Nutmeg200519’s Weblog

Social media is dominating the world of public relations. It is evolving the practice, technically, more than it has ever been. With all the news technology comes the social media news release. Not only does this new type of new release do what the old school news release do, but it also provides more visual and interactive material for bloggers, journalist and anyone interested in the company to look at.

With the SMNR one is able to add pictures, video, RSSfeed, sound clips, graphs, statistics, other website links, quotes and more. These are also more convenient because they allow for optimized searches because you can include tags with the release. Two-way communication is easier and more useful than the old press release. The verdict is still out and the cons that come along with this type of new release, and even though 75% of journalist and bloggers would like to receive this type of new release most don’t. The only set back that I could think of would be that it could be some what time consuming to create a press release like this. I do believe that not all press releases call for this extreme information, but when one does it is very useful. The SMNR is still in the infancy stage and we will see where it goes from here.

Working in the field of public relations one knows how important communicate is, it is what our job is about. I was on the way back from Kansas city this weekend from soccer we watched The Breakup with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. As I was watching the movie I thought of how it relates to pr because it shows how important communicate is.

Basically the two break up and Jennifer Aniston’s role wants to prove to Vince Vaughn – her boyfriend, that he really needs her. Well, instead of just talking to him (even though I probably would want to do the same thing!) she does all these things like bringing a date home to make him jealous. By the end of the movie Vince sets up this romantic dinner and he tells her how he feels and she says she doesn’t feel the same. It just sad that this relationship might have been able to been savaged if there was good communication.

Without having good two-way communication a relationship, business or organization will break down. If people don’t talk other people assume things and a domino effect happens. I hope that I didn’t ruin the movie for anyone!

I think that in todays society practitioners need to act with morals and ethics and instil social responsibility in their companies. Public relations is trying to overcome the muckraker image that it has had for the past few decades. To do this we must act with integrity, truthfulness and gain credibility through these actions.

Social responsibility is extremely important here because more and more people are looking at what companies are doing for the society when they are buying products. For personal choice I would rather buy from a company that is doing its part to help my community and trying to be as green as possible. I think that being socialy responsible isn’t something that should be reccommended, its something that should be inforced.

Looking at PRSA’s code of ethics is a good guideline for all pracititioners to follow. The have characteristics that practitioners should have and they also have provisions that we should follow.

I am a fan of both the PC and Apple computers, I own both. I think they are both great and have both pro and cons. I have noticed the recent commercials for these two battlers. In the Mac commercials they make Apple look young, cool, hip and laid back. To me, they are marketing to the younger and 20 something crowd. They  make the PC look old, boring, not up-to-date and like a frenzy. They do a good job of this too. I don’t agree with they image the present for the PC, but they do make the Apple look more appealing.

I have been thinking about this topic for a while and wondering if the PC was going to try and defend itself, and then yesterday it happened. The PC came out with a commercial with the same guy that plays the “PC” on the Apple commercials. It showed an array of people who said that “they were a PC.” From celebrities, foriegn people, political leaders, young people, old people and much more. The message was upbeat and proud. I do like the way that the commercials supported PC and didn’t put anyone else down.

Both of these companies did a good job with public relations department on how they spoke to their public and portrayed their business. Who is better? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.