PR News

General Meeting scheduled for February 7

2005-02-04T21:01:00.000-05:00

The first UM PRSSA General Meeting of the Spring Semester will be this coming Monday, February 7 @ 6:30 pm in Wolfson 4027.

This meeting will be a short introduction to PRSSA and an opportunity to ask questions and suggest potential programs/speakers/activities to the Executive Board.

To become a paying member of PRSSA please bring a $55 check (made out to UM PRSSA). You may also drop off dues checks with Maria Lopez on the third floor of the Wolfson building. The deadline to pay Spring dues in Tuesday, February 15th.

Read more about the benefits of becoming a PRSSA member!

All PR professionals are invited to UM PRSSA Fall Professional Mixer!

2004-11-14T21:12:00.000-05:00

The University of Miami Chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America cordially invites you to our fall mixer at the Holiday Inn (1350 S. Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables) on Monday, December 6 from 6-8 pm.

At the mixer you will be able to:

Make valuable contacts for now and in the future
Find students interested in internships and full-time positions
Share your expertise and opinions with other professionals and students
Hear what PR students are learning and saying about public relations today
Make a student’s day by simply telling them about your profession

We would greatly appreciate your attendance and look forward to seeing you there!

Please R.S.V.P. by Friday, November 26 to UM PRSSA at umprssa@hotmail.com. Please indicate your name, position, company, company’s website and if you are currently seeking intern(s) or full-time employee(s). We would like to be able to forward this information to our members before the mixer. Feel free to forward this invitation to anyone you think might be interested in attending. Refreshments will be served and there will be no charge for the event. Bring plenty of business cards! We will also be having a raffle at the mixer; if you have any prizes that you could donate please contact Emily Rosen at e.rosen@umiami.edu, we would greatly appreciate it.

Directions
The Holiday Inn, located at 1350 S. Dixie Hwy in Coral Gables, is just South of The University of Miami campus on US1. Please park in the Holiday Inn parking lot.

Political PR/Media Relations: Wednesday, November 17 @ 6:30

2004-11-14T21:09:00.000-05:00

So....how did UM's First Presidential Debate really go??

Margot Winick from UM's Media Relations office will answer this question and much more at PRSSA's general meeting this Wednesday, November 17th @ 6:30 in Wolfson 4028.

All are welcome!

The PRSSA E-board

General meeting on Wednesday, October 6

2004-10-04T11:58:00.000-04:00

Interested in Sports PR? PRSSA is having a general meeting this Wednesday - October 6 - at 6.30 in Wolfson Building, Room 4028 (School of Communication) featuring guest speaker Randy Sieminski, Director of Media Relations for the Florida Panthers.
If you wish to become a paying member of PRSSA please bring dues ($55 check made out to UM PRSSA). The final deadline to pay fall semester dues is Tuesday, October 12th. If you cannot attend this meeting -- drop off your check and membership form with Maria Lopez on the 3rd Floor of the Wolfson Building.

Extra:

The September 2004 issue of our newsletter is now available on our website: text, PDF.

The UM PRSSA E-Board

Prestigious PR practitioners to participate in a panel discussion at the 5th UM Annual Communication Week

2004-02-20T19:04:00.000-05:00

The program of the 5th annual Communication Week organized by the University of Miami School of Communication includes three events of interest for PR students:

Monday, March 08: Celebrity PR
1-1:50 p.m., The Learning Center, room 130
Dara Busch (Class of ‘95), Vice President, Rubenstein Public Relations
Erica Schwartz (Class of ’03), Assistant Account Executive, Susan Magrino Agency, Publicist for Martha Stewart

Tuesday, March 9: Media Management
10:50 a.m. – Noon, Frances L. Wolfson Building, Room 4027
Charles Bortnick (Class of ’76), COO, Westwood One

Wednesday, March 10: Contemporary Public Relations: Tactics + Strategy + Synergy
7-9 p.m., Frances L. Wolfson Building, Room 4027

Moderator: Don W. Stacks, Professor and Director of Advertising & Public Relations Program, UM School of Communication

Panel:
Kathryn Collins, Director of Communication Research, General Motors Corporation
John W. Felton, President & CEO, Institute for Public Relations
Sandra Macleon, CEO, Echo, The Communications Research Group
Katie Paine, CEO, K.D. Paine & Partners
Donald K. Wright, Professor, University of South Alabama, President of the International Public Relations Association

PRSSA kicks off Spring semester

2004-02-03T11:55:00.000-05:00

UM PRSSA will be holding its first general meeting on Wednesday February 4th at 6:30 pm in Eaton Residential College classroom 148. This will be a short introductory meeting where members will get a change to meet the executive board and hear about the benefits of being in PRSSA as well as receive information on upcoming events and PRSSA’s agenda for the spring semester. PRSSA hopes to provide its members with valuable information and opinions about the industry by having professionals attend meetings and share experiences.

New feed for PR News

2004-02-02T15:27:00.000-05:00

Starting today, this weblog will use the ATOM-formated RSS feed offered by Blogger. If you subscribe to our RSS feed, please use the following link: http://prnews.blogspot.com/atom.xml. A list of newsreaders supporting the ATOM format is available at AtomEnabled.org.

Interns Wanted for Spring 2004!

2004-01-22T22:46:00.000-05:00

The Lagrant Foundation provides internships at top advertising, marketing and public relations agencies, as well as Fortune 500 companies to the following qualified ethnic minority students:
# African Americans
# American Indians/Native Americans
# Asian Pacific Islanders
# Hispanic/Latinos

For applications instructions and forms, visit www.lagrantfoundation.org (click on the "Scholarship Criteria/Application" tab in the left menu).

Deadline: The Application, along with all attachments, must be received no later than 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday March 31, 2004.

Source: PRSSA's website [download the announcement - PDF]

Paid internship at PRSA/PRSSA National Headquarter

2003-12-19T16:02:00.000-05:00

The offer: Two internships at National Headquarters of PRSA and PRSSA. Internships are for twelve weeks each, beginning March through May and June through August of 2004. Each recipient will be compensated at a rate of $10 per hour for twelve 20-hour work weeks. No transportation or housing will be provided.

Duties:
# working closely with the Directors of Public Relations and Education on several projects
# writing and editing press releases
# updating news clippings
# creating and updating media lists
# assisting with event publicity
# coordinating and assisting with the monthly E-Newsletter
# assisting the PRSSA Department as needed, including expediting mailings, working on National Conference projects, researching and writing press releases and updating and maintaining the membership database.

Qualifications: Candidates should be PRSSA members in good standing, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Juniors and seniors with concentrations in public relations, communications, journalism or marketing related fields are preferred. Candidates must be available for a phone interview, if selected as a finalist.

How To Apply: Fax or mail to the contact person the following materials:

# the completed application form [PDF]
# a 1,000 to 1,200-word essay describing why you want to pursue a career in public relations
# a letter of recommendation
# a resume

Contact:
Cedric L. Bess
Manager, Public Relations
PRSA/PRSSA Headquarters
33 Irving Place, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003
Fax: (212) 995-0757

[Source: PRSSA website]

UM PRSSA Newsletter

2003-11-30T19:34:00.000-05:00

UM PRSSA Newsletter, volume 4
By Melissa Greco, PRSSA Historian

PRSSA Fall Mixer -- This is an event you don’t want to miss!

Monday December 1st
UC International Lounge
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Free for members, $5 for non members

Bring a guest or come by yourself, just make sure to bring your resume and business cards!

A great way to:
# Meet fellow PRSSA Members
# Meet professional PR practitioners
-- drop your resume
-- pick up business cards
# Make contacts with professionals that can lead to internships or jobs

Light refreshments provided. Business attire is a must!

NEXT SEMESTER UPDATES
PRSSA is planning great events for next semester. As previously mentioned, are meetings are tentatively scheduled for Mondays. Please watch out for more information on exact dates and times. For our general meetings we are planning on having professionals come to talk about Fashion, Business, Health and Political PR as well as Investor Relations and Agency PR.

LAST MEETING CATCH UP
At our last PRSSA meeting, Dr. Hosmon, the Associate Dean at the School of Communication, gave his advice on writing resumes and cover letters. Here are quick tips and ideas that we learned.

Cover Letter:
@ Use good paper-no stationary, just a solid color and sturdy paper.
@ Design your own letterhead-this shows creativity and adds a personal touch.
@ Explain why you want to work for that particular company. Personalize it!
@ Be sure to include when exactly you are graduating or will be ready to work.
@ Highlight what sets you apart from other applicants-what do you bring to the table?
@ Conclude your letter with a “call to action”- allude that they’ll be hearing from you or that you will be following up to discuss opportunities.

Resume
@ Your resume doesn’t have to be one page.
@ Include name, addresses, phone numbers and emails. Note: When putting down your temporary address, put “temporary until ___ “so they know which address to contact you at.
@ In the Education section, you may also add interesting courses you have studied that indicate you are well-rounded. High school information is often not needed.

For more help, Dr. Hosmon has opened his doors to us. You may call to set up an appointment with him at 305-284-1870 or email him at rhosmon@miami.edu.

Panel explores CIA leak

2003-11-21T16:41:00.000-05:00

UM School of Communication is hosting a panel that will explore the journalistic and legal implications of the leak of the name of a CIA operative to the news media last summer. Panelists will include Janet Reno, Tom Fiedler, executive editor of The Miami Herald, The Washington Post's Bureau Chief Manuel Roig-Franzia and TV newscaster Ike Seamans. The one-hour panel will take place in Studio C at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 24.

Mickey Mouse is 75 years old

2003-11-18T19:48:00.000-05:00

Today is Mickey Mouse's birthday: he is 75 years old. Happy Birthday, Mickey!

The Sun Sentinel:

He was a symbol of American pluck in his screen debut, "Steamboat Willie," on Nov. 18, 1928. The film at New York's Colony Theatre showed an irreverent rodent who takes Captain Pete's steamboat on a joyride and woos Minnie Mouse by making music on the bodies of various farm animals.

The years have dulled Mickey's personality, a result of him becoming the corporate face of a multibillion-dollar entertainment empire. In the process, Mickey also has become a cultural Rorschach test -- a symbol of American optimism, resourcefulness and energy or an icon of cultural commodification and corporate imperialism.

BBC News:

Mickey Mouse celebrates 75th year
Mickey Mouse: 21st Century icon

2003-11-18T15:32:00.000-05:00

UM will form a partnership with RAND Corporation to restructure the North-South Center:

“RAND and the University of Miami will combine our strengths to revitalize the North-South Center and make it an important source of research and analysis on Latin American issues,” said RAND President and CEO James A. Thomson. “We will serve governments, non-profit organizations and the private sector in a venture that will take advantage of the experienced and talented researchers and professors at both our institutions.”

The focus of the North-South Center will be significantly broadened, but most of its initiatives will continue to focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. The Center will continue to examine the relationship of the United States within the hemisphere. In addition, other areas of expertise will include economic analysis and trade, healthcare and medical research, environmental programs, education, infrastructure and security—areas of tremendous strength for both UM and RAND.

[RAND news release]

Get a Business minor

2003-11-18T15:22:00.000-05:00

Starting Fall 2004, UM will offer a Business minor for students enrolled at the School of Communication, the Hurricane Online reports:

The [Student Government] Senate passed a resolution giving their support and endorsement to a decision for UM to allow students in the School of Communication to have a second major in the School of Business rather than in the College of Arts and Sciences, effective in the 2004-2005 school year. This will allow students who wish to work with a more business-focused aspect in communications to study precisely what they would like.

Why journalism needs PR

2003-11-17T21:04:00.000-05:00

Journalism loves to hate PR. It has become the norm in the media to knock us, whether for spinning, controlling access, approving copy, or protecting clients at the expense of the truth. Yet journalism has never needed public relations more, and PR has never done a better job for the media. [...]

It must be galling for those romantic souls in media who still like to believe that the only hack worth having is one who wears an overcoat into whose folds their little black book of contacts is hidden.

Well today's PR is the journalist's little black book. And, of course, the PR machine responds to the realpolitik of the media marketplace - feeding the unstoppable, insatiable appetite for stories or exclusives that provide a competitive edge.

For the journalist who has to cover a story in half an hour (and often in less time than that), the communications expert can be a lifeline: for facts and figures and basic information-gathering. Yes, publicists brief people but briefings are based, in the vast majority of cases, on facts alone and reflect the often stringent regulatory frameworks of the profession involved.

The reality is that the balance of information has shifted, from being news-based to being entertainment or opinion-based. Journalists need PR not just to give information, but to provide access to sexy spokespeople to fill columns, host programmes and give soundbites.

Yes, it can be annoying to have to go through us as gatekeepers, but to argue that a chief executive running an organisation should field their own calls during a busy period of media interest is also hardly practical. [...]

[...] the uneasy marriage between PR and journalism is far from over. We need to spend more, not less, time together, and remember why we need each other in the first place.

Read "Why journalism needs PR" in The Guardian and the comments of Tom Murphy and Stuart Bruce

The next advertising frontier: cellphone messages

2003-11-17T20:24:00.000-05:00

The marketers are ready to go where no ad pro has gone before: inside your cellphone. But you will do the dailing.

They're not supposed to call or send a fax to your home. E-mail may soon be off limits, too. So, spurned marketers are now training their sights on cellphones.

But they won't call you. They're betting you'll call them to participate in sweepstakes, get coupons or answer surveys. They've struck a deal with the nation's 12 largest providers of wireless phone service to set up a five-digit call-in system. Consumers dial a "short code" promoted by the company on its products and advertisements to get the company to send them back a text message that appears on their cellphone screens.

More than 150 companies applied to register short codes -- numbers from 20000 to 99999 -- in the first two weeks they were available. [...]

Consumer advocates fear that once a customer uses a code to snag a coupon, that cellphone number could go on a list and be sold to telemarketers, making the cellphone just another target for junk solicitations.

Read the article in The Boston globe

Internet usage increases among U.S. Hispanics

2003-11-17T19:26:00.000-05:00

U.S. Hispanics are using the Internet longer and with more sophistication than they were a year ago, according to a study released this week by comScore Media Metrix.

U.S. Hispanics spent an average of 26.5 hours online in September 2003, up 24 percent compared with October 2002, while visiting on average 30 percent more pages, an indication that "the Internet is playing an increasingly important role in Hispanics' lives."

Read more in Infoworld

Come to Our Resume Critique Event

2003-11-17T16:24:00.000-05:00

Need help creating the perfect resume to help you successfully get jobs, internships, or scholarships? Unsure of what makes for good layout? Having a tough time deciding what exactly goes on a resume?

If so, come to our Resume Critique on November 17th in Eaton Residential College room 148 at 6:30 P.M.

Dr. Robert Hosmon, the Associate Dean at the School of Communication, will provide you with resume basics and teach what professionals are looking for in a resume. Bring a draft of your own and compare it to the advice of UM professors. There may also be time to talk one on one and get feedback on your own resume. This is a great preface to our Fall Mixer and the executive board encourages members to attend this event in order to spruce up resumes for professionals! Hope to see you there. [Melissa Greco -- UM PRSSA Newsletter]

Extra: Stop by the Toppel Career Center and pick up a copy of Toppel's "Resume Development Guide & Cover Letter Information"

The next PR revolution started yesterday

2003-11-17T15:29:00.000-05:00

Ingredients for preparing a revolution in PR: the change of the media, and the increasing use of internet by children and teens (yep, the future customers):

@ Tying history's easiest, cheapest publishing tool to history's best distribution network, the Internet, would have tremendous impact on media.

Jeff Jarvis, president and creative director of Advance.net, in the New York Times -- Building a Web Media Empire on a Daily Dose of Fresh Links

@ At school and at home, today's children and teens are so computer savvy and comfortable online that they've become technology pacesetters, two new government studies show.

About 90 percent of people ages 5 to 17 use computers and 59 percent of them use the Internet - rates that are, in both cases, higher than those of adults. Even kindergartners are becoming more plugged in: One out of four 5-year-olds uses the Internet.

The figures come from a new Education Department analysis of computer and Internet use by children and adolescents in 2001. A second report from the agency, based on 2002 data, shows 99 percent of public schools have Internet access, up from 35 percent eight years ago.

"Children are often the first adopters of a lot of technology," said John Bailey, who oversees educational technology for the department. "They grow up with it. They don't have to adapt to it. ... Students, by and large, are dominating the Internet population."

By the time they're age 10, 60 percent of children use the Internet. That number grows to almost 80 percent for kids who are 16. [AP via Miami Herald]

For more information:
# Computer and Internet Use by Children and Adolescents in 2001
# Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2002

Stellar Celebrity Endorsement

2003-11-15T22:05:00.000-05:00

THIRSTY? Try the "official milk of the Chinese spaceman". Running late? Maybe you need the "official chronograph of the Chinese astronaut" - or perhaps just a taikonaut calendar to mark off the coming months.

This is China’s final frontier of modern marketing - or, at least, its most recent one.

After joining Russia and the United States last month as the only countries to send a human into space, China’s space programme is eagerly marketing its name and logo to companies looking to share the reflected glory. Sponsorships are splashed on billboards, product packaging, and in radio and television ads. At least two magazines have appeared focusing exclusively on the Chinese space programme. One, China Space News, sells a 2004 Shenzhou 5 calendar. [...]

A space-programme endorsement is "definitely good for establishing brand name", said a spokesman for Fiyta, the company which made the watch the taikonaut Mr Yang wore in space.

The Scotsman: Marketing is a Chinese space oddity

The "A" Word

2003-11-15T21:46:00.000-05:00

"With donations down and donors asking tough questions, the new buzzword in philanthropic circles is accountability" -- Miami Herald's guide to wise giving.

2003-11-15T20:48:00.000-05:00

Less passive than Web sites, less private than e-mail, blogs help build a sense of community among supporters, according to campaign aides and outside experts. They give supporters a chance to find and talk to one another. To suggest ideas for the campaign. To express and discuss their opinions. To read more about their candidates than any single newspaper would ever publish. Even, occasionally, to work as an in-house focus group, giving the campaign their opinions on projects.

Add 'Blog' To the Campaign Lexicon -- Washingtonpost.com

UM will participate in a national center for bioterrorism training

2003-11-13T17:38:00.000-05:00

Lantana would not replace the Miami in University of Miami Medical School, but it stands to become a sizable hub for research and education in the university's portion of a proposed institute at the site of A.G. Holley State Hospital.

The institute is envisioned to become a national center for bioterrorism training, research on mosquito-borne and tropical diseases, education of the hemisphere's public health experts, and research on infectious diseases, the medical school's project leader said Tuesday. [...]

At the institute, the university would open a satellite of its graduate degree program in public health and would expand the rotation of students at the Health Department, McCoy said. [...]

"Our main goal is the training of other researchers globally, especially in Latin America," McCoy said.

In addition, the institute would allow McCoy to expand a new unit researching tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. The medical school last year recruited a nationally known expert, John Beier, to head the unit.

Also to be expanded would be the university's program for training Florida health department employees, physicians, firefighters and police in bioterrorism issues, under state contracts. McCoy said the university wants to offer the training nationally and internationally.

[Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Call for Entries in a Cool Competition

2003-11-13T17:18:00.000-05:00

If your reaction to the topic of Ketchum's op-ed competition was "duh!," but you still want an internship and the chance to have your essay published, here's an alternative: Elizabeth Albrycht, a PR practitioner with a great blog, dares you to try your writing skills on "something meaty", like "How is PR changing due to new communications technologies?" or "Can PR lead to enhanced democracy? How?".

The challenge:

So, PR students. Do you have thoughts on the topics I just mentioned? Why not share them? If you demonstrate insight and brilliance, I bet we (this PR blog community) can find you an internship.

Send me your essays via email (include as text in email, I will NOT read attachments), and I will post the best ones here.

Read the rules and spread the news. The deadline is December 1st.
Good luck, and thanks to Ms. Albrycht for her idea!

Communication no longer a "soft" function

2003-11-13T14:12:00.000-05:00

Effective internal communication strongly impacts a company's ROI, says a new research report:

KEY FINDINGS:

* A significant improvement in communication effectiveness is associated with a 29.5 percent increase in market value.
* Companies with the highest levels of effective communication experienced a 26 percent total return to shareholders from 1998 to 2002, compared to a –15 percent return experienced by firms that communicate least effectively.
* Organizations that communicate effectively were more likely to report employee turnover rates below or significantly below those of their industry peers.

Bottom line: Communication is no longer a "soft" function. It drives business performance and is a key contributor to organizational success.

Here's a summary of the report [via Phil's Place].

Resources for the FTAA Miami Ministerial and Americas Business Forum: November 16-21

2003-11-11T22:41:00.000-05:00

Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA): The oficial website [also in Spanish, Portuguese and French]
Americas Business Forum: www.miamiftaa2003.com
The Miami Herald: FTAA in Miami -- special report
Public safety and security information: FTAA Unified Command Joint Information Center
NBC6.net: Who's against the FTAA
First Draft of the FTAA Agreement (2001) -- Square brackets [ ] indicate that different points of view do exist on the text included between them
Second Draft of the FTAA Agreement (2002)

NEWS STORIES
Editor & Publisher: Miami to embed reporters in police squads [via mediabistro]

Call for entries -- The 2003 Ketchum Wordsmith Award

2003-11-11T20:29:00.000-05:00

The prize: a 10 week summer (2004) paid internship at Ketchum's headquarters office in the New York City
What you have to do: compose an Op-Ed on the following topic: "Does Public Relations Deserve a Seat at the Executive Board Table?"
Open to: all college juniors and seniors with a 3.0 (or higher) GPA, members of PRSSA
Deadline: Monday, November 17, 2003
Apply: Download the application (PDF format)
More information are available on PRSSA's national website.

NOTE: The PDF application says the competition is open only to "all New York, New Jersey and Connecticut college juniors and seniors"; I checked with Jacob Burke, the National PRSSA Webmaster, and he confirmed that the competition is open to all college juniors and seniors (all other criteria are in the announcement).

UPDATE: If you don't feel comfortable with the competition's topic, here's another chance to win an internship.

Picture this

2003-11-07T21:37:00.000-05:00

"UM President Shalala is planning a lecture series built around the debate, including addresses by former White House chiefs of staff and presidential scholars. She also is arranging a film series about presidential campaigns and a voter registration campaign focused on students." [Source: The Sun Sentinel]

On a personal note: I don't know what kind of movies will be included in the film series. I just hope to see The Candidate (1972) and The War Room (1993). If you're interested in finding other movies "from the campaign trial", try AllMovieGuide.com.

UM will host the first 2004 presidential debate

2003-11-06T13:59:00.000-05:00

The University of Miami will host the first presidential debate, to be held on September 30, 2004 in the UM Convocation Center, on the Coral Gables campus. UM was one of only 14 sites across the country under consideration to host one of the four debates.

The announcement was made today by The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), a non-partisan, non-profit corporation that has sponsored all presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988.

The other sites selected as hosts for presidential debates are:

Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Second presidential debate, October 8

Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Third presidential debate, October 13

The CPD also announced two back-up sites, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY and the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. All debates will start at 9:00 p.m. ET.

The proposal submited by UM to the Commission on Presidential Debates detailed the university plans to build an academic program around the event, such as a panel discussion on health policy at the School of Medicine and a concert of presidential music presented by the School of Music.

[Sources: University of Miami website: 1, 2]

Writers Wanted

2003-11-06T12:44:00.000-05:00

FORUM, the national PRSSA newspaper, is seeking story submissions for its winter 2004 edition, on the following topics:

» Spotlight on Research - Profile of any interesting or groundbreaking communication research done by students, professors or professionals.
» PR and the Economy - What recent graduates can expect in today’s turbulent job market, including advice from professionals on how students can distinguish themselves from other applicants.
» Business skills in the PR industry: How much is enough? - Interview PR recruiters to discover what kind of business skills they seek in new hires, and speak with professors on how students can develop savvy business skills without enrolling in a business minor.
» Book Reviews - FORUM is accepting reviews of books about or relating to public relations.
» The life of an independent consultant - Some call it “moonlighting” or “freelancing;” find out how the days of an independent consultant differs from a typical agency employee.
» Collegiate Professionalism - How to look, talk and act like a professional while still working towards a degree.
» Any other Chapter news your Chapter wishes to submit.

Story deadline: November 30

Contact: Jennifer Petersen
FORUM Assignment Editor
phone 309.436.4091
e-mail jen536s@aol.com

Fine prints: The editorial calendar serves as a guide for Chapters interested in contributing news or feature stories to FORUM. Writing for FORUM is a great way to have your chapter recognized nationally, and is a great addition to any resume.

All story submissions must follow typical journalistic standards and Associated Press guidelines, with a minimum of two sources unless otherwise noted. Please contact the FORUM staff before starting a story to discuss specifics of the article.

[Source: PRSSA website]

2003-11-05T14:54:00.000-05:00

It's happening right now: The Miami Book Fair International

Travel PR discussed at the last general meeting + What's next

2003-11-05T14:43:00.000-05:00

If you missed the last general meeting, here is what happened:

@ Our guest speakers were Jennifer Salerno and Yami Alvarado, account executives at Cheryl Andrews Marketing, a travel PR firm located in Coral Gables. Cheryl Andrews Marketing is seeking an intern; if you're interested, you can contact Yami and Jennifer at 305.444.4033 or by email: yami@cherylandrewsmarketing.com or jennifer@cherylandrewsmarketing.com

@ Spencer Weinkle from UMTV is seeking a PR Team; you can contact him at fontier34@aol.com

@ Save the Dates:
[November 13th at 6:30 P.M., Eaton 148 -- Meeting on Fashion PR] CANCELLED
November 17th at 6:30 P.M., Eaton 148 -- Resume critique to get prepared for our mixer
December 1st, 6:30 P.M. at the UC -- Mixer with PR professionals, great networking opportunity. Free for members, $5 for non-members, all are welcome.

2003-10-30T14:41:00.000-05:00

The PRSSA general meeting will be held on Monday, November 3rd, starting 6.30 pm in Eaton 148.

New members are always welcome! The deadline to pay dues for the fall semester has passed, however we encourage potential spring semester members to attend. Please bring your resume!

No comment (or ask my parrot)

2003-10-25T23:11:00.000-04:00

Mayor hires parrot to answer 'undesirable questions'

The mayor of Ecuador's biggest city has hired a parrot to speak on his behalf when he is asked "undesirable questions."

Jaime Nebot, Mayor of Guayaquil, presented the parrot to journalists at a press conference, reports Teerra.com.

He said: "Here is the parrot that will be in charge to answer all the undesirable comments that I have no time to answer.

"Some people only approach me with nonsense talk so the parrot will answer back in the same way because I need to use my time to work."

Mr Nebot has been heavily criticised by the press and the public for his social security policies.

Source: Ananova

2003-10-25T23:03:00.000-04:00

Florida Marlins win the World Series!

PRSSA and PRSA National Conferences begins in New Orleans

2003-10-23T13:26:00.000-04:00

The 2003 National PRSSA Conference, "Where Opportunity Meets Excellence," begins tomorrow in New Orleans. The program includes events presented by Florida chapters and practitioners:

Chapter Development Sessions
Florida International University: Multicultural/Diversity Awareness (October 26, from 2:30 - 6:00 pm)
University of South Florida: USF Students for Success: Mentorship Program (October 26, 2:30 - 6:00 pm)
Florida A & M: Avoiding the Blues: Using the Media to Promote your Chapter and Gain Experience (October 26, 3:45 - 4:45 pm)

General Session: PR Skills vs. Business Skills: What Matters Most to the Boss?
Speaker: Rosanna Fiske, APR (Sunday, October 26, 10:30 - 11:30 am). [NOTE: Ms. Fiske has recently been elected as a member of PRSA's 2004 Board of Directors.]

Also, the PRSA's 2003 International Conference, "Building Credibility, Confidence and Respect," will begin on October 25 in New Orleans.

Dr. Don Stacks will receive the PRSA's Outstanding Educator Award for his leadership in promoting PR research. UPDATE: The page dedicated to the award ceremony can be found here.

Dr. Stacks and Tina Carroll, doctoral student at University of Miami, will present the best and most current applied research papers in public relations competitively selected from the 2003 International Interdisciplinary Public Relations Research Conference in Miami ("Showcasing the Best of Public Relations Research" - October 27, 11:45 am - 1:00 pm)

2003-10-22T18:14:00.000-04:00

Highly recommended: Writing that works, by Kenneth Roman and Joel Raphaelson (from Ogilvy & Mather).

2003-10-21T22:22:00.000-04:00

Speaking of awards: don't forget about the Arthur W. Page Society's Case Study Competition in Corporate Communication. The deadline for application is January 14, 2004.

How to Win PRWeek Student of the Year Award

2003-10-21T18:06:00.000-04:00

When was the last time you got milk? Right. You got the message.

Here is your chance to win:
(a) $5,000 cash, a paid internship with Weber Shandwick, and a paid trip to the annual PRWeek Awards in New York on March 4, 2004, or
(b) $1,000 cash prize and a paid internship with Weber Shandwick

All you have to do is create a new PR strategy to promote flavored milk to the teen market.

Entry deadline: November 21, 2003
Eligibility: any undergraduate student in the US between November 1, 2002 and October 17, 2003 (no restrictions on student's major)
Apply now: Here is the Application Kit [PDF format]

[via PR Week USA]

On Blogs, Bots and News Aggregators

2003-10-21T17:38:00.000-04:00

# What: A blog-oriented event at UM -- Current Happenings on the Internet: Blogs, Bots and News Aggregators
# When: Tuesday October 21, 2003, 7 pm to 8 pm
# Where: Wesley Foundation at the University of Miami, 1210 Stanford Drive, Miami, Florida
# Who: Marcus P. Zillman, author, speaker and creator/founder of BotSpot.com will be speaking on the latest happenings on the Internet with emphasis on the growing areas of blogs (weblogs), bots and intelligent agents and news aggregators. Mr. Zillman will be showing these new resources live on the Internet and how they will relate to helping you search and find the information you require for both personal and academic research. The Internet continues to change at a record pace, and discovering the latest tools to make your Internet search both easy and competent is the goal of this presentation. Will e-mail soon be replaced by RSS and news aggregators? Are blogs, currently the fastest growing area of the Internet, a fad or will they change the entire Internet landscape? [via Mr. Zillman's weblog]

Blogging at UM

2003-10-21T17:18:00.000-04:00

UM can't resist the blogging wave. Here are a few UM bloggers I found using Technorati's Cosmos:

@ UM Students Community on LiveJournal: http://www.livejournal.com/community/um_canes/
@ Professor Michael Fromkin (UM School of Law) -- Discourse.net: On the fringes of the public sphere (the only UM professor with a blog, as far as I know)
@ Ray Uzwyshyn (Webmaster, Web Services Librarian) -- Richter Library Web Services Dream Design: This weblog focuses on the University of Miami Richter Library's website and strategies for thinking about 'visionary' possibilities for web services. It encourages 'dreaming' about 'academic library' information architectures so that dreams become reality and Richter sets the model for a next generation of academic library web services
@ Journals from the Road -- a weblog maintained by UM School of Communication professors and students working in The Water Project, a "thoughtful and provocative media endeavors aimed at public education about the crisis facing the availability of clean and safe water in today's world"
@ Matthew Stein (Law student) -- schteino.com: Life as a 1L: Neither Fish Nor Flesh Nor Good Red Herring
@ The Scarlet Left: The life and times of an angry, young liberal
@ The Wesley Foundation at UM

A pre-blogmania weblog of a (current) student at UM: intellectualized, started back in 1998. Wow.

2003-10-20T23:42:00.000-04:00

Robin Williams: You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.
(Thanks to Motivational Quote of the Day -- here is its RSS feed)

PR joke

2003-10-16T11:44:00.000-04:00

Beware management retreats! This is why. On a second thought: maybe something like this started the Eurotunnel :)

University of Miami launches MOMENTUM

2003-10-15T14:48:00.000-04:00

1 billion dollars. This is the target of Momentum, The Campaign for University of Miami, the largest and most comprehensive fundraising in UM's history, scheduled for launch tomorrow, October 16. Here is a quote from President Shalala's article published in The Miami Herald:

Our goal, ambitious but attainable, is to move the university into the top tier of American research universities. That will take considerable investment in our enterprise. Not surprisingly, most institutions we consider peers now are engaged in billion-dollar campaigns or have recently completed such campaigns. Nationally, 25 universities are involved in campaigns of $1 billion or more.

Some people may wonder why we are launching a fundraising effort of such magnitude now -- especially given a bear market that seems relentless. Because the time is right for us. [...]

The university that emerges on the other side of this campaign in 2007 will be a vastly different institution. We will stay true to our core mission: providing an outstanding education for our students, conducting groundbreaking research and serving the community. But we will be fundamentally different in that we will be able to do all of these things on a much grander scale and with much more impact.

Momentum will be nothing short of transformational for our university -- and for our community.

Update: here is the Campaign's website, http://www.miami.edu/campaign/home.html

Scrips Florida project advances

2003-10-14T21:23:00.000-04:00

Scripps Institute's project to open a major research center in Palm Beach gains momentum:

@ The Palm Beach County Commission voted to spend up to $200 million for the project
@ Key members of the Florida Legislature toured the Scripps Institute in San Diego, in an effort by Gov. Jeb Bush to land the political support needed to fund the new center. Besides Florida Atlantic University, the new project will likely benefit the University of Miami, according to Miami Herald:

The University of Miami, meanwhile, would get an opportunity to expand collaboration already underway on translational research, the process of turning scientific discoveries into practical medicines and treatments for patients, said Dr. Camillo Ricordi, senior associate dean for research at UM's School of Medicine and director of its Diabetes Research Institute.

''This is in line with the overall strategic plan of the National Institutes of Health, which has recognized as one of the major challenges in the next two decades how to translate the huge volume of information emerging from basic science into strategies to help people,'' Ricordi said. ``The establishment of Scripps in South Florida could create a tremendous opportunity to address this challenge.''

Scripps researchers have expressed interest in UM's expertise in the transplantation of insulin-producing eyelet cells, which offers hope to Type 1 diabetics. Scientists from both institutions are already working together with the NIH to create regional centers for the manufacture and production of eyelet cells, Ricordi said.

For updates: check the Palm Beach Post.

From newspapers

2003-10-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

# The Miami Herald has an article about Publicis Sanchez & Levitan, one of the top 10 Hispanic advertising agencies in the United States. It's interesting (*) to note that the basis for agency's success is research, including qualitative research methods like participant observation:

Aida Levitan's dream was to teach the classics of Spanish literature. Fausto Sanchez wanted to make movies in Hollywood.

Neither ever imagined a career in advertising and now, two decades later, a perch on the crest of a huge Hispanic marketing wave sweeping the United States. [...]

While Sanchez has put his creative skills to good use in designing advertising, Levitan employs her academician's critical thinking skills in developing marketing strategies and teaching clients about the Hispanic market. He's the chief creative officer and president; she's the chief executive officer. They share the top title as co-chairmen.

''It works out very well, dividing the responsibilities,'' said Levitan, who assumed the yearlong presidency of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies earlier this year.

Sanchez and Levitan say the essence of their work is research, which includes their own ''grass roots'' studies of the Hispanic consumer -- attending Miami's Calle Ocho street festival every year, for example, to observe how people are interacting with sponsors and reacting to performers.

''Boy, have we learned about consumers, what people will line up for, the hot new acts, how people feel about their countries of origin,'' said Levitan, who has won numerous community awards for entrepreneurship and leadership.

That knowledge of the Hispanic market is key when handling national accounts, such as Chivas Regal's Hispanic public relations effort. [Read the article]

(*) This is not the kind of thing one can usually read in a newspaper article.

# The Performing Arts Center of Greater Miami has chosen Coral Gables-based Thorp & Co. as its public relations agency of record, South Florida Business Journal reports. "Scheduled to open for the 2005-2006 season, the PAC is to combine entertainment with arts education with performances produced by four resident companies - Concert Association of Florida, Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and New World Symphony - plus hosting popular and classical entertainment".

New RSS feed

2003-10-14T12:17:00.000-04:00

Because it seams that the old RSS feed for PR News doesn't work well (not in my aggregator, anyway), I made a new one. You can find both in the upper right corner of this page.

Hopefully, we will migrate soon to a Blogger Pro account, so we'll have a valid RSS feed.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Scripps Institute to open new research facility in South Florida

2003-10-12T23:12:00.000-04:00

Scripps Research Institute, one of the world’s largest biomedical research institutes, announced recently its "plans to establish a major science center in Palm Beach County, Florida, focusing on biomedical research, technology development, and drug design."

According to San Diego Union Tribune, "Scripps will move into temporary laboratory space in Palm Beach County while it builds a permanent science center on 100 acres just outside West Palm Beach. The 364,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed by 2006 and will be designed to house 300 to 500 researchers, graduate students and support staff."

The new research facility will increase Florida’s gross domestic product by $3.2 billion and will create about 6,500 jobs (and 50,000 jobs in related businesses) in the next 15 years.

Scripps Institute is expected to replicate in Florida the success it had in La Jolla, California, where it has attracteded major drug companies, like Merck, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis.

The Miami Herald reports that Norman Altman, vice provost for research at the University of Miami, believe the arrival of Scripps will only help UM's research programs (UM has about $170 million annually in biomedical research contracts). ''It's going to have a very positive effect,'' says Altman, "not only in collaboration between the institutions, but in attracting scientists to South Florida."

Also, Scripps Florida will provide joint degree programs for all universities in the state and will place a special emphasis on identifying and recruiting students who are historically underrepresented in the sciences.

Resources:
# Scripps Institute Facts-at-a-Glance
# Institute's major scientific achievements
# Scripps Florida News Coverage

PRSSA general meeting -- Speaker: Lee Zimmerman, CBS4

2003-10-12T21:20:00.000-04:00

What: PRSSA general meeting
When: Monday, October 13, 6:30 pm
Where: University Center, Ballroom D
Who: Lee Zimmerman, Director of Communications for CBS4

Lee Zimmerman joined CBS4 as Director of Communications in April, 1997. He came to the position after an extensive 25-year career that encompasses public relations, promotion, entertainment and written communications.

Zimmerman began his career in the music industry, working as a promotion representative for such record labels as Chrysalis, Motown, ABC and Capitol Records.

After ten years in record promotions, he made the transition into public relations, and was named Public Relations Manager.

After heading up in his own agency, Zimmerman joined Susan Brustman & Associates, one of South Florida’s leading entertainment and hospitality publicity agencies. In the mid-’90s, he returned to the music industry, first as a writer and marketing specialist for Warner Bros. Music, and later as Promotion Manager for Hard Rock Cafe Miami.

In addition to his career pursuits, Zimmerman remains active as a freelance consultant, writer and critic. In addition, he teaches a music business course at Miami Dade Community College. [Source: CBS4]

# Don't forget: Dues of $55 will be collected. Checks may be made out to University of Miami PRSSA.

UM Professor Wins 2003 PRSA Outstanding Educator Award

2003-10-06T20:47:00.000-04:00

Another great news (sorry for posting it so late):

Dr. Donn W. Stacks, Public Relations and Advertising Program Director at UM School of Communication (and, on a personal note, my former graduate advisor), has received recently the 2003 PRSA Outstanding Educator Award.

Here is a quote from the PRSA's press release announcing the award:

The Outstanding Educator Award recognizes excellence in teaching based on contemporary, research-based knowledge of public relations and contributions to the advancement of public relations education. This year's recipient, Don Winslow Stacks, Ph.D., professor of communications, University of Miami School of Communications, was recognized for his leadership role at research conferences in Miami for practitioners and educators alike - a valuable contribution that has made a dramatic impact on international research efforts. Stacks was lauded for his understanding of the importance of research and has cultivated this knowledge to the benefit of educators, students and other public relations professionals.

Other professionals honored with PRSA Individual Awards are John D. Graham, APR, Fellow PRSA, the chairman and CEO of Fleishman-Hillard Inc., and Victoria "Torie" Clarke, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and chief spokesperson for the Pentagon.

The Individual Awards winners will be honored at PRSA's 2003 International Conference, "Building Credibility, Confidence and Respect" in New Orleans, October 25-28.

Congratulations, Dr. Stacks!

Missed the meeting? Here's a summary

2003-10-03T16:39:00.000-04:00

The UM Chapter of PRSSA had its second general meeting on September 29, 2003. The following is a short summary of the events of the meeting.

The theme for this meeting was Entertainment Public Relations with guest speakers Lisa Joseph (Zo's Summer Grove), Yvette Harris (Yvette Harris Public Relations), and Lana Bernstein (Ocean Drive Magazine). The speakers operated in a panel discussion format for students and members to ask questions concerning their own interests.

# Announcements for the chapter were made at the end of the meeting concerning membership forms and dues.
# The next meeting will focus on Corporate Public Relations on October 13 in the UC.
# Last day for dues and forms will be 10/13.

Kristina Joss, UM PRSSA Secretary

Former New York Times executive director will speak at UM

2003-10-03T14:52:00.000-04:00

Howell Raines, former executive editor of The New York Times, will open the UM’s new President’s Lecture Series on Thursday, October 16, 2 pm, at the Cosford Cinema. [Source: UM School of Communication]

Update: here is an article from The Hurricane (one time registration required) on Raines's visit at UM (apparently, his first public appearance after the Jayson Blair case).

Co-president of UM PRSSA chapter wins prestigious scholarship

2003-10-02T12:38:00.000-04:00

Great news! Heather Solomon, Co-President of our PRSSA chapter, is the winner of the 2003 Ev Clay Scholarship for outstanding public relations students (the other two winners of the scholarships are Erica Galan from Miami-Dade College, and Maria C. Cabal from Florida International University). She received the award on September 26, at the 16th Annual Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Endowment Fund Luncheon.

The Ev Clay Scholarship, which provides three annual awards in amount of $2,500 each, is the largest and perhaps the oldest PRSA chapter endowed scholarship program, honoring the memory of Everett Clay, a pioneer of public relations practice in Miami.

The award was given at the 16th Annual Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Endowment Fund Luncheon on Friday, September 26.

Heather is a junior with a double major in Public Relations and Sociology and a minor in Marketing. Here is what the happy winner declared on this occasion:

I know it sounds cliche to say I'm honored to have received the scholarship, but it is true. Especially since there are so many great and talented PR students and PRSSA members at the University of Miami. Being a member of PRSSA certainly did help me get the scholarship. For one, it was a requirement just to apply for it and also I've learned so much valuable information about PR through PRSSA.

I'm so excited about Miami PRSSA chapter this year. We have a great e-board that includes 11 very intelligent and responsible girls and a wonderful and kind advisor, Dr. Tilson. We are looking forward to gaining new members and carrying out successful meetings and events.

Miami Herald's new design

2003-09-14T12:11:00.000-04:00

The Miami Herald begins its second century of publishing with a new design, authored by a team coordinated by Mario Garcia, who redesigned The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Garcia, the president and CEO of Garcia Media, is a faculty member of The Poynter Institute for Media Studies, and has completed his masters and doctoral studies at the University of Miami. Explaining the design's rationales, Mr. Garcia indicates how the internet is modifying the way we are accessing information:

The emergence of the Internet, and the fact that so many newspaper readers browse websites, where navigation is a key element, has made it even more important for the modern newspaper. Readers unconsciously transfer some of their Internet quick browsing behavior when they come to print.

The new features of The Herald includes:

a new navigational system, tailored for three categories of readers: traditional, "scanners", and "supersonic readers"

the 5 minute Herald, that allows the reader to browse in just one page all important headlines and stories

color coded sections

summaries of the news, providing context for the headlines

"smart boxes", designed to give information at a glance

new fonts and colors

new tropical life tabloid sections

New books on international PR

2003-09-08T13:20:00.000-04:00

Two recent books for students and professionals interested in international public relations:

» Toward the Common Good (Allyn & Bacon), "the first comprehensive discussion and analysis of public relations in emerging democracies by the world's leading scholars in the field," edited by our faculty advisor, Dr. Donn J. Tilson, APR, Fellow PRSA, and by Emmanuel C. Alozie:

Focusing on countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, this text offers both theoretical foundations and practical applications for public relations in a global context. It examines a broad range of public relations practices and institutions within a discussion of history, politics, economics, culture, and communication. The text offers a multicultural approach that includes both well-known scholars and new, alternative voices.

Features:
# Introductory essays to each regional section
# Country profiles at the beginning of each chapter
# Key points and discussion questions
# Lists of web sites with additional sources for information on topics and organizations referenced in the chapters.

» The Global Public Relations Handbook (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates), edited by Krishnamurthy Sriramesh and Dejan Vercic:

Each chapter covers the history, development and status of public relations within a specified country or area, and considers the profession in relation to such factors as: the political environment; the level of economic development; the culture; the media environment; and activism. A case study offers insights into the specifics of practice. The second section of the handbook provides a consideration of public relations practice in a global setting, with chapters analyzing the operations of: multinational corporations; foreign governments; international organizations; NGOs; and multinational public relations agencies.

Globalization: Challenges & Opportunities for Public Relations -- Call for papers

2003-09-08T12:24:00.000-04:00

Globalization: Challenges & Opportunities for Public Relations is the theme of the 7th International Public Relations Research Conference to be held March 2004 in Miami, Florida. Graduate students, PR faculty and PR professionals are invited to submit competitive abstracts for paper presentation. The deadline for abstract submission is December 12, 2003. More information is available on IPR's website [PDF]. The director of the conference is Dr. Don W. Stacks, Advertising and Public Relations Program Director at UM School of Communication.

IPR published the first International Index of Bribery for News Coverage

2003-09-08T11:42:00.000-04:00

The Institute for Public Relations issued the first International Index of Bribery for News Coverage:

"Bribery of the news media in too many countries robs citizens of credible information they need to make personal and collective decisions. This comprehensive research for the first time gives us an index that ranks 66 of the world's nations for the likelihood that print journalists will seek or accept cash for news coverage from government officials, businesses, or other news sources.

The index was developed to provide a useful quantitative measure by which countries can track their progress over time and compared to other nations. Whether a country ranks high or low, many parties are adversely affected - journalists, news sources, advertisers, government policy makers, and the consuming public. Public relations professionals and journalists alike - as citizens who best understand the importance of media integrity - need to take leadership roles in eliminating this unethical practice."

The report is available for download in PDF format [160 kB].

Up2Speed is now MarketingWonk

2003-09-08T11:19:00.000-04:00

Up2Speed, "the single source for no-nonsense Internet marketing news," changed its name to MarketingWonk, and for good reasons. This will not affect in any way their excellent newsletters (my favorites are I-Blog and I-PR).

UM Fall Career Expo on September 25

2003-09-02T00:45:00.000-04:00

Don't miss the Fall Career Expo, on September 25, from 11 am to 4 pm, at the Wellness Center. Check the listing -- you will find that a couple of companies are looking for interns majoring in Communication. Good luck!

PRSSA meeting on September 7

2003-08-31T10:40:00.000-04:00

Mark you calendars! The first PRSSA meeting of the 2003-2004 school year will be held on Sunday, September 7th @ 5:00 in UC 237. New members are welcome!

Tony Blair's director of communications and strategy quits

2003-08-29T15:35:00.000-04:00

Alastair Campbell, director of communications and strategy for UK's Prime Minister Tony Blair, has resigned.

Mr. Campbell, known as the "spin doctor" of the British government, has become, according to The Guardian, "the centre of criticism about the government's preoccupation with spin and media presentation for at least the past three years." Recently, he was involved in a bitter disagreement with the BBC over a BBC report stating that the British government made false claims about Iraqi's capabilities to deploy weapons of mass destruction in order to make the case for war.

» Read The Guardian's full coverage of Campbell's resignation, and take a quiz to see if you can take his job (if you want to)

Say it in plain English

2003-08-25T22:07:00.000-04:00

Bloomberg (thanks to Richard Bailey for this news):

U.K. companies that use clear English when communicating with investors may yield better returns than others that rely on jargon, according to a London-based corporate communications firm.

Clarity Business Solutions in Writing Ltd. is betting on the best communicators in the FTSE 100, by creating an index of the top 10 and buying 1,000 pounds ($1,584) of each one's stock.

"The companies we admire explain their strategies in ways that ordinary people can understand,'' said Clarity's Chief Executive Rupert Morris in an e-mailed statement. "Successful companies use direct and simple language."

» Read the full report [HTML]
» Download the report [PDF, 48 KB] and 4 case studies [PDF, 38 KB]

First International Index of Bribery for News Coverage

2003-08-25T18:27:00.000-04:00

The Institute for Public Relations will publish on September 8 the first International Index of Bribery for News Coverage. The index will be available on IPR's website.

This comprehensive index ranks 66 of the world’s nations for the likelihood that print journalists will seek or accept cash for news coverage from government officials, businesses, or other news sources. The index focuses specifically on cash for news coverage practices by daily newspapers.

An RSS primer (for PR professionals & students, too)

2003-08-25T17:26:00.000-04:00

ResourceShelf points to an excellent resource: RSS - A Primer for Publishers & Content Providers. Here are a couple of points that should interest PR professionals:

Imagine that your company announces a new product or feature every month or two. Without an RSS feed, your viewers have to remember to come to your site and see if they find anything new - if they have time. If you provide a feed for them, they can point their aggregator or other software at it, and it will give them a link and a description of developments at your site almost as soon as they happen. News is similar; because there are so many sources of news on the Internet, most of your viewers won't come to your site every day. By providing an RSS feed, you are in front of them constantly, improving the chances that they'll click through to an article that catches their eye. (Mark Nottingham)

Using RSS is not just about announcing new products. Journalists are using RSS feeds to stay informed with the latest news and events, and RSS is an excellent medium for delivering them tailored information without clogging their e-mails (and there is no need to call and ask them if they've received your RSS feed...).

What you can find in the primer (that is primarily intended for a non-technical audience):

1. Aims & Scope
2. Why should publishers & content providers produce RSS?
3. What is RSS?
4. RSS - Common Questions Answered
5. Identifying Suitable Content
6. Producing RSS
7. RSS - Technical Pointers & Web Resources
8. Good Practice Recommendations for RSS Production
9. Promoting & Discovering RSS Feeds
10. Utilizing RSS Feeds
11. References and Notes

Thanks to Gary Price for this information.

Page Principles

2003-08-24T20:44:00.000-04:00

Remember Page principles? Here they are (courtesy of A. W. Page Society):

Tell the truth. Let the public know what’s happening and provide an accurate picture of the company’s character, ideals and practices.

Prove it with action. Public perception of an organization is determined 90 percent by what it does and ten percent by talking.

Listen to the customer. To serve the company well, understand what the public wants and needs. Keep top decision makers and other employees informed about public reaction to company products, policies and practices.

Manage for tomorrow. Anticipate public reaction and eliminate practices that create difficulties. Generate goodwill.

Conduct public relations as if the whole company depends on it. Corporate public relations is a management function. No corporate strategy should be implemented without considering its impact on the public. The public relations professional is a policymaker capable of handling a wide range of corporate communications activities.

Remain calm, patient, and good-humored. Lay the groundwork for public relations miracles with consistent, calm and reasoned attention to information and contacts.When a crisis arises, remember that cool heads communicate best.

Case Study Competition in Corporate Communication Call for Entries

2003-08-24T20:35:00.000-04:00

The Arthur W. Page Society announced recently that the eligibility rules for the Case Study Competition in Corporate Communication has been expended to include students enrolled in degree programs an accredited school of comunication or journalism.

The competition challenges students to submit original case studies focusing on how corporate communications and the practice of public relations address business problems. Cash prizes totaling $14,000 will be awarded to the authors of winning entries and their faculty advisors. In addition, the country’s leading corporate communications executives will recognize the Grand Prize winners at an Awards Ceremony Dinner on April 1, 2004.

Any student, graduate or undergraduate, enrolled in an accredited school of business, communications or journalism who is pursuing a degree (full-time or part-time), is eligible to participate. Students may participate as sole authors or as members of a case study team (not to exceed four people). In order to participate, each student author or case study team must have sponsorship of a faculty member who is expected to advise and guide the case study’s development.

» Submissions deadlines: January 14, 2004
» Download submission guidelines and the application form [PDF, 52 KB, 4 pages]
» Read the winning studies of 2003 competition [PDF, 526 KB, 56 pages].

More information: http://www.awpagesociety.com/public/news/2004Call-Release.html.

Interested in becoming an APR?

2003-08-19T17:50:00.000-04:00

Miami PRSA event (thanks to Morgana for information):

What: Fall APR 101 Workshop (for those interested in learning more about becoming an APR )
When: September 6
Where: University of Miami School of Communication
Who: Dr. Donn Tilson, APR
Contact: Kelly Abbondondolo, APR (305-860-1335)
Note: There will be a $40 fee for PRSSA members.

PR campaign developed by students

2003-08-19T16:09:00.000-04:00

From Ben Silverman's PR Fuel (a recommended reading), here is an interesting article about a success story:

Eight thumbs up on this one. Three University of Houston students who took a PR class last semester put their knowledge to good use: By promoting a store that serves as a funding outlet for a shelter for battered women. The student's PR work increased sales at the store. "The students learned that a product has to be marketable before it can be marketed. This whole experience taught the students that the best way for a PR practitioner to have an impact is to be part of management's discussions on an organization's direction," Toby Stark, the student's teacher and a Houston-area PR pro, said. Seasoned PR pros can learn from these young ladies.

I learned about successful PR campaigns developed by UM students and I hope this weblog will host soon a couple of stories about them.

A lesson from the recent blackout

2003-08-17T20:05:00.000-04:00

The recent blackout offered everybody a lesson -- one that goes beyond the science of electrical grid design (emphasis added):

The events of the past few days — unwanted side effects of our network society — are just one of the periodic reminders that we live in a globalized world. While celebrating that everybody on earth is only six handshakes from us, we need to accept that so are their problems and vulnerabilities.

Most failures emerge and evaporate locally, largely unnoticed by the rest of the world. A few, however, percolate through our dense technological and social networks, hitting us from the most unexpected directions. Unless we are willing to cut the connections, the only way to change the world is to improve all nodes and links.

[Albert-Laszlo Barabasi, professor of physics at the University of Notre Dame, author of Linked: The New Science of Networks, in We're all on the grid together -- The New York Times -- free registration required]

President Shalala about University Village Project

2003-08-17T19:47:00.000-04:00

Saturday's Miami Herald published a letter about the University Village project, signed by UM President Donna Shalala:

UM needs housing

The University of Miami is a committed community partner. We strive to work with all of our neighbors. A group of Coral Gables residents has labeled us ''bullies'' for our attempt to build much-needed student apartments on campus. They do not represent the majority of our neighbors, most of whom support our efforts.

Creating a top research university requires recruiting the best students and faculty, engaging committed philanthropists, securing federal research funds and building necessary infrastructure -- like student housing. Those opposing construction of University Village have lost sight of a university's purpose: to educate, conduct research and create tomorrow's leaders. They seem to envision a university devoid of students; or at least, only with students you can't hear or see. That attitude will restrain our ability to compete with the nation's best universities.

UM has been an integral part of this community for more than 75 years. It's time we built University Village, a project that will improve our campus and neighborhood.

DONNA E. SHALALA

President,
University of Miami
Coral Gables

2003-08-15T14:00:00.000-04:00

PRWeb offers a huge list of RSS feeds. Check it out.

2003-08-13T15:52:00.000-04:00

Miami Today:

The University of Miami's School of Medicine wants to expand its research facilities and parking facilities by 1 million square feet within 10 years. The expansion, part of a capital improvement plan, is tied to university officials' desire to become one of the top 20 medical schools in the nation. [...] The school's capital campaign for campus-wide projects is expected to be made public in October, Dean Clarkson said. The university is currently in the "quiet phase" of its fund-raising plans for hundreds of millions of dollars, he said.

2003-08-13T15:43:00.000-04:00

New to blogs? Try starting here: BLOG Resource -- Demystifying what a BLOG is and how to best use one.
Are you an RSS newbie? Here is my favorite article about RSS: J.D. Lasica's News That Come to You.

2003-08-13T15:13:00.000-04:00

PR Week UK "poll": "PR students are running their own PR agency, managing real campaigns for real clients – would you entrust your PR to them?" Well, the answer is more than encouraging, but it's misleading; one can vote more than once...

2003-08-12T19:44:00.000-04:00

The family of UM blogs grows bigger: using Technorati's Cosmos I just found out that the Wesley Foundation at the UM has a blog.

2003-08-12T15:28:00.000-04:00

Tom Murphy has a posting about PR news. We're honored. PR Opinions is the best place to start exploring the universe of PR weblogs and a wonderful resource.

2003-08-12T15:21:00.000-04:00

The last issue of PR Tactics has the spotlight on PR Education:
» Graduate students: What you need to know to work with them, or become one
» Motivating students by keeping it real [I realy like this subtitle: "Students as consumer publics"]
» Only an A- ? Combating grade inflation

2003-08-12T15:11:00.000-04:00

Registration forms for the National PRSSA Conference are now available online. The deadline for conference registration is September 19.

2003-08-12T13:43:00.000-04:00

An interesting article from The New York Times: it seams that the ancient Inca population used knoted strings -- known as khipu or quipu -- in order to encode and record information. Think about it: "a reading of the knotted string devices, if deciphered, could perhaps reveal narratives of the Inca Empire, the most extensive in America in its glory days before the Spanish conquest in 1532."

Dr. Gary Urton from Harvard suggests that "the khipu did not record information in graphic signs for words, but rather a kind of three-dimensional binary code similar to the language of today's computers. "

More:
» Dr. Urton will publish this month a book on this subject, titled "Signs of the Inka Khipu"; read the first chapter
» an interviu with Dr. Urton, published by Harvard Gazette

2003-07-23T03:37:00.000-04:00

Coming soon
Hey... this weblog needs writers.

2003-03-15T17:39:00.000-05:00

FIU Professor Bill Adams Died
The Miami Chapter of PRSA mourns the sudden loss of one its own members. Bill Adams, FIU professor, longtime supporter of our chapter, and champion of PRSSA passed away suddenly at his home, Thursday, March 13, 2003. He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 35 years, and three sons.

His legacy in our field reaches beyond South Florida. Words cannot express the impact he has had on so many: He was a friend and mentor to colleagues and students and will be greatly missed.

» In Memoriam William C. Adams, APR, Fellow PRSA - PRSA website

2003-03-15T17:20:00.000-05:00

PRSSA 2003 National Assembly | Miami Beach, Florida - March 20-23, 2003
Four Points Sheraton Hotel
4343 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140
Phone: (305) 531-7494
www.sheraton.com

» National Assembly page on the PRSSA website