Welcome to my blog!!! Here's where I write about my time as a college student in Centennial College's Corporate Communications and Public Relations Program, my thoughts on PR and Corporate Comms and anything cool.
Blog Post #5 - Reflection: From the classroom to the board room
Most 20 something year olds consider themselves to be experts in social media. They have this preconceived notion that updating their Facebook status, sending out a tweet, or posting a video constitutes proficiency in social media. In reality, social media involves way more than just sharing digital content with friends and family. Social media is about community engagement, sharing ideas and thoughts, and it’s also a tool that has revolutionized how companies do business.
More and more companies are relying on social media platforms in order to connect their business, products and services with existing and perspective customers. For instance, for a small company looking to break ground in a new consumer area, social media can be an invaluable, cheap and effective tool. In fact, 72 percent of small businesses find that going social boosts website traffic.
Social media gives small businesses the chance to reach several key objectives including: generating buzz and awareness about their products and services; posting and creating user generated content; expanding reach; creating a persona; providing instantaneous feedback to customers; fostering communication with other businesses; and creating promotions and deals at a low cost.
One of the major assignments for this course involved creating a social media plan for HAHN Investment Stewards, a company who is currently interested in leveraging their services, products and expertise to a certain targeted demographic. The assignment consisted of creating a social media plan that included key components such as: research and statistics about social media use; a specific target audience; key Messages; objectives, desired outcomes, tactics, timing; and evaluation.
As part of the assignment, I got the chance to present my social media plan to HAHN Investment Stewards representatives during a 5-minute presentation. During my presentation, I outlined the specific key deliverables, tactics and strategies that could be implemented by HAHN Investment Stewards. I found this assignment to be an excellent learning experience. It gave me the chance to leverage an actual working document to a potential client.
So, the next time someone tells you social media is only about updating his or her Facebook status, sending out a tweet, or posting a video, tell him or her the truth. Tell them how social media is revolutionizing how companies do business.
Ideacity is know as ‘Canada’s Premier Meeting of the Minds.’ It is an eclectic gathering of artists, adventurers, authors, cosmologists, doctors, designers, entertainers, filmmakers, inventors, magicians, musicians, scientists and technologists all under one roof.
As a youth delegate, I got a chance to hear different speakers, share their genius and expertise on a plethora of subject matters, including such ideas as: robotics, transportation, music, animals, and space to name a few. It was definitely a cool experience. It was very interesting and enlightening to listen to what each speaker had to say about new and innovative ideas and theories they were developing.
Challenges & Inspiration
During the three-day conference, there were certain aspects that really challenged my way of thinking. One speaker that comes to mind is Cody Wilson. Wilson is the developer and designer of the first 3D printable firearm. Within 24hours of his invention hitting mainstream media, the digital download of his 3D gun blueprints reached the thousands.
Wilson runs and operates Defense Distributed, a nonprofit corporation in the state of Texas, organized and operated exclusively for charitable and literary purposes. According to the company's website, Defense Distributed purpose is, “To defend the civil liberty of popular access to arms as guaranteed by the United States Constitution and affirmed by the United States Supreme Court, through facilitating global access to, and the collaborative production of, information and knowledge related to the 3D printing of arms; and to publish and distribute, at no cost to the public, such information and knowledge in promotion of the public interest.”
Since creating the 3D gun, Wilson and his company have been under severe scrutiny from the US State Department and the Department of Homeland Security. The US State Department fears a 3D printed firearm will only perpetuate gun crime and violence if it falls into the wrong hands. Terrorist and criminal organizations that utilize violence will now have an easier and more cost-effective approach when it comes to acquiring weapons.
After hearing Wilson speak at Ideacity, I became a bit cynical about his political ideology and how he was positioning his creation as a challenge against the state’s monopoly over the use of violence. I had difficultly supporting his radical anarchist theory. His political ideas were in stark contrast of my own liberalist ideology.
Although I did not agree with some of the concepts he brought forth to the discussion, I found his 3D firearm creation to be remarkable, ingenious and an amazing leap forward for 3D printing. Wilson is indeed a leader amongst his contemporaries and a pioneer in his respective field.
Final Thoughts
As a youth delegate, I found Ideacity to be an incredible worthwhile experience. I learned about so many cool and unique ideas that are happening right now at this very moment. I also got a chance to rub shoulders and interact with the best technical minds on the planet. I can’t wait for next year’s Ideacity.
Online PR & Social Media: Blog Post #4 - The Power of T.V.
You’re probably asking yourself, what the hell is so good about Albuquerque, New Mexico? Well, for starters, I’m a huge Breaking Bad fan. I’ve been following the lives of Mr. Walter White and Mr. Jesse Pinkman, the main protagonist, or should I say, antagonists of the show for some time now.
For those readers who don’t know about this show, the show it is about the tragic tale of a local high-school chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin, his junkie partner and their Kafkaesque tale of murder, drugs and revenge. It’s a great show and I highly recommend it.
Anyways, back to my point. The show is filmed on location in and around the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The film crew uses real life businesses, stores, diners, and apartment buildings as living set pieces for the show. This has caused numerous tourists to flock to the city of Albuquerque for a chance to take a picture at one of the several sets
For instance, there are now Breaking Bad tours that show tourists the actual sets where most of the filming is done. The most popular has been The Bad Tour, owned and operated by ABQ Trolley Co., For $65, the open air trolley tour will take you on a 3.5 hour journey to all the famous sets used in the filming of the show.
The town of Albuquerque website even promotes the Breaking Bad tour in a PR effort to draw in more fans and tourists. It’s crazy that a city would promote a television show, let alone a television show that depicts drugs, murder and violence. But it works for them and no one seems to be complaining.
The show has been an amazing PR tool for the city of Albuquerque’s tourist efforts. The show’s skyrocketing popularity has positioned Albuquerque as the coolest place to check out. Tourists are flocking and dropping big bucks for their chance to walk the real life sets where much of the show has been filmed for the past years, snap some on set photos, and pick up a Breaking Bad souvenir along the way. I’ll be sure to secure my next trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
When you traveled to Arizona, were you part of the youth program? Im going next summer, and its nice to know what to expect :)
Hey there,
Thanks for reading my blog. Its always great to hear from someone who has an interest in humanitarian work. I was part of my college’s Global Citizenship and Equity Learning Experience (GCELE). Its a chance for college students to work with local communities at the grassroots level. The GCELE program is run not by the actual college itself, but by Free The Children’s Me To We organization. Me To We is an amazing organization and they really take care of the students and staff who go on their trips. They really make you feel at home while your down there, especially at Windsong ranch. I highly recommend it. You’ll definitely have so much fun when your down there.
Online PR & Social Media: Blog Post #3 - Xbox One PR Failure
At a recent press conference, Microsoft unveiled the latest iteration of its Xbox home entertainment console, the Xbox One. Microsoft has labeled the Xbox One as the latest and greatest entertainment system for the new generation of video game consoles.
According to Microsoft’s public relations department, “the Xbox One does it all.” Xbox One will be able to play, “the biggest blockbuster games, to the most popular TV shows to the best of the Web.” Microsoft is presenting their new gaming console as a system that is, “Built by gamers, for gamers. Xbox One takes gaming to a whole new level. Stunning realism, advanced AI that adapts to the way you play, and a new generation of multiplayer that is both smarter and faster.”
Despite Microsoft’s bold claims in its public relations campaign, there has been a lot of negative criticism from gamers and video game experts alike. Critics have found the new Xbox One to be too restrictive for their consumer needs. For instance, the Xbox One will use region locking to lock games down geographically. This means that a North American player won’t be able to play their friend’s Japanese copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Secondly, the Xbox One will not let gamers play used games without imposing a user/licensing fee. This means that gamers can no longer buy a used game for cheap, or borrow one from their buddies and expect to play it on their new Xbox without incurring an additional installation fee. This is a way to push gamers to buy fully priced games and reduce illegal piracy.
Finally, the Xbox One’s general astetic look has been a marketing and public relations nightmare for Microsoft. The gaming community has gone on record calling the Xbox One’s appearance as clunky, too big and ugly. Microsoft’s new console has been compared with an old 1980s VCR. In an age where, technological gadgets are becoming more sleek, aerodynamic, smaller and cooler, this huge and bulky system is a step backwards when compared to the current standard.
Despite Microsoft’s rocky start with the Xbox One, the company does have the potential to completely change its public relations campaign and get consumers and the gaming community to buy into their marketing pitch. Microsoft will have to re-evaluate its current public relations campaign, and promote an entertainment console to suit the current consumer opinion. Only time will tell if Microsoft’s Xbox One really will be the next big entertainment system or not.
Online PR & Social Media: Blog Post #2 - Crisis Communication
Your first responsibility is to the victims and their families. They should get the information first, whenever possible.
Acknowledge social media as an instantaneous source for not-so-reliable news.
Be professional with the media, but don’t be afraid to show emotion. Members of the media can stay detached from the tragic event and focused on covering the news. That doesn’t mean you should.
Work with law enforcement. Everyone should provide consistent and complementary information at regular intervals.
Tighten up leaks. This will keep media from playing sources off one another.
Don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know or, “that’s confidential at this time." Sharing information that families should get first or that could compromise an investigation should be avoided.
Provide a briefing schedule and stick to it. Consistency helps build confidence.
Effectively identifying, approaching, and responding to an emerging crisis, whether it be man-made, technologically created, or naturally occurring can be a difficult task for any organization and its public relations professionals. However, if done correctly, efficiently and in a manner that seeks to reduce short and long-term consequences, the organization responsible for overseeing the crisis can achieve a successful outcome for its internal and external stakeholders.
In the last couple months, there have been crises that have put PR professionals and their communications skills to the test. For example, following the tragic event in Boston in 2013, PR professionals representing the City of Boston and the Boston Police Department were able to ensure to the public and the media that everything was being done to capture and bring those responsible for the attack to justice. These PR professionals took Rudawsky’s seven principles and applied them to the situation.
On the other hand, there have been some crises where Rudawsky’s seven principles were completely ignored. For example, the PR efforts aimed at ending the growing allegations of drug use against Toronto Mayor Rob Ford have been a disaster. At this point, stakeholders are uncertain if they should believe anything the Mayor expresses as actual fact. In this situation, Ford’s PR team failed to follow Rudawsky’s seven principles.
If PR professionals do not effectively follow Rudawsky’s seven principles, stakeholders will no doubt have difficulty understanding what is being communicated or asked of them. Valuable time may be wasted in an effort to decipher the message given. In a very tense crisis situation such as a natural disaster, pandemic or terrorist attack, this could potentially affect countless of lives and disrupt and weaken critical infrastructure.
It is imperative that PR professionals invest time and energy in developing creative and effective communication solutions that can guarantee their message will be clearly transmitted and will be able to reach the intended audience.
Online PR & Social Media: Blog Post #1 - The Benefits of Social Media
Social media has become the communication method of choice for people all over the world. It has become a valuable communication tool aimed at spreading news, information and entertainment to a vast numbers of audiences in a short period of time. Social media networks like Twitter and Facebook are amazing communication tools which allow audiences to engage with each other in different countries.
I recently took part in the Applied Research and Innovation Symposium 2013 (ARIS13) hosted by Centennial College. My role during this symposium was to live tweet in real time in order to generate internal and external interest about the subject matter being discussed by the keynote speakers.
By using social media tools such as Twitter and Twitter-Fall, I was able to monitor and track all the incoming tweets from the audience members. I was also able to tweet out on behalf of Centennial College and comment on what was occurring during the symposium.
The symposium became an interactive online forum where people could communicate their thoughts, ideas and opinions about the topics being discussed instantaneously. The feedback from the online community was amazing and made it feel as if the audience was really connecting with what was being said by the different keynote speakers.
Nevertheless, despite the benefits of using social media, there are those who are a bit skeptical about the versatility and applicability of using it. For example, during the lunch break, an audience member asked me about the value of using social media. She was a bit cynical towards the idea of using social media, seeing it as more of a gimmick than a professional communication tool. She felt that using an online program such as Twitter was too complex and difficult for someone in her age group. She felt that as a college professor, Twitter had no real purpose or use in her field.
I suggested she reconsider her position on social media. I suggested that if she used Twitter, she could easily create a digital presence within academic realm. By having an online presence, she could better connect with her students on the subject matter she teaches outside of class hours. I also mentioned that one of the benefits of using Twitter was its ability to connect different users across borders. It connects people to subject matters that interest them.
At the end of our brief conversation, I assured her that if she attempted to use Twitter, she would no doubt find it easy to use in no time at all. Hopefully she’ll enjoy using Twitter as much as I do.
Intro. Corporate Communications Reflective Blog Post
During the 11 weeks I spent in Introduction to Corporate Communications, I gained valuable knowledge about different topics, themes and subjects pertaining to corporate communications and public relations. I learned about: the role of a communicator; the history of public relations and ethics; corporate culture and social media; understanding stakeholders and key messages; how to write an effective strategic placemat; community relations and corporate social responsibility; investor relations; internal communications; and government relations.
Throughout the course, I was also tasked with writing several different assignments, both individually and in groups. One individual assignment I found incredibly useful was the communicator assignment. For this assignment, each student was responsible for contacting and interviewing a communicator working in a corporate communications and public relations role for a particular business or company. The student was then tasked with presenting his or her findings and conclusion in a written report.
I was fortunate enough to secure a communicator for this assignment. Her name is Danica Gallaher and she currently works for Ledcor Group. My communicator and her team felt the most appropriate way through which to project the company’s mission, vision and values was through the use of corporate presentation videos. She, along with her team, felt that a professionally made corporate presentation video could in fact encapsulate and demonstrate what her company does best for potential stakeholders. After completing this assignment, I was able to understand the different methods and approaches that can be used by communicators in projecting their company’s mission, visions and values. I also understood how budgetary constraints might limit what a company’s communication department can and cannot do
Throughout this course, social media has been a key topic that has run alongside a majority of the topics and subjects we covered in class. In regards to my communicator, I was a bit surprised at how little her team relied on social media as a communication and public relations tool. The idea of undervaluing social media seems to be a recurring attitude amongst big companies. They simply do not understand social media and have no idea how to use it, or they regard it as a gimmick.
Before starting this course, I saw social media as a fun method in which to communicate with friends and family. I mostly used Facebook to post vacation photos and chat with friends living overseas. Four months ago, I had no idea what a tweet or hash tag was. I never saw social media as something remotely serious, or as a potential business and communications tool.
This course has showed me the value of social media. I believe that if used correctly, companies can benefit tremendously and gain a lot of global exposure over a short period of time. On the other hand, I have also learned about some of the dangers and pitfalls if social media is used the wrong way. If used incorrectly, the wrong key message can be sent out, which in turn can essentially ruin a company's public reputation and send its stock value crashing.
Today, there are vast amounts of people across different borders and regions, of different ages, demographics and psychographics that depend on social media as a source of information, news and entertainment. Social media can attract and inform millions of people across the globe in seconds. It can also effectively destroy, embarrass and slander an individual or a company.
This course has taught me a great deal about the value of communicating ideas, concepts, thoughts and opinions in a clear and concise way. It is my task as a future corporate communications and public relations practitioner to use to my knowledge and understanding of the various communication techniques available to me, including social media, in order to relay information to key stakeholders in a concise and transparent manner and free from ambiguity and jargon.
Music Heals - Faktory Audio becomes newest sponsor
Music Heals is proud to have Faktory Audio as one of its sponsors. Faktory Audio has generously donated to Dr. Roz's Healing Place. Please check them out at http://www.faktoryaudio.com
So, it has been a while since I've blogged about my trip. I can't believe it has been exactly one month since I boarded a plane for Tucson, Arizona. It’s amazing how time flies. So without further delay, welcome to part three of my reflection.
By day three we got our hands dirty by helping out at Native Seed farm, http://nativeseeds.org/. According to their website, Native Seed conserves, distributes and documents the adapted and diverse varieties of agricultural seeds, their wild relatives and the role these seeds play in cultures of the American Southwest and Northwest Mexico. They promote the use of these ancient crops and their wild relatives by gathering, safeguarding, and distributing seeds to farming and gardening communities.
We helped on the farm doing simple chores, such as husking corn. This was actually the first time I ever husked corn. It was great way to not only help out on the farm, but also learn a lot about the different varieties and species of corn. I ended up learning a lot about seeds and how much seeds depend on the development and cultivation of nutrients and resource such as water.
By day four, we shifted our focus from environmental concerns to illegal migration issues. We traveled two hours to the small border towns of Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Mexico. There we met up with Mark Adams. Mark is the coordinator for the Frontera de Cristo, a non-profit organization that works with churches and presbyteries on both sides of the border. Frontera de Cristo works along the border in order to spread its message about justice, love, mercy and God.
Mark showed us the wall that separates Mexico and the United States. In my opinion, the wall is an ugly and imposing steel structure, reminiscent of the West Bank barrier, or the Berlin Wall. As of late, the border wall has become a heavily militarized area that disturbs the surrounding landscape with its imposing facade. It is lined with all latest security measures set in place to keep illegal migrants out. This includes border guards, unmanned aerial vehicles, searchlights, CCTV cameras, remote surveillance equipment, sound and terrain sensors, etc.
After speaking with Mark, we then crossed the border into Sonora, Mexico. It surprised me how easy it is to cross the border into Mexico as a Canadian. The Mexican border guards barely looked twice at my passport. We started our journey into Agua Prieta by visiting CAME, a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre. We met some of the interns who live at the centre. We met a group of sisters who were 15 and 13 years old respectively. They had both been substance abusers. Through CRREda they were given a second chance at life, free from drugs and alcohol. It completely amazed me how supportive a place like CRREda can be to those who suffer from substance abuse. The wonderful thing about this centre is its ability to turn people’s lives around without resorting to Western style medication.
We ended the day by taking the migrant trail across the desert. We walked the same paths many of the illegal migrants take in their attempts at crossing the border. It was a tough and treacherous path to cross during the daytime. I can only imagine how difficult it would be for anyone to cross the desert in the middle of the night.
At the end of the day we were all completely tired and worn out. As I climbed into my sleeping bag, I began to reflect on the day. I really learned a lot on that first day in Agua Prieta. I imagined myself in the shoes of one of the migrants. I imagined myself taking the long treacherous journey into American in the hopes of finding a better life for my family.
Anyways, that is about it for this blog post. Stay tuned, as I’ll post part four.
I can't believe Music Heals is just around the corner. Were almost at the finish line and their have been a lot of ups and downs. The biggest has been our main headliner dropping out. But I guess thats the music life for you. On the upside we've acquired an amazing talented young singer named Lori Nuic to be our new headliner. Check her out at http://lorinuic.com.
It has been a couple days since I've been back home. I've had some time to reflect on my journey and really take it all in. I figured the best way to tell my story is piece by piece, kinda like a tv mini-series. Like all good stories, I guess I'll start mine from the very begining.
Our adventure started on Friday March 1st, 2013, at approximately 3 a.m. Toronto time. We left Pearson Airport early in the morning hours and touched down in Tucson, Arizona around mid day. By the time we landed I was completely beat. The jet lag was really setting in.
We met our Me To We facilitators, Jensen and Amanda (aka Fanny), at the airport. I tell you about the origin of her nickname in a later story. They drove us to Windsong Ranch, our home away from home for the next ten days. Windsong Ranch is a small self-sustainable farm nestled between the rolling Patagonia mountains and the neighbouring town of Nogales. It is an amazingly beautiful place where you can come, unwind and really connect with nature if your ever up to it. I highly recommend checking it out.
Our first day on Windsong Ranch we were introduced to another trip facilitator named Erin. Like Jensen and Amanda, Erin played a key component to our adventure. We got a chance to talk to Erin and a fellow by the name of Kaleb about permaculture. They explained what Windsong is currently doing in terms of promoting sustianable growth, development and waste reduction.That night was a pretty as we were all tired and beat from the plane ride. Despite my weariness, I was excited for the next day.
The second day brought plenty of surprises. My day started by getting to know Anubis and Feliz, two dog-wolf hybrids that live at the ranch. They are amazing and gentle creatures and I have the pictures to prove it! We started the day by taking a hike across a local state park in the Patagonia region. We got to walk up the mountains and experience what it must have been like to walk the rough terrain of Arizona as a migrant.
We then made our way to Deep Dirt Farm where we met a remarkable women promoting permaculture on her land with nothing but simple tools, recycled parts and a can do attitude. She showed us how dependent Arizona is on water as a valuable resource and how damaging it can it can be to the surrounding environment.
That is a small summary of what happened during our first two days. Stayed tuned. Next blog post I'll have plenty more to cover.
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