More test review

I'll see you at 10:30 Wednesday for the test. To add to the information from our review during class last Wednesday:

What about the nine steps to becoming an effective cross-cultural communicator? You don't have to memorize them in a list, but understand what they mean and how they can be useful.

How does encoding and decoding work?

How do journalists want to receive information from PR professionals?

What is the crisis plotting grid used for?

Know the stages of a crisis. Also, review your notes from our crisis panel discussion.

Why do PR practitioners need to worry about stereotyping?

What agencies regulate the work of corporate speech and advertising?

How does copyright work? When does it take effect?

In what ways does PR use technology to enhance its ability to communicate?

Know the differences between PR and marketing.

Test and blog wrap-up

Our third test will be given during our final time, which is at 10:30 Wednesday, May 9.

Here's the blog list so far--please find yours and test the link:

Alfaro unthomework.blogspot.com
Allman kristinallman.blogspot.com
Awtry kda546.blogspot.com
Bell Rachellebell.blogspot.com
Bennett nichole128.blogspot.com
Birman knb0059.blogspot.com
Blake knb0059.blogspot.com
Bogus abogus.blogspot.com
Boyd acb0113.blogspot.com
Burns christinaburns.blogspot.com
Castilleja marissac14.blogspot.com
Chicol kristenchic2420.blogspot.com
Courtney huntercourtney.blogspot.com
Crowder waterwayspr.blogspot.com
Dagelewicz amypr.blogspot.com
Dycus laurendycus.blogspot.com
English dennisenglish.blogspot.com
Finch
George nekeya.blogspot.com
Giarletta
Gillette egillette.blogspot.com
Green,A
Green,E edlinagreen.blogspot.com
Gutierrez jg.blogspot.com
Hale brian3684.blogspot.com
Hang christihang.blogspot.com
Hayden
Hill laurenh87.blogspot.com
Hodges pch0025.blogspot.com
Howard thoward0604.blogspot.com
Inks akinks.blogspot.com
Jones pr2420.blogspot.com
Knight klk0159.blogspot.com
Loyd ailoyd.blogspot.com
Ludwick kendra0318.blogspot.com
Maddox
Martin brandi2420blog.blogspot.com
Martinez dailydoseofcontumacity.blogspot.com
Mitchell sam0096.blogspot.com
McTyre sophilia2004.blogspot.com
Montero montero1251.blogspot.com
Morton
Murphy brandylmurphy.blogspot.com
Neira nataliapr.blogspot.com
Ostrov laurenostrov2420.blogspot.com
Owens carlysjourpage.blogspot.com
Parrish branleigh.blogspot.com
Presnell kpresnell.blogspot.com
Reed samanthareed2420.blogspot.com
Roberts hollisroberts.blogspot.com
Robinson britneypr.blogspot.com
Sanchelo ayanamilisa.blogspot.com
Sanderson lsanderson5686.blogspot.com
Sears smashsears.blogspot.com
Sibley ericamsibley08.blogspot.com
Sirois craigsirois.blogspot.com
Smith,A
Smith,K kristianesmith.blogspot.com
Stafford chris0172.blogspot.com
Stephenson tays44.blogspot.com
Stiles curtstiles.blogspot.com
Sugrue suglove.blogspot.com
Sweeney mswe2420.blogspot.com
Taylor,C
Taylor,S stefttay03.blogspot.com
Tollett
Walters lwalters007.blogspot.com
Warden thewaysofwater2007.blogspot.com
Watts rebecca2420.blogspot.com
Wheeler
White cp-3.blogspot.com
Womack womackpublicrelations2420.blogspot.com
Yallapragada yallapragada.blogspot.com

Last blog assignment

It's an assignment with two links, then two paragraphs.

You'll take note of a recent "crisis" of some large, Texas-based organization, providing a link to an early news story covering this crisis from a reputable online media source. You'll match this story to the organization's or company's web site, to determine how the crisis is handled in that venue, also providing a link to this information.

Next, you'll write a two-paragraph critical analysis of the news coverage vs. the organizational response. Some questions you might want to tackle: Are the same words used to describe the crisis? Who is speaking in the two accounts? Are these two stories about the crisis in agreement or disagreement, and why? What kind of tone is used in the organizational response? Does the organizational response add to the story told in the press by providing new information? Is the organization response adequate for filling in gaps in news media accounts?

It's due before May 1.

Some study areas for test 2

Know the difference between quantitative and qualitative research. What are examples of these research methods? Can you combine them, or use one to do the other? Know the basics of probability and non-probability sampling. Be able to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups.

Know the differences among these terms: goals, objectives, tactics.

Three tactics to reach objectives in the PR process are: news releases, which reach the news media and their audiences; video news releases, which are targeted to broadcasters; and the speech, which may be addressed to many types of real-time, specialized audiences. What do good news releases, VNRs, and speeches have in common? What are special methods for developing these in the best way for their respective audiences?

What about employee relations? When is it at its best?

Perception and reality; think about this again.

Why is there tension between the stances of being an advocate and being an objective representative? Think about this in terms of a recent example in the news—where can you see the advocate role and where can you see someone operating in the objective role?

What’s the benefit of strong ethics? What is corporate social responsibility? Be able to discuss utilitarian ethics and the Potter’s Box.

What are the structural parts of a print news release? How are print news releases different than those found online or sent as email? What do all news releases have in common (print, email, and VNRs)?

Media kit instructions, again

Here’s the list of what you need to make the “kit.” You’ll have a one-page general news release about the conference. You’ll also need a one-page “biography sheet” or “backgrounder” that will have two paragraphs: a short bio about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a short bio of another speaker. The third page of the kit will be one of two things: a calendar of events at the conference, formatted differently from the WaterWays web site; or a one-page “Call to Action” sheet, which asks people to write letters to their city’s mayor about the importance of addressing water conservation on a community-wide basis. Due date: Wednesday, March 28 [note this is a different time than on your syllabus].

New due dates

Wednesday, March 28: Your media kit is due.

Monday, April 2: Test #2

Please record these new dates on your syllabus.

Top U.S. blogs

From "A corporate guide to the global blogosphere," Edelman (Oct. 2006):

www.engadget.com
www.boingboing.com
www.huffingtonpost.com
www.gizmodo.com
www.techcrunch.com
www.dailykos.com
www.lifehacker.com
www.crooksandliars.com
www.michellemalkin.com
www.tmz.com

Details about Nupros, part of PRSA Dallas

March 15 is the next meeting of new professionals, or Nupros, part of PRSA Dallas. See the link for more information:

http://www.prsadallas.org/nupros.html

Also, PRSA Dallas will be sponsoring a shadowing day for students--more details to be given when available.