Jun
23
The times they are a-changin’ - but not fast enough
June 23, 2008 | | 1 Comment
In today’s post I’m going to tell you about the main problem for PR students wanting to work with PR, in-house our in an agency, and why it probably won’t change in 15 years.
Those who hire probably won’t hire a PR student.
Why? you might ask.
Because they have never studied PR. It really doesn’t matter what they are educated in, because it’s more likely that they will hire a person who is similar to them. So if they are educated in economy, it’s a very big chance they will hire a talented economist to do a PR job for the firm.
Reason? Because they know that they didn’t take any PR studies (it probably didn’t exist) and they have managed the job just fine. Do you see the problem? Do you understand why companies will continue to do bad PR for their own company?
The problem I’ve described is obviously most common to students applying to in-house positions. In agencies those who hire (even though they don’t have any PR education either), understand that PR develops every day. And with a talented student as a part of the team, the agency will benefit from the theoretical update the student bring to the agency. However, I could mention a global PR firm who recently hired two “just out of university economists”, for two PR positions. But I won’t.
The good thing is that the world is moving in the right direction; the problem is that it won’t change very much until a lot of people retires. Let’s start counting days, for every future PR student around the world.
Jun
5
Did YSL skydive?
June 5, 2008 | | Leave a Comment
I’m back!
After a few weeks off, trying to recover from the exams, I’ve managed to escape from the sunny weather outside, and locked my self to the laptop for a little while.
In several of my recent posts I’ve discussed the advantages and disadvantages of Wikipedia, and when the legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent died on 1 June 2008, I decided to check out Wikipedia’s article about him. Was it updated and correct?
Wikipedia’s YSL article was of course updated with his date of death and the circumstances. Sadly, I quickly realised that even YSL had become a victim of untruthful “facts” (an activity obviously very funny for some people).
Click thumbnail
Yves Saint Laurent’s death was described like this:
“He died due to injuries sustained from a freak skydiving accident on June 1 2008 in Paris”
Could anyone explain me the fun in this? Who are these people, who spend so much time in front of a PC that their immediate reaction to someone’s death is to log on to Wikipedia, and write something “funny”?
It seems quite clear to me that Wikipedia will not be taken serious before these kind of “errors” disappears. It’s a pity, because the Wikipedia idea is a strike of genius, though, at the moment only in theory.
May
16
Larousse goes online
May 16, 2008 | | 3 Comments
The French publishing house Larousse has launched its encyclopaedia online, which means that Wikipedia has got a new competitor, at least for those of you who speak French.
In addition to the verified content from the paper encyclopaedia, it is open to external contributors. However, contrary to the Wikipedia model, each article is signed by a single author who remains the only one authorized to make modifications.
Larousse is maybe most known as a French dictionary for those of you who have studied French, but the online edition is both a dictionary, focusing on the study and the presentation of the words of the French language, and encyclopaedia, covering all branches of knowledge.
After the launch earlier this week, Larousse.fr, became extremely popular and was temporary shut down after the huge pressure it experienced.
So, will we see a English version in the future?
Until then, Larousse.fr will have to fight with Wikipedia about the French speaking knowledge hunters in the world.
May
8
Separate ways…
May 8, 2008 | | 5 Comments
I will graduate in about one year…scary thought, perhaps, but it’s only one year ago since I graduated the last time, and I survived that.
Today’s question from me to you is: Will my departure from university, end my “relationship” with the PR worlds academics?
Will that be the last I see to text books from e.g. James E. Grunig, Glen M. Broom, Robert Heath, or W. Timothy Coombs?
Do PR professionals ever use theories, models or quotations from the above mentioned?
I have a vague assumption that they are (for many) forgotten the day they start in a PR job? Am I right?
“I’ve got a … (Bachelor or MA degree..pick one) so now I know it all, no one should tell ME how to do PR”
I understand that people can’t use theories every day, but still, I can’t help my self thinking that a lot of PR practitioners out there in the “real” world would probably be a lot better at their job if they got a quick lecture on for instance “how to do ethical PR” once in a while.
All things considered, I guess this is just idealistic thoughts, with no link to reality, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong, does it?
Apr
30
PROpenMic celebrates its first 30 days!
April 30, 2008 | | 4 Comments
On 1 April I wrote about a new social network called PROpenMic, and now, 30 days later there are 600 members from all over the world! I think that deserves a round of applause, don’t you agree?
And here’s some facts to tell you who’s what (as of 30.04.08) on PROpenMic:
Students: 331 members
Faculty: 101 members
Practitioners: 239 members
And over 70 colleges and universities are represented from over 30 countries!
I’m pleased to see that so many from Leeds Met, my university, have joined. Both students and members of faculty are now a part of a great PR social network.
If you are still not a member of PROpenMic, follow the link and join a community who shares the same interest as you!
I’m looking forward to see how many members PROpenMic have on 30 May, dare I suggest 1200? Time will show!
Apr
23
Today I found “all” the men!
April 23, 2008 | | 3 Comments
Many of you know that on the 4th of March I wrote a post about the fact that so many PR students are female, and I hoped someone would tell me were the men were hiding.
Sadly, no one could give me the answer. In fact, many of the comments the post received told me that this is indeed a normal situation around the world.
However, 23.04.08 is a date to remember. In today’s Corporate Communications and Specialist PR lecture the majority of those who appeared were men!
For the first time in probably 3-5 years, there was a PR lecture at Leeds Metropolitan University and it weren’t 80% female - 20% male attendance! How great is that??
Since this will probably not happen again in the next 3-5 years, I feel that this is something worth cheering about!
And for my fellow female classmates….where were you today?
You missed out on something special, but then again, we applauded your absence! 
Apr
15
Who is qualified?
April 15, 2008 | | 3 Comments
Something that provokes me a lot is why companies who want to hire a new communication manager, consultant etc, look for people with degrees in journalistic, marketing, political science, economics (!), history (!!) etc. etc.
Of course, most vacancy notices today mentions Public Relations amongst those I’ve already named, but there is absolutely no reason to drag those kinds of fields into a PR/communication position!
Why on earth do some companies believe that a person with a Bachelor/Master degree in economics should be better suited for a job than a person educated in PR? Would an investment firm hire me and let me deal with their purchases of shares? I don’t think or hope so.
Everyone can’t do PR just because they got a degree in whatever. What do people think we do when we study year after year? Play around? My previous post talked about PR people always defending them selves, and that we need to do good PR for our own profession. It certainly looks like very few people knows that PR is a field of their own (at least in Norway), and don’t understand that you don’t get the real deal with a financial analyst as a PR consultant.
I don’t know if this is normal in the UK, but it’s happening in Norway all the time. I always get pleasantly surprised when I read about a vacant job and their preferred applier is a person with a degree in PR/communication. I should not be that way.
Maybe in 20 years the communications director of Norwegian energy giant StatoilHydro will be someone who is actually educated in what the title says.
The times are changing, let’s hope they change fast.
Apr
8
When are we going to do good PR for our own industry?
April 8, 2008 | | 5 Comments
I recently wrote a post in a discussion on PROpenMic that I find it interesting how PR as a field again and again tries to get away from the old stereotypes, but that they still stick to us like glue.
I think we could all blame ourselves. The whole industry is probably to blame. We complain repeatedly about all the false accusations which are thrown in our face day after day. However, does that really happen, or is it just make believe that the whole world is against us?
It’s normal to defend your self and your own profession when you think that everyone thinks that you are a part of a vicious industry. An industry that exists with the purpose of spinning the world, or so THEY say.
Several times when I’ve met new people, I have made jokes about “us PR people not being all that bad”. Why do I start a possible great acquaintance by making jokes about my self and my own profession? We should all be proud, and say positive things about what we do, and why we love doing it.
If we can’t do good PR about our own industry, who will? It’s funny, sad and ironic all at the same time.
Journalists around the world will probably always “hate” us. However, I think there is still a chance that we could save our own reputation amongst the rest if we start to be a bit more proactive when we talk about what we do, and not just defending our profession from start to finish.
By the way…did I just make it worse by writing about it?
No more jokes about my self and the PR industry, starting now!
Apr
1
Check out PR Open Mic!
April 1, 2008 | | 6 Comments
Are you up for more Social Media? Sure you are!
R.D French has just created a social network called PROpenMic, and their goal is to be a social network for PR students and faculty worldwide. However, are you a PR pro?
No worries, they welcome you as well! Maybe you will even find the right person for your company too?
As the PROpenMic is in its early childhood you will be able to mould it the way you want it to be. Do you want to do audio podcasts, or maybe video padcasts? Or just hang around and get to know other people with the same interest as you? Then, the PROpenMic is the social network for you!
Have a look at the site, and join us!
See you there!
Mar
26
Facebook hunts student killer
March 26, 2008 | | 1 Comment
Social media on the World Wide Web is revolutionary in many ways, but some are more controversial than others. 
In connection with the murder of 23 year old Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen in London on March 14th 2008, Facebook is now being used as a tool to track down her killer.
You could read more about the murder here and here.
Issmat A. M. Al-Akhlai has made this Facebook group, with the hope of it being to some help in the search for the unanswered questions in connection with the tragic murder. The group has close to 9000 members as of March 26th and it’s still growing.
Obviously there are several questions arising (both ethical and legal) with the establishment of these kinds of profiles. Should people be allowed to splash out both justified and unjustified accusations against him or her who might have something to do with the murder?
In the Martine murder one man has made him self a very easy target both for the media and the public, but as the police has still not made him a official suspect, no one should be allowed to judge him with improper allegations. Not on Facebook or in any other public way.
However, Facebook could still be to some help. Contact numbers to both Scotland Yard and Crimestoppers could be found on the page, and there are also several articles from the media available. Maybe witnesses or other with useful information finds Facebook less threatening than to contact the police, and gives a hint about what they know on the page,but the main problem is obvious. How can we trust this information? Is it made with the purpose of harming innocent people, or is it essential information for the Police?
So what do you think? Could Facebook be helpful in solving cases like this? Or will it just be another gossip page with no link to reality?
