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!

Design Day

"Good design begins with honesty, asks tough questions, comes from collaboration and from trusting your intuition." -Freeman Thomas

After today's Magazine and Feature Writing class, I found the above quote to be quite relevant. The topic of discussion in today's class, as you might have guessed, was design. (Most of you reading this blog were there so you already knew that.)

I found today's class to be really productive. Being able to share design ideas and work together to create our look for Update Magazine is something that I really enjoyed, and I think our class was pretty excited to finally get our design and layout nailed down. I think that this year's Update staff members are all dedicated to making this issue of Update the best yet. I know, I know, that sounds cheesy, but I mean it. We all bring a lot of experience to the class and all have strenghes that will only better Update Magazine. Needless to say, I am pretty excited to see this magazine come together.

So, going along with the topic of this post, I thought I would share with you all a really cool Web Site that Serge shared with my PR Techniques class. I took this class a couple of semesters ago and have been using this site as a tool ever since. Many of you may be familiar with this site already, but for those of you who haven't you should definitely check it out. It is called Adobe Kuler. On this site you are able to create and share color stories and templates with people across the world. You can even upload a photo to the site and it will pull out 5 colors from the photo to create a color story! Pretty cool! If you can't figure out the site or want to know more Adobe has tutorials on Kuler. Hey, who knows some of you may find a color story you like and update your blog or website.

Some of my favorites are Monsoon Season, Exterior Fresh and Alone in a Cafe. There are thousands to choose from and you can even make your own. Check it out...
http://kuler.adobe.com/#themes/rating?time=30

A Restful Yet Productive Spring Break

It has been cloudy and rainy for the past week, which means one thing; Spring is finally here! I hope...

Spring Break is officially here and it is nice to be home and with family. The down time has been great, but at the same time I find myself a little bit bored. So, I have been continuing my job search and plan to do some updating of my blog. I still need to figure out how to get my resume and portfolio onto Blogger. Anyone have any advice?

I had my first "real interview" today. It went really well and have already been asked back for a second interview! I am really excited about this interview process and this potential job. It is not journalism related but more so geared toward my minor, leadership studies, and my retail experience. I have to thank those who have guided me through this interview process. From those people who have critiqued my resume and cover letter to those who have given me tips on great interviewing techniques. We will see what happens with this potential job soon.

While this break is sure to be restful I can't seem to slow down. I know that in only one short week I will have projects and assignments due again and that graduation is quickly approaching! SCARY!

Oh, and before I go...it is not only spring but also March Madness! Go Cats! (I know shamless plug for the Cats!)

Twitter Is Used as as Tool to Engage Students

Twitter has become a classroom staple at universities across the country. At the University of Texas at Dallas and at Purdue University professors are using the social media outlet, Twitter, to engage students in class discussions.

While some students are comfortable with expressing their opinions in front of a 200+ lecture hall, others are not. Twitter has given a shy student the opportunity to have their opinion heard and acts as a review guide for all students in the class.

Do you think Twitter is a positive or negative way to engage students? Is it a good thing that we aren't making students speak in front of their peers? You be the judge...

Check out this article, How Twitter in the Classroom is Boosting Engagement, from mashable.com and the video, The Twitter Experiment, from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Job Searching...a Job Within Itself

So, I never thought trying to find a job would be as difficult as it has been. I have spent the past couple of weeks browsing companies' websites and using business connections to learn of job openings in Kansas City and other Midwest cities. Let me just say, it's been hard. Between school, work and my internship there is barely enough time in the day. But I know that finding a job is important so just recently I have moved job searching to the top of my "to do" list.

As hard as it is for me to admit, I think a part of me has been a little intimidated to look for jobs. I keep pushing the "Job Search" task farther and farther down my to do list in hopes that a job will miraculously fall into my lap. We all know that won't happen. No one likes rejection and I really don't like rejection. Job searching is definitely a humbling experience in the fact that you think you are the best and brightest that a specific company has ever seen only to be quickly put in your place by a rejection letter or e-mail.

I will say that every cover letter I've written and every time I edit my resume I become a better writer. Until recently cover letters have been my worst enemy. For whatever reason, I found it hard to express my interest in a company or firm and brag about myself in a one page letter. But, I now realize that a cover letter is a great tool and resource for marketing and selling yourself to a potential employer.

Well, my first "real" interview falls over spring break. Stay tuned and I will let you all know how it goes...keep your fingers crossed!

A New Look...

So, after today's Magazine and Feature Writing class I decided that my blog needed a "face lift." Kind of ironic since my blogging is still in its beginning stages, but I think this blog will be mine for the long haul.

As a public relations major I know how important it is to manage my online persona. And what better way to do that than to create a website and blog? I am still in the process of uploading my resume, portfolio materials and other miscellaneous items onto this site, so stay tuned!

If you've read any of my previous posts you know that I have an interest in social media. I think social media has really changed and shaped the way businesses, companies and people promote themselves and connect with their publics. I have been searching for jobs and have found social media outlets to be a great way to find job opportunities. On Twitter I follow many PR or communication companies that I am interested in working for. Often times they will tweet about open positions in the company, awards received or issues in the field. I have found that Twitter and Facebook are a great way to network. I think anyone who has ever signed up for a social media account thought they would use it to keep in touch with friends, which I do, but I have learned to use it as a tool to further my career. Through Twitter I was even able to network and exchange ideas with PR professionals who have been in the field for years.

Start networking now...
www.twitter.com
www.facebook.com
www.linkedin.com
www.myspace.com

Some Workers Paid To Tweet

Ink Magazine is a Kansas City publication that covers topics from fashion to job searching. This particular article caught my eye because once again the topic of social media is in the news. The article features five communications professionals in the Kansas City area who are utilizing social media outlets to enhance their companies and careers.

Ironically, I came across this article via Twitter. I follow F. Peter Kovac, owner and CEO of Nicholson Kovac, and he tweeted that there was a feature article in Ink Magazine about his son and the social media world. I really enjoyed this article because you can see that everyone is using social media.

How fun would it be to get paid to tweet on Twitter, find friends on FaceBook and network on LinkedIn? That's what these pros do everyday!

Click here to read the article

Social Networking to Reach Young Affluents

As a Generation Y'er, the generation known as being tech savvy and into gadgets, I have grown up knowing how to operate, explore and enjoy the world of technology. It is a known fact that social media outlets are becoming the new way of connecting people to people and businesses to businesses, but how do you get those who aren't Gen Y'ers to participate?

In a Wall Street Journal article, Social Networking to Reach Young Affluents, Steve Crosby, head of wealth management at Pricewaterhouse Coopers, shows financial advisers the importance of connecting to younger generations through Facebook and Twitter to bridge the wealth transfer gap.

Check it out...

BlackBerry Rolling Out Twitter Application

The Twitter phenomenon has entered the social media world in full force. According to to the Twitter website, "Twitter is a real-time information network powered by people all around the world that lets you share and discover what’s happening now." Over the past year Twitter has become an integral part of businesses' advertising and public relations strategies in order to make meaningful connections with the right audiences at the right time.

Twitter users want to be able to update their tweeple, or twitter followers, at any given time whether they have access to a computer or not. Many smartphone providers have been working to come up with applications for their phones in order to rival the infamous iPhone. BlackBerry has done just that...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/02/12/blackberry.twitter/index.html