Among others, you'll likely recognize these finalists. Congratulations!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Congratulations are in order!
Finalists have been named for the PR People Awards, presented by PR News. The winners will be announced at the PR People Awards Luncheon on November 6, 2008, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Among others, you'll likely recognize these finalists. Congratulations!
Leslie Gaines Ross, Weber Shandwick (GFW PRSA's September luncheon speaker)
Among others, you'll likely recognize these finalists. Congratulations!
Leslie Gaines Ross, Weber Shandwick (GFW PRSA's September luncheon speaker)
Friday, August 15, 2008
Diversity Without Opportunity is Just Talk
(This post fist appeared Thursday, August 14, on the Next Communications Blog)
The topic, Working Diversity into the Workplace promised to be at best, an interesting approach to something that seems fundamental OR at worst, a nice way to get out of the office and have some pretty good fajitas.
Personal aside: It was kind of funny that we had our diversity session at a famous Mexican restaurant in Fort Worth.
(Thanks, Terry.)
Photo credit: chrisjfry
The People
We were introduced to a panel that included:
- Mitch Hill, Baylor Hospital (social worker)
- Leah King, Chesapeake Energy (community relations)
- Tom Burke, IBM (communications/public relations)
- Dora Tovar, Tovar PR (public relations)
- Ken Reeves, Bell Helicopter (human resources)
Thoughts on diversity vs. culture
Here are a few of the thoughts that resonated with me:
Mitch Hill thinks we wear many masks and take on multiple cultures.
"There is diversity within myself," he said. "Once we understand this about ourselves, we can move forward."Leah King said she lived oversees and takes a much broader approach to diversity.
Tom Burke pointed out how IBM approaches diversity.
"[IBM is] welcoming everyone to the workplace regardless of differences un-related to their job functions."Letter from IBM's Vice President of Global Workforce Diversity, Ron Glover
Tom also made what I thought to be an excellent point about our topic.
"Diversity is not created, it already exists."Dora Tovar spoke more on culture, telling the group that culture in the U.S. is very individual and is in constant change.
"Those that can adapt and change will be the most marketable."She also pointed out that diversity is about representation and culture is about identity.
Ken Reeves followed Tovar and gave his perspective on diversity stating that it is not just about representation, it's about opportunity. He explained how as an ex-NFL player he had to develop a strategy to diversify himself and about the corporate strategy at Bell Helicopter related to diversity.
"Until [diversity] translates into opportunity for everyone, it's just talk."Moving forward
Each of the panelists brought an enlightened perspective on diversity that went beyond the typical race, ethnicity, sex, religions, etc.
Also, going back to Mitch Hill's reference, the mask metaphor, in my opinion, is fundamental to human communication. It is a great explainer for the different roles we play on a daily basis. We are different (diversity within ourselves) depending on our audience. When I am at home, I play the husband and father roles. At work, my mask is that of a communications/PR professional. With friends...With other family members...With new people...etc. These are all roles that are within me. We all have the different masks to wear. It's not hiding. It's playing the role of a human.
Lastly, the notion that diversity without opportunity is a significant next step. It is not about checking off boxes to make sure your company has this many women or that many Latinos. It is about recognizing the business strategy, objectives, and benefits behind a diversity opportunities.
What do you think? Do you consider yourself to be personally diverse? Do you think you wear masks? Can diversity translate into opportunity?
Monday, July 21, 2008
Here's what I'm thinking this moment about the Web TV one company is doing
It is different, it is creative, and it is catching everyone's attention.
No, it is not your father's news or communication vehicle, or even your grandfather's plan for sharing information, but a top-of-mind energy company is definitely trying something that's out of the box.
They've tapped into some proven talent and have joined with journalists who are currently at the top of their game when it comes to ethics and professionalism. Are these seasoned journalists taking a risk? Are they taking a leap and trying something new? Sure they are. But up until this point, they have not, as of yet, to my knowledge, compromised their values and ethics. I would be very surprised if they do so at this late juncture in their distinguished careers.
The venture has journalists, PR pros and politicians alike giving their thoughts, opinions and forecasts on what this new venture with Web TV means for the company, the consumer and the fields of journalism and public relations.
The program/effort discussed in the articles below will be web-based via a company called Branded News. I found the site interesting.
What concerns me most about the articles highlighting this new communication initiative is when politicians and journalists use a news story like this to take a jab at those individuals who work in the field of public relations and communications. The people I know and work with in the field follow a strict Code of Ethics that is a part of the national association of PRSA of which I am a member.
Read more below:
http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/ethics/preamble_en.html
When reporters go to work in PR, I often hear the phrase "they are going to the dark side." I usually surmise that the person who made the comment knows very little about public relations. I use the opportunity to share the stories about the chances I've had to advocate for important causes and help tell others' stories - like the Fort Worth man who was living on $300 a month and was attacked by a pack of dogs while out on a morning walk. He lost part of his arm and his eyeglasses were destroyed in the tragedy. A viewer saw his story on the evening news and mailed a check for several hundred dollars to him so he could replace his glasses. Or the dear patient, David, who lost his home in the Fort Worth tornadoes. I mean he lost everything, including his beloved truck, and he had survived to tell about it. He was living on a very limited income and he wanted to thank those who helped save his life. He shared his story from his hospital room and within a couple of days a "Good Samaritan" showed up with a new truck for him, keys to a furnished apartment and offered David a new life and a second chance. The Good Samaritan told me at the time: "David's story touched me. I'm here for him and I'll be here for him as long as he needs me." The field is rarely dark and I have always found it to be challenging, educational, rewarding, exciting, heartwarming and a wonderful place to be because it is a place where I can help people and advance important issues around health and wellness.
I think those who make the "dark side" comments or even the "not a bunch of chumps" comment may have forgotten that many of us in "PR" went to journalism school and earned a degree in the field. Whether a journalism major is in the newsroom or the corporate board room, they have an obligation and a duty to tell the truth, share the facts and do the very best job they can do for those they are advocating for ~ be that their company, the consumer, their customers, their readers, their viewers, etc. In my opinion, PR practitioners are very often a stable, sound and vital link from the corporate board room to the newsroom and vice-versa.
Let's see what this new venture offers and reserve judgment as the players requested. Let's watch local talent venture out and try something new and hope for the best. Let's keep a watchful eye and continue listening to our customers and our stakeholders. It is an exciting time for our field and we shouldn't let a quote in the newspaper or on a Web site diminish the work we do and believe in.
Just like in Girl Scouts, here's a pledge for you. This time it is from the PRSA Code of Ethics and it can be easily applied to people in many different fields. It was written with PR professionals in mind: "I pledge to conduct myself professionally, with truth, accuracy, fairness, and responsibility to the public; To improve my individual competence and advance the knowledge and proficiency of the profession through continuing research and education; And to adhere to the articles of the Member Code of Ethics 2000 for the practice of public relations as adopted by the governing Assembly of the Public Relations Society of America."
The truth will always prevail. Those who do great work and live by a code of ethical behavior and judgment will succeed, and those who keep their stakeholders, customers, and the needs of their fellow man (woman and child) paramount and advocate for truth, honesty and fairness will always sleep soundly at night and have a place in this ever-changing world of communications and public relations.
No, it is not your father's news or communication vehicle, or even your grandfather's plan for sharing information, but a top-of-mind energy company is definitely trying something that's out of the box.
They've tapped into some proven talent and have joined with journalists who are currently at the top of their game when it comes to ethics and professionalism. Are these seasoned journalists taking a risk? Are they taking a leap and trying something new? Sure they are. But up until this point, they have not, as of yet, to my knowledge, compromised their values and ethics. I would be very surprised if they do so at this late juncture in their distinguished careers.
The venture has journalists, PR pros and politicians alike giving their thoughts, opinions and forecasts on what this new venture with Web TV means for the company, the consumer and the fields of journalism and public relations.
The program/effort discussed in the articles below will be web-based via a company called Branded News. I found the site interesting.
What concerns me most about the articles highlighting this new communication initiative is when politicians and journalists use a news story like this to take a jab at those individuals who work in the field of public relations and communications. The people I know and work with in the field follow a strict Code of Ethics that is a part of the national association of PRSA of which I am a member.
Read more below:
http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/ethics/preamble_en.html
When reporters go to work in PR, I often hear the phrase "they are going to the dark side." I usually surmise that the person who made the comment knows very little about public relations. I use the opportunity to share the stories about the chances I've had to advocate for important causes and help tell others' stories - like the Fort Worth man who was living on $300 a month and was attacked by a pack of dogs while out on a morning walk. He lost part of his arm and his eyeglasses were destroyed in the tragedy. A viewer saw his story on the evening news and mailed a check for several hundred dollars to him so he could replace his glasses. Or the dear patient, David, who lost his home in the Fort Worth tornadoes. I mean he lost everything, including his beloved truck, and he had survived to tell about it. He was living on a very limited income and he wanted to thank those who helped save his life. He shared his story from his hospital room and within a couple of days a "Good Samaritan" showed up with a new truck for him, keys to a furnished apartment and offered David a new life and a second chance. The Good Samaritan told me at the time: "David's story touched me. I'm here for him and I'll be here for him as long as he needs me." The field is rarely dark and I have always found it to be challenging, educational, rewarding, exciting, heartwarming and a wonderful place to be because it is a place where I can help people and advance important issues around health and wellness.
I think those who make the "dark side" comments or even the "not a bunch of chumps" comment may have forgotten that many of us in "PR" went to journalism school and earned a degree in the field. Whether a journalism major is in the newsroom or the corporate board room, they have an obligation and a duty to tell the truth, share the facts and do the very best job they can do for those they are advocating for ~ be that their company, the consumer, their customers, their readers, their viewers, etc. In my opinion, PR practitioners are very often a stable, sound and vital link from the corporate board room to the newsroom and vice-versa.
Let's see what this new venture offers and reserve judgment as the players requested. Let's watch local talent venture out and try something new and hope for the best. Let's keep a watchful eye and continue listening to our customers and our stakeholders. It is an exciting time for our field and we shouldn't let a quote in the newspaper or on a Web site diminish the work we do and believe in.
Just like in Girl Scouts, here's a pledge for you. This time it is from the PRSA Code of Ethics and it can be easily applied to people in many different fields. It was written with PR professionals in mind: "I pledge to conduct myself professionally, with truth, accuracy, fairness, and responsibility to the public; To improve my individual competence and advance the knowledge and proficiency of the profession through continuing research and education; And to adhere to the articles of the Member Code of Ethics 2000 for the practice of public relations as adopted by the governing Assembly of the Public Relations Society of America."
The truth will always prevail. Those who do great work and live by a code of ethical behavior and judgment will succeed, and those who keep their stakeholders, customers, and the needs of their fellow man (woman and child) paramount and advocate for truth, honesty and fairness will always sleep soundly at night and have a place in this ever-changing world of communications and public relations.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Social Media: Under Construction
On Wednesday, July 9, Terry Morawski and I collaborated on a social media presentation for the Greater Fort Worth chapter of PRSA:
Additional presentation options: .pdf, .ppt, slideshare
Additional presentation options: .pdf, .ppt, slideshare
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Common Craft: LinkedIn made simple
For any of our members who might by wondering how LinkedIn can possibly be helpful, this is a great video from the folks at Common Craft. It is especially relevant for small business owners or service providers to show the usefulness of a network:
Thoughts on blogging
from the July issue of the eChaser...
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Laura Van Hoosier, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
As the oldest child, I’ve always had a mind of my own. My mother says that by 2 years old I was giving her direction on our next steps. Now I’ve been inspired by my fellow GFW PRSA members to start a blog, and it’s perfectly in line with an independent spirit.
For me, it’s really just a “live, work, play” online journal (nothing as interesting as my high school diary that my mom read) — a wonderful forum to post web sites, updates about my daughters, family happenings and anything that’s in my world. I sent the link to a few close family members, and my aunt in Hawaii wrote back, “BLOG! BLOG! BLOG! We enjoy keeping up with you this way.”
Blogger.com was the easiest way to get started, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. Each morning I wake up thinking, “What will I post today?” But it won’t matter one iota if I’m the only one who ever reads it. Already I have enjoyed looking back to reference articles, facts, funny things the girls did, photos, etc.
Lisa Gail Barnes, Richie Escovedo, Linda Jacobson, Sarah McClellan-Brandt, Terry Morawski and I are blogging away at fortworthprsa.blogspot.com. To join us, e-mail your blog's link to the chapter webmaster, richie.escovedo[@]gmail.com, and he’ll post it.
You’ll hear how Richie and others have forayed into new media at the July 9 meeting. It ‘ll be a hands-on program, so bring your laptop, and the presenters will walk you through useful tools and tactics you can implement right away for your organization.
Here’s to our country’s independence. Yours and mine, too.
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