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Archive for the 'responsibility' Category

Oct 15 2008

PR is actually a service oriented job

Published by ksumm26 under PR, advice, blog, bloggers, blogging information, blogs, business, career, communications, graduate students, happiness, jobs, networking, nonprofit public-relations career e-news blogging envir, public affairs, responsibility, sucessful, training, work Edit This

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….

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Jul 02 2008

An Ethical Dilemma

Published by ksumm26 under burned out, business, ethics, jerk, money, network, news, public affairs, public relations, responsibility, sell-out, work Edit This

If you work in public relations then sooner or later you will confront this issue. You know the one I mean where you have to decide whether your job is worth the flak you receive over a decision that was made way above you but has filtered down the line until finally you are the one who must “handle” the negative fallout.

I like to think I am an ethical person. I believe that the best policy in most cases is honesty. I do concede that there are some situations where you have a need to know situation and the general public simply does not need to know, but for 99% of the issues I deal with, honesty is always the best policy.

Therefore it was a little upsetting to be dealing with the negative press surrounding a decision that way predates my employment, by more than a year.

The field of public relations has received so much grief lately that I hesitate to add any more fuel to the fire….but there are times when you have to stand your ground and stand up for the principles you believe in. (At least until you reach your breaking point)

I was asked to write a release about a breaking news situation at work. A situation that resulted from a decision made by some nameless suit way before I ever came along. The issue at hand was one that got a ton of people (read activists) fired up. A few years ago I would have been on the front lines with them protesting the absurdity of the situation but now…well lets just say I have a better understanding of the issues and can clearly see both sides. I am not saying that my understanding makes things right or wrong, just that I am more informed than the average greenpeace’er.

So I have been answering media calls, responding with our standard response, all the while feeling pretty crappy about what I was saying.

So where do you draw the line?

When do your personal ethics have to supersede your loyalty to your employer?

I guess I still don’t know.

Maybe I am a sell out…maybe I just realize that I have a family of four counting on me to bring home a paycheck, but I didn’t once cross the line and mix my personal feelings with the “Official” stand of my organization. I did it. This time.

I can honestly say that I won’t do it forever. There will come a day when I say, I have had enough and just walk away. Until then…

Don’t judge me. We are all guilty of selling out at some point, (regardless if you admit or not)and until you reach that point, you have no idea what it feels like.

“Forever trust in who we are, and nothing else matters…”

Got a comment. I’d like to hear it.

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