OKPrProf

OKPrProf Turns Off the Lights

To show my support for Earth Hour I am going dark, turning off the lights, shutting down the power and enjoying an hour (or more) of sweet serenity. In the process I might just help save our planet. I encourage everyone to do the same today and everyday.

By the way, just to bring this back to Public relations, check out Google. Does it get any better than that?

When you turn your lights back on, post a note in the comments section and let the world know your thoughts.

Not Your Mama's Social Media

Well worth checking out, www.modernista.com has taken social media... to where it should be. The exception is they have cut out the middle man... themselves. Look for their site, it is the small red box in the upper left corner of the screen. As for the rest of the site, they let others do the "social" work.

While this may be an extreme example, it does beg the question, when you visit a company's website, why don't they have a link to their wikepedia page or other social media sites. For example, visit www.okstate.edu. Is there room for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_State_University on their front page? Is the visitor likely also to visit wikipedia as well? And, if they do will they benefit from the experience? The answer is yes, yes and yes.

One more point. For all the PR/comm folks out there, make a visit to all the social media sites that reference your company. Be familiar with what others are saying. If there are errors, make corrections. If the truth hurts, make internal corrections.

Bouncing Around the Room

As promised to my PR Comm Methods Class (2 p.m.) - Phish, one of the greatest bands of the 1990's, playing one of their most popular songs, "Bouncing Around the Room." I will see if I can find a better video, but this sets the stage.

A little history for the purpose of this post. I came back from spring break without a voice. Told my class I lost it at a Phish concert. Only some knew what I was talking about. For those that did, I think I gained some street cred. Not much though, I am sure.

Want To Do Something Monumental But Don't Know Where To Start?

I had the opportunity to meet some wonderful Oklahoma State University Journalism students who reside in JB House. I was there to talk about PR but, for those who know me well, the conversation meandered, digressed and at times was perched high on a pedestal.

Topics ranged from what they could do to better their chance of getting a job after graduation, thoughts on a portfolio, and then my favorite topic, how each of them, individually or collectively, could do something monumental, something really big.

My thoughts on the subject surround the fact that the OSU School of Journalism is filled with students whose ultimate purpose in life will be, through a variety of communication channels, to educate, persuade, make change, etc. Put several hundred in a room and imagine what we could do. But then came the rub, "I wouldn't know where to start" was the comment from one.

A fair and common comment, one I hear from all too many adults. I think there are two elements to this comment: First, it is an easy out from doing the work to accomplish something monumental. Second, we are trained to think that way. I always offer the following to people who say they wouldn’t know where to start - Ask an adult how to put an elephant in a refrigerator and they will respond that you can't. Ask a five year old the same question and they will tell you to open the door and put the elephant in. Point being, don’t over think it. If you want to do something monumental or small, just do it.

We chatted about several local, national and international monumental efforts going on right now. One of my favorites is the Earth Hour Campaign being coordinated by WWF (no, not the wrestling WWF, and, as a matter of fact, there not called that anymore). The campaign is simple. Have everyone turn their lights off for one hour, March 29 at 8 p.m.

I plan on doing it and encourage everyone I know to also participate. We chatted a bit about how cool it would be if Stillwater could be involved. However, since we are just a few weeks out from the deadline, I commented that there probably wasn't enough time to coordinate something like that for our town (a lot goes into having a city power down and then power back up an hour later) but that there is always next year. Then, a moment of greatness occurred. Bobbi Kay Hooper, who was attending the meeting, suggested we try to coordinate a Lights Off/Earth Hour the day after Lights On (an OSU event that occurs the beginning of every school year ~ August 2008 is the next event). Not only would that be cool, but it would be Monumental! Now, imagine if you (yes, you, the one reading this right now) were the one to stand up and decide to lead this charge. How awesome would that be? And, how awesome would that look on your resume!?!?

So, where do you start?

If anyone is up to the challenge and knows how to put an elephant in a refrigerator, drop me a note. I would love to help you do something monumental. And, I am willing to bet there are a bunch of others willing to help as well.

Mr. Hargis Communicates - Very Effectively

I beleive this is Mr. Hargis' first communication that doesn't surround his new position. Mr. Hargis has a long history of being a diplomatic and effective communicator and his effort (below) shows that nothing has changed. His direct message - rethink this bill. More important, in my opinion are his indirect messages. Let me get you started...  he is not afraid to take a position on a hot topic - even when it involves publicly challenging state legislators, safety on his campus is a priority... what other messages do you see. Leave your comments below. Also, feel free to share your comments on the legislation if you wish.

To the OSU Campus,

The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed House Bill 2513 last week which allows certain persons to carry concealed weapons on Oklahoma’s College campuses.  While we all share the concern for the safety of all of our campuses, this proposal is fraught with unnecessary risks. 

We all honor our veterans and members of the armed services, but they are not immune from the few who act irrationally.  And the training the bill requires for others is minimal.  In the end, additional weapons on campus only increase the risk of a weapon in the possession of the wrong person. Moreover, there is no assurance that guns left in dorm rooms or in lockers by approved carriers would not fall into the hands of others. 

This is not the solution.  If it were, similar authorization should be allowed in the State Capitol as well as state, county and municipal offices.  Tragedies happen in all areas of society, not just on college campuses.  Witness the events at Tinker, post offices and other public places. 

What we need is more training and better distribution of our security services, unique alarm systems on campus, increased counseling and training of our students, faculty and staff.  We need more thought and discussion on the steps necessary to make our campuses safer.  We must all become more aware of our surroundings; know what to look for, how to react, and utilize new and more effective means of sounding alarms.  Higher education, through the Governor’s Campus Life and Safety and Security Task Force, has developed a comprehensive statewide plan that is an excellent starting point.  We don’t believe increasing the number of guns on campus is the answer.

Let’s all take a deep breath, study this critical issue and come to a reasonable consensus.  Require an interim study.  Allow the Task Force recommendations to be considered and implemented.  We owe as much to our best and brightest.

Burns Hargis

AAAAWWWWKKKKWWWAAAARRRRRDDDDD....

Credit for finding this goes to Peter Shankman (www.shankman.com). Watch till the end.

Reporter Fights With Anchor On Camera - Watch more free videos

Absolutely Amazing

Shameless self/class promotion

I Think Everyone Should Take Media Relations (JB 4383) (facebook page)

It depends...

I find "it depends" has seen an increased usage in my responses to public relations/communications questions.

Do you ever call a reporter to follow up on a media release? It depends...

Do you have to update your blog every day? It depends...

Does web content have to be updated every day to keep it fresh? It depends...

Are face to face meetings the most effective way to communicate? Yes, most of the time. But, it depends...

Is this the result of the changing nature of public relations and how we communicate? Yes

Is this due to increased usage of technology and technology advancements? Yes

Is this because we are more focused on our audience's need and are better able to align actions, messages, etc. based on the need of our audience whether it be an audience of one or one million? Yes

Is "it depends" simply a statement that more information is now needed to give an appropriate response? Yes

Does this mean we have to be evermore on our toes, aware of changes in our industry, changes in our audience? Changes in fillintheblank? Most definitely.