Do the Right Thing

One of the most valuable public relations tools available to PR professionals is “Do the Right Thing.” This piece by Jim Hoggan provides insight and information that can be utilized by any Public Relations professionals. Hoggan’s “three golden rules” are the foundation of this wealth of knowledge he provides readers. To be successful in the field of public relations, one must do the following: do the right thing, be seen doing the right thing, and don’t get one and two mixed up. This can be applied to any profession but holds a lot of weight in public relations. This field is one where morals and values can really make or break someone, so to hold Hoggans points close and to practice them at all times can make the difference between a mediocre public relations professional and a great one.

Ethics and credibility are two of the most valuable assets of a Public Relations Practioneer. Clients usually seek pr help when facing adversity. To know that they can go to someone who they can trust and know will do their job and conduct themselves in an ethical manner can make a world of difference.  Hoggans puts these two values and their importance into persepective in "Do the Right Thing." By following and abiding by these rules any public realtions student or professional can all but ensure themselves success in this field. I believe that "Do the Right Thing" by Jim Hoggans is a great read and I would recommend this to anyone looking into the public relations field.

The Psychology of Climate Change Communication

“The Psychology of Climate Change Communication” is a great read. I would recommend this work to anyone concerned about the global climate crisis and to any public relations professional. This work, by Debika Shome and Sabine Marx, does a great job of detailing several public relations tools. The methods and tools presented by Shome and Marx include framing a message, detailing single action bias, and explaining the difference between people with prevention or promotion focuses. By presenting the information in the manner in which these authors have, this work is able to appeal to a much larger group of people. Public relations professionals who may not be very interested or concerned about the global climate crisis may find themselves intrigued with the topic after reading “The Psychology of Climate Change Communication.” I think that the information presented in this piece is “framed” perfectly for public relations professionals to not only understand but to also retain.
I know personally that I have not done all that I could have done to help provoke the change needed to help save the future of our planet but I feel that reading this book has put me on the right path. Doing things such as unplugging appliances when they are not in use and limiting the amount of water that I use while brushing my teeth are small but effective ways to help ease the strain I put on this planet. The information presented in this book.
For other readers, this book definitely has an appeal for them, as well. The global climate crisis is a predicament that has the potential to affect every living thing on this planet. "The Psychology of Climate Change Communication" presents a great deal of research that can be very informative for the general public. When researchers present valid but bland facts, readers can become bored very easily and forget what they have just read almost immediately. However, Shome and Marx present a significant number of examples and stories to back up their research and provide black-and-white facts with some coloration.
“The Psychology of Climate Change Communication” is a definite must-read, not only for public relations professionals or readers concerned with the climate crisis, but also for just about anybody. This is an overall great read.

Framing

      Framing is a public relations tool, a technique in which public relations professionals take an issue and set it “within an appropriate context to achieve a desired an interpretation or perspective"(Debika Shome and Sabine Marx). It is not the intention when using framing to deceive or manipulate the people but to make the information more accessible and understandable to the public. I must emphasize that the purpose of this technique it not to deceive or manipulate. I stress this point because I do not want framing to be confused with another public relations tool, spinning. Spinning is frowned upon by most public relations professionals. Framing, however, is not only a technique practiced by most PR practitioners but it is also used by just about everyone. Dabiks Shome and Sabrina Marx write that “it is impossible to not frame an issue, communicators need to ensure they consciously select a frame that will resonate with their audience.” This applies to everyone from motivational speakers to coaches and to teachers but especially to public relations professionals. When representing a client and relaying their message to their publics, PR practitioners must use framing to make sure they do the following: organize central ideas, help communicate why an issue might be a problem and what  should be done, as well as condense the message into helpful communication “shortcuts”(Shome and Marx). By making sure the message is framed to do these three things, practitioners can ensure that their messages are successfully communicated to their publics. However, it is not only important to frame an issue but also o tailor these issues so that they fit specific groups and their precise goals. Subcultures within expansive publics must be considered or else the message cannot be effectively be communicated for it will be lost broad scope of things.

     Framing can be a skilled art when done correctly. In creating a public relations masterpiece on must consider that there are different forms of art and that not everyone interprets them the same way. Some art enthusiasts prefer Picasso and cubism while others prefer Van Gogh and Post-impressionism.  In public relations some publics have a promotion focus while others have a prevention focus. Shome and Marx identify publics with promotion focused goals as those who see a goal as an ideal and are concerned with its advancement. However, people with prevention focused goals see a goal as something they ought to do and are concerned with maintaining the status quo. Tailoring messages to our public’s natural concerns can ensure that messages are not only received but are actually retained, and that is the true aim of framing.

    Just like both cubism and impressionism are both forms of abstract art one must remember that no matter which public one frames their message to it must meet the highest of public relations standards.

Social Media

The Internet has become one of the most, if not the most, important tools for professionals around the world. From marketing titans to “mom and pop” businesses, access to the Internet has become vital for success. So, too; is the need to use social media as a way to spread the word about products or news about an organization. According to Christina Warren from Gist.com, websites such as “Twitter, Facebook, Youtube other social sites have quickly become important tools in a PR professional’s overall toolkit.”            

    To find the potential influence that social media can have on public relations, one needs to look no further than the election of Barack Obama. “Online tools such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter contributed to the netting of record-breaking campaign funding and the staggering galvanization of a younger generation of first-time voters who truly made an impact and a difference,” says Brian Solis for techcrunch.com.  The “followers” and “fans” on social networks allowed this campaign to net more than double the electoral votes of Senator McCain.  President Obama’s technologically savvy campaign allowed him to not only collect more fundraising money but also allowed him to outspend his opponent by a 3 to 1 margin, thus affording him the opportunity to be able to get the word out to millions of people.

It is important for companies not only to utilize existing social media but also to create their own. Blogs are a great source for just this. Blogs can offer unadulterated information directly to publics, but more importantly they can be directly controlled by companies. When delivering messages through websites such as Twitter, one is left to deal with hurdles such as character limitations and content restrictions. With blogs, companies can avoid such things.

Social media have the power to make popular companies even more popular and for others to reinforce brand loyalty. Public relations has become a complex and dynamic field. It is as important as ever for PR Practitioners to look at every tool available and to utilize those tools to enhance a client's image and to strengthen its brand.

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Introduction....

Greetings web surfers!  My name is Barrington Mizell and this is my digital chronicle. I am Public Relations major from Miami, FL. This blogspot will be used as a personal tool to share my thoughts and ideas on several pressing issues and topics. Posts on this blogspot are originated from my psyche and put here for you to enjoy. So please enjoy for these are "just my thoughts"...