What PR Pros Should Know About the GLBT Community - August Recap

The August 2011 speaker shared some stats that all public relations professionals should know, but may have surprised many in the room:

• 75.4% of all Texas voters support prohibiting employment and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation.
• 68% of all Texas voters support gays/lesbians having the same legal rights with respect to their children.
• 79.2% of all Texas voters support uniform anti-bullying legislation to prohibit harassment in schools. [Note: Texas legislature passed an anti-bullying law in May.]

“Texas has come a long way,” said Fairness Fort Worth President Thomas Anable, who grew up in the state, and marvels at how perceptions have changed over the years. After the Rainbow Lounge Raid just two years ago, “Fort Worth now has the most progressive and inclusive policies and ordinances of any other city in the United States.”

Anable said that unlike other cities, Fort Worth residents and officials swiftly acknowledged perception issues associated with the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) community – with the Raid as a catalyst – and earnestly sought to find peaceful, workable solutions.

To show how far we’ve come, he said all City of Fort Worth employees are now required to take four hours of GLBT diversity training. Other organizations are following suit, including public and corporate entities. Also, Fort Worth’s newly elected Mayor Betsy Price is lending political support, having agreed to Grand
Marshal this year’s Fort Worth Gay Pride Parade.

PR Professionals wanting more information about GLBT issues, including the political and economic power they now wield, were directed to the following resources:

1. Human Rights Campaign
2. Equality Texas
3. Lambda Legal
4. North Texas GLBT Chamber

Diversity Committee Chair Mary Gugliuzza said that part of PRSA’s mission is to be more inclusive and welcoming and thus, each year, the chapter dedicates its August program to diversity issues. This includes reaching out to industry professionals of diverse racial backgrounds, ethnicity and sexual orientations, for improved multicultural understanding so that we’re better prepared to address the nation’s diverse audiences.

Related

• PRSA Diversity Today Blog
• PRSA Diversity Efforts
• PRSA Diversity Efforts Handbook

PRSA Southwest District Quick Start 2011 - #prsasw

#Fail: Social Media #PR Disasters - recap

(Cross-posted from the Next Communications blog)

Thanks to Stephanie Scott and Corey Lark for sharing their 10 Lessons from Social Media PR Disasters for the June Ft. Worth PRSA luncheon: (Get their presentation slide deck.)

1. You are not in a vacuum
2. Err on the side of caution; Respond swiftly
3. Be prudent; Accept responsibility
4. Update your tactics
5. Context matters
6. If you apologize, mean it
7. Mocking your customers = bad
8. Be transparent
9. Manage your social media presence (or someone may manage it for you)
10. Sometimes you are the problem

Below is a recap built on Storify from last week's Fort Worth PRSA luncheon. Aside: This was the first time for me to use Storify. (Way cool tool.)

Our chapter blog went to the dogs

(Photo credit: readinginpublic via Flickr Creative Commons)

Ok, I suppose it's not fair to blame Lucy for not coming up with anything good for our chapter's blog. She tried her best, it was just too much to ask this furry friend to write posts for us with any consistent frequency for this blog. Of course, most canines can't understand the in's and out's of public relations, corporate and nonprofit communications trends or thoughts on the profession. Plus, her spelling was atrocious.

We should have tried to get the PR professionals to handle the writing process. Unfortunately, we've not had a major push within the chapter to offer up this blog as a place for members to write posts. And thus, we haven't had anything new since January. (Face in palms)


But, things are about to change. We've let Lucy run free in the backyard and have now opened the blog up to posts from our fellow PRSA members. 

Here's how you can help: Use the online submission form for your guest post. Blog writing is a great way for PR pros to hone writing skills. If you don't have your own blog, feel free to use our chapter blog submission opportunity to share your thoughts. If you do blog elsewhere, be sure to note where you blog so we can include it.

We're looking for posts that cover public relations trends, tools, topics and more. What's happening in your industry or area of expertise? Be creative and share.

What do you think? Is this a good way to add writers to our chapter blog? Have you wanted to write for the blog but didn't know how? We can't wait to see our members' posts.

Fort Worth Media Panel - Learn from the Locals

The first program of the year did not disappoint.

Those hoping to get insight from the Fort Worth 2011 Media Panel heard from editors about imminent publication changes, social media trends, and tips plus preferences for the local PR professional-journalist working relationship.

Below are highlights from each speaker:

Maricar Estrella, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Social Media Editor:

• The Star-Telegram is placing more emphasis on the key role social media plays in news production with the creation of her position last year.
• Mari shared examples of how Facebook or Twitter postings have led to breaking news, albeit, after a thorough journalistic follow-up.
• Mari also shared that she is a blogger on the mom2momdfw.com site.
• When sending photos or other attachments, be aware that there’s a 10mb size limit.
• The following addresses help those wishing to connect with the paper through social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/fwstar; Twitter: @startelegram; @dfwsuperbowl @maricare (use hashtag #sbst to tweet your Super Bowl experience; best tweet will be featured); Gowalla Super Bowl Trip: http://gowalla.com/trips/27156; FourSquare: @maricar estrella
• Email Mari at: maricar@star-telegram.com

Robert Francis, Fort Worth Business Press Editor

• Robert let everyone know to watch for changes soon on the Business Press website.
• There’s a new owner and perhaps you’ve heard of him before: Rich Connor.
• Be sure to sign up for Business Press e-mail alerts, which offer local, breaking business news.
• Keep in mind their weekly deadlines. No need to send notices for events happening after publication.
• Email Robert at: rfrancis@bizpress.net
  

Lois Norder, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Managing Editor

• While newspaper print circulation numbers have gone down, the paper is more widely read – even globally – than ever before.
• Consider always copying the newsroom (newsroom@star-telegram.com) when sending a release or story idea. Chances are that the reporter who used to cover your beat topic has changed positions.
• Stay away from attachments for news delivery when possible – editors like the convenience of cutting and pasting pertinent facts from an email text vs. a PDF.
• Email Lois at: lnorder@star-telegram.com
• BONUS: For those who didn’t get the handout from Lois Norder, she was kind enough to share that information for us to post here. Thanks Lois!

How to get your press release noticed by the Star-Telegram:

1. Put the local angle in the subject line. We look for those that highlight local people or places or issues.
2. Contact the right people. That’s plural, because we have a family of publications, including community newspapers, magazines such as Panache and Indulge and our websites. Call to ask who covers a topic if you haven’t touched base in a while. Be sure to also copy your release to newsroom@star-telegram.com. Except for breaking news, we prefer information via email.
3. Include a contact name, phone number, and address. We require that for photos and story assignments. 
4. Make sure we can cut and paste key details. Don’t use read-only pdfs or other web-based forms that will only pick up an entire block of information. 
5. Time your release. Friday is too late to send information on long-planned weekend events. A month in advance is too soon, except for the biggest events when we want to save a date. For breaking news, send the release immediately and follow up.

Key contacts:

Newsroom@star-telegram.com — For all press releases

lnorder@star-telegram.com — Lois Norder, managing editor for news

cxwilliams@star-telegram.com — Celeste Williams, managing editor for sports and features

cmallette@star-telegram.com — Catherine Mallette, features editor

jfuquay@star-telegram.com — Jim Fuquay, business editor

etrainor@star-telegram.com — Gene Trainor, editor for Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake weekly

amurray@kellercitizen.com — Alice Murray, editor of the Keller Citizen

nmatocha@thetimesregister.com — Nancy Matocha, editor for Roanoke, Westlake, Trophy Club and Haslet weekly

arogers@mansfieldnewsmirror.com — Amanda Rogers, editor of the Mansfield News-Mirror

mbaker@star-telegram.com — Max Baker, editor of the Arlington Citizen-Journal

lwinter@weatherford.com — Lance Winter, editor of the Weatherford Telegram

Passing the torch of the chapter presidency

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN -- Tom Burke, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA

It’s great to return home after an incredible five weeks in Turkey.

Turkey is a hidden gem; at least it was to me. I’m glad I discovered this amazing country, full of the most genuine, happy, caring, proud and fun-loving people you will ever meet. If the opportunity to visit Turkey arises, seize it. Or just create the opportunity for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

[Note: Tom was in Turkey taking part in the IBM Corporate Service Corps.]

Not only is it good to be back in the U S of A, it’s good to be back during the holiday season, which is one of my favorite times of the year. Especially when the TCU football team is undefeated and all through the land there’s talk of the Horned Frogs perhaps playing in the national championship game! But the end of this year also means that my term as president of Greater Fort Worth PRSA is about over.

Passing the torch

When you’re president of an organization like the Fort Worth PRSA chapter, time can move very, very slowly, and your term can seem to go on and on. But time also flies. In many ways, it seems only yesterday that I was entrusted with the leadership of this incredible group. I am ready, however, to pass the torch to Carol Murray, APR. The chapter is in good hands.

[Photo by stevemoraco via Flickr Creative Commons]

Thank you to Carol, who presided over the board and chapter the nearly two months I was in Turkey, and who was as fine a president-elect as a president could hope for. Thanks, also, to the other officers and the board members, all of whom made this a successful and unforgettable year. A special thanks to Andra Bennett, APR; Laura Van Hoosier, APR; and Marc Flake, former presidents who accepted other officer roles this year and always were ready with feedback, guidance and recommendations. It says a lot about an organization when leaders step forward year after year to contribute their expertise. And thank you to the new members who assumed leadership roles. You are our future, and the trust and respect you earned this year will serve you well.

This has been one of the most energizing, fulfilling and amazing years of my 35-year career. I only hope that in some way I helped make 2010 as memorable for others as it has been for me.

Thank you.