Are Press Conferences Becoming Obsolescent?

With the advancement of technology, there seems to be a decrease in the need for live press conferences. This can be seen through the onset of several new public relations tools:

• Op-Eds
• Advertorials
• Satellite Media Tours (SMT)
• Video News Releases (VNR)
• Public Service Announcements (PSA)

Lets review each one briefly, starting with OP-Eds, which are usually known as opposite editorials. Op-Eds provide an explanation of issues and are later presented by writers and thinkers who do not have institutional or news outlet connections.

In other words, Op-Eds can be written by anyone on a certain topic or issue. For example, the Gun Control Policy.

Advertorials can be extremely tricky in presentation. They are usually print ads disguised as editorial content. You must remember this is PAID media, not earned. Advertorials are self-regulated by its industry or organization.

Satellite Media Tours are new compared to the other forms of media discussed in this blog. However, SMTs are becoming increasingly popular because it allows clients to stay in one location and interview as though they were in the studio of a sponsor.

Video News Releases can be summed up as broadcast versions of press releases. They are also referred to as evergreen because they can be aired at anytime as soft news.

Public Service Announcements are television/radio commercials usually informative. PSAs include a call to action from the public and are very persuasive.

It is without a doubt that we can see how live press conferences are becoming a thing of the past.

Social Media Succession

Succession used to be more reserved, and done quietly within an organization. Chief executive officers, executive directors, and chief operating officers would succeed into office without much word as to who they are and what levels of qualification they would bring within that organization.

Now, social media provides no excuse for misinformation, let alone uninformed audiences when vital information concerning an organization’s credibility and continuation are at stake.

Florida A & M University (FAMU) is a perfect example of how an organization’s credibility and continuation will result in publicized succession.

After the FAMU band scandal went public in the Fall of 2012, it exposed one student’s death, Robert Champion, who was crucially beaten after a football game. The attack apparently took place as a part of a hazing ritual for band members.

An autopsy indicated that Champion received numerous blows to his:
•Chest
•Shoulders
•Arms

These assaults resulted in what spectators witnessed, as severe vomiting and later Campion’s unexpected fatality.

According to a FAMU representative, former-president James H. Ammons, “contemplated and consulted with his family” to make a difficult decision to step-down as FAMU’s current president.

This news was followed through with the announcing of interim president, and current president, Larry D. Robinson as Ammons’ successor.

Social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter have been instrumental in conveying these changes to FAMU’s primary audiences:
•Students
•Alumni
•Faculty
•Staff

On the official FAMU Facebook page, the succession was conducted with an Annual Presidential Tour in which, Dr. Robinson presented more than $ 323,000 in scholarship funds.

Dr.Robinson later cancelled classes held a campus-wide anti-hazing town hall meeting that further establishes the continuation of values FAMU stands for:
•Excellence
•Accountability
•Respect
•Courage
•Integrity

Busy ‘Bee’ ber

Apparently, R&B, Pop teen-sensation, Justin Bieber found himself in a bit of a social media triangle after celebrating his 19th birthday in London.

According to a club representative from Cirque Du Soir, and as posted by E News, Bieber’s birthday guest were denied access to a the London club upon discovering that his guest were under the club age limit as regulated by London Law.

Of the alleged under-aged guest, it was also speculated that 14-year-old teen-actress and musician, Willow Smith; daughter of actors Will and Jada Pickett Smith was also in attendance.

As most people commonly do, Bieber aired his frustrations on Tweeter stating, “worst birthday.” He then followed up with a statement on Instagram revolving around the Willow Smith’s alleged appearance:

“U think Will is letting his 14 year old in a club, I don’t think so. 2nd I love how the club wanted to give the press another reason to why we didn’t stay at their weak ass club so they wouldn’t look bad for me walking in and right back out.”

With this and other examples like it, we can see how relevant Social Media is in the everyday practice of public relations.

How President Obama Won The 2008 Elections

For those of you who are following my blog, you are well aware by now at the current crucial role of digital/ social media.

The generation of new politics began with President Obama’s use of online and social media.

Five years ago, in 2008, social media made its apex, and the Obama Administration jumped on for the ride of this nation phenomenon that has forever changed the way we operate in American politics.

By his clever use of online and social media, President Obama provided a sense of personal connection with those he want to reach most—the youth.

With careful research, President Obama recognized that the number of new registered voters were at an all-time high in comparison to previous years. Of those, even larger percentages were youth and were active Facebook and/or Twitter users.

Curious voters could research Mr. Obama at their leisure at change.gov or MyBarackObama.com.

History’s Recurring & Interesting Facts of Innovation Shows:

• Thomas Jefferson used newspapers to win his election
• FDR used radio to change the effect of his governing abilities
• JFK is credited with his use of television (appealing younger than his political counterparts)
• President Obama used the world-wide-web to his advantage in a digital-age

If there’s anything to be learned here, it’s how highly effective social and digital media is, in a technological society.

Sankofa, What Does It Mean?

Have you been trying to figure out what the word Sankofa means?…

The Origin

During the European-African slave trade, most slaves were primarily taken from Senegal, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Benin before making their end journey to the “New World” or North America.

Those Africans who were taken as slaves from these countries during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade were known as Akan, an ethnic group made up what ethnologist and historians call the Ivory Coast.

The Language

The Akan people have a richly diverse culture that translates into pictorial symbolism, similar to that of Egyptian Hieroglyphics. These symbols told stories and/or expressed various African Proverbs. These proverbs provide insight on how the culture viewed its societal experiences, values and ethics.

 

The language is known as Adinkra, created by Ashanti craftsman. These craftsmen created the symbol you see below:

San means: to return           ko means: to go          fa means: to look, to seek and take

NOTICE: The sankofa bird has saught its past trail to take back what was lost, in order to protect its future!

 

The Meaning of Sankofa

Sankofa literally means to go back and get what was taken. After the term made its way to the United States, African-American scholars coin the term to mean “remembering our past, to protect our future” within the African-American culture.

 

Making the Connection

This blog will show the relationship and contrast between old media and new media, and its influences on society. For example, PR practitioners no longer have the leisure of time when handling public relations because of social/digital media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

 

The Sankofa Blog will discuss how crises similar to Hurricane Katrina has improved with the use of social media in future crisis such as Hurricane Sandy.

Hitting The Right Target

Just in case you’re thinking about going into PR, and wondering if perhaps you are breaking into a highly recognized field, the answer is—yes!

Public relations is by far one of the world’s fastest growing careers to break into. For the last several years, PR has been on both the employment and higher academic rise.

Why PR? As social media takes over our lives and the way we receive news, there is an increasing need for the public to be informed in a 24-hour news society. We can thank Ivy Lee, who is nicknamed “the father of PR” for his change in the way we practice PR dating back from the early 20th Century. Ivy Lee changed the perception of the “public be damned,” to the “public be informed.”

Although Lee knew nothing of social media and its influence on society, his perception/ principle can be highly applied during the information age.

With the expansion of the information age, more and more corporations are hiring future PR practitioner to manage their reputation, social media venues and total communication functions.

Again, if you’re worried, don’t be! According to an article in an online publication from US News, public relations is amongst the tops careers in the United States, bringing in a median salary of about $53, 190.

For more info on landing your career target of public relations, please see the link below:

USN:

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs?page=6

Hurricane Katrina vs. Hurricane Sandy

Since 2005, American citizens have taken every precaution not to have a disastrous repeat of Hurricane Katrina. For those Americans who lived and survived in the Gulf Coast Region, Hurricane Katrina left thousands without the basic necessities of life and perhaps even worse—the loss of various loved ones.

The seven years between 2005 and 2012, both the influence of the Internet and the growth of government in the U.S. have made a significant impact in weather crisis preparedness. Since then, Facebook has become a publicly traded company, and Twitter has evolved to what some might consider—the perfect match to Facebook. Our government officials have declared these catastrophic storms as state of emergencies.

Well, how does this work together in tandem? Consider the devastation of the Gulf Coast and East Coast during the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Which region was hit the worst, were they the same and did they share little to no similar casualties or fatalities?

These are all purposeful questions; however, the primary difference between Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Hurricane Sandy (2012) is the use of technology, primarily through social media.

By the use of a hash tag, organizations such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army were able to launch volunteer campaigns, which kept interaction between volunteers and survivors.

Aside from the use of traditional media, people were able to poll the governments via Facebook and Twitter, essentially providing a report card on how effective the government responded to the needs to those affected. People could assistance in helping to execute crisis communication plans or donate items at the click of a button.

We learn from our past to better protect our future, this is the meaning of… “Sankofa”

All About social media

Have you ever wondered why social media is so red hot? This is a question that both companies and believe it or not, the information generation (generation X and Y) are seeking answers to.

I had the opportunity to attend a lecture on on the significance of social media and how you as users of social media can make the most of it in the information age.

The first and most important thing you should know when using social media is keeping it SHORT and SIMPLE (KISS). Considering that we are in the information age, everything should be short and concise if you want to keep your audience engaged with your messages.

Now that you understand why information should be short and simple, lets discuss 7 reasons why you should use social media:

#1. Widen outreach- it’s a BIG world, keep it at your fingertips by increasing your networks on social media.

#2. Helps audience know more about your organization- people like quick Interesting Facts (IFs) on organizations that they can remember, i.e. Apple always uses the term Innovation.

#3. You can find out more about your audience- the best way to keep someone or something around is to provide what it likes. “Supply and Demand”

#4. Build relationships- Being approachable = Being memorable.

#5. Helps audiences to share more information about you- It’s all about WORD of MOUTH man, its the best way to build and maintain great reputation management.

#6. Cut cost- this isn’t new! Economic crisis means cutting the cost from advertisement, marketing and PR budgets. Using social media helps publicize special events in ways that keep people involved and interacting with YOU!

#7. Increase revenue or influence- similar to word of mouth and cutting cost, this use of social media allows you to receive an informative evaluation from your audience.

Until next time keep an open mind about reasons why you should use social media and look for my next post on HOW you should use social media.

Thanks for blogging and please leave comments and tell me it this helps.

Lucas Watson

I, Lucas N. Watson II, was born on the 8th of December 1989 to Lucas and Myra Watson of Hazlehurst; in Jackson, Mississippi.  As a child, I spent a large amount of time in the church whenever I was not in school.  My parents were determined to keep me active by keeping me involved in extracurricular activities such as soccer, karate, read-a-thons, various summer programs geared towards higher learning/social enhancement skills, and of course, vacation bible school. 

Although I did not understand why my parents kept me so active; I now however, understand that they wanted to keep me within a focused state of mind. As a result, I continuously increased my mental development as well as refined and broaden my views of the world.  As I matriculated through the public school system, I became fascinated with the arts, especially theater.  I traded athletics for music, performance and inner poetic expression.  Upon graduating from Terry High School, Tougaloo College beckoned me onto my collegiate journey.  I declared mass communication as my major, with an emphasis in public relations and fine arts. These concentrations initiated within me; a sense of humanitarianism, academic hunger, and social enlightenment that ignited my sojourns of success both at Tougaloo and within the community. 

I became active in several organizations: Pre-Alumni Council where I served as Tougaloo’s Mr. UNCF; I was vice-president and then president of Tougaloo’s chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi; president, of Kappa Pi Honorary Art Society; an active member of the Going Green Initiative, in which I collect and recycle plastic and help establish programs for a greener, more cleaner environment.  This was only the beginning as I learned the power of giving and the reward of charity.  As a student leader for community service at Tougaloo, I signed up more than one hundred and fifty students for various organizations so that they too—could share in the reward of charity. 

After graduating from Tougaloo, I was given the prestigious opportunity to attend Syracuse University and work on my Master of Science degree in public relations as a most coveted Newhouse student. After graduation May 11 and 12, 2013, I plan on taking a year off to teach English through the English Program In Korea (EPIK).