the internet: PR's savior or crucifier?

Jo Tarkowski is coming towards the end of her MSc International Public Relations course at Manchester Metropolitan University. And she needs our help, so read on...

by Jo Tarkowski

As the reading begins for my research, I can’t help but start to pre-empt what one of my key findings will be this: there is just way too much out there on the internet.  If I was a practitioner that had been in the industry for years without all of these digital platforms, and it was now a necessity to learn about them, where would I start? In fact, as a new PR professional, where do I start?

Arising from this, and perhaps more importantly, is the issue of online credibility. 

Due to the speed with which the internet allows ideas to be published, and how easily these ideas can be accessed, it becomes a prime source of information for people working across PR.  But is this a good or bad thing?

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capital gains

by Jarrod Williams

I am going to tell you something that may shock and appall you.

There is more to the world of communications than what's in the South East.

That's right, our industry is bigger than just 'That London'.

In fact there are other regions, such as the Midlands and the North of England, as well as Scotland and Wales, which contribute heavily to our great reputation as a profession. These regions also produce some top talent.

I know, I know, I'll give you two minutes to take that in.

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it's ok to google yourself

There was a time when you'd never admit to Googling yourself. Now it's really important that you do.

by Darren Caveney

When was the last time you Googled yourself?

Oh, it's been a while then. Do you know what results it will throw up about you?

If you are looking for a new job, or if you are likely to in the future, then you need to know this information. And, wherever possible, you need to shape those results. Most of you help to manage the profile of your employers, with craft and care, so why not manage your own online profile?

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the business of cliches

Business clichés. You really can't beat them can you? Actually, I'd gladly beat upon them.

by Darren Caveney

You know the kind of annoying phrases I'm referring to - business buzzwords. Those thrown in by people in meetings often trying to show off, or, more likely, to cover up a lack of understanding.

Here's my top five most loathed business clichés, in reverse order...

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every start has an end...

What the closing ceremony to London2012 reminds us of when it comes to delivering good communications.

by Darren Caveney

So after all of the well publicised, pre-event LOCOG branding silliness, London 2012 appears to have been a huge success on and off the track for both Team GB and GB PLC alike.

The opening ceremony was inspiring, and gave us all a timely shot of pride-busting steroids. Gone from our news channels was all of the doom and gloom of financial meltdown, unemployment woe, high street declines, Euro crises and other bad news gems our TV stations churn out one after depressing other.

One of the greatest successes of London2012, for me, has been the opportunity to kick into touch 'Daily Mail's Britain.' To forget, for a short time at least, that things aren't quite as a bad as some folk want GB portrayed

But would the closing ceremony fall flat and end on a bit of a low note our 16-day temporary detachment from reality?

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lessons for the lonely PR

by Lindsay Narey

Lindsay Nary is the sole PR and comms person in her organisation. Here, she shares honestly about her role and the pros and cons of this single existence.

Me, myself and I, All by myself.  Countless songs in every genre have attempted to describe the ups and downs of being on your lonesome. Whilst these generally describe the woe of failed relationships, I think there should be a song in honour of being alone in the workplace. 

I have no intention of penning a depressing ballad, but as I enter my seventh year in a singleton PR role I’ve learned a few things which I think are worth sharing. 

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Do one thing on your holiday... switch off

The temptation to stay connected on the beach or on the mountain can be tempting. But please don't. Go and rediscover something else instead.

By Dan Slee

Remember when you were a kid and summers went on forever?

Sunshine, football in the park, playing with your friends and with your dad on the beach.

Those holidays help build memories that helped you through some bad times in the years ahead.

What made them special?

Probably, in a nutshell you switched off and filled yourself with time spent with loved ones doing good things.

You didn't take a blackberry with you so your teacher could get hold of you.

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another london

by Gillian Hudson

There’s a photography exhibition going on at Tate Britain at the moment called ‘Another London’ and I went along to see it the other day. It’s made up of around 40 black and white photos taken between 1930 and 1980 by photographers who were foreigners to London – Henri Cartier-Bresson and Bill Brandt among them. 

As the photographers were often commissioned for their work, there’s a lot of ‘touristy’ images of the capital – Hyde Park, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square – and images of Royal Weddings and Jubilee events, flags waving, Pearly Kings and Queens and fancy dress.

It was especially interesting to me as this week I too have been taking photos in Another London, and coincidentally it’s a London occupied by flag wavers, Pearly Kings and Queens and fancy dress.

The Olympic Park in Stratford is about as un-London as I have ever experienced. Forget grumpy people, rushing about and never saying hello or sorry or thankyou, everyone on the park seems infected with an Olympic glow.

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a charles dickens of a good campaign

A bit of creative thinking and forward planning led to brather brilliant campaign on popular Victorian author Charles Dickens. Actor Simon Callow came on board too.

by Kelly Harrison

One heady afternoon in July 2011, our press team at the University of Warwick were engaged in an activity we rarely have time to do, ‘forward planning’. Flushed with the success of finding a spare hour to think, we came up with an idea.

We wanted to mark the bicentenary of the birth of one of our greatest authors, Charles Dickens, in February 2012.

We thought a podcast series about his work might be a good idea and approached one of our experts, Professor Jon Mee in English and Comparative Literary Studies.

As we began talking to our academics about our idea and looking at the breadth of research across the University, it soon became clear that we could do much more than just a few podcasts. Working with our in-house digital team we created a Dickens sub site, hosting a range of podcasts, videos, interviews and articles on the life, times and works of Charles Dickens. We involved researchers and students in English, Health and Social Studies, History and Law.

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our most popular posts in july

Forget London 2012. Who gets to lift the coveted most popular post in July award? It's a plan to end press offices, that's what.

by Dan Slee

In the month of the London 2012 Olympics even more coveted than a gold medal is the Chinese plastic of the comms2point0 trophy.

Awarded to the most read blog of the month this coveted trophy is right up there with the top prizes.

For the past nine months we’ve been posting links every working day on Twitter as well as a fresh blog most day and a weekly email.

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social media: what's the voluntary sector up to?

It's fascinating seeing how different sectors approach the changing landscape. There's some excellent innovation in charities and volantary groups.

by Honey Lucas

From large international charities, to tiny voluntary groups comprised wholly of volunteers, the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in the UK is extremely varied - but whatever their size, voluntary and community organisations and charities are increasingly adopting social media to help connect with their followers and supporters, spread their messages, and encourage people to take action.

Here are just a few case studies from the VCS that showcase the innovative thinking and friendly approach that is making the sector's use of social media such a success.

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how a cloud burst took facebook by storm

What works on social media is good content. Sometimes that content isn't about key messages and campaigns as almost 13,000 likes on a weather storm clip in Wolverhampton shows.

by Tim Clark

I was out on a site visit recently and at one point was using my smartphone to update some pictures to the council’s social media sites.

A non-communications colleague who had accompanied me quipped: “It must be nice having a job where you can mess about on Facebook all day!”

It got me thinking. She was right on one level, it is pretty amazing being paid to use new and evolving technologies to communicate instantly with thousands of people every day. However, she was wrong to suggest – even if in jest – that we are just “messing about." 

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'if you're not skilling-up the whole of your organisation you're failing...'

There's some brilliant work taking shape in charity communications. But no matter how good the cutting edge work the organisation needs to be pulled along too.

by Laila Takeh

Hello I'm Laila and I'm a digital-aholic.  

But I've got a bit of a confession to make – despite being a digital geek with a degree in Computer Science and Art I've never worked in a start-up, I've always worked in the charity sector. 

Of the many things that keep me in charities, a big one is the change I've been able to contribute to and drive. I'm not alone, digital staff across the sector are making waves.

This became really clear when I presented recently on the digital transformation work I've been leading at UNICEF UK (see my presentation on my blog here.) 

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the olympic opening ceremony, story telling and internal comms

Brilliant, wasn't it? It won over cynics and galvanised supporters. The 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony won over the nation. How can you have some of that to tell your story?

by Kate Hughes

I woke up as high as a kite after watching the epic, awesome Olympic opening ceremony. 

It was an extraordinary display; a great love letter to our country. For me the thing that really elevated it from spectacular to oh-my-god-so-bloody-uber-amazingly-spectacular was the rich storytelling.

Danny Boyle crafted a story that is familiar to us (about our modern history) but told it in such a beautiful way that you couldn't help but be captivated.

From the first scene change, the rolling green hills disappearing under the satanic mills of the industrial revolution, the audience could anticipate the story arc; but that only added to the sense of drama.

The tiny details - the poppies swaying in the breeze, the torch under the bed covers - contrasted with the big bang moments, enhancing the story further. 

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fun and games

by Darren Caveney

I have watched with fascination the trials and tribulations over the past few months of the LOCOG team charged with ensuring that an incredibly rigid set of Olympic guidelines are enforced at all costs.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely understand the importance to the official Games sponsors of having exclusive access to the London 2012 logo. This is pure, hard-nosed sponsorship - for commercial gain -not altruism and anyone who thinks otherwise should go and enter the long jump.

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