My career aspiration is to work for an environmental organization in their communications department. But several questions cross my mind as to how I'm going to get there.
How can I promote myself as someone who cares about and is knowledgeable about our environmental problems? How can I prove that I am familiar with Canadian public affairs? Or that I can effectively use social media?
The answer: My Personal Brand.
My online presence and reputation will establish myself as a go-to resource for green information. It will reveal my professionalism and credibility as a Green Twenty-Something.
Check out my slideshare presentation on the details of my personal brand plan and how I am going to get there.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Is Blogger Relations the New Media Relations for Gen Y?
Are you Gen Y?
We're born in 1980 and later. We spend our time online and love watching TV. We trust our closest friends for advice. And we certainly don't tolerate slow applications. Blatant advertisements make us want to puke.
And guess what....we now outnumber the baby boomers.
We are in fact PR 2.0's best friend.
So as a PR professional entering the PR 2.0 world, why bother with traditional media outlets to get your message across to Gen Y?
Why not use blogger relations?
- online is where the audience is
- blogging allows users to comment, opening up the lines of communication
- third-party credibility is huge for Gen Y (since we don't like experts!)
- if we can get it on our phones, you're set
Change is good. Loose the fear, and dive in PR professionals. Put the public back into Public Relations!
We're born in 1980 and later. We spend our time online and love watching TV. We trust our closest friends for advice. And we certainly don't tolerate slow applications. Blatant advertisements make us want to puke.
And guess what....we now outnumber the baby boomers.
We are in fact PR 2.0's best friend.
So as a PR professional entering the PR 2.0 world, why bother with traditional media outlets to get your message across to Gen Y?
Why not use blogger relations?
- online is where the audience is
- blogging allows users to comment, opening up the lines of communication
- third-party credibility is huge for Gen Y (since we don't like experts!)
- if we can get it on our phones, you're set
Change is good. Loose the fear, and dive in PR professionals. Put the public back into Public Relations!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Bloggers Push Climategate Scandal into Deeper Crisis
Blogs allow anyone to be an expert on anything.
But what happens when non-experts call themselves experts and argue against one of humanity's biggest problems?
Bloggers like Stephen McIntyre and Marc Morano are enraging the scientific community, and for good reason. They are two of the most prominent climate change skeptics who use their blogs to persuade the general public that climate change is a hoax.
The fact is: there is a overwhelming consensus among the scientific community that human-made climate change is real and it will have effects on humanity for centuries to come.
There of course will always be those "other" scientists who will continue to argue that climate change is a hoax. Think of those doctors who for the longest time kept denying that cigarettes caused cancer.
...and then comes the Climategate scandal.
Now, climate change skeptic blog websites are increasing traffic and audience sizes, according to an article in The Globe and Mail. This isn't helping the IPCC's already damaged reputation.
To those of us who have been taught in university to be critical of sources of information, it's a no-brainer. Why believe someone with a blog with no credentials versus a peer-reviewed scientific journal?
But for the rest of society, they may not understand the science behind climate change. Some won't care to ever know. So surely, they won't wait around for a peer-reviewed report. They'll be on the lookout for a persuasive blog with lots of followers whose authors claim to be experts in the field.
Doesn't there lay danger in the general public accepting truth and accuracy in social media? Can we really trust something you just googled...and non-expert blogs who can use SEO?!
Update: March 2010
Fortunately, it appears that climate change supporters are not letting the skeptics get the most of them online or offline. Al Gore, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with the IPCC, has begun to work PR magic in response to the Climategate scandal.
On February 27, 2010 he wrote an editorial piece in the New York Times. He says, "After all has been said and so little done, the truth about the climate crisis–inconvenient as ever–must still be faced."
Although not completely gone, the Climategate scandal has been watered down in the past few months. For now, it seems that people may be able to accept the fact that science is not perfect.
There will likely always be two sides of this debate. Take a look at my post about my thoughts on The Great Global Warming Swindle , a film created by climate change skeptics.
But what happens when non-experts call themselves experts and argue against one of humanity's biggest problems?
Bloggers like Stephen McIntyre and Marc Morano are enraging the scientific community, and for good reason. They are two of the most prominent climate change skeptics who use their blogs to persuade the general public that climate change is a hoax.
The fact is: there is a overwhelming consensus among the scientific community that human-made climate change is real and it will have effects on humanity for centuries to come.
There of course will always be those "other" scientists who will continue to argue that climate change is a hoax. Think of those doctors who for the longest time kept denying that cigarettes caused cancer.
...and then comes the Climategate scandal.
Now, climate change skeptic blog websites are increasing traffic and audience sizes, according to an article in The Globe and Mail. This isn't helping the IPCC's already damaged reputation.
To those of us who have been taught in university to be critical of sources of information, it's a no-brainer. Why believe someone with a blog with no credentials versus a peer-reviewed scientific journal?
But for the rest of society, they may not understand the science behind climate change. Some won't care to ever know. So surely, they won't wait around for a peer-reviewed report. They'll be on the lookout for a persuasive blog with lots of followers whose authors claim to be experts in the field.
Doesn't there lay danger in the general public accepting truth and accuracy in social media? Can we really trust something you just googled...and non-expert blogs who can use SEO?!
Update: March 2010
Fortunately, it appears that climate change supporters are not letting the skeptics get the most of them online or offline. Al Gore, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with the IPCC, has begun to work PR magic in response to the Climategate scandal.
On February 27, 2010 he wrote an editorial piece in the New York Times. He says, "After all has been said and so little done, the truth about the climate crisis–inconvenient as ever–must still be faced."
Although not completely gone, the Climategate scandal has been watered down in the past few months. For now, it seems that people may be able to accept the fact that science is not perfect.
There will likely always be two sides of this debate. Take a look at my post about my thoughts on The Great Global Warming Swindle , a film created by climate change skeptics.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Why YOU Should Use Slideshare
Social media is more than getting the most friends, followers or hits from others. If you are thinking it's only for posting drunk pictures of yourself or telling your mom when you got laid, you need a reality check!
Check out Slideshare. It's a free way to target professional audiences. Think LinkedIn, but for presentations and documents.
For example, Slideshare is one way for not-for-profits to communicate their crucial messages, and look more credible doing so. Check out Danielle Brigida's profile, as the Social Media Outreach coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation.
Maybe that's what I love about it the most. Slideshare is one way green information is being shared! Check out these fascinating Slideshare presentations on a few of the most imperative environmental issues we are facing today:
-climate change;
-rainforest deforestation; and
-loss of biodiversity.
There are a million other fascinating topics you can share and search for if you give Slideshare a try!
Check out Slideshare. It's a free way to target professional audiences. Think LinkedIn, but for presentations and documents.
For example, Slideshare is one way for not-for-profits to communicate their crucial messages, and look more credible doing so. Check out Danielle Brigida's profile, as the Social Media Outreach coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation.
Maybe that's what I love about it the most. Slideshare is one way green information is being shared! Check out these fascinating Slideshare presentations on a few of the most imperative environmental issues we are facing today:
-climate change;
-rainforest deforestation; and
-loss of biodiversity.
There are a million other fascinating topics you can share and search for if you give Slideshare a try!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Save the Prius!
Dear Toyota,
Your PR campaign for your recall crisis sucked. But who really cares about the RAV4 crossover, Corolla, Matrix hatchback, Avalon, Camry, Highlander crossover, Tundra pickup and the Sequoia SUV?
Now you tell me there is an issue with the beloved Prius?!
If you send Jim Lentz to do another terrible video, a little part of me will surely die.
But seriously, your crisis management needs some serious work. So you're going with another recall...
Well, at least you've done the first step right, telling us the problem has been fixed.
And maybe things won't turn out so bad....as some people are now more interested in purchasing the Prius.
Either way, you need to work harder than you did for the first recall.
The Prius is an important green icon and I want it around to stay!
Your PR campaign for your recall crisis sucked. But who really cares about the RAV4 crossover, Corolla, Matrix hatchback, Avalon, Camry, Highlander crossover, Tundra pickup and the Sequoia SUV?
Now you tell me there is an issue with the beloved Prius?!
If you send Jim Lentz to do another terrible video, a little part of me will surely die.
But seriously, your crisis management needs some serious work. So you're going with another recall...
Well, at least you've done the first step right, telling us the problem has been fixed.
And maybe things won't turn out so bad....as some people are now more interested in purchasing the Prius.
Either way, you need to work harder than you did for the first recall.
The Prius is an important green icon and I want it around to stay!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)