Public Relationships

The PR Daily article entitled, "10 ways to build strong relationships with reports and bloggers" is very interesting and applicable to this week's reading. In fact, this article is more like an updated list as compared to our slightly outdated textbook.

1. Start with a strong pitch - clear, concise & customized to current trends
2. Make a localized national pitch - always make it relate locally
3. Deliver a pitch that's full of facts.  - supportive information
4. Read a journalist's work - could be a good conversation starter
5. Try infographics - visuals hold attention better
6. Start a conversation on Twitter - Engage, RT, and DM
7. Desk side visits - more personal than calls and e-mails if important
8. Show some personality - crack jokes, be yourself, gain trust
9. Give them good & original content - videos! experts, hi-res images
10. Go out for drinks! - DO NOT PITCH; drink, listen & observe with no expectations

This has a lot of the basics covered in the textbook with additions relating to the realm of social media and current media trends.

In an industry as faced paced as public relations, it's important to be up to date and to stay current.

Tragedy

This past week I was faced with some terrible news. A close friend of mine passed away suddenly. His death is a shock to everyone that knew him, and let me tell you, his reach stretched far and wide. So far, the only news of the circumstances involving his death are speculation of a drug overdose. Since any official news isn't really surfacing, friend have begun to dig a little deeper only to discover that most recently, Nick's life had taken a dark turn.

This has been consuming my mind since I found out on Wednesday morning. His obituary was published in the Burlington Free Press today, Nicholas Wells Booth. 

While I was frantically searching for an obituary on Wednesday, I stumbled across an article on prescription drug abuse in Vermont, leading to Heroin addictions. 

Vermont warned that prescription drug addiction can lead to heroin use.

MONTPELIER — Vermont could find itself facing a major heroin problem if it doesn’t confront what health officials have called a prescription opiate epidemic in the state, according to testimony before a joint meeting of the Senate and House judiciary committees Wednesday.

As prescription drug abuse is on the rise, and the average user's age is falling every year, big pharmaceutical companies make an attempt at damage control.

Purdue Pharma, a drug company based in Stamford, CT, is best known for producing the opiate derived drug, OxyContin. Oxycontin abuse is on the rise, as I witnessed tragically this past week. Purdue Pharma prepared a press release on Halloween of 2011, announcing a partnership with the National Education Association Health..."to create new educational resources for middle school teachers focusing on the critical health problem of prescription drug abuse and misuse.".

Purdue Pharma Press Release

 

Associations & Member Relations

Most Americans are members of associations, sometimes without even realizing. As a member of the City Market Co-op, I am a member of the cooperative's association. I was thankful for being a AAA member when my car wouldn't start on an empty tank in -9 degree weather last week. While traveling abroad I interned for The World Trade Centre Dublin, which is a member of the World Trade Centers Association. Upon graduation of Champlain College, I will be a member of the Champlain Alumni group.

It is human nature to want to belong to an in-group, and associations speak to this basic need. Although it may not be the most stimulating aspect of public relations work, there are definitely jobs all over the world that involve working in member relations.

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSSA) is one obvious example of an association, whose benefits of membership include networking, job opportunities, the latest news and information in the field, as well as other resources and directory available to card carrying members.  

Thanks to my very generous and concerned family, I have been a member of the American Automobile Association (AAA) since I started driving at sixteen. After seeing that it is the largest association in America, I decided to look into the benefits I am entitled to.

AAA Member Benefits

As a plus member, apparently I am covered for up to $750 if I get into an accident while more than 50 miles away from home on expenses like food, lodging and transportation.

Good to know.

Employee Relations

Effective employee relations tactics are absolutely crucial to an organization's operations. Having outstanding employee communication and conducting regular comm. audits are one method of ensuring satisfied employees and a well rounded company culture. 

Recently, I have been particularly interested in the company culture of some major tech brands. I am currently in the process of applying for what I consider to be a 'dream' (entry level) job at Google. Naturally, I researched the company culture at Google to become familiar with company culture and perks and was not surprised to find out what I learned. Some of the highlights include:

1.  The office in San Francisco uses slides not elevators
2. The ability to bring your dog to work
3. Free brick over pizza everyday
4. There are hammocks in the hallways
5. More than 18 cafe choices
6. Free breakfast, lunch & dinner
7. Seven person conference bicycles (?!)
8. Laundry service
9. Mechanics & free oil changes
10. Massage therapists
11. On site arcade
12. Guest speakers like Obama and Conan O'Brien
13. "Weirdness is appreciated"

Last year, Google put out a video contest called "Life at Google" where the various locations sent in home videos of what it is like to work at Google.

This is the video of the campus I am interested in, the Mountain View, CA campus.

 LIVE THE DREAM.