On January 21 around 8:30 p.m., reports began surfacing that Penn State football coach Joe Paterno had passed away. It started when Penn State’s online news organization, Onward State, posted to its

Twitter account, “Our sources can now [...]]]>

Source: Poynter.com

The news was quickly picked up locally and nationally by other outlets, including CBS Sports, which tweeted the story and published an obituary of Paterno without attribution.

Around 9 p.m. that same night, a Paterno family spokesman made clear that the rumors around Paterno’s death were “absolutely not true.” Onward State and CBS Sports both made official retractions immediately following the family’s announcement Saturday night, but Onward State took it one step further.

At just 21 years old, Onward State Managing Editor Devon Edwards possessed the maturity to understand that a simple retraction was not enough. He published a personal apology letter on the publication’s website and Facebook page that is both well-written and genuine. The letter works because it is heartfelt, and he did not make excuses or place blame.

We can all learn something from Edwards. Thanks to social media tools like Twitter, every day brings headlines about crises, most of which immediately go viral. As professional communicators, we need to be as transparent as Devon Edwards in all of our communications–especially our apologies–in order to be effective.

Picture this: You’re in a staff meeting, and a colleague serves up the great idea you expressed during an earlier brainstorm as her own. You want so desperately to raise your hand and say, “Um, excuse me? That was MY idea.”

Perhaps this is because, of all the ideas we generate during say, a [...]]]>

Picture this: You’re in a staff meeting, and a colleague serves up the great idea you expressed during an earlier brainstorm as her own. You want so desperately to raise your hand and say, “Um, excuse me? That was MY idea.”

Think of inventors. Songwriters. Visual artists. WRITERS. Don’t you wish you would have thought of Post-Its®? Wrote “Jingle Bells?” Developed the storyline for the “Twilight” series? (That would be 3M, James Lord Pierpont, and Stephenie Meyer, respectively.) The medium for idea sharing may vary, but it all comes back to the creative process. When the result of that process generates a masterpiece, creators naturally want (and deserve) credit.

On Jan. 18, several major Internet sites blacked out their content for users in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and predictions were flying that another major blackout was planned for Jan. 23. The latter blackout didn’t pan out as predicted, but the Jan. 18 blackout made people pay attention to the issue. Seems a good time to revisit what’s both appropriate and required in giving credit in PR communications.

As you draft that brochure or conceive a campaign tagline, keep in mind that Plagiarism.org lists the following as conditions for committing plagiarism:

1)      Turning in someone else’s work as your own

2)      Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit

3)      Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks

4)      Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation

5)      Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit

6)      Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not

Similarly, citing your work — and doing so completely — is the responsibility of all communicators. If your heart is where it should be (directing readers to the original source for more information), then there’s really no excuse for sloppy citations. Dig deep, look up the exact page online, do whatever is required so that you can feel good about what you’ve contributed to the process.

Photo courtesy of acf_windy on Flickr

When we first posted about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) blackout protest scheduled for January 23, we had no idea that Wikipedia and Reddit (which had planned a January 18 blackout protest) would persuade other sites to join their effort yesterday. According to the Los Angeles Times, more [...]]]>

Photo courtesy of acf_windy on Flickr

When we first posted about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) blackout protest scheduled for January 23, we had no idea that Wikipedia and Reddit (which had planned a January 18 blackout protest) would persuade other sites to join their effort yesterday. According to the Los Angeles Times, more than 10,000 sites participated in the SOPA protest by either making their sites inaccessible, or “blacked out”, on Wednesday or posting messages to encourage visitors to contact Congress about SOPA.

It appears their bold effort worked.

By the end of Wednesday, at least three lawmakers withdrew their support for the legislation – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) withdrew as a co-sponsor of the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and Reps. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) and Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.) withdrew from SOPA, which is the House version of the bill. A few more may be added to that list this morning.

Google reports that at least 4.5 million people signed their online anti-SOPA petition during the protest. Even the White House received nearly 104,000 signatures on a We the People petition calling for President Obama to block passage of bills like SOPA and PIPA.

It is still too early for SOPA protesters to get excited, as support remains for PIPA and SOPA in the Senate and House, respectively. However, the success of the SOPA blackout protest thus far demonstrates how understanding your audience and using what they value to make them take action can spur policy change.

Internet users are constituents, and removing their access to content or interrupting their Web routines with SOPA and PIPA protest notices compelled them to get involved in the protest in their own way. It just goes to show that reaching your audiences where they are is an effective way for communicators to raise awareness and encourage action on an issue. Plus, it doesn’t hurt your cause if you get support from an opinion leader like Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

While time will tell if signatures to online petitions and increased calls and emails to Capitol Hill on Wednesday changed the outcome of the January 24 vote in favor of SOPA and PIPA protesters, it is already evident that the reach and response to yesterday’s Internet blackout will definitely impact it.

While I may not be able to foresee  the future, my media savvy crystal ball is suggesting that Monday, January 23, 2012, will be a dark day for communicators.

If you haven’t heard the troubling news already, Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Paypal and other major Internet mainstays will be staging a “blackout” on January [...]]]>

While I may not be able to foresee  the future, my media savvy crystal ball is suggesting that Monday, January 23, 2012, will be a dark day for communicators.

If you haven’t heard the troubling news already, Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Paypal and other major Internet mainstays will be staging a “blackout” on January 23 to protest proposed federal legislation that will make them liable for lawsuits for content posted on their websites.

Congress is considering a new bill – called the Protect IP Act or Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) – which would allow companies to sue websites for posting protected content without permission and force them to go dark. For example, if I posted a video on YouTube of my friend dancing at a party with our favorite Adele song playing in the background, the record company could sue YouTube and force them to close their whole website for my infraction. There will be a hearing on Tuesday, January 24, to consider this legislation, hence the January 23 protest that could endure for a few hours or an entire day.

For communicators, the uncertainty of the blackout compels us to find and plan for alternative ways to do our online-heavy tasks on January 23. It is rare for a public relations activity to have less than one Internet-related tactic, so, word to the wise: Avoid scheduling events or releases for January 23. It is likely to be a day when our world is narrowed to those we can communicate with in traditional ways so that protesters can enlighten us about our dependence on the World Wide Web and social media.

UPDATE 1/17/12 12:15 P.M. – Wikipedia and Reddit announced that they will blackout their sites on Wednesday, January 18 to protest SOPA. Be prepared as other websites may follow suit. However, it may be unnecessary now. Due to White House pressure over the weekend, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa announced this morning (on his website, ironically) that his committee is postponing a hearing on SOPA, essentially shelving the legislation and postponing a vote on the House floor on the bill. Time will tell if communicators need to be concerned about Internet blackout protests actually occurring since the bill seems to be old news now.

UPDATE 1/18/12 9:20 A.M. – Wikipedia and Reddit kept to their threat to go dark for 24 hours today in protest of SOPA, but other big Internet sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and AOL, have declined to participate. Google is just placing copy on their homepage today asking users to contact Congress about the bill. Looks like a widespread Internet blackout as predicted earlier this week will not materialize after all. However, the potential blackout did raise a lot of  interesting questions for communicators and Internet users.

This weekend people around the world will gather to celebrate one of the biggest events of the year, New Year’s Eve. To wrap up our InSites for the Future series, Vanguard’s event manager Scott LaLonde looks at the future of event planning.

2012 Will Set A New Standard for Green/Sustainable Events

Source: Convention Industry Council

Associations, government [...]]]>

This weekend people around the world will gather to celebrate one of the biggest events of the year, New Year’s Eve. To wrap up our InSites for the Future series, Vanguard’s event manager Scott LaLonde looks at the future of event planning.

2012 Will Set A New Standard for Green/Sustainable Events

Source: Convention Industry Council

Associations, government organizations and nonprofits that pride themselves on hosting “green” events may have an eye-opening 2012. The event industry’s first-ever guidelines for environmentally sustainable events are in the final stages of creation and will be rolled out in the new year. The guidelines, created through a partnership of the Convention Industry Council, ASTM Standards (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials), Green Meeting Industry Council and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will set new standards and criteria measuring the environmental impact of event components, including venue, food and beverage, transportation, audio/visual production and accommodations. Given the potential for media and communicators to scrutinize the legitimacy of  “green” events, those who want to promote sustainable events in 2012 and beyond will need to evaluate their plans using these new standards.

– By Scott LaLonde

Source: Capital Area Food Bank of Texas

The recent economic crisis has taken a toll on the country, but Vanguard’s vice president of Account Services, Brenda Foster, looks at how it has also reignited people’s interest in charity and social good. Brenda looks at how organizations can take advantage of this trend in 2012 [...]]]>

Source: Capital Area Food Bank of Texas

The recent economic crisis has taken a toll on the country, but Vanguard’s vice president of Account Services, Brenda Foster, looks at how it has also reignited people’s interest in charity and social good. Brenda looks at how organizations can take advantage of this trend in 2012 to help engage and grow partnerships.

Opportunities for Non-Profit/Corporate Partnerships to Grow in 2012

The famous Joe South song “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” might hold the secret to a predicted rise in charitable giving and volunteerism in 2012. As the country strives to emerge from a global economic crisis, many Americans have glimpsed a life of difficulty and are now motivated to help others who struggle to make ends meet. USA Today reports that cash and product donations to food banks are up 20 percent from 2010, and new nonprofits are emerging to help alleviate the effects of financial strain on the country’s hardest hit communities.

Corporations are taking advantage of this trend with holiday promotions and gifts that give back. Nonprofits have an opportunity in the new year to partner with companies that understand Americans would much rather spend their money on purchases that help others. The charity sector has been hit hard in the Great Recession, but 2012 just might offer a chance to capitalize on this country’s renewed commitment to social good.

– By Brenda Foster

Conducting efficient online searches is a skill that many people underestimate. Veronica Anderson takes a look at the future of online searching and what professionals need to know to ensure successful research online.

Strategic Online Experts 

Source: Tyler Tate

It’s not enough to be capable of conducting an online search. In 2012 PR professionals need to [...]]]>

Conducting efficient online searches is a skill that many people underestimate. Veronica Anderson takes a look at the future of online searching and what professionals need to know to ensure successful research online.

Strategic Online Experts 

Source: Tyler Tate

It’s not enough to be capable of conducting an online search. In 2012 PR professionals need to know how to effectively navigate the Internet.  Online filter bubbles that stem from personalized search results can significantly limit the information the we have access to, and, either positively or negatively, they impact what information can be acquired in an online search. While helpful in some instances, online filter bubbles can limit opportunities for learning and can create false impressions that perpetuate current viewpoints. As 2012 begins, we will all become more aware of the Internet’s search limitations, and our efforts to break through will only succeed if we take extra steps to acquire additional information on ideas and subjects beyond those immediately available through a quick Google search.

– By Veronica Anderson

The rise in digital information sources make it extremely challenging to keep your message interesting and engaging. Rosemari Ochoa looks at the decreased importance of being an expert when it comes to keeping people interested and engaged, and Vanguard’s training manager, Jane Tobler, looks at the changing world of training in light of technology improvements.

The [...]]]>

The rise in digital information sources make it extremely challenging to keep your message interesting and engaging. Rosemari Ochoa looks at the decreased importance of being an expert when it comes to keeping people interested and engaged, and Vanguard’s training manager, Jane Tobler, looks at the changing world of training in light of technology improvements.

The Case for Curiosity in 2012: Why Interest and Engagement Can Beat Subject Matter Expertise

I predict that in 2012, we will be accessing more diverse information from the same — if not fewer — sources.  Long gone are the days in which we follow a specific issue or expert. Instead, the individuals and organizations that will have an impact in 2012 will have two things in common: curiosity and digital savvy. They will be autodidactic — educating themselves on  subjects and issues they may know nothing about. They will be polymaths — multifaceted and interdisciplinary in their approach to understanding the world. They will be mavens — engaged and have the access to share their findings with others. (One of my favorite examples of 2011 has been the rise of Tumblr.) They will be on the “right” side of the digital divide that plagues our online world — enjoying the privileges that technology brings. But many will not be subject matter experts.

For PR professionals, this could be a double-edged sword.  It means that it will be more competitive to get your message into the hands of the autodidactic, polymath mavens.  And yet no one is saying that you and your staff can’t be those same individuals.  Hiring smart people will always be important, but the organizations that make a difference will be the ones with smart people who also exude a curiosity about a diverse range of issues and have the nature and technology to strategically share it on the organization’s behalf.

– By Rosemari Ochoa

It Ain’t What You Do, It’s the Way That You Do It…

Ella Fitzgerald, diva of swing, had it right — it is the way you do it. The amount spent on training increased in 2011, and this trend will likely continue. Each year in recent memory has brought trainers more promising social media options, and smart communicators and trainers know that the channel in which they share their expertise — the way that you do it — has never been as important as it is now.

News conferences migrated to the online environment smoothly, since virtual events allowed many more media representatives to tune in.

But what about effective communication trainings? If the channel isn’t two-way, then the trainer can’t pick up on visual cues from the audience — the blank stares, incessant checking of email or looks of boredom.

In 2012, we’ll continue to see improvements in online technologies that allow trainers to benefit from those visual cues and encourage interactivity among participants. Resources for in-person trainings may have become more scarce, but the need for staff and partners be able to communicate for social change effectively has never been so great.

– By Jane Tobler

Getting your message across has always been a challenge, but the shortened attention spans of audiences today make it even more difficult. Andrew Overton looks at how being persistent can help to spread your message, while Helen Mitternight looks at the importance of the messenger.

Source: JMR Photography

Long Term Engagement Is Key to [...]]]>

Getting your message across has always been a challenge, but the shortened attention spans of audiences today make it even more difficult. Andrew Overton looks at how being persistent can help to spread your message, while Helen Mitternight looks at the importance of the messenger.

Source: JMR Photography

Long Term Engagement Is Key to Moving the Needle

In the digital age, it’s no secret that attention spans have shortened. Retweets and Facebook shares aren’t enough to alter public opinion. It’s critical that audiences remain engaged over the long term if there is any hope of changing attitudes and policy. As communicators, going viral is a big deal, but we can’t end the conversation just as it is getting started. Imagine if the Occupy Wall Street protestors only spent one week in Zuccotti Park. Income inequality would never have become part of the national conversation.  Maintaining a conversation isn’t easy, but the burden lies on us to be innovative and persistent.

– By Andrew Overton

The Message Becomes The Messenger

In 2012, social marketing will become much more about “social” and much less about “marketing.” With the rise of social media and citizen journalists, people will care much more about who is delivering their messages than what the message is. For social marketers, this will increase the urgency of finding the right primary audiences to help push messages out to secondary audiences. The old adage, “the message is the medium” will become “the message is the messenger.”

– By Helen Mitternight

Today we look at the public relations workplace and the culture changes that could be ahead in 2012. We start off with a look from Mary Pat King at how CEOs and executives should maximize the involvement of PR professionals on staff. Rachael Siefert discusses a mentoring role reversal, and Vanguard’s vice president of [...]]]>

Today we look at the public relations workplace and the culture changes that could be ahead in 2012. We start off with a look from Mary Pat King at how CEOs and executives should maximize the involvement of PR professionals on staff. Rachael Siefert discusses a mentoring role reversal, and Vanguard’s vice president of operations, Tracy Ferrell, looks at how HR will begin to use social media in the hiring process.

More CEOs Depend on PR Executives as Chief Strategists for Organizational Management and Growth

As the theorists in the public relations industry work to gain consensus about the new definition of public relations, 2012 will see more professionals positioning themselves in the C-suite by demonstrating through regular reporting of evaluation metrics that PR communications strategies and tactics have a measurable impact on perception, as well as behaviors, purchasing decisions and brand commitment. Like our colleagues in marketing, the investment in public relations strategies — especially social media and grassroots engagement — will have tangible benefits.  For nonprofits, this translates into more voices promoting the educational messages of the organization, more participants benefiting from the organization’s mission, more advocates for the cause and ultimately more donor dollars.

– Mary Pat King

The Student Becomes the Teacher

Source: Masternewmedia.org

New professionals often seek out mentors who can guide them through their first few years in the workplace. In the coming years, those same entry level professionals may become mentors themselves. Recent graduates have an edge when it comes to new technology and social media because they have been using these tools in their personal lives for years. In 2012 and beyond, new professionals will be looked to more than ever for their social media and new technology expertise, and it won’t be uncommon to find them training a room full of executives on the benefits and use of Twitter, Pinterest or the latest must-have tool.

– Rachael Siefert

Increasing HR Use of Social Media Tools

In 2011, HR professionals were slow to adopt social media tools because of privacy concerns. In 2012, these professionals will more willingly adopt them as part of the job candidate search. Increased demand for social media skills, combined with the need for improved candidate response time and reduction in search costs will necessitate this evolution. HR departments will also begin to incorporate social media tools on intranets to improve internal innovation, mentoring and training.

– Tracy Ferrell