everyday public relations

I read a post recently that really hit home. I started my blog for a school assignment and thanks to a wonderful teacher and mentor, I got “hooked” on blogging.

As a public relations undergrad, having a PR blog made sense, but as I grow and move on with my career (and my life) it has become harder and harder to come up with new and interesting posts regarding to public relations. I am much more interested now in how one can apply the tactics and strategies learned in PR and apply them to the rest of…well life.

I never wanted a super corporate PR position, preferring to do something a little more low-key and certainly more fulfilling (in my opinion only) in my quest to save the planet, or at least contribute to that end. (My regular readers are well aware of my hippie upbringings and dedication to social causes, but if you are new check here for some older entries to get you better acquainted.)

I love to write, and I love to blog, but I have so much more going on that I am thinking that I need to take a step back and re-evaluate my blogging purpose. I lead a very busy life and find it harder and harder to cram in the time required for a decent and thoughtful post every week. (my goal is to post every Tuesday.)

I want to help others, and I want to help the world and I honestly feel that my ability to and love of writing is my gift, given to me for the specific purpose to use for doing what I crave, helping others.

I have considered changing topics, hosts, themes, you name it. Something needs to happen, I just can’t put my finger on it. I am not ready to lay down the old pencil just yet, so don’t worry just yet.

So on that note, be on the lookout for some new and interesting changes at Everyday Public Relations. Come back soon.

Today’s post was contributed by guest blogger, Milena Thomas. Thomas blogs about life, marriage, economics, and politics at Quiet the Thunder and Brazen Careerist. She is a wife, grad student in finance and economics, professional singer and voice teacher.

Enjoy!

I started blogging a little over a year ago, and I fell in love with it. Tiffany Monhollon of Personal PR describes blogging as, “unlike any other form of expression on earth…” Little by little, her sentiment has won me over. Blogging is incredible, precisely because it has expanded the ability for anyone to connect with total strangers, on a personal and in-depth level, on a wide variety of topics. How else would an Estonian man Google “is marriage overrated,” find my rant on the topic, and engage in significant discussion? How else would reading Penelope Trunk’s blog have led to fundamental changes in my thoughts about what a career can be, leading to quitting my job, and even meeting with her last week?

Blogging, and other forms of ultra-fast electronic media have expanded our communicative abilities, but I wonder if they have done much for expanding our minds. While I think it is wonderful bloggers need no credentials, it doesn’t do much for those who blog without authority or substance, and for readers who absorb their output at face value. I also think that attention spans have shortened, and the satisfaction from delving deeply into topics has been replaced by micro-blogging jollies on Twitter. I find that the internet sometimes becomes an echo chamber where the loudest and most obnoxious voices drown out others.

A few months ago, I naively decided to explore one of the most controversial topics of all time on my blog: abortion. I thought I was putting a unique spin on the subject, questioning whether veganism and pro-choice philosophies can truly coincide with one another. I also thought it sparked some healthy debate, but I quickly learned that most people either agreed with my views, or decried my existence. Still, I was determined to speak my mind and try to foster intelligent, rational dialogue. From that point, I embarked week after week presenting more hot topics for discussion. I was enthralled with the process. As soon as I’d release a post, it was like a blood scent was released into the blogosphere – the hounds came trampling and baying at the tree in which I quickly found shelter.

I don’t write about my experience to get sympathy for my politics, because I know there are plenty of my philosophical opponents hanging out in trees too. My point is that people can be nasty and narrow-minded. Things get ugly, personal, and communication shuts down – relegated to jabs and come-backs with no hope for resolution and understanding. The internet makes the hit-and-run attack so easy, and so difficult to defend. I have never experienced a salon, but I think luxuriating with friends, a glass of wine and a philosophical topic would be a wonderful way to spend an evening. I wonder if we can capture that as bloggers? I think so. Despite internet dogs on the prowl, there are plenty of wonderful commentators who show they are capable of civil discussion, even when it leads to disagreement.

As bloggers, I think we have a right to tenaciously tear apart ideas – not people. What are your thoughts and experiences on blogging and public discourse? How can we foster intelligent discussion on any topic?

“We will not destroy the planet and are arrogant if we think we will, the Earth will shake us off like a cockroach, which we essentially are….parasites that feed off the available resources without considering the limits of our excess.” - anonymous

I rarely watch television anymore. And apparently, I am not alone. My family has actively forgone the whole cable scam and therefore even with the aluminum covered rabbit ears we really don’t get much other than public broadcasting and the Spanish channel (for reasons unknown to me it is the clearest thing we get…)

However, we were able to pick up a fuzzy CBS tonight and I watched the presidential debates tonight….I am glad I did. Although I have pretty much made up my mind ( I am wearing an Obama T-shirt after all), I really wanted to hear McCain talk about things like health care, abortion and taxation.

I have to say I think that Obama did a better job this evening. He didn’t get nasty although he did get a few well placed shots in. I honestly felt that McCain skirted many of the issues presented and spent more time telling us about what was wrong with Obama and his campaign than what he [McCain] actually stood for.

From a PR standpoint, Obama did a better job at appealing to the public and defending his decisions with well documented facts rather than using attack methods. He was calm, collected and did a good job of presenting his point of view on several controversial issues without going so far as to “attack” McCain for his policies.

Maybe I am biased. There are after all many studies that show that we tend to hear only what we want to hear especially if we have in any way made up our minds…however, I think that McCain and Palin are simply not right for this country at this point in time.

I do not agree with all of Obama’s strategies, primarily his support of the “clean coal” initiative which is an absolute farce (in my opinion of course) as well as his sudden flip-flop on off-shore drilling. But overall, I think that despite his having less political experience than McCain, he has more of a disconnect from the “good old boy” network and will do more for the common/average American citizen than McCain.

I will admit that I sometimes wish it had been an Obama-McCain ticket–that would have been awesome.

If they could just work together…well that would have really been an awe-inspiring precedent for future political campaigns.

When it comes down to it, negative ads don’t really do a whole lot as far as influence….but having a real, factual-based argument is what is going to really convince voters. (at least those who are actually intelligent enough to make informed decisions. Unfortunately this country is often run by narrow-minded individuals with limited education who assume that whoever is on TV spouting bible verses is obviously fit to be a leader. You know some countries consider that to be a dictatorship…) Thankfully there are voices of reason out there.

I love living in a country that encourages outlets for free expression, like blogs. I hope that whoever is elected, we will continue to evolve as a democratic society that truly values the voice of the many rather than the limited voices of the elite few.

Want to disagree, or maybe even just agree to disagree? Let me know and keep the information flowing. That is what our country was based on after all.

A Simple girl at heart….

When I got into public relations all I kept hearing about was the corporate end of it…the marketing, the advertising, the “spin”, the ridiculously high salaries.That totally did not appeal to me but for some reason I stuck with the program and now I am glad I did. For this reason alone….Just because you practice PR does not mean you have to sell your soul to the highest bidder. Maybe I am not wealthy, but I feel good about what I am doing and that is good enough for my wallet and my family.

I work for the state, which means I work for very little, but you know what, I sleep pretty good at night knowing that I am using my skills and talents for good.

I claim to be a liberal. I am all for freedom of expression, freedom to choose my own form of worship, business and marital status. However, these days it seems that all I hear is whining about the Gen-Y and Gen X’ers not being involved, not doing their part. I happen to believe these claims are WRONG.

In addition I keep reading on various blogs and op-ed articles how young people feel they have no real voice. Even John Mayer (who I detest by the way) immortalized the sentiment in his line”they say we stand for nothing and there is no way we ever could “

I disagree.

I have a voice and I intend to use it.

I had a guest speaker in my grad school class today who was a great example of how the younger generation (and maybe the not so young generation) can make their voices be heard.

No matter what your political affiliation, you can be involved if you want to be. The opportunities are out there, if you just open your eyes a little bit. And maybe, go out on a limb a little to take a few risks.

Want to do more than just don a bumper-sticker? Here is the short list:

1. Volunteer - More than half of American citizens volunteer which equates to more than 100 million people donating more than 19 billion ours each year - Nonprofit Organizations (Holland & Ritvo 2008)
2. Vote In 2004 less than half of eligible voters actually made it to the polls. I think that is extremely unacceptable. How can we declare a need for change if we don’t participate in the process to effect that change?
3. Serve on a board - Stacey Kolomer, President of the Athens Clarke County Council on Aging gave an excellent talk today about why boards are important, the pains of being a part of them but the real impacts you can make within your community. Want to be heard?? Join a board and actually speak up for what you believe in. Even if you disagree aout the issues, at least you are making your concerns heard.
4. serve on a community committee - PTA, homeowners association, rotary club, whatever. For many of these groups there are no specific requirements other than you be committed and passionate about the cause. Want to spay and neuter every living dog and cat, there is a group for you, want to create a lending service for books on tape for seniors, there is a group for that too! A few quick searches can turn up a wealth of knowledge.
5. be a mentor - many schools, shelters, nonprofits and church organizations are in such short supply that I could spend a whole page discussing it (but I won’t). If you really want to help the next generation, who will by the way determine whether we become happy retirees or “soylant green” , find out about giving an hour or so of your time to the local Y or an after-school program that needs you.
6. Take the time to read the papers, read the online news or however you get your daily feed. Skip the celebrity gossip and the livig section (hard I know- I just love “Get Fuzzy” myself) but really pay attention and be aware of the world. There are so many of us who are simply oblivious….a sad state of affairs.

OKay. so by now you may know that I am not a McCain/Palin Fan, but at this point all I want is for today’s gen-y and gen-x individuals to really make a point to get involved. Go to a meeting, write a letter, do what our forefathers intended and create a real democratic republic.

To quote one of my favorite nonprofit groups “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”

So get out there and do something darn it!

Peacefull….

Probably one of the best PR and advertising campaigns of all time: Smoky the Bear.

I am a big supporter of prescribed fire. But you have to admit that this one image did more to set back the natural progression of species (plant and animal) evolution than most any other campaign in history….except maybe the cigarette campaign that convinced women that smoking was a sign of “Independence”……that is a hard choice….

Anyhow, I got to thinking, what are other campaigns that have been hugely sucessful? I am throwing this question out to all my fellow brazen bloggers as well as my new PR comrades. What are the best campaigns of all time, what sticks in your mind?

Let me know and I will include it in my next post!