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Yes, I know it’s not a real word, but anniversary can only carry you so far since the ‘ann-‘ root refers to an annual event and it’s only been a month, but we’re pretty happy with ourselves around here at PRBC HQ (it’s a place on the internet at the intersection of Gmail, GChat, Google Docs, Skype, WordPress, SMS msgs and iPhones (it’s somewhere near the Hudson River just below 14th Street — ok, not really) a very funny place with soft walls). Continue reading
FIT Vol 4: Big Agency vs. Small Agency
If you’re currently looking for a job in PR, you probably don’t have the luxury of choosing exactly where you want to work. And if you only have one or two internships under your belt, you might not have enough experience to know the differences between a large and a small agency, which means you don’t know which environment suits you. That being said, I think it’s important to know what you’ll be getting yourself into when you land your first position. Since I’ve worked for both a large (close to 50 people and multiple departments) and a small (less than 10 executives working on a handful of accounts) agency, I’ve formed my own opinions on the pros and cons of each situation, based on what I’ve observed and experienced. And since we all come from different walks of life, I’ve consulted my fellow #prbc-ers to get their take on the situation so that I can give all the other entry-level flacks out there a heads up. Continue reading
Sorry, I Can’t Hear You Through all the ‘Noise’
This is a rant. I apologize for its length…
Does anyone remember when the big social networking Web sites came out? MySpace and Facebook were the elite two. I remember those days extremely clearly because I am part of the ‘Social Networking‘ generation.
Three things I never learned about PR in college
(CC) flickr // terryballard
I don’t hide where I attended college. Quinnipiac University is listed in my twitter bio. I’m proud of where I went to school and this post is in no way knocking the stellar education I received from a well-known and respected faculty at the QU School of Communications (shout out to Professor Beverly Levy). I think it just goes without saying there is only so much you can learn in four years within the walls of a classroom. Real world experience is where it’s really “at” in the grand scheme of our public relations careers. Continue reading
Can Football Learn a Play from Social Media Pros
While sipping my morning coffee and catching up on reading, I come across another article about football players abusing Twitter. Clicking on the link and expecting to hear what happened to the Redskins player
I am shocked to see Texas Tech in the headline. Seriously, another player has crossed the line on Twitter? Don’t they read or watch the headlines?
Your Copy Sucks: how to write dialog (or dialogue)
You will never write dialog in business writing, except when you do. In press releases, you often have to quote someone. In e-mail exchanges, you might have to recount a verbal conversation accurately. Guys, it just helps to know how to write and punctuate dialog without looking like a jerk.
Here’s how to do it:
Writers Playing with Blocks
The other day… UGH! Writer’s block!
We have all been there, the client or boss needs a document by the end of the day and you can’t even complete a full sentence. Pressures are swelling and you feel stuck. The blinking curser or ink spot from your pen resting on the paper are staring back at you with remorse. What to write about? Where to begin?
“That’s great PR!” . . .When your career takes over your life
After I graduated college and before I found my first career opportunity, I made a regular habit of watching The Today Show with Hoda Kotb and Kathy Lee. One day, Hoda was thumbing through a newspaper (which she usually does to generate timely conversations with Kathy) and exclaimed something along the lines of “oh my gosh, do you see these Post-it notes (appropriately marking the page she was trying to find)? The people at 3M noticed I was always losing my page when I was talking about a story.” ( “ahhh,” sang the heavenly angles.)
“GENIUS!” I yelled, startling one of my cats.
The Things Interns Say
It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of interns. By no means is it the concept of an internship. I had a great internship in college and got a lot out of my experience. It’s the caliber of interns that are coming through the door. An intern is brought into a company to learn about the business, gain hands-on experience and observe the inner-workings of a company in the industry they aspire to enter upon graduation. If effective in their role, interns can be invaluable to an organization and the staff which they support. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. Even worse, my recent experiences lead me to believe they are the exception. . .NOT the rule.
Was I hallucinating, or did you really say that?
Christina’s Coffee Talk with Lauren Fernandez
This week I interviewed Lauren Fernandez. Lauren is one of the first people I met on Twitter who has always inspired me to take (smart) chances in the Social Media world. She is friendly, energetic, and a real mentor to new and experienced PR professionals. This caffeine addict relies on coffee to get her through the day but Diet Coke will also suffice. Lauren enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandparents. When she isn’t working as Marketing Coordinator for Mensa, you can find her at the beach or just being outside listening to AC/DC or even to 2 Live Crew. And so, I give you Lauren Fernandez discussing her position at Mensa and how she became what I call a Social Media superstar.