top 10 things I learned in PRCA 2330
1. I learned a lot more about everything Public Relations involves. I didn’t realize all the different fields it covered.
2. I have a better understanding of how to properly prepare for a job interview. I need to have thoroughly researched the company and position I am applying for before I show up for the interview.
3. I realize just how important correct grammar usage really is. Most PR jobs require frequent writing.
4. After our class viewed the film “Wag the Dog”, I saw how PR professionals could manipulate situations to benefit the client they are representing.
5. Social networking is very important. It is crucial that you branch out and make as many connections as possible. You can greatly benefit from this.
6. It is important to be prepared for the unexpected. Crisis management teams are needed in order to know how to handle any ‘surprises’ that may come across.
7. Communication is a key element. You need to make sure that the correct message your trying to get across to your audience is geared toward them clearly and effectively.
8. It is important to keep up with modern forms of communication, such as Twitter, Propenmic, and other sites that help you get connected with people with similar interests.
9. Stay current with the news. It is not only helpful but also important that you keep up with what is going on around the world.
10. Finally, I was able to have my first glance at all that Public Relations has to offer, the many uses of it, and just how important it is in our society today.
Tribes video
This video featured a man named Seth Gordin who wrote the book “Tribes” and what he means by this term and how it can be applied to our everyday lives. When someone is in your ‘tribe’ it means they have somehow affected your life in some way. It can be through direct contact or something as simple as a person’s blog you read which you find to be insightful. People that are in the same tribe share a common interest with the other members of the tribe. Whether it’s a group of snowboarders that like to iron while snowboarding, or a group of volunteer firefighters. The connection people in the tribe share can be anything. It’s a choice by ordinary people who want to belong.
Gordin also focused on the idea that a good way to lead is by reinvention. Reinvent the way things are done completely. If it is a good idea people will have to follow what you do because it has never been done before. An example is introducing a new style of art work. Seth says that you need to make the choice to lead. He closed his speech with a story about a man who without money or followers went around city to city, gathered local volunteers and donations and was able to help save tons of animals lives. His point of the story was that it gave people a sense of meaning. He said that now that we know about it it becomes an obligation as memebers of the human race to get up and help make a change.
‘Wag the Dog’
1. Of the three value orientations, I believe the practioner in this film ebmodies the situational orientation. Meaning that each decision is focused on what would cause the least harm or most good, whicever benefits the largest number of individuals. The PR practitioner took drastic measures, such as creating an Albanian war, to ensure that the president was portryed in the best way to the public so he was able to be reelected.
2. Acccording to the PRSA’s Code of Ethics, the practitioner was unethical in that he broke honesty. He did not stick to truth and accuracy when it came to how he represented his client.
3. The logic between ‘wag the dog’ if that a dog controls if it wags it’s tail or not, but in this case the tail wagged the dog. Meaning the practitioner was the tail, basically controlling the president, the dog.
4. I believe that the practitioner, although humorous and entertaining for film, portrayed a negative stereotype in this film. He showed the low lenghts and far fetched ways he could manipulate people into believeing what he wanted them to believe.
My Twitter Experience
I had never heard of Twitter until my professor for my Intro to Public Relations course introduced it to the class. Twitter is website that allows a person to create a profile and then you can make posts about anything you would like to talk about. You can follow other users of this website and see what they post or chat with them. It allows you to connect with people all around the world at any time. At first when I started to use Twitter I was a little hesitant. I have a facebook account and have always preferred it to any other similar websites. I was so used to using Facebook that it was uncomftorable (I guess would be the right word?) using something that seemd like a knock off version. However, after a second glance at Twitter I realized how helpful it could be. Im still new to the website and haven’t yet excersied all I can from it but I’ve come to realize what a great way it is to not just stay connected with people but GET connected with people. Through the search engine you can type in any keyword to help you find a person or company having to do with it. If your are interested in an internship you could type in the type of internship your looking for and if a person has that listed as an interest you could follow them, see if their career intails what your looking for and find out if the company they work for is looking for interns. You should always excericise extreem caution before giving out personal information but Twitter can help keep your privacy. You can also use Twitter if you have a question about anything. Post your question and wait to see who responds to it, a lot of the time you will get helpful feedback. After a week of Twitter I’ve only just started to realize how helpful it can be but as I continue to use it and grow used to I’m sure I can use it to network and use it in the future.
