Comments on: Innovation in Communications http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/ Connecting public relations academics and professionals. Managed by Bob Batchelor Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:18:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: ThomasE http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-32 ThomasE Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:52:10 +0000 http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-32 At least in my own interest I wish they don't :) But it is always the same: be committed to what you do and you will be one step ahead. At least in my own interest I wish they don’t :)

But it is always the same: be committed to what you do and you will be one step ahead.

]]> By: Bob Batchelor http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-30 Bob Batchelor Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:03:34 +0000 http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-30 Hello ThomasE! Happy Wednesday! Thank you for your thoughtful comments, particularly from an international perspective. I think that the steps you are taking to build a virtual reputation/identity are important. I wish more of my students would take the same initiative. Hello ThomasE! Happy Wednesday! Thank you for your thoughtful comments, particularly from an international perspective. I think that the steps you are taking to build a virtual reputation/identity are important. I wish more of my students would take the same initiative.

]]> By: Bob Batchelor http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-29 Bob Batchelor Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:00:15 +0000 http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-29 Jenna, thanks for your insightful comments. I totally agree with you...and your thoughts are valuable since you're out in the middle of techland in San Francisco. I think some, if not most, professors are exposing their students, but I wish that the student were more responsive. They need to understand that it is necessary to understand the communications implications, as you point out. But, I think they get tired of hearing me say it. Thanks for commenting and adding to the discussion. I really appreciate it. Say "hello" to the city for me! Jenna, thanks for your insightful comments. I totally agree with you…and your thoughts are valuable since you’re out in the middle of techland in San Francisco.

I think some, if not most, professors are exposing their students, but I wish that the student were more responsive. They need to understand that it is necessary to understand the communications implications, as you point out. But, I think they get tired of hearing me say it.

Thanks for commenting and adding to the discussion. I really appreciate it. Say “hello” to the city for me!

]]> By: Jenna Broughton http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-25 Jenna Broughton Tue, 09 Oct 2007 07:46:58 +0000 http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-25 For most college students MySpace and Facebook are heavily intertwined into their daily lives. Most would probably be ashamed to admit how much time they spend on these networking sites. While Facebook and MySpace have become part of our everyday rhetoric, a more shocking phenomenon is that it is become part of the boardroom discussion. An increasing number of senior staff members are looking to those in entry-level positions to enlighten them about the latest technology fads. These tools that students once used for catching up with old friends are now becoming part of creative public relations plans. As a recent college graduate, I have noticed an increasingly abundant amount of time spent around the conference room table discussing how to best incorporate new technology into public relations plans. My employer regularly holds tech trainings to make sure that employees are technologically fluent in RSS feeds, podcasts, blogs, and yes, Facebook. These are all tools that if used strategically can be advantageous to clients. Public relations is ever evolving, and technology has a lot to do with the changes that are happening. I think students and teachers alike would be surprised at how technology is being used in the field. For one, it is now common practice for reporters to ask public relations specialist they regularly speak with to Facebook them or link them in. Also, nearly all of the clients at my agency have blogs that they regularly post to. Even the agency itself hosts an employee blog, which is used to provide clients and job candidates with insight into our company culture. It is necessary for educators to expose their students to new technology, and failure to do so would just be shortsighted. With that said, those soon-to-be graduates serious about a public relations career will find it beneficial to explore the various technological outlets. Those entering the workforce with this skill set will find they have more to bring to the boardroom than their peers. Where entry-level employees may lack experience, they can make their position relevant through the technology that has defined their generation. For most college students MySpace and Facebook are heavily intertwined into their daily lives. Most would probably be ashamed to admit how much time they spend on these networking sites. While Facebook and MySpace have become part of our everyday rhetoric, a more shocking phenomenon is that it is become part of the boardroom discussion. An increasing number of senior staff members are looking to those in entry-level positions to enlighten them about the latest technology fads. These tools that students once used for catching up with old friends are now becoming part of creative public relations plans.

As a recent college graduate, I have noticed an increasingly abundant amount of time spent around the conference room table discussing how to best incorporate new technology into public relations plans. My employer regularly holds tech trainings to make sure that employees are technologically fluent in RSS feeds, podcasts, blogs, and yes, Facebook. These are all tools that if used strategically can be advantageous to clients.

Public relations is ever evolving, and technology has a lot to do with the changes that are happening. I think students and teachers alike would be surprised at how technology is being used in the field. For one, it is now common practice for reporters to ask public relations specialist they regularly speak with to Facebook them or link them in. Also, nearly all of the clients at my agency have blogs that they regularly post to. Even the agency itself hosts an employee blog, which is used to provide clients and job candidates with insight into our company culture.

It is necessary for educators to expose their students to new technology, and failure to do so would just be shortsighted. With that said, those soon-to-be graduates serious about a public relations career will find it beneficial to explore the various technological outlets. Those entering the workforce with this skill set will find they have more to bring to the boardroom than their peers. Where entry-level employees may lack experience, they can make their position relevant through the technology that has defined their generation.

]]> By: ThomasE http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-21 ThomasE Sat, 06 Oct 2007 09:36:27 +0000 http://pr-bridge.com/2007/10/05/innovation-in-communications/#comment-21 I study PR at a German academy that offers this program in cooperation with the university of bedfordshire. Since I am pretty interested in new technology and its usability for professional communication I try to get knowledge about these topics by myself. I read a lot of blogs, watch how i.e. twitter is used for organisational comunications and so on. Of course, I also started an own weblog, test twitter and am present on the internet. Until now the teaching did not treat these topics enough (at this point I have to mention that I just finished the 2nd semester). Obviously that can be a problem of our academy or academics but I prefer the interpretation that the natural gap between practice and theory is at fault. So, my conclusion is to 'get' into it on my own. In addition that goes along with building up an own 'web-reputation' which might become pretty important in the future (in fact I think it already is). I study PR at a German academy that offers this program in cooperation with the university of bedfordshire. Since I am pretty interested in new technology and its usability for professional communication I try to get knowledge about these topics by myself. I read a lot of blogs, watch how i.e. twitter is used for organisational comunications and so on.

Of course, I also started an own weblog, test twitter and am present on the internet. Until now the teaching did not treat these topics enough (at this point I have to mention that I just finished the 2nd semester). Obviously that can be a problem of our academy or academics but I prefer the interpretation that the natural gap between practice and theory is at fault.

So, my conclusion is to ‘get’ into it on my own. In addition that goes along with building up an own ‘web-reputation’ which might become pretty important in the future (in fact I think it already is).

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