Q&A with a British PR guru

One of the aspects I have enjoyed most from Weber Shandwick is the global learnings and network. You’ll find that often times, many companies will use this as a selling point, when in reality, you may not have interaction with colleagues outside of your building. In my nine months at Weber, I have worked extensively with our London, Germany and Asia teams and have learned a great deal through them. Working at a global agency exposes you to different societies, cultural behavior and work styles.

Through this global networking, I had the pleasure of “virtually meeting” Colin Byrne. Colin first joined Weber in 1995 and has since become the CEO of Weber Shandwick Europe.  Prior to, Colin was heavily involved in international affairs and politics having worked for The Labour Party and serving as the deputy to the current EU Commissioner, Peter Mandelson.

Simply put, Colin is a busy, busy man. Fortunately, he was kind enough to let me pick his brain on public relations practices overseas, cultural differences and what advice he has for younger PR enthusiasts looking to expand their work to think, breath and work globally.

Q: Having traveled between the US and Europe, how would you say the approach to PR varies in each place? Are there any case studies or campaigns that can illustrate these differences?

Two main differences, both relating to scale. In Consumer PR, where the US has nine times as many consumers as the UK and a much more decentralised and diverse media, I have seen US campaigns that are awesome in their scale and the use of eye-catching events geared to television. At the other end of the spectrum, in public affairs, I think US companies still take political relations much more seriously and with a greater level of sophistication  than those in Europe.

Do good while Internet surfing -SOSG #2

I’ll make this short and brief, given today’s news about Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, I think we’re all a little sidetracked.

One of the biggest problems regarding social media and philanthropic efforts is that while people take notice and show interest, it may not become actionable. Even the simple task of having people find their wallets to donate online is enough to keep people from donating.

That’s why I thought I’d share this site that I’ve set as my home page and use all the time: GOODSEARCH. So, it’s powered by Yahoo! Search (I know not as good as google or even bing), but when you begin using the search engine, you select a charity of your choice and every time you search, the site will donate a penny to your charity. Now, a penny may not seem like alot, but think about how often you search something on the web…now times that by 7 and you’ll find you’re donating up to $15 a week! Plus, if you use this while working, I’m sure the donations will multiply exponentially!

Also, you can go through the site to do online shopping from 900 top online retailers and a percentage of your purchases will go to the charity or school of your choice.

Here’s an more comprehensive list of ideas (tool bar, custom searches, etc.): http://www.goodsearch.com/getinvolved.aspx#blog

As of now, theres 80,000 charities! It’s simple, easy and completely do-able

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GoodSearch

*This is part of my 21-part series to the Summer of Social Good*

My 21 ways to contribute to the Summer of Love and Social Good

When Mashable decided to create the “Summer of Social Good,” I was ecstatic. It’s obvious how quickly social media has grown and while I find it highly intriguing, I was worried that people would lose some habits of living a very organic, traditional lifestyle. I’m a huge advocate for face-to-face interaction and meeting people from all over the world. I was afraid that social media would allow people to hide behind this online representation of themselves and not strive to be leaders and do activities that they normally would. After the philanthropic campaign was created, I realized that people, while they have changed to be more progressive and forward-thinking, still hold on to the values of simplistic goodness: being good people. Using these sorts of campaigns allow for innovation and are actionable, yet they are still helping amazing non-profits and encouraging people to speak up about their passions and concerns in the world.

As I saw this develop, I realized that I too wanted to help. I’ve always wanted to make an impact, but found it tough to find my niche. To backtrack a bit, It’s important to note that my birthday is JUNE 21ST- summer solstice and the longest day of the year. I’ve always warmed to my birth day and found it the perfect way to kick off a summer. So, to participate in the summer of social good and to start off on the right foot into my 23rd year of life, I’m going to contribute to a summer of love and social good in 21 different ways. I’ve done amazing things in my life (from planning events for The Make-a-Wish Foundation to donating blood to helping run a PR campaign on seat belt safety), but some of my fondest memories have been in helping others and just doing good deeds. Nothing makes me happier

I haven’t quite figured out the details, but please comment below if you have suggestions or ideas. As well, through the help of Philanthropic extraordinaire, Chad Boettcher, I’m also involved in Weber Shandwick’s Social Innovation group that will focus on similar tactics via three specialities, Social Impact, Planet 2050 and the Greenhouse. The team will focus on using these amazing tools and help the greater good. I’m so excited to see how it all plays out All in all, my ways and ideas will be  everything from volunteering or donating or sharing good stories of social good.

Here’s a short list of Ideas thus far:

• best feel good movies
• Philanthropies in Seattle
• Philanthropic events in Portland
• Highlight on wonderful non-profits

To kick off my birthday, I created a Facebook Cause page asking for donations to Charity:Water. So far, I’ve raised over $100, but I’d love any support. It’d be the best gift I could ask for

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/birthdays/82723?m=e0bc6388

Putting Social Media to Good Use

As we all know, social media is taking over the world. It’s an amazing phenomenon and one that Malcolm Gladwell would describe as experiencing a “tipping point.” People are changing habits, relationships are being formed in new ways and we’re all looking to the internet to represent ourselves.

It reminds me of a funny quote from Drew Barrymore from “He’s just not that into you” where she notes that in order to impress someone, it’s no longer about getting your hair cut and styled, but simply, updating your Facebook profile picture.

It can get a bit extreme at times, but what I love, love, love is that NGO’s and non-profits are beginning to capitalize and utilize social media and put it to good use. Why not? If people are willing to invest the time to adapt to new forms of relationship management and communication, why not make it for the greater good?

Zemanta (along with Weber Shandwick) began the “blogging for a cause campaign” thats described as such:

A campaign to give corporate cash to the charitable causes bloggers love

All you have to do is blog about your favorite charity and spread the word. The charity most often blogged about will get a generous donation from both Zemanta and Weber Shandwick. How easy is that? We all know most people blog and a majority update their profiles, so why not take an extra second and recognize a well-deserved non-profit?

My Non-Profit of Choice:

The non-profit that I choose to highlight is Invisible Children. This organization was started to help the children  of northern Uganda find shelter, support and their families. Since the war began, almost 1.8 million children have been displaced from their homes. It has been said that some children have been displaced for almost a decade and have no guarantee to food, water, sanitation and education.

It was hard for me to choose just one organization, but what I love most about Invisible Children is how it all began. It was a grass-roots effort from three travelers who produced a documentary in 2003 about the invisible children of Uganda. From there, the organization was formed. After showcasing the documentary, young avid travelers and philanthropists have worked diligently and ruthlessly to make this situation known. Sure, funding has helped, but what’s most important is the stamina and passion these young adults possessed.

This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “<a href=”http://www.zemanta.com/bloggingforacause/”>Blogging For a Cause</a>” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

I must admit…

I’ve strayed away from my blog and well, blogging in general. It’s been hectic and a roller coaster of a time the last few months and sometimes, you tend to stray away from things you used to do so frequently and really enjoyed. You’re probably wondering “what the heck is she talking about?” So, I’ll explain…

My dad was diagnosed with tonsular cancer in the beginning of February. The news shook my world and the last few months have been filled with chemotherapy sessions, doctor appts, lots of waiting, patience, strength and support. It’s been incredibly challenging, but my dad’s handling everything so gracefully and with a smile, so I too, must hold myself to the same standard of strength and battle. I know we’ll make it through, it’s just now is the time to take each day as it comes and really focus on the betterment of my dad.

With that said, I strayed from writing and my blog. I’m not sure if it was the exhaustion or motivation, but it seemed like at the end of the day, I had a hard time writing without wanting to shout “I’m dealing with cancer in my family!” Yet, as many of you know, it’s tough to even say that to myself =)

It’s been a couple of months since my dad was diagnosed and I’ve really taken the time to take a step back, do some reflecting and prioritizing. I realized that while I love journalism and communications, there is inherently more I am interested in and want to write about. I love writing, communication and expressing myself and I couldn’t be happier with Weber Shandwick, but for now, I think I may leave my main PR/Comm focus to the office. I realize that with everything I’ve gone through, what’s made it most unique was that it coming from the perspective of a generation-Y, young adult. Whether it’s living in a city (from a gen-y perspective), dealing with cancer in the family (from a Gen-y perspective), job hunting (from a gen-y perspective), figuring out how to transition out of college, wanting to live and work abroad…basically, how to handle what many will call “the quarter-life crisis.”

Now you’re probably wondering, “why this blog?” and “why this reader?” There are so many similar blogs that this one may be just another. But, I’d like to consider myself slightly different than the masses. How often do you find a Northwest hippy that loves social and digital media? How often do you come across someone that at 22, has decided that through journalism and communications, is determined to change the world? I would consider myself curious, passionate and open-minded, so I’ll offer some more intriguing insight into everything going on.

I think this is a fair balance. For a while, I almost gave up on blogging. I didn’t want it to be an arduous task, but I thought I had stuck myself in a corner and whilst I wanted to change blog topics, I never knew how to make that smooth transition. I began this blog as an assignment in my undergraduate studies and I want to continue it. Similar to my life right now, I want this blog to morph and adapt to growth and surroundings as I get older.

We’ll see where this all goes, but I thank you for listening. That wasn’t easy =) But, I’m excited. I have lots to share with the world and lots to explore.

The blurring lines between your professional and personal life

As employers are seeking more college graduates with a knowledge of social media and companies are re-strategizing to incorporate  social media components, life for a generation-y practitioner is changing, as we know it.

We should consider ourselves lucky that we were taught and exposed at an early age how to incorporate social and digital tools into our lives, which interestingly, we now see as an every-day characteristic. We blog, twitter, text, email and converse through multiple means throughout the day. Although we find this normal, to companies, this skill is a goldmine. Being able to successfully use another mode of communication that is still new, cutting-edge and requires creativity and innovation is key in relaying a message and standing out.

So as the generation-y enters the work world and immerses themselves in a company setting and uses their personal and academic knowledge of social media, how do we adapt and transcend? It’s becoming more and more that the lines of public and professional work life are blurring and often intertwining as we incorporate more social media tactics. Now, we see that it is not a company or brand speaking, but rather, a person behind twitter or a blog that we can relate to. We’ve seen this become a successful tactic as consumers are finding a stronger connection to companies based on individuals who are the face of the company. My question you is, what happens if you become that person?

Lesson Learned: Opportunity

When I read a new book, I immediately want to share my thoughts and perspective. I realized though how many people are probably just going to mention their favorite book and provide a quick summary.  I thought I’d take it a step further and provide beneficial insight.

I’m currently reading the book “Outliers,” by Malcom Gladwell (writer of Blink and The Tipping Point). In this book, Gladwell discusses the idea and concept behind “success” as he notes that the idea behind is is alot different than most people would believe. Sure it takes hard work and stamina, but as Gladwell notes, a majority of it is opportunity and timing. Now it’s a difficult concept to swallow as you probably interpret your own like and think, “Well, crap am I on the road to success or am I pre-maturely screwed?” You’ll be THRILLED to know that if you’re a Gen-Y blogger, social media enthusiast and has thrives on intellect and curiosity, then we’re in a good spot. As Gladwell points to historic cases such as Bill Gates and The Beatles, I think a major lesson I’ve learned is that although things happen for a reason and timing is everything, It is also our responsibility to take advantage of opportunities, whether or not they seem to be reflected on our original sought after path. We can’t take the sit-back approach in life, but be pro-active in opportunities and when the timing is right.

To further the case, I found an awesome video, “Did you know?” that points to amazing facts found worldwide. In  the end, it perfectly illustrates the social media and internet boom that is currently happening. If only Gladwell had seen this video before writing this book, because he would have noted, “See! I told you so!” As the video shows, Gen-Y is living at the right time. I won’t lie and say this recession hasn’t been terrible, because it has. But it has also allowed for innovation and new opportunities. Through the hardships and troubles, its our responsibility to take advantage of these situations and capitalize on them.

 

Thoughts?

Working, Living and Experience the Abroad

One of the things I love most about public relations is that it is a limitless job and thrives for people that are curious, open-minded and eager. Public relations although primarily conducted in the United States, requires people to think globally, wether in regards to campaigns, event planning or media relations. We most often see Senior-level practitioners have the chance to work abroad, but I always love re-telling stories of young pr practitioners who took their chances and began their careers…abroad.

I interviewed Beth Evans, a former classmate of mine at the University of Oregon, who upon graduation, decided to move to Beijing, China. She has been there for about six months and has already fully immersed herself in the culture and has been a valuable tool to many companies she’s worked for. 

Q: What influenced you to work abroad?

A: I can’t remember a specific time when I decided I wanted to work abroad. I studied abroad in Beijing in the fall of 2005 and didn’t want to leave, which is  when working abroad  became a definite possibility. Since then, which country I worked at became a low priority as the industry, city size, and job duties  were all more important. 

Q: How much did networking come into play when finding a job? What was more influential, your network or your skill set?

A: Networking was definitely more important, especially because in Chinese culture, relationships are everything. The way I got the job was through my college roommate that asked a friend who worked at a famous gallery in Beijing if he knew of any openings. The friend knew my boss, and my roommate guided me through the interview and application process. Most recent Chinese graduates have no work or internship experience, and I was a native English speaker.  

Q: What was expected of you upon being hired?

A:  It’s a bit difficult to say what was expected of me because I was trying to interpret this through the language barrier.  Probably the most important expectation was that my English proofreading skills would be excellent as  that was my biggest advantage  over a Chinese employee. 

Q: What qualities do you think employers look for that Americans have that would be an asset to their organization?

A: By far the most attractive quality Americans have to employers abroad is a native English speaking ability. I know this is not true in all countries, but Chinese people think American English, especially the West Coast accent, is the best kind of English. At both my jobs I’ve held in China, I’ve been the only employee who only speaks one language fluently, but I’ve also been the only native English speaker. This  skill, combined with my journalism  degree, has allowed me to write or be the last reviewer in all  important English-language materials. 

Q: What have you learned from working abroad that you couldn’t have learned in the US?

When I was in the U.S., I heard many professionals and academics talk a lot about the importance of learning how to work in a global economy, but I only got to hear the American perspective. Here, I get to find out what people from other countries – and not just China, because I’ve worked with people from South Korea, Canada, and France, as well – think it means to be a global candidate. For most people I’ve met here, this means being able to speak at least two languages fluently.  

Q:  What do you suggest someone do when wanting to work abroad?

A: My biggest piece of advice for people who want to work abroad is to meet and stay in contact with people who have lived abroad. Some of my mentors didn’t understand why I wanted to move to another country immediately after graduation, and working abroad has been challenging, both before I got here and now. However, spending time with friends who moved away from their home countries at age 18, or going to UO International Career Networking Committee (ICNC) events where I’d meet alumni who worked abroad.

In a close second is that I strongly suggest that people improve their language skills as much as possible before they begin work abroad. I only took two years of Chinese before working here, and while my Chinese has improved a little by living and working here, it improved much more efficiently when I studied it in the classroom, even in the U.S. 

Q: Any fun characteristics about working in China you can provide?

A: I think it’s fun how international the workforce in Beijing is. Most office workers here speak at least two languages fluently, and many companies have employees from at least three countries. Chinese companies also find a lot of excuses for employees to eat, drink and be merry together. After major gallery exhibition openings, the president would pay for all the artists and staff to go out to a nice dinner and karaoke to celebrate. The president also took me out to Pizza Hut – a really nice, expensive restaurant chain in China – to celebrate my joining the company. 

Q: How was it working in Beijing during the Olympics?

A: The Olympics actually affected my daily life and entertainment a lot more than my job duties. People in Beijing think that it’s not cool to be interested in both art and politics or both art and sports, so my coworkers were extremely apathetic about the Olympics, and our gallery was even closed to change exhibitions during the Olympics. I wrote a post on the Olympics’ relationship to the art district I worked in. My current job is at a small agency that did a ton of events during the Olympics and even had the International Olympic Committee has a client, and I’ve heard all these great stories. I’ve been meaning to interview my boss for a blog post on it.

If you’d like to find more information on working in China, visit Beth’s PRSSA country profile post! 

Twitter: More than just a 140 characters

We have all come to know and learn twitter as the micro-blogging site for chat, discussion and interaction. It’s become an essential for anyone familiar with social media and looking to expand their network.

As a recent college graduate, I used Twitter as a means to search for prospective employers, expand my PR network and keep in touch with old friends. That was the intention just a year and now, it’s entirely changed.

With the invention of a “hash tag,” people can participate in forums and discussions about specific topics on Twitter Search. We’ve seen lately people starting discussion about #CES2009 or #Gaza, to share insight and connect with other citizens about worldly topics. 

I would come in and out of these discussions, until I started following @PRSarahEvans and participating in her weekly #JournChat and newly created #PRAdvice.

Due to Sarah Evans’ large PR network and the popularity of Twitter, PR professionals and students have used these hashtags- #PRAdvice and #PRIntern- to converse with mentors via the digital world. What I love is that any student utilizing this tool is surpassing the other students who are merely relying on traditional tactics to secure an internship or jobs by person-to-person interaction. Twitter has no longer become an update in 140 characters or less, but a way to promote yourself, share ideas, and expand your professional network.

I encourage everyone to visit these discussions, participate and provide feedback. Has it been helpful? The day I chose to join the discussion, I enjoyed seeking answers and wisdom from invested professionals, yet offering advice to current journalism students. That day alone I expanded my twitter network by 35 people.

The Seattle Pitch

One of the things I love most about my job is my exposure to social media. This topic was something that I practiced in college and has had the opportunity to continue practicing and exploring social media.

My co-workers  and I had the opportunity to join a local blogger event in Seattle and meet community bloggers and local writers. The event was at a local jazz bar, The Lucid, down by University Avenue. The event was hosted by Jason Preston of Eat Sleep Publish and set the environment for a collaboration of bloggers and forward-thinking journalists to discuss the future of information and news sourcing. One of the main discussions focused around whether or not blogs are preferred over dailies in regards to hyper-local news.

This forum ties back to a centralized concept that dailies are losing their personal connection with readers as they often cover stories upon request. Bloggers on the other hand, choose to write about certain topics and devote their time into investigating and informing their readers.

I’m not quite sure as to how things will eventually sort out, but I do see this currently clear division between dailies and blogs slowly fading. College graduates sought after top-tier publications for the status, opportunity and credibility. When blogs first began it wasn’t taken as seriously as it was accessible to anyone; There was no status or qualification needing to be met. However, things have changed as blogging has become more prominent and a desired skill set. Now more than ever, students are learning the caliber of top-tier writing, while learning how to blog and leverage their social media skills. I have to wonder if the same level of expectation will soon transcend into the blogosphere? I know there are some credible bloggers and careers are being created to accommodate this skill set, but will this continue? Or will so many people join this blogosphere, that it won’t even seem like a unique or desired skill?

Will dailies still maintain their reputation or will they fade as consumers begin shifting their access to information to the internet?

I’m interested on the future of these journalism sources and I am thankful that I was able to attend The Pitch to further investigate.