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Journalism a dying art…?

As many PR professionals do, the CIG staff often uses the terms “press release” and “news release” interchangeably. So the other day during a weekly staff meeting when the boss lady asked that we adopt the term “news release” across the board, it got me thinking…

For starters, I’ll go ahead and state the obvious – the way we send and receive information is changing rapidly and dramatically. Between the instant accessibility of information and the ability to tailor exactly what information you want, how and when you get it, many existing methods of communication are becoming obsolete, including the old fashioned newspaper printing press (where the term “press release” is derived). A sign of the times that became undeniable last year when Denver’s Rocky Mountain News closed up shop for good.

And just recently, the University of Colorado (CU) announced it would do-away with its School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

In this line of work, I’m constantly surrounded by new methods of gathering, researching and communicating information to the masses – cool new tools, emerging and innovative technologies, evolving trends in the industry. But it’s my belief that no matter how the methods change, the art itself does not.

CU’s Journalism school Dean Paul Voakes credits the decision partly with the fact that nowadays “more people keep themselves informed online.” Although the days of the old news press may be breathing their last breaths, journalism is not just defined by print media. Like all industries, it continues to evolve along with the tools of the trade. Despite all the blogs, Twitters and Facebooks in the world, nothing takes the place of good journalism and the ability to effectively report, write, edit and broadcast information – online or in print.

As CU sticks a fork in the J-school, I have to wonder what’s next. In a world of changing media, are we beginning to lose sight of the art itself, or could this be an opportunity for the industry to take the next evolutionary step?

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Posted by Megan Rees on 08/26 at 08:33 AM
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A bit of wisdom from the legendary John Wooden

John Wooden passed away earlier this year at the age of 99. Although famous as the former coach of 10 championship UCLA basketball teams, this simple man is remembered more for his ability to make each person he came in contact with feel special. He touched thousands of lives inside and outside the world of sports. Here are just a few of his thoughtful and inspirational “Woodenisms.”

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

“Never mistake activity for achievement.”

“Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.”

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

“Be prepared and be honest.”

“Be quick, but don’t hurry.”

“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

“Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character.”

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

“I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.”

“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”

“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a do-er makes mistakes.”

“Ability is a poor man’s wealth.”

“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”

“Consider the rights of others before your own feelings and the feelings of others before your own rights.”

“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

“Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”

“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”

“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

“Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”

I hope that by sharing these “Woodenisms” you will be encouraged, entertained and enlightened. John Wooden was a great communicator, a remarkable motivator and the architect of many champion teams.

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Posted by Mary Ann Strombitski on 08/17 at 05:56 PM
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But… who cares?

While it seems the mass majority of people have caught on to social networking through sites like Facebook and Twitter, there are still some who maintain a “who cares?” mentality.

In fact, the other night during a dinner with my parents and in-laws, the conversation turned to the topic of Facebook and my father-in-law said just that – “who cares?”

As public relations professionals, it is our job to make sure your audience DOES care about what you post on these social networking sites. As the manager of these tools and behind-the-scenes “puppet master,” it is important to keep in mind that you are speaking on behalf of the organization, not as an individual. For example, it you think your post might be interesting enough for Failbook.com, it’s not meant for your organization.

Organizations and personal pages are meant to be separate, which is why these parameters are key to keeping your organization on the right side of a fine line:

1. Brief
Social media is for people on the go. They want to know all the details upfront to fit into the average eight-second attention span.

2. Timely
As an organization, it is your job to give your audience information as soon as it happens. In cases like Facebook and Twitter, the user chooses where they receive information and, if they chose you, you better give them what they want, when they want it – or they won’t stick around for long.

3. Informative
Unless you are involved in a political campaign, keep things objective. People want to hear the facts from your organization, not necessarily the opinions. It may sounds elementary, but stick to the who, what, when, where, how and why when it comes to your posts.

4. Positive
People want to be around positive energy. The same applies to social networking. If you perpetually post positive tips, trends and news, people will be more likely to follow you to get a dose of your positive energy. Facebook and Twitter should never be an outlet for complaints or negativity.

5. Error-free
Read twice, post once. A grammatical or spelling error can damage your credibility as an expert in your field or industry.

Beyond these five tips, perhaps the most important is to have fun with your posts and updates. Social networking sites are made for casual communication, so skip the formal jargon and you’ll avoid the “who cares” reaction.

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Posted by Liz Viscardi on 08/11 at 06:39 PM
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Posted by mermaid wedding dress  on  01/18  at  03:14 PM

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