

Why Should Journalists Not Be Allowed An Opinion?

Since when are journalists not supposed to have opinions? They do and always have. Which means, of course, that there has never been such a thing as objectivity in journalism. One can only try to be as objective as possible. All of this is nothing new, yet Octavia Nasr, a senior editor at CNN who contributed to the network's Middle East coverage, resigned after she tweeted that she was saddened at the death of a Shiite cleric and spiritual leader of Hezbollah. Some may not share her sadness but we all should defend her right to express it. Twitter did her in when just the opposite should have happened. CNN viewers and editors alike should be happy to know Nasr's opinions about the Middle East so they can judge her coverage for themselves. As a practicing business journalist, I have opinions about the stories I cover and I try hard not to let them seep into my writing. If I used social media to voice my opinions, I probably would try even harder to be objective, knowing that readers of the magazines I write for may have seen my tweets or Facebook posts. That can only make for better journalism. Everyone is free to have an opinion, right or wrong, good or bad. In the U.S., they also are free to express it. Shouldn't that include journalists?

Another Gem from Journalistics

Jeremy Porter has yet another great post today about timing news releases. In a never ending news cycle, is there a "best time" to send a news release?

Read what Jeremy has to say.

If you write it....

If you've been tasked with maintaining a blog for a client or your organization, you know that sometimes the well seems dry. This short article may help you get started in brainstorming.

How to leverage your expertise online
No matter what you do — whether you’re a lawyer, exterminator or weekend gardener — some of the information you have in your head is valuable to someone searching for answers online.

That’s why one of the most important steps you can take in expanding your footprint on the Internet is to leverage your expertise. Don’t worry, no matter what you have to say, someone is out there willing to listen.

Blog Ideas Aren’t Hard

Your job is to leverage your expertise. But you may not know where that first step is. Here’s an easy way to start. Think about what you would tell a customer or friend who walked through your door and asked about what you do. What’s the most common activity in your business and how did learn how to do it? Congratulations, that’s your first blog.

Read the rest of the article here

Bookmark this digital glossary

This is a great article to bookmark if you're feeling a little less than tech savvy - it's a digital age glossary.

Read entire article

The days are over when a journalist could ignore those geeks in the corner who typed lines of code, worked on the website and spoke in a bizarre language populated with acronyms. Any journalist's story now may be distributed with an API; information gathered by a reporter could be used in a mashup or shared via Scribd.


This glossary will help you wade through such terms. They relate to Web standards, programming, online tools, social networking, online advertising and basic technology. If you're particularly challenged, this thing called an iPhone is even defined for you. Get started now -- the list will grow more quickly than your relatives join Facebook.

Go to the glossary

Media relations maven Margo Mateas will train local PR professionals

The planning for the Professional Development Conference are moving along nicely, and the team is happy to announce another exciting speaker has been confirmed: Margo Mateas. She will refresh us on the basics, reminding us all of the importance of packaging a story, developing an angle and pitching it.

You can read more about this media relations maven on her website http://www.mediarelationsmaven.com/presentation_skills.html.

Twitter Wedding - What does it mean for us?

These two are possibly (no question actually in my mind) taking an obsession with social media too far: they are live streaming their wedding and having a Tweet-up at their reception.

Read the story here

What do you think?

As public relations and marketing professionals, we need to remember that there are those that want this much information out there about them. This means their expectations of communication are different, and while it's an unorthodox way to host your wedding and reception, we should try to anticipate what this may mean for us.

Is the Recession Deleting Your Message?

Today’s PRSA Issues & Trends has an excellent article on circumventing the media, leveraging your PR with SEO, etc. (“7 Benefits of Partnering SEO & PR” at www.toprankblog.com/2010/06/7ways-pr-seo) I’m happy to say I’ve been doing this stuff with my biggest client for several years. I’m unhappy to say the excellent results of our efforts are dwindling. It doesn’t help that my client’s target market could care less about social media. They’re just not into it, thus eliminating a valuable tool. So, my client and I are scratching our heads mightily.

It’s no coincidence the trouble started in the fall of 2008 when it looked like the economy was slipping into the abyss. I think all PR professionals face a serious challenge as the recession drags on – getting your message read, viewed or whatever as those you want to reach are too busy running their struggling business, hanging onto their jobs or looking for a job. Don’t blame the ever-rising tide of marketing messages that bombard everyone 24-7 because that’s nothing new.

Is the recession a huge distraction for the folks we want to communicate with? How do we overcome this? If our target audience is focusing more on the economy than what we’re putting in front of them, then we have a trough road ahead because I don’t think our economic woes will go away any time soon. This recession is unlike any others and economists I have interviewed don’t see us breaking even – the economy regaining what it has lost – until 2014.

June message from the president

Professional conferences: Snooze? Or spark? If you don’t see the relevance to your particular niche in public relations, a conference can be one big yawn.


But don’t ask that question of chapter members Claire Faucett, Randy Berger, Tom Ellis and now president-elect Don Hendricks. They would tell you otherwise, having attended one of PRSA’s many top notch conferences this year. In fact, Don just returned from a PRSA Leadership Rally in New York City for chapter leaders.

However, you don’t have to go far for a top flight conference. On Sept. 30, our own chapter presents a professional development conference of the highest caliber. Planning chair Paula Ringer and her committee have already booked Dr. Joseph Trahan whose topic will be “Top Dog Barks First —The Spokesperson’s Role,” and Josh Stoffregen who has moved Prudential Financial’s global PR forward using social media. Josh is a fairly recent graduate of Missouri State University who now works in New York City.

Circle Sept. 30 on your calendars—you won’t want to miss our Professional Development Conference.

In October, I’ll be joining Melinda Arnold, our Assembly delegate, at PRSA’s International Conference in Washington, D.C. Would you consider attending, too? Leaders in social technology emergence, crisis communication, and public affairs will present keynote sessions. One of those is a panel on how health care reform and public affairs will interact.

We’re taking a break from our regular monthly meetings in June, but I look forward to seeing you in July.

Professional development conference set for September 30

The Southwest Missouri Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is excited to host the upcoming 6th Annual 2010 Professional Development Conference, September 30, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.


Your PRSA committee is making preparations to engage you in relevant, lively professional development again this year. It is our intention to give you a power-packed day at last year’s prices, and we’ll offer the early bird registration discount again. Registration will soon be available online at our web site.

Keynote speakers this year are Dr. Joseph Trahan, APR Fellow, who will energize you with the nuts and bolts on bringing positive PR to your organization, by teaching company spokespersons how to remain focused and proactive. Keynote Josh Stoffregen will tell his real-life story of moving global PR forward in the “traditional” financial corporate structure of Prudential. Find out what breakthroughs in the digital realm played a part in his advancement. Plus, we’re working on a panel centered on this question: If we were hiring today, or being hired, what would we bring to the table?

Please attend! The conversation, networking and learning opportunities will be worth your investment. Be sure to watch for updates at http://www.swprsa.org/. Invite clients and colleagues to this one.

Vocus acquires HARO

I've mentioned Help A Reporter Out on here before, but now, it's about to get even more exposure - VOCUS acquired it. You can read the details at "Journalistics."

HARO has built an impressive base of users over the past two years, becoming one of the most popular PR services. HARO’s success is largely due to its foundation as a journalist-friendly PR service.


From day one, HARO founder Peter Shankman (@skydiver) has gone to great lengths to protect journalists from the persistent problem of PR spam – the sending of off-topic pitches to journalists. By being strict about the rules of engagement for pitching journalists through HARO, the service has also become one of the most popular tools used by journalists in the news gathering process.

While I suspect a lot of long-time HARO purists will worry about how the service will change once it becomes part of the Vocus offering, both sides know users don’t want that. According to Peter Shankman, “Nothing will change.” He’s joining the Vocus team and will be working with the company on further extending the value of HARO to users, as part of the Vocus family – while preserving the integrity of HARO, and finding ways to make it even better.

Bill Wagner, CMO for Vocus, reinforced that HARO will not change, assuring me that the company plans to keep HARO free – but they want to make it even better. He says, “HARO is staying free, we’re just going to make it more valuable for users. We’re still exploring our options here, but want users to know we’re not getting rid of anything that’s there.”

Read the entire article here

To schedule or not to schedule

Hootsuite and now Tweetdeck allow users to schedule Tweets. It's nice if you know you'll be out of the office. You can keep the flow of information going. Or, if you have multiple posts to make and don't want to make them all at the same time.

But, is it genuine communication in the true spirit of social media? Some say "yes"; some say "no." Read more from the PR Breakfast Club.

What do you think? Do you schedule or only post live?

AP Stylebook Adds 42 New Guidelines for Social Media

Check out these new changes - reported on Mashable today:

The AP Stylebook has released its new social media guidelines, including the official change from “Web site” to “website” (a move first reported back in April) and 41 other definitions, use cases and rules that journalists should follow.


Among the more interesting changes –- at least from a grammar and style standpoint –- are separating out “smart phone” as two words, hyphenating “e-reader,” and allowing fan, friend and follow to be used both as nouns and verbs.

Click here to read the rest of the article

Integrating social media into event planning

When you are planning your next event, take some hints from this Journalistics article, Social Media for Event Marketing.

Whether you’re marketing an international trade show, a regional conference or an informal ‘tweet up’, there are a variety of social media tools out there that can help you boost attendance and generate widespread buzz for your event marketing efforts. I’ve pulled together a few social media event marketing suggestions that I’ve found helpful, organized by Before, At and Following your event activities.

Read the rest of the article here.

Keeping up with the changing landscape

As we began plotting out some possible speakers for the September 30 Professional Development Conference, one of our members mentioned Sree Sreennivasan, Columbia University, as a possibility. Several of us had heard him at a conference earlier this year, and we thought he could be a perfect fit for this conference. Although he is not available to speak to our local chapter of PRSA, you might still find his resources useful.

You can read his Social Media Guide, see his perspective on the changing world of journalism and get any number of tips from following him @sreenet.

Nestle's crisis communication

In public relations, the need for crisis communication is a dreaded scenario. Due to the usage of traditional and social media, word spreads like wild fire. Each organization's approach to crisis communication is going to differ depending on their mix of traditional and social media, but we as professionals can learn from case studies and situations like the one detailed in the article below.

Read full article
Nestle has been forced to change its environmentally-destructive business practices after a social media coup; what can netroots activists learn from the victory?


After it was revealed that the Swiss food giant sourced its palm oil through Sinar Mas—a company whose operations contribute to the destruction of the Indonesian rain forest—Greenpeace produced a video comparing eating a Kit Kat bar to eating an orangutan. The video certainly makes its point with graphic imagery, but such shock campaigns don't always translate into tangible action. Nestle really started to feel the heat, however, when they ordered the video taken down from YouTube for copyright infringement. Then Greenpeace sent out their call to action: supporters sent emails, made phone calls, and, most importantly, posted angry comments on Nestle's own Facebook page. I say "most importantly" because, unlike emails and phone calls, the Facebook comments didn't just reach the company, they were public for anyone to see. Nestle's PR department only made matters worse by responding rudely to aggressive commenters and also by trying to delete certain comments. Anyone who has tried to moderate a website's comments section knows that nothing can deter some users from posting.

Eventually, the criticism became too much, and Nestle announced Monday that it has begun a new partnership with The Forest Trust to ensure that all their palm oil comes from sources practicing sustainable forestry. As the Guardian points out, this kind of partnership is a first for the palm oil industry, so kudos to Greenpeace.

Read the full article

Engagement Matters

How many times have you heard, “the more you put into it, the more you get out of it?” Or maybe, “the more lines you have in the water, the more fish you catch?” Seems pretty basic, right? Well, it holds true for reaching your audience through social media too. How much return (ROI) you see with social media engagement depends on the depth and breadth of that engagement. This can be measured and quantified according to Jeremiah Owyang (@jowyang), Altimeter Group. Owyang was a keynote at PRSA’s Digital Impact Conference in NYC, May 6-7.

Check out www.engagementdb.com to see your company or organization’s brand stacks up to other “engaged” brands. To improve your ROI and “engage-o-meter,” Owyang says you have to focus on your Rings of Influence which include prospects, customers, employees and your overarching brand. None can be overlooked. To do so limits your ability to share and engage.

Here is a break-down of each ring and some tips on how to engage each ring. (from smallest reach ring of influence to largest):

Brand – enable your top execs and CEOs to speak on their own (ie: blog, twitter, etc.), BUT supply them with talking points, help, etc.

Employees – establish guidelines that encourage social media interaction, but protects both the brand AND the employee.

Customers – they are already talking about your brand, so develop an advocacy group to recognize and reward your top customers (Note: do not reward with cash, do not pay for positive word of mouth); and realize that criticisms can make your product better.

Prospects – this group includes those aware of your brand AND those unaware. Monitor what is being said about your brand. To engage prospects, go to where they “hang out” on the web and engage them there in conversation (not a sales pitch).

How do you quantify your social media engagement in numbers? I’m finding this to be essential in gaining the understanding and respect of top-level executives or those who just don’t understand this “new” way of communication. If you have some a budget, check out evolve23 http://bit.ly/bDqS4R , it has a truly comprehensive suite of social media analytic tools. At the Digital Impact Conference, Scot Wheeler with evolve24, discussed the ways they measure social media.

To simplify, Evolve24:
1) Weights scores of brand-specific sentiment, influence and reach (formerly known as circulation)
- Wheeler says each social media tool is given a reputation score and then they are added together as well.
2) Starts each day counting these things at zero
3) Then uses equity to add each day’s score to get a total reach

I use a much less in-depth system for calculating total social media reach at my workplace. My research is usually topic-specific. For example, I pick a story that I published out on a variety of social media sites, then I track how many times it was Tweeted, re-tweeted, posted on Facebook, blogs, etc. I consider my Twitter followers, Fanpage Likers and LinkedIn group members, blog subscribers to be among my “circulation” which I refer to as “direct reach.”

Each time my post is shared with others or re-tweeted, I consider this “indirect reach” because it was shared by another person, hence not directly. Direct reach has a lot more credibility than the indirect reach. I clearly make separate mention of those in my final report. To get my “total reach” I add both the direct and indirect reach. Also, aiding my efforts is a url tracker (bit.ly.com) to support my numbers. Contact me for a sample of what I’m talking about or to share what you are doing to track and measure your social media efforts. I’m happy to share and am always looking for ways to improve my qualitative research. Contact me at: Claire@springfieldchamber.com or @clairefaucett on Twitter.

May Membership Special

When new professionals with less than two years experience join in May, PRSA will waive their $20 New Professionals Section Dues! If you know of any graduating seniors, feel free to pass this along to them. For more information visit: http://www.prsa.org/JoinUs/index.HTML.

There's no going back . . .

The lines have blurred between what is traditional, digital and social media.

Here’s the revelation: It’s all the same. Traditional is now the digital media and now all digital media is social. Sharing is going on everywhere. The web KNOWS you-- your likes, dislikes, what you like to eat for breakfast. Facebook recently saw to that when they developed “like” pages that are being implemented on websites everywhere.

It is no longer even remotely possible to separate your worlds like before. So, I propose that all journalists, public relations, marketing and communications professionals EMBRACE IT. Figure out how to make it work for your business model because it is here to stay. The tools will evolve and new more flashy ones will be created, but the concept of globalized sharing is here to stay.

Now, all you writers out there thinking, oh this is just another PR person saying that journalism/writing is dead, it is absolutely not dead. All those things you learned in J school can be shaped and reused in this evolution. In fact, I maintain that all those “traditional” theories and methods are usable and SHOULD be used. Just tweak them for the “tool” you are using. A prime example of a traditional media outlet that has evolved is the New York Times. At PRSA’s Digital Impact Conference in NYC, May 6-7, Jennifer Preston (@NYT_JenPreston), NY Times social media editor, said that they were among the early adopters of digital and social media. As a result they have seen their readership level jump from around 1 million to over 20 million since 2007. Preston said it takes a measure of trust and the willingness to try something new without fear of making mistakes. Were mistakes made, she says “Absolutely.” But they do have guidelines. “If you wouldn’t say it on the Today Show, or a live radio show, don’t say it on Twitter.”

At the Digital Impact Conference we delved into topics such as developing social media policy and the best techniques and tools used to reach target audiences. One of my favorite topics was how to inspire brand ambassadors to tell your business or organization’s story. So, stay tuned as I plan to blog about them over the next couple days as I decompress and let all the great things I heard take hold.

Honestly evaluating your work

Here's an interesting Q&A with a chief marketing officer from Yahoo. I think she brings up some interesting points that we should all keep at the top of mind as we evaluate the return on investment, effectiveness of our work, reach of our plans, goals and call to action.

Below I've pasted the first few questions from the interview, but you can read the entire article here.

paidContent: How did the first phase of the campaign perform?

Elisa Steele: It was planned to get Yahoo back in the conversation. In the U.S., we were on a multi-year downward trend on brand-health metrics, particularly “Likely to recommend.” We’ve been monitoring those health metrics since the launch of the campaign and for the first time in a number of years those metrics have stabilized for Yahoo so we’re pleased with the performance of the campaign.

It was not designed for an increase in traffic. There are many outside publications that are evaluating it on that.

Looking back, is there anything you would have changed?
The video we played on broadcast. It was highly likeable. Consumers really liked the video. We didn’t do as well with, ‘So Yahoo, now what do you want me to do?’ What was the specific call to action in that spot? So they highly liked it but we didn’t give them enough call to action. So that’s one thing we’ll definitely do better this time.

How will you be measuring the effectiveness of the new phase?
We’re not abandoning brand-health metrics because it’s not good enough to stabilize. We need to actually move up and to the right. In addition to that, because this campaign is far more social, far more experiential, we’re going to be looking for feedback from consumers on how much more willing they are to try Yahoo products and in fact (whether) they actually do—(the) download of new apps that we put into the market, (the) time spent on the Yahoo network.

We’re not looking to increase new (unique users). People like to measure us on that and they probably will but that’s not what the campaign is designed for. It’s designed more to help current Yahoo users to find more experiences on Yahoo that they want to test and trial.

Read the entire article here

Info on Ad Trivia Night

The AAF has extended an invitation to our members:

What: Annual Ad Trivia Night - companies or groups of friends may enter in teams of six to show off their knowledge of advertising campaigns, personalities, terminology and minutiae. Teams compete for prizes and a giant traveling trophy.
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 24
Where: Coyote’s Adobe Café
How much: Cost is $12 per person; a yummy appetizer buffet is included in the price.

RSVP by June 18 to info@aafozarks.org.

Share the errors

Since copy editing is part of what we do on a regular basis, I find myself noticing errors in publications as well as websites I read. When I stumbled across these two sites, I found them fascinating:

• mediabugs.org - a site to report errors in the news (specifically in the California area)
• goosegrade.com - a site to start a dialogue between website readers and website content providers

Catch the creative bug

AAF of the Ozarks has invited PRSA members to attend a showcase of local student ad team presentations:

When: Wednesday, May 12, 11:30a.m.-1p.m.
Where: University Plaza, 333 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway
Cost: $13 members/first-time guests; $18 repeat guests; $5 students
RSVP: info@aafozarks.org by May 10

Each May, AAF of the Ozarks is pleased to showcase the Drury University and Missouri State University student advertising teams. Their presentations are the culmination of months of research, strategy and campaign development, encompassing marketing, media, PR and visual communications.

This year, the Drury Student Ad Team will present an integrated marketing communications plan for State Farm Insurance. This proposal was the team’s entry in the 2009-2010 AAF National Student Advertising Competition, first presented at the AAF 9th District competition in St. Louis on April 30.

The Missouri State University Ad Team will present their research-based awareness campaign to increase seat belt use among “tweens” (ages 8-12). This campaign was developed for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and presented to federal officials on May 4 in Springfield.

Support Advertising’s Future!

You’ll be impressed and inspired by the marketing savvy, creativity and professionalism of these dedicated young people. AAF of the Ozarks supports their efforts with a $500 annual donation to each student ad team.

You can help by participating in a special May door prize drawing. Each dollar you give to the Student Ad Team Fund equals a chance to win a two-book set donated by our March speaker, Linda Girard of Pure Visibility. Each of these up-to-date, must-have reference guides retails for $39.99: Website Optimization by Andrew King and Search Patterns by Peter Morville and Jeffery Callender, both published by O’Reilly Media, Inc.

Allthis.com finds ways for you to give back

Check out this relatively new website, Allthis.com, where you can support your favorite philanthropic organization by donating your time or talents (to be auctioned off), or you can bid on auctions to benefit nonprofit organizations that you support. It's a great way to give!

Read more about how it works

What about Flash?

If you have input into your organization's website design and content, you may need to think about this: Steve Jobs claims that Flash is no longer necessary, and it will no longer be supported by iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. While these users may not account for your market, it is important to remember that we are in the mobile era, and that technology that doesn't translate well to the mobile customer alienates them.

Click here to read the article

Part 2 of Brian Solis' "Future of Marketing"

Here's the second part to Brian Solis' "The Future of Marketing Starts with Publishing."

Brian Solis has a gem of a post today, encouraging marketers to realize their place as content "publishers" as social media matures. Solis writes:

I recently called for businesses to broaden their perspective of Social Media from an experimental stage of acting and reacting, to one of learning and leading through intelligence, participation, and also publishing. Creating social profiles and broadcasting tweets and status updates is elementary, whereas creating a meaningful presence through the development and dissemination of remarkable content is judicious.

Read the full blog post here ...

Sometimes, it is who you know

Here's a great little article from Journalistics - it's full of tidbits to remind you about the importance and etiquette of networking.

Build a Stronger Network

How many people did you meet last week? How many people have you had a meaningful conversation with this week? Who have you helped this week? These are questions I ask myself all the time. For me, relationships are the most valuable currency of business. It’s important to meet new people and keep up with my existing relationships. It’s cliche, but it’s true… sometimes it is who you know.

Read the rest of the article

This just in!

Friday, the Associated Press announced a notable change to it's Stylebook. "Web site" is officially changing to "website," based on user input and more common practice.

What do you think about the change?

The Poynter Institution commented on the "cheers" and "jeers" in their post.

It's interesting to note the AP announced the change via Twitter:

Say hello to the Mayor!

I'm not referring to the Mayor of Springfield. This is the Mayor of your location. Welcome to the world of FourSquare! Businesswire posted five ways you can use FourSquare.

President's Monthly Message: The link between journalism and PR

Blogger Kathryn Hubbell, APR, Fellow PRSA, this week created a stir on PRSay, one of two blogs published by PRSA. Hubbell asked if former journalists can ever succeed as PR professionals. Headlined “Turning Journalists into Public Relations Pros? Training Required,” the post declares that “without the proper education and training, it’s no more realistic to expect that a former journalist can competently perform a public relations professional’s job, than it is to expect that they can capably conduct a symphony orchestra.”

At our April meeting of the SWMO PRSA board, we had a freewheeling discussion of the curriculum required of PR majors and how journalism and business courses should be among those required for graduation.

Then comes board member Tom Ellis’ post on our chapter blog titled, “Imagine Life Without Those Frustrating Journalists.” Tom recounts his experiences as a young journalism student on a tour behind the Iron Curtain where he observed a way of life severely diminished by a shackled press.

Our speaker at the April 27 membership meeting planned to become one of those “crusty old journalists.” Instead, Andy Cline has made it his life’s work to teach and research journalism. Cline, associate professor in Missouri State University’s department of media, journalism and film, will speak to us about social media trends, a hot topic these days. But Cline also is an expert in journalism as a whole. “Despite many of its problems, journalism remains, in my opinion, the most important discoursive practice in our culture,” Cline states. “It is an honorable profession practiced by honorable people who are vitally concerned with public affairs.”

It seems journalism and public relations are inexorably intertwined. And that’s a good thing for both journalists and PR professionals—and the audiences and clients they serve.

~Ann Elwell

President, SWMO Chapter PRSA