PR/Marcom Colloquy

CLE Comm 355: Week 3

I have posted student URLs on this class blog (right sidebar). Please check to see if your name is on the list. I have had issues with Clemson email address and I am trying to reconcile Clemson and Gmail inbox. If you do not see your name on the site and you are enrolled in the class, do not worry...send me your blog URL ASAP to [email protected]. I will post on the list as soon as I receive.

Currently, you should have three posts published: introduction, your definition of public relations and thoughts on Chapter 1. A video lecture will be available for viewing this Wednesday (on BlackBoard) to discuss topics from weeks 1-3.

Do not hesitate to ask questions. Best chance is to send email to gmail address or call me on my mobile: 817.714.7516.

Attn: Clemson Students Week 1-2

Students,

I apologize, but I am in the middle of moving cross-country from Dallas to Boston. Please email your blog URLs to me no later than 30 August to [email protected] or [email protected]. I am still having some technical issues with Clemson email address, so you might want to CC the gmail address.

The first blog posts should be your student introduction (please do not divulge personal information and be aware of your digital identity) and your definition of public relations. I do not want you to regurgitate the text. Please give me your impression of the industry...where do you agree/disagree with the definition? Can we box in the public relations industry to a definition? You tell me.

Food for thought:

• http://www.russpage.net/definition-of-public-relations/
• http://toughsledding.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/a-sort-of-unified-definition-of-public-relations-without-a-single-mention-of-marketing/
• http://pr-bridge.com/2009/06/18/the-new-canadian-definition-of-public-relations/
• http://prsarahevans.com/2009/07/whats-your-definition-of-public-relations/
• http://doughaslam.com/2009/07/15/1632/

I will be back online next Tuesday with video lectures to coincide with your chapter and BB resources.

If you have any questions, call or email me at any time!

CLE Comm 355-400: Blog Creation

Please note, your syllabus requires you to create a blog for class use. We will discuss the reasoning and use for blog in first class, but please, set-up a blog prior to class through PRblogs.org. Creation of blog is simple and FREE. It is your choice to use another blog platform. Please note, when creating a PRblogs.org account, a gmail account may be required.

Individual Blog Work – In accordance with the syllabus readings, you are responsible for posting at least two (but not limited to) weekly topic-related posts.Each post must be 200-300 words and include:

• link(s) to appropriate and topic related resources
• contain multiple web links/permalinks

Each student is required to 'comment' six times throughout the term on class members' or other topic-related blog entries. If you comment on blogs outside of class, please provide me the URL/permalink of all blog posts at the end of the course.

Please refrain from lack of professionalism to include, inappropriate tone, language, grammar and spelling in online discussions. Please imagine the other course participants are your co-workers. Anything that would be inappropriate in a workplace or in face-to-face conversation is also inappropriate online.

Each spelling, grammar or proofreading error will cause a one point deduction in all assignments. I won’t count your spelling errors in discussion posts, but if your posts are chronically filled with spelling and grammar errors, you will lose up to 100 points for the overall quality of discussion points.

Presenting someone else’s work as your own is considered plagiarism. Please use sources responsibly and cite them often.

You are expected to make solid, valuable contributions to the discussion. New ideas, questions that get people thinking and additional examples are appreciated. Feel free to disagree with other posts, but do so politely, without making the attack personal. Focus on ideas and keep the discussion on topic.

MKT 208: NO Class, 29 June

Apparently, there is no class tonight, 28 June because of the upcoming holiday. Enjoy your break. I will see all of you again next Monday, 6 July. Make sure you send me the URL of your blog to my email, [email protected], before the next class.

UPDATE: For those of you who still do not have your textbooks, the overarching blog topics corresponding to class chapter discussion are:

PART 1: THE WORLD OF MARKETING.

1.An Overview of Marketing.

2.Strategic Planning for Competitive Advantage.

3.Ethics and Social Responsibility.

4.The Marketing Environment.

5.Developing a Global Vision.

ATTN: MKT 208 Summer Semester

Please note, your syllabus requires you to create a blog for class use. We will discuss the reasoning and use for blog in first class, but please, set-up a blog prior to class through PRblogs.org. Creation of blog is simple and FREE.

I know this may seem scary, but at the end of the course, I hope you will become more familiar with social media and how to integrate these tools with traditional media practices. I am not the only professor using blogs as a teaching tool. Take a minute to read fellow educator's post, What does blogging teach?

Gov 2.0 Camp Mind Map

Cross-posted to Communicators Anonymous.

Last month, I attended the first Government 2.0 Camp. It was a brilliant experience! Approximately 500 peers, thought leaders, social media pioneers and the occasional government 2.0 carpetbagger addressed the opportunities and challenges of new media in government functions. The break-out groups were relatively small in comparison to the massive audience sizes of SxSWi sessions.

It was invigorating to see other agencies putting new practices into play and to rub shoulders with those on the Beltway that I do not get to interact with much because our DoD agency, AAFES, is located in Dallas, Texas. Unfortunately, over two days and 110 sessions, I heard more than my fair share of tool buzz versus execution and policy questioning, but that was expected.

I think it is important to stress that government does not need social media for greater transparency...what we need is re-evaluation of policy hindering transparency (who, what, when, where, why - How do we collaborate and share internally? Think Enterprise 2.0.) then use the tools to spread the word and further collaborate externally.

As promised, instead of taking linear notes, I mind-mapped the camp! Never before have I taken notes like this...and I am still learning. I need to incorporate more images...but here is my stab at the buzz of Gov 2.0 Camp:

(Please note: I did not list specific tools/applications/platforms like Twitter, FB, etc.)

ADV110: Jingle Midterm

Follow these directions to write the jingle about any product/service. Midterms are due by start of the fourth class and must be published to your blog. For inspiration, read the jingles written by a previous MK class.

ATTN: ADV 110

Please note, your syllabus requires you to create a blog for class use. We will discuss the reasoning and use for blog in first class, but please, set-up a blog prior to class through PRblogs.org. Creation of blog is simple and FREE.

I know this may seem scary, but at the end of the course, I hope you will become more familiar with social media and how to integrate these tools with traditional media practices. I am not the only professor using blogs as a teaching tool. Take a minute to read fellow educator's post, What does blogging teach?

Mind the Gap: The Power of Mind Mapping

(Cross-posted on Communicators Anonymous.)

Last summer, I watched Kami Huyse prepare for her talk at Blog Potomac 2008. She was not writing out her main topic notes, but diagramming them! Kami was mind mapping. Intrigued and inspired, I set-off to learn more about this process. By nature, I am no David Armano, but a linear person. I did not think the visual form of mind mapping could assist me. Well, I was wrong.

The 'Laws of Mind Mapping' and phrase 'Mind Mapping' were originally devised by Tony Buzan, though the process has existed and taken many forms over the centuries. Now the process is made even easier with mapping software, but the principles remain the same. In The Mind Map Book, Buzan claims that the mind map is a vastly superior note taking method because it does not lead to a "semi-hypnotic trance" state induced by other note forms. Buzan also argues that the mind map utilizes the full range of left and right human cortical skills, balances the brain, taps into the alleged 99% of your unused mental potential, as well as intuition (which he calls "superlogic").

Usually I reserve the instruction of mind mapping to my Speech students, but last night, I introduced the concept to my International Marketing students. Why? Not for individual note taking, but to ease cross-cultural communications! (Hat tip to Cindy King for leading me to this article.) This article made me think about sharing my mind maps and easing communications across social media tools.

I use mind mapping to plot my blog posts, story and speech outlines. Rarely do I use mind mapping for meeting notes. Nor do I share my mind mapping notes or process with anyone. My scrawling stays safe in my notebook. I use my blogs, email and twitter to crowdsource thoughts and occasionally use a hashtag to track feedback. Unless the feedback is summarized in a blog post, the original intent for solicitation is not generally shared.

Too often we see only through a narrow lens. What if I used mind maps to track the rabbit holes my mind takes and share with the world? Questions would be raised and answered by the people with additional experiences. Gaps would be filled in; pieces of the puzzle fit properly and the overall picture visible to all.

A common complaint about coverage of SxSWi and other conferences is that those tweeting or live blogging the event do not pause for reflection. The content is simply regurgitated.

Reflection is built into the mind mapping process.

This weekend, I will be attending Govt 2.0 Camp and will try mind mapping the unconference. I will post my maps on this blog. Wish I would have thought of this sooner...all notes of SxSWi are written long-hand.

How do you use mind maps? Pros and Cons? Favorite software tool?

Additional Resources:

• Buzan World - How to Mind Map
• Learn how to draw Mind Maps with Mind Tools
• 11 Free Mind Mapping Applications and Web Services
• Mind Google (This is so fun-Thank you to Wendy Harman for sharing!)

(Mind Map image courtesy Buzan World.)

Class Discussion 3/17: International Mktg

We will use Twitter for tonight's class discussion. To follow discussion, you will log-in to Twitter using TweetChat. Enter room #nwcd1 (type in this hashtag). Here you will be able to follow the entire class discussion using hashtag (#nwcd1). Read the Twitter Fan Wiki for more information about hashtags. This is very simlple. Just log-in and begin using TweetChat; the hashtag will automatically be included in all your tweets so your information is contained to the #nwcd1 stream.

Class discussion begins at 7pm and will end at 8pm. I will post questions and articles for you to read and discuss in the stream. Remember, it is all about participating and adding value to the conversation!