Beginning a Career in Public Relations

Learning to Enjoy Speaking in Public

2008-05-09T08:46:00.003-05:00

On April 26, 2008, volunteers from the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and the Shell Toastmasters Club hosted the first-ever Public Speaking Workshop to help Girl Scouts earn the Girl Scouts of Northern California's Public Speaking Interest Patch.

Held at the fabulous Program Place, the workshop was designed to help Girls learn about the different types of speeches, as well as practice listening and non-verbal communication skills. Girls were asked to complete research about a topic of their choice prior to the workshop and developed speeches that they then presented to the entire group.

Most importantly, Girls learned that practicing and being prepared to speak in public helps build confidence and eliminate a little of the nervousness. After the workshop, one girl commented, "My favorite part was working with others in making speeches and preparing speeches with professionals."

A special thank you to the following PRSA Houston volunteers: Vannessa Wade, Bill Zander, Nancy Mills, APR, Nancy Elmohamad, Emilee Fontenot, and David Casey. Also a thank you to Yolanda Bynum of the Shell Toastmasters Club for taking the time to be there and work with the girls.

Yolanda (speaking in the photo above) placed first in the Toastmasters Division Q International Speech contest on April 26. She will now compete in the Toastmasters District 56 International Speech competition. The name of her speech is ""One Day You'll Thank Me." Congratulations, Yolanda!

Extra: One of the Girl Scouts who attended the workshop will give a short speech at the July 2 PRSA Houston Luncheon. Hope to see you there!

Girl Scouts Recognized for Achievements

2008-05-07T07:23:00.003-05:00

It's no secret that I am a strong supporter of the Girl Scouts organization. This year's Annual Senior Recognition Event for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council took place on May 4, 2008 at the lodge of Camp Agnes Arnold. In attendance were more than 120 Senior Girl Scouts, their family members and friends. This was my second year to chair the event, and I was pleased to have Sophia Carmon as a co-chair.

We worked with a Girl Planning Board comprised of 12 young ladies (11 are pictured here) who gained valuable event planning experience, as well as leadership hours. The theme the girls delivered on was “Honoring Our Precious Jewels," and what a fun event!

During the ceremony, Girls were honored for receiving their Gold Award, being a graduating senior, and/or celebrating 10 years of Girl Scouting by receiving their 10-year pin.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. This award is achieved by less than 5% of all girls who join Girl Scouting.

There are seven requirements that must be completed to earn the coveted Gold Award.

1. Build a Framework: The girl must take into consideration what she is currently involved in, amount of school work during the year and any other commitments that might impede time that she would have to work on the Gold Award. She will then create a timeline to discuss where she can fit her pre-req modules into her daily life. This gives her a guide to follow.

2. She will decide on three Interest Project Patches and one Studio 2B focus book that she is interested in and will take those to completion. When she has completed her patches and focus book, she will need to find a leadership project and complete 30 hours of leadership either in the community, her school or within the scouting framework.

3. Complete the Girl Scout Career Award. For the Career Award, the Girl Scout has two options; the first would be to really focus on her future, her career options and what University she could attend that would allow her to complete her chosen degree. She would do this by visiting numerous Universities, speaking with professors, working with college counselors, attending college fairs, trade fairs, researching degree options, housing options, job shadowing or securing an internship with someone that has a career that she is interested in pursuing. The goal in this option is for a girl to select the right career and the right University that will have everything she needs to be successful.

The Second Option is called “FAST TRACK.” A girl may elect to either secure a paying job or create her own business. If she “Fast Tracks” she must secure employment in a career/start a business that she is interested in as an adult or at a minimum be able to learn valuable skills such as communication and leadership skills that she will be able to use in her Career. She must log a minimum of 40 hours in either option before she goes to the next step.

4. Complete the STUDIO 4B Challenge. This Award does not have any hours associated with it but has four steps that must be completed. The Challenge Award Focuses on the Assets as well as the needs in the girl’s community. She challenges herself to find out things that could be improved in her community and then network to find community minded people who she can enlist to help her.

5-7. These final steps focus on a Girl Scout’s decision about what community Leadership project she will create and develop that will become her Gold Award Project. She will go through the council approval process and for the next few months she will be working very hard to accomplish the outline she has developed for her Leadership project while using all the skills she has learned in scouting. The project will take determination, communication, patience, sacrifices, ingenuity and sweat to complete the minimum requirement of 65 hours.

I am very proud of all of the girls that were honored on May 4 and was extra happy to learn that a few of them are considering careers in public relations and communications!

University of Houston PRSSA Chapter Spring Banquet

2008-04-27T11:58:00.005-05:00

I visited the campus of the University of Houston yesterday evening to attend the UH PRSSA Chapter's Spring Banquet. I have a special place in my heart for this chapter, as I served as President in 2001-02. I am proud of this year's officers and the amount of effort they have put into making the chapter a success. The challenges of running a chapter on a largely commuter-based campus are still there, but from what I saw last night, the officers and members have embraced this and are making it work for their membership. (That's me in the middle with Katie Moyer on the left and Katie Winslow on the right -- both are amazing PR students!)

The enthusiasm in the room was very encouraging, and the excitement of graduating and looking for a job reminded me of what I felt like six years ago when I was in those very same shoes - both nervous and excited at the same time.

Priscilla Tinsley, president of PRSA Houston, was the guest speaker and did an awesome job providing tips for students who will soon be entering the "real" world - primarily to remember that finding the perfect job does not always happen right away, but by being true to yourself, you will find the perfect fit (even if it takes a few jobs to find out where you belong).

Julie Fix, APR, was recognized for the support she provides to the chapter on an ongoing basis. Julie is also on the board of PRSA Houston, in addition to owning her own public relations company and serving as a professor in the School of Communication at UH. Also there was Catherine Burch Graham, APR, of Houston-Based LifeGift and also a member of the Board of Directors of PRSA Houston.

I wish all the graduates great success in their job searches and am sure that the new PRSSA officers will continue to do an incredible job!

When Words Are Not Enough: American Cancer Society Launches SharingHope.tv

2008-03-26T15:16:00.003-05:00

The American Cancer Society has joined the Web 2.0 era by opening a place for people who are passionate about the fight against cancer to share their video online.

The project, called SharingHope.tv, is a high-quality platform for anyone to upload, view, or share their experience with cancer. For example, former smokers can share cessation tips, the recently diagnosed can share their cancer journey and survivors can share their victory with others.

Check it out at www.SharingHope.tv.

Girl Scouts Learn About Public Relations

2008-02-12T21:09:00.010-06:00

Close to 60 Girl Scouts between the ages of 11 and 17 took part in a four-hour workshop on Saturday, February 9, 2008, to learn about the profession.

Sponsored by PRSA Houston, the workshop teaches Girl Scouts the basic terminology of the profession and helps them recognize aspects of public relations that they see and hear in their every day life.

I am especially thankful to Natalie Young, Vinnika Johnson and Vannessa Wade for their leadership in making this workshop possible.

An exciting part of the workshop, which was launched in 2006, is an image discussion, where Girl Scouts list both well-known and no-so-well known aspects of Girl Scouting. The girls then work in teams to put together a small campaign around increasing awareness for one concept or program.

For example, one group focused entirely on promoting the Mariners Program that exists through the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (see image at left).

Other groups chose to focus on the travel opportunities that Girl Scouting brings, as well as the opportunities for camping, backpacking and rock climbing. The theme of the day: Girl Scouting is More Than Cookies!

I would like to thank Melinda Gaskill, program manager for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, for recognizing me with the Council's Outstanding Volunteer Award at the start of the workshop and to all the girls who signed my special photo frame and took part in the presentation. I believe in the mission of Girl Scouting and enjoy every second of every workshop that I have helped develop.

We are already planning another PR Interest Project Award Workshop for the summer that will focus on the newly-opened Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History. Please let me know if you would like to volunteer!

Almost December...

2007-11-28T20:47:00.000-06:00

Staying in this saddle is harder than I thought...it seems like only yesterday that I unlocked my blogger account and here I am with only two posts since then. As the holidays near, I think of things that I am thankful to have in my life, and my degree in public relations is definitely among the top three (after family and my health). In my current position, our department receives calls and emails from employees, network groups and others asking for the direction of the communications team on all kinds of projects. From the United Way campaign to employee promotions of all types, there is a demand for the expertise of communications professionals. I have watched a true team of professionals at work -- from research to planning to implementation to evaluation -- it's all there! To me, it seems that PR professionals are finally being viewed as true strategists. Yes, there are some tactics thrown in there that we all have to do, but I truly have seen a shift in the way the profession is viewed since I graduated five short years ago.

Writing remains at the heart of the profession. If you can't spell out your plans in a clear language and receive buy-in and approval, you won't get very far. I am building on this concept for a presentation I am sharing with students at Texas Southern University on December 6 as part of the Tavis Smiley School of Communications Open House. While I've only been out of school a short while, I am always eager to share what I have learned with those who are eager to begin a career in communications.

I also hope to see everyone at the PRSA Holiday party on December 11 at Two Hyde Park.

Trying to Stay in the Saddle

2007-09-25T17:00:00.000-05:00

Getting back in the blog saddle was quite an ordeal and now I must stay in the saddle.

I am finding each and every day that I am extremely dependent on technology, and I am even becoming impatient when I don't get an immediate response to an email or IM. My Blackberry service was out this morning when I woke up, and I really felt as though I wasn't "complete" until it started functioning properly. I frantically tried to send myself a message only to find that I couldn't connect to the company address book. I asked my fiancé to email me, and his Blackberry unresponsive as well. The world was ending, it seemed.

Why are we so dependent on these little devices? For me, I like to know what messages are waiting for me BEFORE I arrive at the office so I can begin thinking of solutions and responses on the drive in. If I can safely respond while waiting at a red light, admittedly, I will. Anything to get rid of one email in my world of Getting Things Done by David Allen. I am very proud of myself for leaving my Blackberry behind while on vacation over the Labor Day weekend. So, I can live without it, but prefer to stay connected as much as possible. It's hard to imagine what people did before email. I act as though I don't know what I did before email. I am a lagger when it comes to technology, so I didn't sign up for my first email account until 1998, and I rarely checked it. I didn't get my first Blackberry until 2006 if you can imagine that. My family is already arranging to confiscate the Blackberry's the night before the wedding!

I'm applying these same principles to planning our wedding, and it's amazing how much better I feel about an event that is supposed to be stressful and crazy. I like to plan ahead and this is definitely one of those instances when it pays off. We are a year away from the wedding and already have the ceremony and reception sites booked, selected and secured our photographer and videographer; arranged for the musical selections at the ceremony and reception; and my bridesmaids have their dresses.

I am happy to know that my background in public relations and communications can apply to my personal life as well. Here's to Getting Things Done!

Back in the Blog Saddle Again

2007-07-13T16:55:00.001-05:00

While attending PRSA Houston's social media luncheon earlier this week, I felt a lot of pressure (followed by determination) to "unlock" my blog. While excuses are excuses, I managed to lock myself out of my Blogger account for quite some time (which prompted me to review my username selection process and also reminded me that I should have updated my email address with Blogger before closing my SBC email account).

Fortunately, my email account at Schipul - The Web Marketing Company is still active - and was a backup address on my account. I thank the team at Schipul for forwarding me the email with the coveted link to now associate my blog with my gmail account (which I had to create before I could use Blogger) and reset my password. Whew.

Apparently, my login information has become even more important than my social security number.

Short story long - I am back to blogging.

In taking all these steps to access my blog, I was reminded of how dependent I have become on technology (and in turn, how impatient I can be at times, too!)

If I lose my blackberry signal for one minute while in the elevator, I fear I have missed the most important email yet. If the Web page I am visiting takes too long to load, I close out of the browser. If the password retrieve message tells me that my username is not found and my password is incorrect, I almost break my keyboard.

I bring up technology because I am on assignment in the internal communications department at Shell Oil through Brookwoods Group. While I have only been in this position for two months, I have learned how critical technology is to public relations, specifically employee communications. From writing and posting articles to the Intranet, to preparing and sending a weekly e-newsletter to employees, I am immersed in technology.

When I wasn't able to log into our external newsletter tool last week to deliver the newsletter, I had to rush home to send from there to meet the deadline.

I am having a great time at Shell and am learning so much in the process. The communications that I prepare are sent to almost 26,000 employees in the United States - not a small number by any stretch of the imagination. I've learned it's so critical to check and double-check every link and every sentence before pressing the magical send button, because once a message is sent, you've reached the end of the road.

I encourage everyone who is new to PR or studying PR to take advantage of any and all opportunities to learn all you can about social media, the Internet and all things technology.

Greetings from the TPRA Conference in Austin

2006-02-25T13:40:00.000-06:00

I just ran into my dear friend David Casey with GolinHarris at the TPRA Conference here in Austin and he reminded me I haven't written in my blog in some time so the guilt has gotten the best of me. I'm back in my room in between sessions and wanted to share with everyone the "Top 10 Communications Rules of the Road" presented with Kirk Watson, former Austin mayor. Mr. Watson was exactly on message and gave a lively and entertaining presentation from which all communications professionals can learn.

1. Throw away the labels - we're often labeled by our political affiliations, our beliefs, our jobs - just throw them away (see also #8)

2. Create the opportunity to HEAR - why do we call these meetings of the public "hearings?" No one is hearing - they all are arguing! Communications professionals must constantly communicate - our audiences have short memories, and we must listen - truly listen - to be effective.

3. You'll never meet everyone's concept of perfection, so DON'T TRY! But also, don't demand that others conform to your concept of perfection.

4. Be biased toward ACTION - there is value in failure. Ask yourself, "What can I learn from this?" Do not be afraid to try new things. Regardless of the outcome, learn from it.

5. HOPE MATTERS. Ask yourself, what is the hope I am creating with my message.

6. Have a short-term focus with a long-term vision. Live in increments of time, whether it's one year or two years, but make sure in 40 years, you've achieved your long-term vision. Always live for the "right now" and be sure to "succeed today."

7. Know your core values and core assets. Be willing to admit your weaknesses, even if only to yourself.

8. Avoid nitpickers, naysayers and know-it-all's. You can't always wait for the "better deal," regardless of what others may tell you.

9. Create new and different constituencies. Don't create unnecessary enemies - you won't agree with others 100% of the time, and vice versa.

10. Find the POWER in the situation. No matter how negative the circumstances may be, find the power in the situation.

10.5 Don't believe your own bull! If you are the only one who thinks you are right, it may be time to reevaluate your position.

The conference is great; the speakers are out of this world!

Happy Holidays!!!

2005-12-21T16:53:00.000-06:00

Wow! What a busy month I have had learning about the world of banking! I'm settling into my role at Sterling Bank and already have several BIG projects on my plate! Sterling Bank has 40 offices in the Houston, Dallas and San Antonio areas, and takes great pride in its communities. In the Houston area, we just completed a clothing and blanket drive for the homeless through the SEARCH Project, and on March 26, 2006, the Bank is sponsoring the 13th Annual Tour de Cypress, one of the bike rides available for training for the MS 150. All proceeds of the Tour de Cypress benefit the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas.

On April 20, 2006, Sterling will serve as a sponsor of the March of Dimes' WalkAmerica event, so I'll be involved in that project, as well!

Also exciting for me is the opportunity to serve on the silent auction committee for the American Cancer Society's Starlight Gala, which will take place on April 1, 2006. This is an event for young professionals produced by young professionals so please be sure to mark the date on your calendar. Here's a link to last year's event - http://www.starlightgala.org/index.htm. A bit of history: In 1996, the American Cancer Society Junior Board hosted the first Starlight Gala, creating an event that would introduce young professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 to philanthropic fundraising. Since 1996, the Starlight Gala has raised more than $800,000 for the Houston chapter of the American Cancer Society!!

I promise to update everyone more often now that I am a bit settled at Sterling Bank. Please post your comments and let us know what challenges and successes you are having in public relations.

Happy Holidays!

Kelly

New job, new responsibilities and a new chapter

2005-11-20T21:26:00.000-06:00

After a short break and a trip to Washington, D.C. for the Business Women's Network Women and Diversity Conference, I'm back and beginning a new job tomorrow at Sterling Bank. My time at Schipul - The Web Marketing Company was extremely enriching, and I am thankful to Ed Schipul and the entire team for teaching me about myself, technology and the world. I'm excited about this new chapter in my life and meeting new challenges. More later!

Strategic Planning: Peter Hollister's Advice to New Professionals

2005-11-03T16:34:00.000-06:00

On October 14, Peter Hollister, APR, Fellow PRSA, of Hollister, Trubow and Associates, presented a strategic planning and thinking workshop and many new professionals were in attendance!

Throughout the workshop, Peter emphasized that PR professionals are perhaps more correctly referred to as Relationship Managers because what we do is all about relationships and our work as PR professionals should be outcome-oriented.

Peter said that quite simply, the difference between long range planning and strategic planning is that long range planning is outdated by the time it is completed, but strategic planning is ongoing and does not have an end date. Always, always keep your plan in a loose-leaf binder - it's going to change!! Below are Peter's answers to a few of my questions relating to new professionals and the strategic planning process:

Kelly: How can someone just beginning his or her career in public relations work to demonstrate value to senior PR professionals and management?

Peter: I think there are several ways a new pro can demonstrate value. All of the obvious bear repeating - good energy, positive attitude, good work ethic, willing to go the extra yard, being accurate in both research and production and being a team player. Equally important, the new pro, like the seasoned pro, can be a strategic thinker and contribute to decision-making and production in a strategic manner. The new pro may not become a strategic planner for some time, but strategic thinking can be applied from day one.

Kelly: What contributions can new professionals make to strategic planning, since many of us are on the tactical side of PR, such as press release writing and distribution?

Peter: Even on the tactical side of PR - media releases, publications, event planning, etc. - the difference between an effective product and one that is not effective is often strategic thinking. A media release that is produced after going through the strategic thinking test - why are we doing this; who is the audience; what is the message; what objectives are we helping to reach; are we impacting a relationship goal; are we supporting the organization's mission; are the resources available - will be a more impactful media release than one that is simply "produced."

Kelly: What advice do you offer to new PR Pros who wish to have that coveted seat at the management table as we advance in our careers?

Peter: Patience, perseverance and strategic thinking. When management believes you are strategic and can offer sound advice and counsel, you will be brought to the table. You won't get to the table if management perceives you as a tactician, despite how good you might be.

Kelly: Can you provide a recap of recommended reading for those who were not able to attend the session?

Peter: If I could reduce it to two books, I would recommend Ronal D. Smith's "Strategic Planning for Public Relations," and Andy Bruce and Ken Langdon's "Strategic Thinking."

Kelly: Any other thoughts or advice?

Peter: Two final thoughts. First, don't rush to management's table. Getting there is half the fun. Do lots of tactical things, experiment, innovate, find the tasks that really get you excited and excel. Once you get to management's table, you won't have the time for the fun things. Second, sometimes good tacticians do make it to management's table, but usually to receive orders. The strategists at the table participate in the decision making that results in tactical orders.

Peter H. Hollister is principal and senior counsel with Hollister, Trubow & Associates, a communications consulting firm he co-founded in 1986. During his career as a professional communicator, Hollister has worked for the military, in the corporate sector for a public utility, in the not-for-profit sector as a vice president for three universities (University of New Hampshire, Northern Kentucky University, and The Union Institute) and as a consultant to management. He was inducted into the Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows in 1992 and was awarded the Florida Public Relations Association’s highest accreditation, Certified Public Relations Consultant (CPRC). Hollister is the author of the book Successful Strategic Public Relations Planning and has contributed articles and chapters to a number of publications.

CNN Weekend Anchor Renay San Miguel Highlights PRSA Dallas Media Day October 28, 2005

2005-10-30T18:30:00.000-06:00

I had an amazing opportunity to listen to CNN Headline News Anchor Renay San Miguel on Friday at PRSA Dallas' Media Day. Renay delivered a brilliant keynote that addressed his views on the changing world of PR, journalism and technology.

Renay is a weekend anchor for CNN Headline News based in CNN's headquarters in Atlanta and has more than 26 years of journalism experience. During the war in Iraq, he helped staff the CNN/U.S. military desk and interviewed CNN military analysts and outlined military operations using maps and satellite imagery. Renay also participated in Headline News' coverage of the war in Afghanistan in 2002. During his PRSA talk, he said that the moment war broke out, there was a silence in the news room that he will never forget.

Before he was a Headline News anchor, Renay provided technology updates for Headline News and CNN/U.S.

When asked who his "toughest" interview was, Renay said it was Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. The interview took place at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and apparently Bill was having a bad day and yelled at Renay and walked away from the interview. Renay is a tough guy and of course, can handle it, but the funny part of his story was when he explained the reaction of his 27-year old assistant, who said, "Dude, you just got yelled at by Bill Gates!"

Renay also has interviewed Apple CEO Steve Jobs, commenting that whoever the PR person is who told Steve to name the iPod what it is must be doing very well.

As a journalist, Renay did not seem to be bothered by the likes of bloggers and podcasters working to report the news as they see it. Renay jokingly said, "they'll have to pry the microphone from my dead hands [before I give it up]," indicating that journalists and bloggers and PR professionals can co-exist peacefully.

Indeed, while bloggers are allowed to inflect their opinions and political views into their writings, journalists are supposed to remain unbiased and report the truths. And as Renay emphasized, journalists are people, too, and while they have their own views and biases, they are not supposed to come out in interviews and reports.

When asked if he would consider the job of press secretary of the United States, Renay let out a laugh. He said he'd rather have a job that he could look forward to during the day, indicating that Scott McClellan doesn't appear to have a lot of fun up there on that podium.

On a serious note, when asked about his thoughts on why the PR profession is not more diverse, Renay responded that it's a question most definitely in need of discussion. He also pointed out that his profession is in need of more diverse reporters and anchors, and in the prime time spots. Renay said, "I am ready for some competition."

Renay's presentation was awesome and thought-provoking and he really did an incredible job in captivating the audience. He represented CNN and his profession extremely well.

PRSA Houston New Pros Launches Successful PR Program with local Girl Scouts

2005-10-27T07:46:00.000-05:00

Time really flies! Last weekend marked the second workshop hosted with local Girl Scouts of the San Jacinto Council. I personally am very excited about this launch, as this program has been in the works since my days at Houston's Museum of Printing History, where I first learned that Cadette and Senior Girls Scouts had a public relations interest project award, one of many that the Girls can earn. View the entire news story here from August 27, 2005, where Wall Street Journal Education Correspondent June Kronholz visited with PRSA Houston members and Girl Scouts.

The PR Interest project requires Girls to learn the language of the public relations profession, as well as talk with professionals in the field to learn more about the profession. Last weekend's workshop included close to 50 Girls from several different troops who all left with more knowledge of the profession and even ways in which they can use public relations to advance themselves on college applications and their resumes.

Next step is for the Girls to complete a service project in the area of public relations by partnering with a local nonprofit or working to get an article published in a local or school paper.

Many thanks to PRSA Houston New Pros Community Service Liaison Cheyenna Smith for her great work, as well as Holly Caughron, Suzanne Lammers and Erin Blatzer for volunteering to work with the Girls at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Stay tuned for more on this exciting project!

The search is on for PRWeek's 2006 Student of the Year!

2005-10-23T17:23:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

AWESOME opportunity from PR Week! http://www.prweek.com/us/events/. The winner will receive a paid internship with Weber Shandwick and $5,000!

The competition, sponsored by Weber Shandwick, is asking students to devise a campaign for Royal Caribbean.

A shortlist will be announced early next year, and the five finalists will be brought to New York, where they will pitch their campaigns to a panel of judges. The five students will also attend the PRWeek Awards on March 2.

The winner will receive a paid internship with Weber Shandwick and a $5,000 cash prize.

"The competition is a rewarding experience for participants," said Andy Polansky, president of Weber Shandwick. "Over the past six years, through our sponsorship of this program, we have strengthened our ties with many universities and connected with future practitioners and industry leaders."

Joshua Morton, the 2005 winner, interned at WS in Chicago. He attends the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The deadline for entries is November 21, so apply now and Good Luck!

Comment on Commentary: For Future Journalists, it's Cash Not Causes

2005-10-15T00:51:00.000-05:00

Comments by a journalism professor about the public relations profession have sparked today's post. In a recent commentary by Connie Schultz, columnist for The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, she writes that she has spent a lot of time with journalism students whose "hand-wringing professors still believe something other than salary should be the divining rod for choosing a career."

Schultz quotes one professor who says, "we're losing so many hard-news students to public relations, advertising and marketing. They just want to make money."

Schultz writes that one journalism professor told her that "hordes of women are opting for the softer -- and more lucrative -- career in public relations. A lot of them want to be `event planners,"' she said.

Continued Schultz...

"She nodded at my raised eyebrows. 'Seriously,' she said. 'They want to plan parties.'"

First of all, women are not the only ones opting for a career in public relations and I've yet to experience a "soft" job. I'm not a seasoned professional by any means, but I've not met or read of a single public relations professional who plans parties for a living. Do we work with event planners? You bet. Do we host events on behalf of our clients as a component of our public relations campaigns? You bet. Do these events create awareness (through the media) for the causes we or our clients represent? You bet.

Journalism professors should teach their students about all aspects of public relations -- research, planning, strategy, implementation, evaluation -- and not misrepresent our profession by claiming we 'plan parties.' Even if this is an attempt to deter journalism students from "crossing over" into a public relations career, it's not accurate. And aren't both professions dependent on truth and accuracy?

Book Recommendation: Real Life Notes: Reflection and Strategies for Life After Graduation by Kenneth Jedding

2005-10-12T09:40:00.000-05:00

Are you in that space between school and work, worrying about finding a job, if it's the right job, and not only that, but are you stressing from issues stemming from family and relationships?

Kenneth Jedding, author of Real Life Notes: Reflection and Strategies for Life After Graduation, is here to help you stop worrying about parents, relationships, and yes, even career issues.

I first met Kenneth when I served as UH PRSSA President in 2001-02.

Kenneth was a guest speaker at our Chapter's Regional Activity on campus, and he brought valuable words of wisdom to those of us on the verge of graduation.

His book also has helped me in other areas of my life, as well. Read more at www.reallifenotes.com. Kenneth's book also appears on the Forbes.com book list.

I have a special offer for you - Kenneth has agreed to allow my blog readers to purchase the book for $6.00. Here's how:

Mail your check with the words "Kelly's Blog" in the memo of the check, to:

Double Rose Books
PO Box 180
New York, NY 10276-0180.

Close to 1200 copies of Kenneth's book were given out at graduation at New York University's Steinhardt School of Education earlier this year to all graduates and masters graduates with their diplomas, and also to 1500 graduates at Loyola Marymount in LA. Get your copy now - you won't be disappointed! And be sure to share your strategies for life after graduation with our readers by posting a comment.

Happy Reading!

Houston Advertising Federation Luncheon Oct. 19 --- Sally Hogshead on "Radical Careering"

2005-10-09T20:16:00.000-05:00

Busy time of year - many, many networking and learning opportunities, so let's get to it!

"Passion is not a luxury in your career. It’s an imperative."

From the "Hog Blog" on September 28, 2005

Don't miss the opportunity to hear Sally Hogshead's (http://www.sallyhogshead.com/) presentation on "radical careering" on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005 at the Junior League of Houston. This presentation is sponsored by the Houston Advertising Federation.

Sally is a creative director and author and lives in LA with her two young children and her husband Rich, who is a stay-at-home dad.

At age 27, Sally opened the celebrated boutique agency, Robaire & Hogshead. Clients included Target, Remy Martin, and Condé Nast. In 2001, she founded the West Coast office of Crispin Porter + Bogusky. In her dual role as Creative Director/Managing Director, Sally created and led work for MINI, Rock the Vote, Fine Living Network and Ikea.

Sally's work has won hundreds of awards. In addition to being featured on "Best Ads on TV," she was a Creative Director/Copywriter on the $100,000 Grand Kelly campaign for MINI Cooper. (Word is that Sally is perhaps best known for her notorious "Salerita" margaritas (lemonade + ice + crushed mint + vodka, served in a sugar-rimmed glass).

Recent clients include Godiva Chocolates, Avery Dennison, Harry Winston Jewelers, and Hard Rock Hotel. Sally graduated from Duke University in 1991 with a major in Sociology and three minors.

You won't want to miss this presentation! Register online at http://www.haf.org/upcoming_events.html.

WHEN Wednesday, October 19, 2005 11:30 AM - 1:15 PM
WHERE Junior League of Houston 1811 Briar Oaks Drive Houston, TX 77027
COSTS: Member Registration $25.00; Non-Member Registration $40.00

The Aftermath of Hurricane Rita

2005-09-26T07:57:00.000-05:00

The city of Houston is returning to normal following the evacuations in anticipation of a major hit from Hurricane Rita. Houston Mayor Bill White and his Team were faced with numerous challenges in that an evacuation of this caliber has never before been attempted in the city's history. Was it smooth? Not quite. Were we prepared with supplies such as food and gasoline? No. But when the storm hit, those in the areas of highest impact were in a safer location. Mayor White is to be commended for his clear communications in getting the right info out to the media. The plans to bring Houstonians back seems to be working well and gasoline is flowing to pumps in the city. Please keep those in the Texas-Louisiana border in your thoughts as they prepare to rebuild.

Have you heard about PRBlogs.org?

2005-09-19T19:27:00.000-05:00

Thanks to an article by Keith O'Brien in PR Week, I learned about www.prblogs.org, a service created by PR pofessor Robert French at Auburn University.

Professor French offers free blog hosting to public relations instructors, students and working professionals. I encourage everyone to check it out and start a blog, if you have the time and interest! While blogging is not for everyone, if you're committed to keeping it current, your blog can serve as a great resource to your colleagues, and even as professor French points out, to prospective employers.

Just today I heard from Janna Ball, who is interning with www.EntryLevelPR.com. She sent this link to her fabulous blog, where this week she is focusing on preparing your portfolio. Read all about it here: http://entrylevelpr.blogspot.com/

Best of luck, Janna, and congrats on entering the blogosphere!

Team David Remembers PRSA Houston Member David Monroe at National Kidney Foundation Walk on Sunday

2005-09-19T10:26:00.000-05:00

More than 40 walkers turned out on Sunday to walk in remembrance of PRSA Houston Member David Monroe, a veteran of the Houston public relations community, who passed away on Sept. 26, 2004 from an aneurysm.

David was born with a kidney defect, and after several surgeries as a newborn, led a full and healthy life. David had a kidney transplant in his early 20s.

In Houston, David worked at de La Garza Public Relations and then went in-house to work first for Himalaya, and then for Cornell Companies. During this time he also was active in PRSA Houston, and volunteered his PR services to the Southeast Texas chapter of the National Kidney Foundation.

Prior to the Walk, Elly Trickett, David's fiancée, and Rhonda Kelly, David's sister, addressed the crowd and spoke of David's commitment to the public relations profession and the National Kidney Foundation. I did not know David personally, but appreciated the opportunity to learn about him from his family and friends and walk in his memory. Please remember David in your thoughts.

Podcasting, RSS -- What does it all mean for public relations professionals?

2005-09-17T15:32:00.000-05:00

Public relations practitioners must stay on top of changing times and changing technologies to best serve their organizations and audiences. Presenters at PRSA Houston's PR Day on Wednesday, Sept. 14, emphasized this need, as well. Appropriately themed "Breaking New Ground: PR Tools for Changing Times," this year's PR Day challenged practitioners to stay ahead of the curve on new technologies and tools and to use them creatively to advance their companies, clients and organizations.

In line with this theme, a podcast of the PR Day luncheon is available online at http://www.prsahouston.org/en/art/?207. PRSA Houston members and friends can download the podcast for future listen on an iPod or similar device, or they can listen to the session on their computer using Windows Media Player or Quick Time, for example.

Podcasting is a form of RSS (that stands for Really Simple Syndication) and is nothing more than making audio content available for download through a Web site. You care because more and more, downloading to iPods, phones and even your desktop is being pushed and sold everywhere we turn!

RSS is nothing more than presenting Web site files in a very basic format so that other sites can easily interact with that data. For example, my blog has an RSS feed - http://publicrelationscareer.blogspot.com/atom.xml - and many of the top news sites offer this as well, such as Time Magazine's Top Stories - http://rss.time.com/web/time/rss/top/index.xml.

What does all this mean? If you install an RSS feed reader, such as Mozilla Firefox's Sage (http://sage.mozdev.org/), you can easily enter in the RSS feeds for all the sites you want to "track," and you can click through them in one place, and if a particular blog post or story catches your attention, simply click through to the site to read it in its entirety.

Public relations practitioners care because they should monitor news sites and other sitees critical to the success of their organizations through RSS feeds. One topic of discussion at PR day was blogs, led by John Wagner of Wagner Communications and my boss, Ed Schipul, of Schipul - The Web Marketing Company. John and Ed teamed up to deliver a compelling discussion on blogging and PR. Members of PRSA Houston can download the session as a podcast at http://www.prsahouston.org/en/art/?205.

Both agreed that it was detrimental to an organization to ignore what bloggers are writing and that PR professionals should be on top of the blogs and what is being said about their organizations. While blogging is not for everyone or for every organization or company, bloggers are here and have a strong voice.

Check back for more on technology, PR and what you can learn to stay on top of an ever-changing industry!

Communities Coming Together to Aid Hurricane Victims and Survivors

2005-09-03T14:01:00.001-05:00

The outpouring of community support for the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina has been amazing, from the housing taking place at Houston's Astrodome and Reliant Center to the efforts in other states to send supplies, donations and volunteers to aid those affected in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Be sure to check with your local Red Cross office or city offices and Web sites for a list of priorities and how you can most contribute.

PRSA National offers advice on its Web site, as well as provides details on the PRSA/Red Cross Program entitled "The Power of Two." The program involves trained public relations professionals who serve as volunteers during local and national disasters. PRSA and the American Red Cross established this program after Sept. 11, 2001, as a way for public relations professionals to use their skills to help in crisis situations. Click here to read more about the PRSA and Red Cross Power of Two program. And click here to see this program in action.

If you have two hours, two days or two weeks of time to give, you are asked to sign up for training at www.prsa.org/features/poweroftwo/register.asp.

No matter how you choose to help, let's not forget that we may depend on others for this very same help in the future.

“Prepare, Prepare, Prepare” – Words of Wisdom from Bernadette Morris, founder and chairman of Sonshine Communications

2005-08-30T17:16:00.000-05:00

Bernadette Morris, founder and chairman of Sonshine Communications and president, owner and founder of Black PR Wire, Inc. called me from her cell phone last Tuesday afternoon while in traffic in Miami to have a conversation about PR, her career experiences and PRSA Houston’s PR Day, where she will serve as luncheon emcee on September 14.

Sonshine Communications is a full service public relations, marketing and advertising agency in Miami with billables in excess of $3.5 million, making it one of the largest Black-owned PR agencies in America. Bernadette also is the owner and founder of Black PR Wire, Inc., a premier news distribution company for Black media in the United States and the Caribbean.

She told me that she got to the office “late” that day because it was 4:45 a.m. when she arrived. She said, “My days usually start very early (I'm in the office between 4:30 - 5 AM), and they end relatively late (usually around 7 PM). I involve my entire family in my work life and that helps keeps somewhat of a balance.”

Bernadette said she has been involved in public relations since her college days and said the “defining moment" that prompted her to her start her own company was when she was presenting campaigns for the college deans to review as if her college's PR department was an agency. At the time, Bernadette was Associate Dean of Public Affairs at a local community college.

“It was such a joy to see the excitement of the client - the deans - as well as the creative team. I knew I could transform that synergy beyond the college setting,” she said.

It was this thought that caused her to never look back.

When asked what advice she would give to today's public relations students, Bernadette said she encourages students to “prepare, prepare, prepare” for their futures.

“I encourage students and professionals alike to really know their market and to be creative as possible. Step over your weaknesses to make them strengths and most importantly, prepare to culturally diversify yourself – learn to personally connect with other cultures.”

She continues, "Diversity is the art of identifying the unique and ever-changing cultures of today's society. A person really must embrace diversity with an open mind and a willing heart to connect with others and commit to change - because in the long run, it will produce a better and more creative you."

Bernadette says above all, she advises public relations professionals at all levels to have FUN.

Bernadette said that she values the idea of mentorship and encourages all public relations practitioners, especially those new to the field, to seek mentors.

“My innermost circle of admirers includes my parents, who are now with the Lord, and great mentors like U.S. Congresswoman Carrie Meek (retired), and Eduardo Padron, president of Miami-Dade College. Both have demonstrated the true essence of perseverance and endurance regardless of the obstacles that may appear to hinder your pathway to success,” said Bernadette.

Bernadette's company's motto is to be your B.E.S.T. - whereby you Bless, Edify, Share and Touch!

Don't miss the opportunity to meet Bernadette in person at PRSA Houston's Media Day on September 14 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown.

PRSA Houston's PR Day Promises to Deliver Top-notch Speakers and Knowledge September 14, 2005

2005-08-11T07:13:00.000-05:00

Even if you don't live in Houston, you won't want to miss PRSA Houston's PR Day on September 14, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown (1200 Louisiana). Full-day, half-day and luncheon registration options are available on the site at http://www.prsahouston.org/en/cms/?1.

This year's theme is "Breaking New Ground: PR Tools for Changing Times." We all know that the landscape of public relations is constantly evolving and this event will teach public relations practitioners of all ages new tools and theories that will break new ground in the PR field.

Featured speakers include:

Kyrie O’Connor, Deputy Managing Editor/Features at The Houston Chronicle

John Wagner, principal of Wagner Communications

John Sturtevant, The Writing Workshop

Luncheon Panel Moderator: Tony Wyllie - Vice President of Communications for the Houston Texans

John E. "Ned" Walker - Ned Walker is senior vice president of Worldwide Corporate Communications for Continental Airlines, Inc.

Also of interest to students and new professionals is the Fundamentals of PR Panel Discussion which takes place at 2:30. View the entire list of speakers and sessions here:

http://www.prsahouston.org/en/cms/?1

And REGISTER TODAY!!

Houston Public Relations Community Invited to Support National Kidney Foundation in Honor of David Monroe

2005-08-04T21:02:00.000-05:00

I'm sharing a special request with the Houston public relations community this evening from Elly Trickett, deputy editor of PR Week, on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation.

Elly is the fiancée of David Monroe, a veteran of the Houston public relations community, who passed away on Sept. 26, 2004 from an aneurysm. He was 31. David was born with a kidney defect, and after several surgeries as a newborn, led a full and healthy life. In his early 20s, he had a kidney transplant.

In Houston, David worked at de La Garza PR, and then went in-house to work first for Himalaya, and then for Cornell Companies. During this time he also was active in PRSA Houston, and volunteered his PR services to the Southeast Texas chapter of the National Kidney Foundation.

Elly, along with David’s sister, Rhonda Kelly, are leading a team of people to walk in the National Kidney Foundation's Southeast Texas chapter walk in Sam Houston Park on Sunday Sept. 18, 2005 in David’s name.

To walk with Rhonda and Elly on Team David, please go to http://www.kidney.org/events/registration/register_walk.cfm?aid=407&&wid=109 and register, and enter “David Monroe” in the team name section. Then e-mail Elly at
Elly.Trickett AT prweek.com to let her know that you will be joining them.

For those who would like to contribute, but are unable to come to the walk, there is a dedicated fundraising website to making donations in David’s name, at http://www.justgiving.com/pfp/davidmonroe.

If you are not in the Houston area, but would like more information about a Walk in your area, click here to view the 2005 Kidney Walk schedule by state.

Thank you for your support.

Are You 'Getting Things Done'? - The book that has changed my life

2005-08-01T21:10:00.000-05:00

I'm dedicating this post to my boss, Ed Schipul of Schipul - The Web Marketing Company, for sharing the book Getting Things Done by David Allen with all of our staff. I read this book a few months ago and am re-reading parts of it. I've applied many of the techniques in the book and my stress level is MUCH lower. (Click here to read more and order the book!)

Allen presents the four D's to getting things done - those are Do it, Delegate it, Defer it or Drop it.

The place where this system has helped me the most is my email inbox! My boss has a rule that our inboxes can not hold more than 30 items at a time - and after reading this book, I freak out if there are ANY items in my inbox! That may sound insane, but here's what you do:

As soon as you receive an email, make a decision. Is it something that you can answer or find an answer in less than two minutes? If so, DO IT.

If it's not something YOU can address, DELEGATE IT to the appropriate person - co-worker, teammate, etc. (but hold THEM accountable to complete the task)

If it's something that is not going to be done today or even this week, DEFER IT to your task list (better known as your "next actions" list.)

And if it's something you know can't be done, or at least not this year, DROP IT - but not completely, if you don't want to. Allen suggests everyone create a "someday-maybe" list for those things we'd like to do in this lifetime - like parasail or swim across the Atlantic.

His point is that if we don't write things down, they circle in our minds (his "open loop" concept) and just cause more clutter and stress.

So, make your lists and each time you get a project - identify the NEXT ACTION associated with that project - for example, "get oil changed" is not a good list item if first you must call the garage and make an appointment or look up the address for the closest oil change location. So, the item on your list is actually "look up number for oil change location."

There's so much more - and email is just one example - so I encourage everyone to read this book and put it into action and Get Things Done!

More on Accreditation - APR Designation is Linked to Higher Salaries for PR Professionals

2005-07-28T23:02:00.000-05:00

This just in...

Results from the 2005 PRWeek/Korn Ferry Salary Survey reveal that Accredited public relations professionals earn salaries that are 20 percent higher than their non-Accredited colleagues. On average, these Accredited public relations professionals earn $102,031 compared to $85,272 for non-Accredited practitioners.

Is Accreditation in your future? It should be!

For more information, visit http://www.praccreditation.org/ and in Houston, http://www.prsahouston.org/activities/accreditation.asp.

The survey was conducted by PRWeek and Millward Brown and was open to all PRWeek readers on www.prweek.com. From Jan. 18-31, 2005, a total of 1,864 readers completed the survey. Results were not weighted and have a +/- 2.3 percent margin of error.

Twentity.com is Having a Birthday - Creativity Contest Entries Due July 29

2005-07-27T07:46:00.000-05:00

I'd like to introduce you to ChaChanna Simpson, publisher of Twentity.com.

Twentity.com is a bi-weekly e-zine that addresses the important questions and concerns of twentysomethings (and "twentity" is such a cool word, too!) The site offers real guidance, advice and solutions on how to navigate through the "twenty-somethings" and provides fun interviews with experts. In spring 2001, ChaChanna launched SassyKibba Communications, a freelance copywriting business specializing in direct mail. Since then, her work has been published by local newspapers, Kuji Magazine, MBI, Inc, American Red Cross, Lifestyles Media, Inc. and Direct Media, Inc.

The idea for Twentity.com came to ChaChanna when she walked into her own apartment for the first time and was hit with the realization that she was the one who was supposed to get the light and cable turned on! And so on... A graduate of The College of New Rochelle, ChaChanna is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, Entrepreneurial Women's Network, Give 'N Take Network and Hal Jackson's Talented Teens International Jamaica.

ChaChanna's contest is asking for your creative writing - she asks that you write two paragraphs -- The beginning of the first paragraph must be "Last night I called you and didn't get an answer so I..." And the last paragraph must end with "...driving down the road looking for my cat."

You have until July 29th to send in your submissions to ChaChanna at chachanna@twentity.com. You can write about anything you want - ChaChanna asks that it be entertaining. The most entertaining and creative entry will win a blockbuster movie card.

As a PR professional, I constantly am challenged to be more creative, especially in my writing and strategic thinking! More later!

Networking in the "Big D" - Dallas was home to 5th annual eWomenNetwork International Conference

2005-07-18T20:20:00.000-05:00

Hello and I apologize for my silence this past week. I am just back from Dallas having attended the 5th Annual eWomenNetwork International Conference and Business Expo. I was honored to be among nineteen young women who were selected as recipients of the Inagural International Femtor(TM) Emerging Leader Award. This award recognizes women in their twenties who are in the process of launching their careers, yet despite their youth, have developed a track record of leadership, accomplishment and service to others. I especially would like to thank Terri Craig, managing director of the Houston eWomenNetwork chapter, as well as all the members who made my trip to Dallas and the Femtor(TM) scholarship possible. I also would like to thank Sandra Yancey, woman extraordinaire and founder of eWomenNetwork for her dedication and commitment to creating a network that is "other-focused" and creates a world of abundance for everyone, both women and men.

Since the public relations profession relies on networking, I found the conference and the speakers to be valuable assets in helping me continue down the path in my public relations career. I also learned to appreciate all the mentors and femtors in my life who have helped me learn about the profession who have helped me learn about public relations and where I fit in.

All the speakers at the conference reiterated the message of not giving up and working toward your goals and dreams, no matter how far away they may seem. I think for many of us just starting out in our careers, even if not in public relations, that reassurance is helpful in hearing the stories of accomplished men and women. Nely Galan, CEO of GALAN Entertainment, Fox Network Creator and Executive Producer of THE SWAN, delivered Thursday night's keynote address. Nely's story is so inspiring in the fact that she didn't let obstacles slow her down. Nely's career spans from launching television channels such as ESPN in Latin America to serving as president of Telemundo.

At age 22, Galán became the youngest television station manager in the United States.

Please check back in the days ahead for more "lessons learned" from this wonderful event and be sure to post your comments about your networking tips and even recognize your mentors and femtors here!

An Interview with NASA/Johnson Space Center Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Carpenter

2005-07-08T06:59:00.000-05:00

I am excited to share with you my recent interview with Dan Carpenter, NASA/Johnson Space Center Deputy Chief of Staff. Dan has held several public affairs positions in the Marine Corps including recruiting duty, several operational public affairs positions and also served as Director of Public Affairs in Okinawa, Japan from 1996-98 during a very intense timeframe for our forces in Okinawa due to host nation sensitivities.

Read on to learn more about Dan's work with NASA, his experiences with the Columbia tragedy and his thoughts as NASA returns to flight this month. Dan reminds our readers that the opinions expressed in this are entirely his own and in no way reflect the views of NASA or the federal government.

Kelly: Dan, please tell our readers a bit about your background - where you attended college, what you studied and what you enjoyed the most.

Dan: I studied Broadcast Journalism at the University of Mississippi, graduating cum laude in 1979 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Marine Corps the same day. I served 20 years in the Corps, traveling across the country to Europe, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Korea, SW Asia/Persian Gulf and I once spent the night at Wake Island, where the sun rises on US territory. I am a life-long learner. I always tried to learn new techniques and how others did things. I attended a one-semester grad course at Oklahoma and received two masters degrees (one in MS IT Management and one in public administration). Even if you can't get a masters, always do things that stretch you, that make you grow, because if you are not growing, then you are dying on the vine.

From college, the journalism classes that stayed with me the longest were the writing classes and classes that made me think or innovate. My favorite class as an undergrad was PoliSci (International Relations); in grad school it was The American Presidency--both because they made me think. The ability to think on your feet and/or to write on deadline (whether for a paper or a boss) is priceless. Writing is the one skill I want my folks to have; I can teach them most anything else. I believe it is imperative to have a personal writing style that you can depend on in crunch time.

Kelly: What advice do you offer to students and new professionals who are pursuing a career in public relations and are interested in public affairs?

Dan: Learn about the American system--political, economic, social, etc. If I had it to do over again, I would major in political science or history and learn the journalism stuff in grad school. If you are intent on learning PR or journalism, then get a minor in PoliSci or History--or at least take enough classes to understand what makes this country so great when you compare it to others. No nation has made a democracy work for itself--and spread it to so many other places--as the United States. If you can't get a paid internship, then volunteer for a nonprofit.

This field has so many opportunities to gain experience from what I have seen in my five years in Houston, it is amazing. So many "kids" have so much experience at graduation that if you can't get a paid gig, volunteer for a nonprofit and do their Web site or newsletter. Write a communications plan for them. Do something. You will feel good about it, and you have experience and material for your portfolio.

Public relations and public affairs are very similar--they use many of the same tools and techniques. If you can write for a PR or ad agency, you can work in government or nonprofit public affairs. In my honest opinion, public affairs is more about relationships and stakeholders with a little customer service sprinkled in (I myself am big on CSR). I have never worked in a PR agency, but my understanding after talking to many people (and hiring several PR agency pros) is that customer service is numero uno and you do things a bit more creative--like go boldly where government folks don't.

Kelly: From a communications standpoint, what challenges exist within the government when creating messages for your many audiences?

Dan: I briefly touched on it above, we have many, many stakeholders and a few customers. In my own personal view, I tend to look at internal folks as customers and external constituencies as stakeholders. The PUBLIC (citizens, museums, students, etc.), the President and our local HR shop, programs, and leaders are customers. Community leaders, congressionals, Office of Management and Budget, science organizations and associations, etc., are all stakeholders. Stakeholders are as important as customers oftentimes since they can greatly influence how we are perceived by the public--and actually do more of that than our customers.

Whenyou have that many audiences, you have a great challenge on your hands to develop messages that resonate with that many publics. On the other hand, it gives you a great opportunity to speak to a great portion of the population and in this day of Webcasting and satellite TV, you can share a your story with the public directly.

Kelly: Dan, can you describe what it was like to handle the tragedy surrounding the loss of Columbia?

Dan: Wow. I have worked several crises during my military career but thankfully nothing like the Columbia. Two and a half years later, it still shapes our Agency and our people...it will be a life defining moment for so many people. That part of it can never be adequately described.

The public affairs aspects are a bit more attainable. Huge spike in attention. We had no media in our newsroom as Columbia flew towards the Cape (wanna guess how many will be there next flight?). Less than 24 hours later we had in excess of 1,500 media onsite at Johnson Space Center. I spent my public affairs life always preparing for my organization's worst disaster and hoped it never came.

We were prepared at Johnson Space Center and were greatly saddened that we had to put those preparations to use. Some day I will write a case study on it but for now just take my word that you need to be able to write, move and talk with unending pressure on you when the situation calls for it. It was simply the most pressure I have been under in my professional career--and it was there from February 1st through the end of August while the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) was working its report.

Kelly: Given the recent report on shuttle safety and the impending launch of Discovery as early as July 13, how are you preparing as an agency?

Dan: You know what, our Agency has had one focus since the CAIB released its report August 26th, 2003 and that has been to return the Space Shuttle to safe flight. We have diligently worked all of the CAIB Report issues, including the three that were not completed but will continue to be worked. While we continue to work those, we have incorporated their open status into our risk assessment.

Next week, we approach an opportunity to launch, to test our preparations and test some additional measures up on orbit. Tens of thousands of people have dedicated large portions of their lives for more than two years to prepare for that opportunity and we are confident that as an Agency and as individuals that we have done as much as possible we are ready to fly--given what we understand about space flight and the constraints that we live within.

Make no mistake, humans leaving the bonds of earth and returning is risky business. We have people on the ground and as astronauts in Discovery's crew who believe it is worth the risk. They are neither daredevils nor irrational people. They are mothers and fathers who have dedicated much of their adult life to learning their profession-- human space flight. They believe that pushing the boundaries of space flight is worth the risk; they believe that while ships are safe in port, they were made to sail--and into harms way if that is necessary. That we have moons and planets to explore with humans. That while robots are great for trailblazing and reporting back on the environment, humans have an onboard computer and mobility that far outstrips any robot that we can send to far off places. And more than that, we can reason and think in real time.

Next week, if the weather holds, you will see humans thinking and acting as the shuttle Discovery visits the crew of the International Space Station for the first time in over two years.

Dan invites you to click here to learn more about the crew of both Discovery and the International Space Station.

ONE Campaign in Full Swing as G8 Approaches

2005-07-04T12:57:00.000-05:00

Today's post will be short, as many of us are off today celebrating our Independence Day and remembering those who made America the land of the free. Other countries are not as fortunate as the United States. In preparing for the upcoming G8 summit, leaders and organizers of the ONE Campaign are in high gear.

The ONE Campaign is a high-profile, celebrity-driven push to eradicate poverty and AIDS around the world, most immediately in Africa. However, involvement is not limited to celebrities only. Visit the ONE Campaign Web site to see how you can become involved. Web site visitors are encouraged to ask President Bush for his support at the upcoming G8 meeting for an unprecedented debt-aid-trade deal for the people in the poorest countries.

Live 8 concerts were held yesterday to increase pressure on G8 leaders. I've been in contact with Seth Wispelwey, organizing ONE fellow for the campaign in Texas and Oklahoma, and will keep you posted on opportunities to become involved in Houston. I appreciate him sending me a ONE white wristband to wear in support of the Campaign.

Be sure to check out the ONE Campaign Blog, too.

Becoming Accredited in Public Relations (APR)

2005-06-29T08:09:00.000-05:00

The designation “Accredited in Public Relations (APR)” signifies a high level of professional experience and competence among public relations practitioners. Becoming accredited is definitely something to put on your task lists as newcomers to the field.

The APR exam was designed for professionals with at least five years of paid experience in the full-time practice or in the teaching of public relations and who have earned a bachelor's degree in a communication-specific field or have equivalent work experience.

Earning the APR mark of distinction signifies that a public relations professional is committed to the profession and to its ethical practice.

PRSA Houston APR chairs Amy Kaiser and Aaron Woods, APR, are proud to present Scott Scheffler, APR, external communications specialist with Marathon Oil, and Dennis Winkler, APR, president of Winkler Public Relations, as Accredited Professionals following their successful completion of the APR examination process.

The Houston Chapter will schedule its next study course in the Fall, but encourages those who are interested to begin preparing now! You may visit http://www.praccreditation.org for complete information about preparation tools, facts, and procedures for taking the Accreditation exam.

Amyoffers this advice, too: "Although a five-year experience is recommended to take the exam, it is not required. But, please keep in mind that the exam is DESIGNED for a seasoned professional, and it's virtually impossible to pass the exam on book knowledge alone -- the exam will ask questions that do not appear in ANY of the study materials!"

Thanks, Amy and Aaron!

Junior Blogging Moving Up the Ranks

2005-06-27T21:10:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to Webpronews.com Contributing Author Jeremy Pepper for his article on Friday highlighting "junior bloggers." I appreciate Jeremy's mention of my blog, and also those of five other colleagues across the country.

I was a bit unsure about my credibility upon joining the blogosphere, wondering, "what will I have to say and who will listen?" I quickly realized that in the past three years, I've absorbed a LOT of information and knowledge that helped me and hopefully, in turn, I could help others who are just beginning a career in public relations.

I've certainly experienced tremendous growing pains in just the three shorts years I've spent in public relations, yet I look forward to many more!

Having resources like other "junior" bloggers to share ideas with is amazing. Keep the great ideas coming!

PRSA Houston University Relations Committee Supports Efforts to Bring PR Club to Texas Southern University

2005-06-23T08:22:00.000-05:00

Joining the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) while I was completing my degree at the University of Houston was one of the best investments I made as a student. I became active in the organization first as the PR Director and then later served a year as president. In addition to learning valuable leadership skills and understanding the dynamics of team work, I was able to network with professionals already in the field while I was still a student. Our leadership team attended PRSA Houston Board meetings and luncheons, as well as hosted a Regional Activity through PRSSA where we invited speakers from the industry to address attendees.

I'm telling you all this because I am working through PRSA Houston's University Relations Committee to help bring a PRSSA Chapter to Texas Southern University (TSU). While the TSU department of communications works to implement the three courses that are not in the curriculum to make the chapter official, PRSA Houston is working with TSU students to begin a PR Club on campus so students can begin to learn about the profession, as well as developing leadership skills.

PRSA Houston is modeling the efforts of PRSA Southern Arizona, whose efforts to establish a PR Club at the University of Arizona have been quite successful. I'll highlight those efforts in an upcoming post.

Please post your comments and ideas for TSU here!

On Message with John Wagner - Wagner Communications

2005-06-16T08:01:00.000-05:00

Today I am higlighting a very knowledgeable public relations practitioner, John Wagner. I met John in 2002 after graduating from the University of Houston, and I believe he is someone we all can learn from as we strive to be at the top in our field. In our interview below, John speaks about PR agency experience and how you know if it's right for you, as well as gives his thoughts on public relations, the profession and how technology affects our profession.

As principal of Wagner Communications, John helps companies of all sizes communicate more effectively with key audiences. Prior to founding his own firm, Wagner was senior vice president and general manager of the PR group at Bates Southwest Advertising & Public Relations, where he managed all day-to-day client activities for one of Houston’s largest communications firms.

While at Bates Southwest, he also developed and led the agency’s media training course, and personally taught more than 50 executives how to communicate more effectively with various audiences. He is also an experienced corporate writer and editor, and has won more than 30 major awards for his work, including two prestigious Gold Quills from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

John has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M University. He is an active member of the PTA at Settlers Way Elementary in Sugar Land, and often volunteers at the school, most recently tutoring second-graders in reading.

And now...My interview with John:

Kelly: John, given your extensive background in public relations and communications, what aspect of your career have you enjoyed the most so far, and why?

John: The best part of my career has been the people I’ve worked with, without a doubt. I’ve had the good fortune of working with some great folks through the years, and I’ve been part of some really cool teams that managed to do good work while having fun. Most of my friends today are former coworkers. Not sure what that says about me … maybe I should get out more. :)

The other aspect of my career that I’ve enjoyed is the opportunity to learn about a lot of different businesses and industries. I’m a naturally curious person and I love the challenge of learning new things. When you work for an agency, you’re always being challenged. One day you’re working on a mobile phone account, the next day you’re learning everything there is to know about quartz countertops, and the next you’re trying to understand the intricacies of liquefied natural gas. And on it goes. If you don’t like that kind of variety, agency work isn’t for you.

Today, as principal of Wagner Communications, I have the added benefit of being my own boss, and being in control of my own future. I have a lot more freedom and flexibility in terms of the work I do, the clients I have, the way I operate, etc. It’s great. I feel very fortunate.

Kelly: Because you focus on messaging, where do you think companies, both small and large, go wrong in their messaging and communications with internal and external publics?

John: It’s a two-part gap, really – content and consistency.

The first issue is that corporate messaging is often too sanitized to be useful to people. Executives and even many PR people are comfortable with corporate-speak, but it really inhibits true communication. It’s not real, and the public is savvy enough today to recognize it – even as many corporate people continue to try and hide behind jargon and fancy phrasing.

Companies want to control the message, but that has never been possible and it’s becoming even more of a pipe dream today. The reality is that the conversation belongs to the consumer, and the businesses that come to understand that fact will be successful. Those that don’t will struggle. I firmly believe that.

The other issue is that companies don’t communicate enough. Businesses of all sizes should constantly be looking for ways to reach out and engage the people who are important to them, whether it’s employees, customers, prospects, the community -- really, anyone who is interested in the products, services or operations of the company. It’s not about issuing news releases … it’s about finding ways to create meaningful conversations between people. And that involves listening, too.

I always tell clients that communications is a process, not a one-time effort. It takes time and energy. And you can’t stop.

Kelly: can you share with us your thoughts on the PR practitioner being placed in the role as the “conscience” of an organization?

John: I think it makes perfect sense. The PR professional has the proper skill set and understanding of the brand, the marketplace, the audiences … without the competing pressures that other departments face to make sales quotas or keep expenses low or what have you. It’s a tough role to play, there’s no doubt. I think we’d all like to believe that we could stand up to a strong-willed executive and challenge improper behavior or change the company’s direction. The reality is that the communicator’s power only goes so far.

That’s why the best combination is a CEO who understands the importance of PR and a strong PR pro to advise him or her. The communicator can be the conscience to influence the CEO, and the chief executive has the authority and power to change policy. Without that kind of leadership, the role of the PR group as change agent or conscience is diminished. I think you saw that play out in many of the recent corporate scandals.

I also believe that we are entering a time and place where transparency is going to play much larger role in the public’s perception of companies – and in their choices of who they do business with. Consumers are increasingly interested in whether companies are “doing the right thing” and operating appropriately. And smart businesses are responding by being more open. As PR pros, we need to encourage and nurture that movement toward transparency. It’s as simple as using plain language in news releases and as complex as investing in corporate citizenship reporting.

Kelly: John, for those who want to get a seat at the management table, what advice do you offer?

John: Well, I worked for a wise and capable CEO once who told me that he never worried about his next job … wherever he was, he put all his efforts into doing the best job he could. As a result, he was promoted through the ranks and eventually made it to the top spot.

That’s pretty good advice for some folks, I guess. But I also think that it helps young people to visualize the future and have a long-term objective to work toward. So my advice would be first, master your craft – specifically, writing and communicating – because without those skills you won’t be perceived as a top performer.

Then, I believe it’s important to become a businessperson in addition to being a PR pro. That is, you must learn how businesses make money, how executives think and plan and react, how markets work, what consumers want and need, and so on. You need to read – a lot. Wall Street Journal. Business Week. Blogs like On Message from Wagner Communications. :)

I also believe you have to be a sponge. Learn to observe and mimic the people you respect, and to recognize the warning signs of people who don’t progress. Learn everything you can about every aspect of your business. Ask questions. Listen more than you talk.

Finally, you have to earn respect. In the agency business, it’s easy to become a backstabber or complainer. It’s the nature of the business in some ways. Avoid that at all costs. Learn to be a team player. Do what you say you’ll do. Be trustworthy.

When you combine your skills with your knowledge of business and the respect you’ve earned, you’ll suddenly find you’re a leader. And people are looking to you for advice, for help, for answers, for counsel. You’ll have earned your seat at the table.

Kelly: How do you believe technology has affected the PR and communications industry and are practitioners keeping up, in your opinion?

John: I think the biggest change is how technology is affecting the audiences we are trying to reach, to be honest. The world is a different place than it was 10 years ago, that’s for sure. And it will be even more different in another 10 years. People don’t need the Houston Chronicle … they can read the New York Times online. They don’t need local radio … they can listen to their iPods. They don’t watch TV news. They care more about what their friends are saying than what some PR person or politician is trying to sell them. They don’t want to be marketed to … they want to discover products and services on their own.

There’s no such thing as mass media, that’s for sure. Everything and everyone is a niche. It’s not enough today to send out a news release or create a 30-second ad. In fact, in many cases, those are the least effective ways of communicating today.

And really, I don’t think the communications industry is aware of the massive changes that have occurred, to be honest. They just don’t get it yet. It’s still business as usual at many agencies, for example.

It’s not just about new tools that have been created. It’s about the very nature of what “corporate communications” means. Companies on the leading edge – and there aren’t many – are doing things radically different than the rest of the world. The communication comes from within the organization – employees talking, via blogs or podcasts or what have you – to the world, putting a human face on the company. The CEO answers his own e-mail. The company involves consumers in every aspect of its business, from design to marketing.

It’s people-to-people communication versus the old, top-down, corporate-control style. In that environment, PR functions behind the scenes, facilitating the communication but not trying to control or drive it.

Here’s another example. We’re seeing people create rogue ads for products they are passionate about. They have the technology to create and distribute media around the world, quickly and inexpensively. Who controls that? Who’s in charge? The consumer is.

The same goes for blogs. You wouldn’t believe the number of hits my blog gets from people who are searching for information on companies … search engines drive them to my site because I’ve written about the companies they are researching. I’m just a small-time blogger but I can influence a lot of people with what I write. Multiply that by 10 million, 12 million blogs and what do you have?

The consumer is in charge. And most PR people have no clue because they are spending eight hours a day or more trying to get a hit on the 6 p.m. news. I’m not trying to be critical, just being honest about what I see.

The good news is that PR pros are quick studies, and they can – and will – catch up in a heartbeat. So I’m very positive about the future of our profession. I think our work will be radically different in 10 years, but I believe the changes are for the best. We’re moving from an era of obfuscation and control to one of transparency and real conversations. That’s a very good thing.

And there we have it - wise words from a wise practitioner. Be sure to read John's blog daily!

Diversity and the Public Relations Profession

2005-06-14T00:36:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading a June 10, 2005 article on DiversityInc.com by T.J. DeGoat entitled, “The PR Industry’s Diversity Problem.” The article discusses the results of the 2004-05 survey of multicultural PR practitioners in the United States. The survey was co-authored by Lynn Appelbaum, APR, Associate Professor, Chair, Department of Media and Communication Arts, The City College of New York, and Rochelle Ford, Ph.D., APR, Assistant Professor, Advertising and PR Sequence Coordinator, Howard University. The survey was underwritten by RF Binder Partners.

While the article is copyrighted (and most online content is subscriber-protected), I will share with you a summary and invite your comments. But, first, a few thoughts…

Diversity is not an issue reserved just for mid and/or senior level public relations practitioners or for the public relations industry exclusively. Diversity touches all aspects of our lives and is not limited to the obvious factor of ethnicity alone. We also are diverse in our levels of experience in the industry, our ages, our gender, our geographical locations, the type of public relations we practice, our ideas, thoughts and approaches and the list goes on.

For those new to the public relations profession or those considering a career in public relations, we need to be aware of our diversity challenges and seek to meet them with open minds and a sharing of thoughts and ideas. I am three years into my career and just last month took on the role as chair of PRSA Houston’s Diversity Committee and am honored to work with a diverse group of professionals representing all levels of experience, gender, industry and so forth.

PRSA National has a strong diversity initiative and I believe that PRSA Houston, being located in as diverse a city as Houston, should address diversity and work to incorporate diversity initiatives into all facets of the chapter. Many students can address this within their own PRSSA chapters, as well.

Let’s acknowledge diversity and embrace the ideas and thoughts of our colleagues and those we support within our profession, but let’s not be diverse for diversity’s sake. What I mean is let’s not set a quota to attract XYZ number of Hispanic members, for example, and say, “OK, we’re diverse – mission accomplished. Next.”

While one can’t argue with numbers, we must look beyond and address what we do as a chapter or an organization or a business that will attract a more diverse audience. Are we asking those key audiences what they think of us? Do they know we are here?

The DiversityInc.com article reports that the survey questioned 132 black, Latino and Asian-American professionals and was conducted online in October 2004 and January 2005. The article reports a 10 percent response rate.

The article reports that the PR industry is “overwhelmingly white and exclusive,” citing “discrimination, lack of mentoring and little interest in diversity among industry executives” as a few problems uncovered in the survey.

Nearly 82 percent of the participants were women, which is representative of the industry's makeup, according to Appelbaum. Three-quarters of respondents were black, about 23 percent were Latino and about 1 percent were Asian American.

Also last week, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that Hispanics accounted for about half the U.S. population growth from 2003 to 2004 and the U.S. Hispanic population reached 41.3 million as of July 1, 2004, according to national estimates from the Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau also estimates the number of Asians in the United States at 14 million, up 3.4 percent. Following Asians in terms of growth from 2003 to 2004 were native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders; American Indians and Alaska natives; and whites.

Back to the DiversityInc.com article...About half of respondents reported being treated unfairly in the workplace and 40 percent said they had experienced overt discrimination. The most common problem (reported by 62 percent of respondents) was the perception that people of color have to be more qualified for positions than their white counterparts. Additionally, 60 percent of those surveyed said practitioners of color are put on slow-moving career tracks.

About the results, Appelbaum is quoted as saying, "This is a wake-up call for the PR industry to take significant steps to address diversity. While we have begun to talk about how to diversify our work force, industry professionals and HR staffs must take action if we are going to effect meaningful change."

Let the action begin.

Public Relations Blogs of Note

2005-06-13T08:59:00.000-05:00

I'd like to take a quick moment to mention two blogs I believe are noteworthy for those beginning a career in public relations.

John Wagner of Wagner Communications posts daily to his blog - On Message From Wagner Communications.

Prior to founding his own firm, Wagner was senior vice president and general manager of the PR group at Bates Southwest Advertising & Public Relations, where he managed all day-to-day client activities for one of Houston’s largest communications firms. While at Bates Southwest, he also developed and led the agency’s media training course, and personally taught more than 50 executives how to communicate more effectively with various audiences.

As principal of Wagner Communications, John helps companies of all sizes communicate more effectively with their key audiences. His primary focus is on developing creative editorial work such as newsletters, marketing collateral, Web sites, news releases, speeches, video scripts and more.

Check back soon for an interview with John!

John pointed out the nice links from Tom Murphy's PR Opinion Blog to both mine and John's blog. Thanks to Tom for helping spread the word about PR Blogs!

Resumes 101 - The Basics

2005-06-09T08:26:00.000-05:00

Today's tips for job hunting are focused on your résumé itself. Your résumé may be your first introduction to a potential employer, but you want to strive to network as much as possible and ensure potential employers have a face to put with the résumé.

First, consider the contact information you are providing on your résumé.

Do you provide a professional email address, i.e. not a “cutesy” one like sweetheart4u@anydomain.com? Gain the respect of potential employers and always always use your first and last name in your email address. They also are more likely to remember you that way, too!

Make sure that if you provide a cell phone number that the voice message is courteous and professional. Opt to not have music playing in the background. If you have roommates that may answer the phone, be sure they know you may be getting calls for a job interview.

When considering what skills to list, only list those software applications you can operate if given the keyboard during an interview. Same with languages - only list those in which you are fluent.

When listing internship experiences, try to include as many results as possible, such as my work on ABC campaign increased participation by XYZ percent.

And before listing your references, ask their permission and give your contacts the heads-up that they may receive a call because you are applying for a job at XYZ company.

Please post your résumé questions or comments here to share with others!

Happy Job Hunting!

A Conversation with Peter Roussel, former Deputy Press Secretary to President Ronald Reagan and Public Relations Consultant

2005-06-06T23:20:00.000-05:00

Tonight, I am honored to share with you public relations and political career advice from Peter Roussel, former Deputy Press Secretary to President Ronald Reagan. Peter has more than 35 years of experience in business, government, politics and media.

Peter Roussel, former Deputy Press Secretary to President Ronald Reagan and Public Relations Consultant; author of Ruffled Flourishes

From 1981-1987 he served in the White House as Deputy Press Secretary and Special Assistant to President Reagan, where his very first assignment was to handle media relations for the landmark historic appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor as Justice to the Supreme Court. From 1974-1976, he served in the White House as Staff Assistant under President Ford and as assistant to then chiefs of staff Donald Rumsfeld and Richard Cheney. From 1969-1974 he was press secretary to President George H. W. Bush when Mr. Bush served as U.S. Congressman, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Chairman of the Republican National Committee. From 1992-2003 he was a managing partner of Neumann Roussel Public Relations.

Mr. Roussel is a 1965 graduate of the University of Houston, where he was honored in 1983 as a Distinguished Alumnus. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post and numerous other publications. He is the author of the recently published novel, Ruffled Flourishes, acclaimed by national media, and which draws on his experiences as a press spokesman at the White House.

And now, Peter Roussel:

Kelly: Peter, Who or what influenced your decision to become involved in public relations, and later, politics?

Peter: Being the son of a drama, music and film critic (my father served in that capacity for The Houston Post, 1933-66) I early on became aware of the impact of public relations. In those days, however, those practicing the profession were often referred to as "press agents." I was intrigued by the way my father often interfaced with these individuals, many of whom represented film companies, theatres or other arts enterprises. This interest ultimately led to my first job out of college in 1966 as an intern at an advertising agency. That was a fateful intersection in life for me because that agency, in addition to business clients, also occasionally created the advertising for political campaigns. The work there ultimately led to my meeting a young congressman from Houston named George Bush which, in turn, led me to a fascinating career in Washington,. D.C., ultimately including two tours of duty in the White House.

Kelly: What lessons did you learn early in your public relations career that you can share with us?

Peter: The lessons I learned early in my PR career are the ones that have been the anchors of my entire career: work hard, always be thinking creatively (we are, after all, in the idea business), harbor a passion for writing, and above all, maintain a sense of humor.

Kelly: And what advice do you have for new professionals beginning a career in public relations?

Peter: These same criteria always have worked for me -- working hard, thinking creatively, enjoying writing and maintaining a sense of humor. I think they can do the same for anyone else seeking to pursue this profession.

Kelly: What is your most memorable moment serving under former President Ronald Reagan?

Peter: During my service as a special assistant and deputy press secretary to President Reagan (1981-87) I was fortunate to be present at, and eyewitness to, many historic and memorable moments. Certainly one that stands at the forefront is the opportunity that was placed in my lap my very first day in the Reagan White House--to go to Phoenix, Arizona and handle media relations for the historic appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor to the United States Supreme Court.

Kelly: Where did you get the idea for the name of your book, Ruffled Flourishes, acclaimed by national media, in which you draw on your experiences as a press spokesman at the White House?

Peter: The title for my novel, "Ruffled Flourishes," is a variation on "Ruffles and Flourishes." The latter is one of the two pieces of music that is played upon the entrance of the President of the United States at ceremonial events. The second piece of music played is "Hail to the Chief." My book title is a metaphor for the often hectic aura that in my experience I found often surrounded the press-presidency relationship.

Peter continues his book tour and speaks about his book and White House experiences often, and with humor.

An Interview With Christine Hall, Houston Business Journal

2005-06-03T21:31:00.000-05:00

This evening's post features an interview with Christine Hall, Focus section and media and marketing industry reporter for the Houston Business Journal. She joined the HBJ three years ago from Lexington, Kentucky. Prior to that, she was a graduate student at The Ohio State University where she worked for Business First of Columbus, an affiliate paper.

Christine Hall, Focus section and media and marketing industry reporter for the Houston Business Journal.

Kelly: Christine, where did you attend college and what did you major in?

Christine: I went to Murray State University in Murray Ky. and The Ohio State University for graduate work. I majored in print journalism at both and have a Spanish minor.

Kelly: What are your responsibilities at the Houston Business Journal?

Christine: Most of my time is spent as the reporter for the Focus sections where I write trend stories. The other half is spent on the news side covering the media and marketing industries.

Kelly: What is a typical day for you like at the HBJ?

Christine: When is it ever a typical at a newspaper? :) Usually I come in, check e-mail, return phone calls, get story ideas and write stories. Somewhere in there I have lunch.

Kelly: What is the one thing (or more!) you ask of PR professionals when they pitch you a story idea?

Christine: Make sure the story is relevant to the publication and find an angle that will make it appealing for the reporter to want to write it and for the reader to want to read it. Just because you are pitching a story on a business doesn't mean it is automatically news. Also, know what the publication does. For example, if you know the paper doesn't cover events, don't call up and ask if they are going to send a reporter out to cover one.

Kelly: What can PR professionals do better to make your job easier?

Christine: A piggy-back to question 4, know your client, what aspects of their business that is news, and don't be afraid to tell them when you think a story won't fly in a certain publication. They might take is easier from you up front than after you called up the media who told you it wasn't a story.

Kelly: So, what are you reading right now?

Christine: At the moment I am in the middle of reading Bob Woodward's article in the New York Post on "Deep Throat." For fun, a very non-journalism book - Sue Grafton's "F is for Fugitive."

Lacey Barlen Selected as First Recipient of the Public Relations Foundation of Houston Scholarship Through PRSA Houston

2005-06-01T20:08:00.000-05:00

Tonight I'd like to spotlight Lacey Barlen, a 2005 graduate of Texas A&M University, who was selected as the first recipient of the Public Relations Foundation of Houston Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to further her studies in communication or public relations.

Lacey Barlen, recipient of the Public Relations Foundation of Houston Scholarship - PRSA Houston

At Texas A&M, Lacey received a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. Her GPA is an impressive 3.78. Lacey also has been accepted to the Master of Human Resource Management program at Texas A&M.

She has served as President of the Texas A&M PRSSA Chapter since September 2004.

And now, a conversation with Lacey:

Kelly: Lacey, Congratulations on being named the first recipient of the PRFH Scholarship through PRSA Houston! Are you excited?

Lacey: I am extremely honored to be the recipient of the first PRFH Scholarship and I know that it will help me to achieve my dreams. The funds will allow me to expand my knowledge of public relations which will greatly benefit my career. I hope that one day I will be able to support students in the same way that they have helped me.

Kelly: Share with us why you chose to pursue a career in public relations.

Lacey: I chose to pursue a career in public relations because I want to wake up every day knowing that I am doing something that I love. I can guarantee “those mornings” will arise when I would rather listen to my blaring alarm clock than actually get out of bed and turn it off, but I hope that following my passion will minimize those occasions. I realized that PR and I were meant for each other the first day of Mrs. Mitchell’s principles class [at Texas A&M University]. She said that PR is impossible to define, but when she described the many facets of the field, she created a dream job where I could make money doing things that incorporate my strengths with the things that I love.

Kelly: How do you define public relations?

Lacey: Public relations is a fast-paced field that requires the ability to do many different tasks to attain a favorable public opinion of an organization or product.

Kelly: I’m sure you’ve learned many valuable things about yourself during your time as a student. Anything in particular you would like to share with our readers?

Lacey: Although I’ve asked myself why I decided to take fifteen hours, join the honor society, chair a management group project, and be the president of PRSSA in one semester; I would have it no other way. I have always taken on as much as I could handle and I’ve learned that to be successful, I must work effectively under pressure, manage my time well and prioritize. I have also discovered that I cannot do everything alone and that good leaders learn to work through other people. Public relations practitioners work through others to accomplish their goals by forming relationships with publics and media to advance their cause.

Kelly: What do you like best about public relations?

Lacey: I enjoy public relations because it is like a game to me. Pitching the media is like dangling bait on a hook and waiting for a bite. I also like the strategy that is behind planned events, press releases and campaigns. The continuous changing and adapting that it is involved also entices me because I despise boredom. Someday I want to run my own PR firm and work for small businesses so that I can see how my efforts help them. I am a start-to-finish kind of person, and I like the results-oriented aspect of PR that involves assessing the effectiveness of campaigns and media placements.

Kelly: What are your plans now?

Lacey: I’ve decided to get my Master’s of Human Resource Management because I know that it will strengthen my teamwork skills. It will also give me a greater understanding of the dynamic business world that will make me an asset to any company. A career in public relations requires an understanding of the media and an ability to write which I learned while receiving my undergraduate degree in Journalism. The next step is learning how to communicate effectively and think like a manager which I will learn in the management program. I made the choice to become a public relations practitioner because I want to go home everyday knowing that my work helps others and that I love my job.

Congratulations again to Lacey! She will be honored at the PRSA Houston Excalibur Awards on June 9 at the Downtown Aquarium.

The Public Relations Foundation of Houston was formed to support educational excellence by helping prepare high school and college students for careers in public relations and communication. The group will award student scholarships and distribute funds to educational programs that support public relations and communication.

Public Relations Events in Houston June 2005

2005-06-01T00:56:00.000-05:00

I'd like to take a few moments to share with you upcoming public relations events in Houston during June. Networking opportunities are critical to building a career in public relations, and if you're already employed, you've learned the value of continuing to expand your network.

If you're new to PR, you may want to check out PRSA Houston's New Professionals Group Social on June 7 at Baker Street Pub in the Rice Village. You may register online at http://www.prsahouston.org/en/cev/?177.

Volunteer opportunities are available at PRSA Houston's Excalibur Awards on June 9 at the Downtown Aquarium. This evening recognizes top public relations talent in Houston and rewards those agencies and individuals who are the creative engines behind PR campaigns, events and media relations in Houston. For more information, contact Bill Zander at (832) 824-2627 or bxzander@TexasChildrensHospital.org.

Later in the month, PRSA Houston's New Pros will host a professional development seminar to welcome PRSSA graduates to PRSA. On June 23, 2005, Cristina Tolpo of Quest Personnel Resources, Inc. will present "Find Your Future: Tips for Successful Job Hunting." The event will take place at Kirksey Architecture, 6909 Portwest, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their resumes and portfolios for review. To register, visit http://www.prsahouston.org/en/cev/?178.

I look forward to meeting you!

Why a Blog for Beginning a Career in Public Relations?

2005-05-30T18:14:00.000-05:00

After serving for a year and a half as the Public Relations Student Society of America Liaison to the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, I am beginning this blog to encourage interaction between public relations students both locally and nationally.

PRSA Houston supports the PRSSA Chapters at Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University and the University of Houston.

Our Chapter also is supporting an effort to help students at Texas Southern University begin a PRSSA Chapter.

In my time as president of the University of Houston PRSSA Chapter (May 2001-02), I learned many valuable lessons about leadership, teamwork and the importance of networking.

Since graduating in 2002, I have experienced firsthand the ups and downs of the economy. I continue to learn every day, and offer this blog as a place to share these ideas and thoughts and encourage students to ask questions and share their thoughts, as well.

As many students have just graduated, I'd like to take this opportunity to offer a checklist of items to consider when you are just beginning your career in public relations or a related field.

And if you're still looking for a job, I'll offer a few tips in that area, as well.

If you're new on the job, be sure to take advantage of any and all opportunities to learn as much as you can about the industry in which you work, the company or agency and its clients, as well as take time to read about a variety of other industries and hot topics.

That being said, here's a basis for a checklist when beginning a career in public relations:

1. Do you have a clear understanding of your job responsibilities and expectations?
2. Do you understand the chain of command and who needs to approve what work?
3. Do you have the right tools at your desk, such as the AP Style Guide, a dictionary and thesaurus?
4. Do you understand how to track your hours based on the accounts and tasks you are working on?
5. Which professional organizations does your company belong to and can you attend events regularly?
6. Do you understand the policies for time off, vacation and sick days?
7. Do you have a network of mentors and colleagues in place that you can depend on for quick questions and advice?
8. Is your company's media list updated and accurate?
9. Are you signed up to the right email and news subscriptions so you always know what is going on in the world, such as daily headlines from the New York Times and breaking news alerts from CNN.com?
10. Have you reviewed the PRSA Code of Ethics?

And if you haven't made it into that first job just yet, here are a few pointers to get you there and situated in a career in public relations.

1. Attend at least one networking function each month that relates to your desired area of employment, such as PRSA Houston, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Houston, American Marketing Association (AMA) Houston and the Houston Advertising Federation (HAF).
2. Adopt a mentor and maintain contact with him or her regularly. PRSA Houston offers a mentor program for students.
3. Send a follow-up e-mail and personalized note within two hours of meeting someone at an event. Build your own brand!
4. Ask for feedback on your résumé and cover letters before submitting them.
5. Ask your mentors and colleagues to help you prepare for interviews by participating in mock interviews.

If you'd like to add to the list, or would like to ask a question or comment on any of the above points about beginning a career in public relations, please contribute now!