It can take a few days to really understand and reflect on all the great PR stories of 2010. Some of these stories have down right changed the way PR professionals do our job. Communicating with the media has fundamentally changed in the way in which we pitch news stories. Not to mention, in some cases a PR story can go directly into the hands of the consumer without being seen on the 5 p.m. news.
In all, five PR stories stand out in my mind from 2010:
The Good.
1. Shoutout to Facebook. Here's what happens when a great product gets a good solid PR plan in place. Not only does your product hit 500 million users (likely the most cited/well-known statistic of 2010), but your founder and CEO becomes Time Magazine's "Person of the Year."
2. Oh when the Saints go marching in. Big congratulations to the Saints and their management on a successful run at the Super Bowl in early 2010. The spirit of New Orleans and their team was shown to the world through a 90-minute football game. The positive media coverage almost surpassed the number mentions of Hurricane Katrina.
The Bad.
3. Cecil says show me the $$! It was rather difficult, as a college football fan, to watch an extremely talented player endure the onslaught of media coverage following the news that his father put him up for sale. Heisman trophy winner, for at least the next few months, Cam Newton could be one of the best college players of all-time, but his name will always be followed with "whose Dad wanted $120k for his son to play football." Cam will need his own PR team ahead of the NFL draft to do some much needed image repair. To credit Auburn University though, they did a pretty good job of keeping the media straight that Cam was "not involved."
The Ugly.
4. Tiger Woods fails on the golf course and in the press conference. I followed this story from wrecked Cadillac Escalade to Elin's tell all in People Magazine. I won't deny it; I spent 2010 transfixed on this story. Admittedly, I was fascinated with how such a well disciplined golf player could let their personal slice into pieces. Then again, Tiger may fit the profile of a socio-path. At the end of the day, we learned that while your client may think silence and being nonresponsive to the media will make it "go away," in the world of a 24/7 news cycle it most certainly will not!
5. BP oil spill. Not only did 11 people loose their lives, a fact that many failed to report, but BP never gained control of the story. They refused to use social media until @BPOilSpill was finished ruining their brand on Twitter. For any company with a crisis communication plan, please be sure that social media is a part of it NOW!
Showing posts with label PR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PR. Show all posts
Friday, January 7, 2011
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
PRAL- Baton Rouge Social Media "Links Mentioned"
Greetings from Baton Rouge!
The list featured below is a compilation of links mentioned in my November 20, 2010 presentation to the Public Relations Association of Louisiana- Baton Rouge Chapter entitled "Social Media and You!"
The list featured below is a compilation of links mentioned in my November 20, 2010 presentation to the Public Relations Association of Louisiana- Baton Rouge Chapter entitled "Social Media and You!"
Have questions? Let's chat on Facebook (facebook.com/whitneybreaux) , on Twitter (twitter.com/wbreaux) , or LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/whitneybreaux).
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
#PR vs. #SocialMedia in 400 Words or Less!
My handy dandy “The Media of Mass Communication” MC 2000 textbook by John Vivan gives a good broad definition of “public relations” as a persuasive communication tool that people can be used to motivate other people and institutions to help them achieve their goals.
To define social media would clearly carry some scrutiny because everyone’s opinion varies, but here’s my (@wbreaux) best shot- the art of building relationships with your audience through two way conversation and intriguing interaction through social media platforms. (There ya go! if you disagree tell me your definition)
So the rumbling question at least in my PR community is “Do PR and SocialMedia compete or complement each other AND are PR practitioner’s best suited to perform/strategize for #SoMe?”
Just as over reaching marketing efforts launched #SocialMedia (@brsocme), public sentiment and disfavor with big business brought forth the PR industry.
Here’s what I think:
As a PR practitioner and a SocialMedia strategist, the two definitely complement each other when it comes to a company reaching its ultimate communication and sales goals. In its purist form, PR can assist an organization in managing and controlling its perception. PR can effectively put out a burning fire caused by a bad reputation. I find PR also utilizes the mass media more than #SocialMedia to convey messaging and build awareness. I love Public Relations and all that it stands for, but SocialMedia is a totally different horse that requires a different set of skills.
SocialMedia is truly an art form that requires a delicate dance of conversation and interaction to initiate true two way communication directly with a target audience. In a matter of seconds, a message can be sent out to thousands of followers, friends and fans and you can instantly receive a response. SocialMedia allows an organization to build a “real” relationship with its audience based on trust, factual information and the notion that someone is always willing to listen (at least when done correctly).
I believe PR is similar to your front office of your company. You want to put on your best presentation; the office should be will kept and a few plants here and there to enhance the environment. But, social media is CHILLAXED, back room, bar simulating conversation that’s comfortable and generally not formal.
So if you ask me (which maybe you didn’t) there is a strong difference between PR and SocialMedia. Can PR practitioners effectively use SocialMedia? Absolutely, some can. But it should NEVER be assumed that a PR practitioner is inherently also a SocialMedia strategist.
Do you think PR and Social Media are complimentary and competitors?
To define social media would clearly carry some scrutiny because everyone’s opinion varies, but here’s my (@wbreaux) best shot- the art of building relationships with your audience through two way conversation and intriguing interaction through social media platforms. (There ya go! if you disagree tell me your definition)
So the rumbling question at least in my PR community is “Do PR and SocialMedia compete or complement each other AND are PR practitioner’s best suited to perform/strategize for #SoMe?”
Just as over reaching marketing efforts launched #SocialMedia (@brsocme), public sentiment and disfavor with big business brought forth the PR industry.
Here’s what I think:
As a PR practitioner and a SocialMedia strategist, the two definitely complement each other when it comes to a company reaching its ultimate communication and sales goals. In its purist form, PR can assist an organization in managing and controlling its perception. PR can effectively put out a burning fire caused by a bad reputation. I find PR also utilizes the mass media more than #SocialMedia to convey messaging and build awareness. I love Public Relations and all that it stands for, but SocialMedia is a totally different horse that requires a different set of skills.
SocialMedia is truly an art form that requires a delicate dance of conversation and interaction to initiate true two way communication directly with a target audience. In a matter of seconds, a message can be sent out to thousands of followers, friends and fans and you can instantly receive a response. SocialMedia allows an organization to build a “real” relationship with its audience based on trust, factual information and the notion that someone is always willing to listen (at least when done correctly).
I believe PR is similar to your front office of your company. You want to put on your best presentation; the office should be will kept and a few plants here and there to enhance the environment. But, social media is CHILLAXED, back room, bar simulating conversation that’s comfortable and generally not formal.
So if you ask me (which maybe you didn’t) there is a strong difference between PR and SocialMedia. Can PR practitioners effectively use SocialMedia? Absolutely, some can. But it should NEVER be assumed that a PR practitioner is inherently also a SocialMedia strategist.
Do you think PR and Social Media are complimentary and competitors?
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