Facebook Needs Crisis PR

Facebook yet again is under fire for how they are dealing with the privacy of their users. This week some Facebook users' private chats and friend requests were made public. I think it may be time for Facebook Inc. to devise a PR campaign to help remove this tarnish from their reputation.

In lieu of Cinco de Mayo, is it time for me to say adios to Facebook? Are you scared that your private information may become not so private? Read this Wall Street Journal article to see how Facebook is handling this privacy issue.

Dead week: Not so dead

This week officially marks my final college "dead week." While, dead week is suppose to be reserved for students to finalize projects and prepare for finals, it seems to be the busiest week of the semester. The term "dead week" almost seems like an oxymoron. My dead week may be crazy and hectic, but I guess that is what I get for not having any finals during finals week next week. Yah, I don't know how that happened, but it sure is a nice way to end my senior year! :) For all of you who are trying to buckle down and focus to begin studying for finals visit the K-State Academic Assistance Center web site for study tips and other campus resources. I didn't even know these resources existed until I stumbled upon the site today!

On another note, Update Magazine has been sent to the printer! Woohoo! Our class gets to tour Ag Press tomorrow which should be an experience. Maybe we will get to see our magazine being printed. The magazine looks great and I can't wait for our alumni to see the finished product. Our class has really come a long way in the magazine production process and we should all be proud of the finished project. As far as the Update Magazine web site goes, it is near completion as well. Migrating the magazine mostly to the web will be a change for our alumni, but one move that I think is for the better. I can't wait to see the magazine finalized and in our hands!

Public Relations vs. Social Media

As a public relations student I have been taught how to connect target audiences, effectively write press releases and successfully design a PR campaign. What for? Can anyone be a PR professional now? Is the art of public relations dying?

Some say the rise of social media has made the practice of public relations obsolete. However, I think that social media outlets have only enhanced public relations and made it easier for PR professionals to reach their desired audiences. Social media outlets give PR professionals power. They allow for a public relations department to directly distribute their information to a large number of people at one time. In today's society people are digital. If you are a company, organization, non-profit or institution without a presence online then you are behind the times and are losing valuable promotional opportunities.

In the article, Public Relations Trends for 2010, on smallbiztrends.com, the relationship between public relations and social media is examined.

Social Media and privacy

Like I have said before, social media outlets have become the trend among multiple generations. While social media outlets are used by people in every age group the popular social media outlet, Facebook, is most common among college students. As a college student, I have been warned about the negative consequences that the content on my Facebook could potentially lead to. A future employer could see your Facebook, the content on your Facebook could get you into legal trouble, the list of negative consequences is endless. The question that I raise in this post is, Do you think Facebook is violating your privacy?

CNN.com reports on how Facebook could be potentially violating user's privacy by offering their personal information to a third party. Check out the story here...

If you don't want your information public to third party sites follow these simple steps...
1. Click on Account
2. Privacy Settings
3. Applications and Websites
4. Click on "Edit Settings" next to Instant Personalization Pilot Program
5. Uncheck the box

This isn't my LAST blog post

I must admit I have been neglecting my blog lately. It isn't because I don't enjoy spilling my thoughts and insights to the whole World Wide Web, but rather that I just haven't had the time!

So, since my last blog post I have been busy with classes, work and my internship at the K-State Alumni Association. My classes have proven the "senior year last semester classes are a piece of cake" rumor completely wrong and have kept me on my toes...I guess this is a good thing though, right?

While I am excited to graduate, in the past week I have realized my life has become a series of constant "lasts." Tonight I will attend my last sorority chapter meeting, earlier this semester I had my last spring break and in the near future I will attend my last ever undergraduate class. I never thought this day would come, but graduation is quickly approaching and now I can't tell if I am excited or sad...

On another note, I had to create a short video for my sociology class this semester. The video is suppose to raise awareness on the social problem, homelessness. My partner for this project and I created this video and posted it on Youtube. Check out our video below and help us get more hits!

Social Media, Not Always a Good Thing

In a time where posting on a Facebook wall or updating your Twitter is an everyday occurrence, most people truly enjoy using social media outlets. Social media has become a hobby, an outlet, a communication device and even a networking tool. But, that brings me to one thought...is social media always a good thing?

In Mashable.com's, "5 Ways Facebook Changed Dating (For The Worse), the author explores negative aspects of the popular social media outlet, Facebook, and how Facebook is now something that can ruin or burden relationships. I thought the whole point of social media was to create and sustain relationships?

Have social media outlets been counterproductive by not creating relationships, but rather ruining them? You be the judge and let me know what you think!

"5 Ways Facebook Changed Dating (For The Worse)

Senioritis...not just a high school epidemic

Coming back from Spring Break and Easter weekend I have realized one thing - I have a bad case of senioritis! I don't want to wish away the rest of my senior year in college, but I have found it hard to buckle down and focus. I thought senioritis only happened to high school seniors who were ready to explore college. I was wrong. My final weeks of college are here and I have many important assignments, papers and projects to complete in 6 short weeks. For my fellow seniors...click here to find out how to survive senioritis!