To: Taylor K. Adams
From: Emily Flinders
Date: December 5, 2009
RE: Online Reputation
When I conducted a search for your name, I first discovered that Taylor Adams is a very common name. I found that you are a PR intern for USU extension marketing department, and you wrote an article for the Statesman entitled, “Discover the Ag advantage. ” Click here for the link.
After a lot of searching I also found your blog. Click here for link.
Your blog consists of school related work from JCOM 2300 and Online Journalism. I was unable to determine where you attend school, or what exactly you are studying from your work. I looked you up on Facebook, and you have a Facebook account and are in the Utah State network. Your page is blocked so only those you approve as friends can view your page. According to your network, you are graduating from Utah State in 2011. You currently have 154 friends.
After searching the USU website, I found that you were part of a trick-or-treat for charity that was held in October. You were listed as the contact. You also write for a publication called “The True Aggie” which is a newsletter for the College of Agriculture. You wrote an article entitled, “Kjelgren named PSC Department Head.” This is the information I found from conducting various searches for you on the web.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
2300: Tiger's PR Fiasco....Continued
As I have watched the Tiger Woods drama unfold, I am convinced that there were better ways to handle the situation. When I clicked on the Yahoo! Sports tab, then clicked Golf, the first seven articles were about some facet of the Tiger story. I wonder how much of this drama could have been avoided if he would have issued a statement at the beginning. There have been many stories published by PR and image consultants telling Tiger to tell his story and be done with it. One said, "Men and women have been forgiven by their public for misbehavior or misstepping, and even philandering.” I have seen this made true multiple times when celebrities or athletes have committed crimes or acts that the majority of society deems morally and ethically wrong. In a few months, no one remembers.
Another PR professional suggested that Tiger not withdraw from the tournament, but rather use it as an opportunity to channel all the media attention. This reminded me of our crisis communication discussion. In my mind, playing in the tournament could help Tiger put an extremely negative situation behind him quicker. Issuing a statement would also help everyone stop speculating and gossiping faster. I don’t blame people for wanting to keep their personal lives private. Unfortunately, celebrities and high profile people don’t have that luxury. Therefore, I think they should listen to their PR and image consultants, and realize that people won’t stop talking until they get the story they want. In the meantime, I will be interested to see what other stories surface, and how Woods handles the growing mess surrounding him.
Another PR professional suggested that Tiger not withdraw from the tournament, but rather use it as an opportunity to channel all the media attention. This reminded me of our crisis communication discussion. In my mind, playing in the tournament could help Tiger put an extremely negative situation behind him quicker. Issuing a statement would also help everyone stop speculating and gossiping faster. I don’t blame people for wanting to keep their personal lives private. Unfortunately, celebrities and high profile people don’t have that luxury. Therefore, I think they should listen to their PR and image consultants, and realize that people won’t stop talking until they get the story they want. In the meantime, I will be interested to see what other stories surface, and how Woods handles the growing mess surrounding him.
2300: Yes We Can! (With 30,000 More Troops)
As I opened my internet browser, the Yahoo! Home page had a picture with Obama and the heading, “Obama orders Afghanistan troop boost.” The caption underneath stated, “U.S. forces will expand by 30,000, but troop withdrawal will begin in 18 months. Our security is at stake.” The 30,000 troops triples the force that existed when he took office. A new survey by the Gallup organization showed only 35 percent of Americans approve of Obama's handling of the war; 55 percent disapprove. Obama had arguably one the greatest campaigns for the oval office. His approval ratings and support were phenomenal. Yet now that he is in office, people are realizing that “Change” is not an instant act, and everything will not be fixed in a few months by one man. His approval ratings are dropping and he is receiving more and more criticism.
How do you fix this from a PR stand point? At what point does PR become ineffective when there are not real results? What’s more, there is not much Obama or any president could do in these situations. It’s nearly impossible to control foreign countries and their policies. People are extremely impatient. When Obama promised change, they wanted to see the fruits within a few months of his presidency. Now that it’s not working out like some people hoped, they have quickly changed their loyalties. Government PR is difficult because so much is uncertain and left up to people’s opinions. I don’t envy the people that try to keep the line of communication clear between Washington D.C. and the general public. It seems to be a nearly impossible task.
How do you fix this from a PR stand point? At what point does PR become ineffective when there are not real results? What’s more, there is not much Obama or any president could do in these situations. It’s nearly impossible to control foreign countries and their policies. People are extremely impatient. When Obama promised change, they wanted to see the fruits within a few months of his presidency. Now that it’s not working out like some people hoped, they have quickly changed their loyalties. Government PR is difficult because so much is uncertain and left up to people’s opinions. I don’t envy the people that try to keep the line of communication clear between Washington D.C. and the general public. It seems to be a nearly impossible task.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
2300: What exactly is Public Relations?
On the PR Newswire, they have a blog that is updated regularly by a member of their staff. She wrote an article about a site she encountered that wanted people to give 2009 the “pink slip” because of the economic difficulties. She said this caused her to think about what a great public relations year it had been, and encouraged all professionals to submit their success stories.
This story reminded me of how confused I was when I entered this major. I kept hearing about how many great public relations career opportunities existed. I thought that PR, marketing, and advertising, were all synonymous. Therefore, I could not understand how advertising based careers were in demand with the current state of the economy. After studying the field of public relations I have realized why it can always be successful. PR professionals don’t rely on gimmicks or clever ideas, they base their campaigns in research and data. They create successful campaigns because they follow the ROPE process, conduct several SWOT analysis, and use research to effectively communicate to the involved publics. There will always be a need for effective communication across people, so good PR people will always have a job.
This story reminded me of how confused I was when I entered this major. I kept hearing about how many great public relations career opportunities existed. I thought that PR, marketing, and advertising, were all synonymous. Therefore, I could not understand how advertising based careers were in demand with the current state of the economy. After studying the field of public relations I have realized why it can always be successful. PR professionals don’t rely on gimmicks or clever ideas, they base their campaigns in research and data. They create successful campaigns because they follow the ROPE process, conduct several SWOT analysis, and use research to effectively communicate to the involved publics. There will always be a need for effective communication across people, so good PR people will always have a job.
2300: Silent Tiger
Getting in a single person car accident usually does not prompt police investigation and hordes of media attention. At the same time, it’s not every day that Tiger Woods crashes his car into a fire hydrant by his house at 2:25 in the morning. If anyone else did this, there might be a story published deep in the pages of the Utah section of the Tribune. But because it’s one of the greatest golfers of all time, there is a picture and story on the Yahoo! Homepage, and all the major news outlets have a story about it. What exactly do they have a story about? The funny part is that no one is sure what the big deal is. Woods hit the hydrant, and sustained minor injuries. He spent a short time in the hospital and then returned home. The only action he has taken is to refuse comment to the media.
One day in class we talked about how “no comment” was deadly in public relations. To me, this is a prime example of that in action. The story was speculating if Woods would still play in his upcoming tournament, if his sponsors would pull support, or if he crashed because he and his wife had been arguing. These all seem like ridiculous speculations for a man who has been quiet about his life outside of golf, and who is never seen in tabloids or entertainment magazines. Yet because nothing has been said, people assume that the silence means something, that because he hasn’t returned comment, Woods has something to hide. I don’t know what this story will evolve into, but now I know that “no comment” can turn into a public relations nightmare for all parties involved. To read the full story click here.
One day in class we talked about how “no comment” was deadly in public relations. To me, this is a prime example of that in action. The story was speculating if Woods would still play in his upcoming tournament, if his sponsors would pull support, or if he crashed because he and his wife had been arguing. These all seem like ridiculous speculations for a man who has been quiet about his life outside of golf, and who is never seen in tabloids or entertainment magazines. Yet because nothing has been said, people assume that the silence means something, that because he hasn’t returned comment, Woods has something to hide. I don’t know what this story will evolve into, but now I know that “no comment” can turn into a public relations nightmare for all parties involved. To read the full story click here.
Friday, November 27, 2009
2300: The Evoultion of Public Relations
Of the 600 PR professionals interviewed, 64% said their press releases were targeted to the media, but the other 24% said their target audience were consumers and “cite prospects.” According to an article published on PR Newswire, press releases are being used more digitally to attract potential customers, increase traffic on the website, and keep current consumers informed. Sophie Shiatis, vice president of E-commerce at PR Web said, “There have been big advances in analytics, and you can track results from online releases much better today.” 15% of the professionals surveyed said they only send their press releases through the internet.
Just today in class we discussed how fast the environment of public relations is changing because of the internet. This article illustrated that point perfectly. As I read the article, I could easily see the near future of press releases being completely online. Eventually professionals will have no need for a hard copy. If a person is not competent in the latest technological developments, it will be difficult to excel in any profession, but especially public relations. As this article mentioned, the environment is changing at a rapid pace.
Just today in class we discussed how fast the environment of public relations is changing because of the internet. This article illustrated that point perfectly. As I read the article, I could easily see the near future of press releases being completely online. Eventually professionals will have no need for a hard copy. If a person is not competent in the latest technological developments, it will be difficult to excel in any profession, but especially public relations. As this article mentioned, the environment is changing at a rapid pace.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Draft Presentation Outline
Agriculture in the Classroom Presentation
What is AITC?
• Brief Overview
• Purposes and goals of the program
What can AITC do for you?
• Conference
• Sponsorship
Benefits of being joined with AITC
• Testimonials of AITC
• Other organizations involved
Conclusion
What is AITC?
• Brief Overview
• Purposes and goals of the program
What can AITC do for you?
• Conference
• Sponsorship
Benefits of being joined with AITC
• Testimonials of AITC
• Other organizations involved
Conclusion
Draft Prospectus Letter
Prospectus Letter and Presentation Audience: Dairy Council of Utah/Nevada
Summary: School-age children are so far removed from the family farm; they do not understand the importance of agriculture in their daily lives. Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is a program dedicated to educating teachers how to incorporate agriculture into their curriculum. In order to better serve our purpose, AITC is planning to hold a state-wide conference for teachers of all grades; this is where the Dairy Council of Utah/Nevada can play a part. AITC is currently looking for sponsor s of $2,000 or more to help fund our conference. By becoming a part of the AITC conference, your organization will be a major contributor to increasing agriculture awareness. Sponsors of the conference will be invited to speak about their organization and will be endorsed throughout the conference.
Sponsor Appeal: Your organization plays a critical role in Utah’s agricultural community. One of the most common agriculture misconceptions of school-age children is that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
Problem: Many people are uneducated about the basics of proper nutrition which can lead to a decrease in demand of dairy consumption.
Solution: AITC works to correct these misconceptions and your organization can play a key role in educating teachers, who spread the knowledge to their students. Emphasis on agriculture includes teaching proper diet, including the daily recommended amounts of dairy products. The AITC conference will be using local products, enforcing the idea of supporting local agriculture and therefore, increasing demand for Utah dairy products.
Capabilities: AITC is supported by Utah State University, the Utah Farm Bureau and several other Utah commodity groups. We believe that by educating Utah teachers, Utah’s children will be more interested in agriculture as well as their health. Debra Spielmaker, who is the program director of Utah’s AITC, has been highly involved in the education system for several years.
Budget: AITC is asking for $2,000 to help fund our state-wide conference. The money will go toward a general fund that will support the operating expenses of the conference.
Conclusion: The Dairy Council of Utah/Nevada is an integral part of our local agriculture community. Agricultural awareness is decreasing at a frightening rate, and AITC is working to solve this problem. By being help AITC educate teachers, your organization will be creating a brighter future for agriculture.
Summary: School-age children are so far removed from the family farm; they do not understand the importance of agriculture in their daily lives. Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is a program dedicated to educating teachers how to incorporate agriculture into their curriculum. In order to better serve our purpose, AITC is planning to hold a state-wide conference for teachers of all grades; this is where the Dairy Council of Utah/Nevada can play a part. AITC is currently looking for sponsor s of $2,000 or more to help fund our conference. By becoming a part of the AITC conference, your organization will be a major contributor to increasing agriculture awareness. Sponsors of the conference will be invited to speak about their organization and will be endorsed throughout the conference.
Sponsor Appeal: Your organization plays a critical role in Utah’s agricultural community. One of the most common agriculture misconceptions of school-age children is that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
Problem: Many people are uneducated about the basics of proper nutrition which can lead to a decrease in demand of dairy consumption.
Solution: AITC works to correct these misconceptions and your organization can play a key role in educating teachers, who spread the knowledge to their students. Emphasis on agriculture includes teaching proper diet, including the daily recommended amounts of dairy products. The AITC conference will be using local products, enforcing the idea of supporting local agriculture and therefore, increasing demand for Utah dairy products.
Capabilities: AITC is supported by Utah State University, the Utah Farm Bureau and several other Utah commodity groups. We believe that by educating Utah teachers, Utah’s children will be more interested in agriculture as well as their health. Debra Spielmaker, who is the program director of Utah’s AITC, has been highly involved in the education system for several years.
Budget: AITC is asking for $2,000 to help fund our state-wide conference. The money will go toward a general fund that will support the operating expenses of the conference.
Conclusion: The Dairy Council of Utah/Nevada is an integral part of our local agriculture community. Agricultural awareness is decreasing at a frightening rate, and AITC is working to solve this problem. By being help AITC educate teachers, your organization will be creating a brighter future for agriculture.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
2300: Is Blogging Bad for You?
Social media is quickly becoming an essential part of public relations. On almost every website there is an icon on the page linking to Twitter, Facebook, and Blogger. These outlets connect millions of people and can be an effective PR tool. However, the other day I was on the internet and came across a blog on the Salt Lake Tribune’s website. It consisted mostly of accusations and trash talk about a company. This is not the first time I have encountered a blog like this. Is blogging always an effective PR tool? Are there some instances where a blog can be more detrimental than beneficial? I have seen multiple blogs comprised of people fighting with each other or complaining about a policy or company. Although this could be potentially helpful to the company to improve customer relations, what if the accusations are false? Is it worth having a blog if it is ruining the image of the company or product? Yes, people are hired to do online reputation management, and they could try to prevent things like this from happening. But doesn’t that defeat the purpose of letting everyone have a voice and opinion?
I think this concept is interesting. Social networking sites are so popular because people love to have their voices heard. It makes them feel empowered and important. However this can become dangerous in public relations when the average person has the ability to damage a company’s reputation and standing. I don’t know if every PR campaign or effort should include a blog. I am not sure that it always serves the purpose that was originally intended.
I think this concept is interesting. Social networking sites are so popular because people love to have their voices heard. It makes them feel empowered and important. However this can become dangerous in public relations when the average person has the ability to damage a company’s reputation and standing. I don’t know if every PR campaign or effort should include a blog. I am not sure that it always serves the purpose that was originally intended.
2300: Taking a Stand When it Matters
There is something moving and inspiring about grassroots public relations efforts. I was reminded of this when California legislature proposed raising tuition 38%. For some colleges the fees alone would cost more than $2,000 a semester if this went into effect. There was an uprising of students as thousands marched and protested to argue their case.
I think it’s especially effective when youth or young adults are rallying for a cause. Many of the older generation would consider the youth of today “apathetic” about various important issues. However, when there is something that directly affects us, and we feel strongly about it, we make our position known.
This happened last year when higher education in the state of Utah was facing budget cuts. A group of students started the PR efforts and it spread quickly. Everyone was telling everyone to get involved, and most people did. This kind of response is the one that PR professionals work to achieve. I think the reason this campaign was so successful was that it came from our peers. It was other students just like me, pleading our case. Grassroots PR can be incredibly effective because it’s ordinary people who feel passionately about something and want others to know and be involved.
I think it’s especially effective when youth or young adults are rallying for a cause. Many of the older generation would consider the youth of today “apathetic” about various important issues. However, when there is something that directly affects us, and we feel strongly about it, we make our position known.
This happened last year when higher education in the state of Utah was facing budget cuts. A group of students started the PR efforts and it spread quickly. Everyone was telling everyone to get involved, and most people did. This kind of response is the one that PR professionals work to achieve. I think the reason this campaign was so successful was that it came from our peers. It was other students just like me, pleading our case. Grassroots PR can be incredibly effective because it’s ordinary people who feel passionately about something and want others to know and be involved.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
2300: Apple is Awesome
One day in class we talked about Apple’s success in creating a name and brand for themselves, and also in fulfilling a specific niche. Their success as a company was enforced when I recently visited the website. Even though some companies may not realize it, web presence is becoming a huge part of PR. How a website looks and feels can either be a great marketing tool, or a detriment to the company. Apple’s website is definitely an asset to their company.
The site is sleek and cutting edge, reflecting and modeling their products well. The site is not overwhelming, yet it is interesting. There are videos to watch, animation that happens on the page, and interesting graphics. Most importantly, the site is easy to navigate, and it is easy to find what you are looking for. One thing I thought was interesting though, was that the prices were not the first thing displayed. I had to go several levels deep to find the prices of the products. This fits with Apple’s business model. They are not trying to be the cheapest and have the lowest prices. Instead, they sell a lifestyle. The “Apple” mentality is so cutting edge and unique that prices are obsolete. I think Apple is a great example of a company knowing their strengths and weaknesses, and capitalizing on them in every form of media.
The site is sleek and cutting edge, reflecting and modeling their products well. The site is not overwhelming, yet it is interesting. There are videos to watch, animation that happens on the page, and interesting graphics. Most importantly, the site is easy to navigate, and it is easy to find what you are looking for. One thing I thought was interesting though, was that the prices were not the first thing displayed. I had to go several levels deep to find the prices of the products. This fits with Apple’s business model. They are not trying to be the cheapest and have the lowest prices. Instead, they sell a lifestyle. The “Apple” mentality is so cutting edge and unique that prices are obsolete. I think Apple is a great example of a company knowing their strengths and weaknesses, and capitalizing on them in every form of media.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
2300: No News is Good News?
The title of an article recently published in the Salt Lake Tribune read, “For many Utahns, Herbert still Gov. Unknown.” It further explained that one in four people have no opinion of the current governor’s performance. The governor has been in office for three months. Herbert’s spokeswoman Angie Welling said, “We view those (numbers) as favorable. I think the number of undecideds is to be expected given his relatively short time in office, and we’re confident as we move forward those favorable numbers will inch up.” Although Herbert has not received any negative attention, his approval is not nearly as high as Huntsman’s 83% approval rating he had after he was re-elected.
What does this mean? There hasn’t been any bad press, but there hasn’t really been any good either. What does it say about Herbert’s PR team if a quarter of Utahns are undecided about his performance? Should people in his office be pushing to get stories about him published, and have him better known among the general public? Or is it better to be more inconspicuous in his position? I think this is interesting from a public relations stand point because it’s neutral. Nothing bad has happened, but it isn’t necessarily a great success story. Is political PR different from the rest of the industry? I agree with a quarter of the Utah population: I have no opinion one way or the other about Governor Herbert. Is this a bad thing? Is bad press better than no press at all?
What does this mean? There hasn’t been any bad press, but there hasn’t really been any good either. What does it say about Herbert’s PR team if a quarter of Utahns are undecided about his performance? Should people in his office be pushing to get stories about him published, and have him better known among the general public? Or is it better to be more inconspicuous in his position? I think this is interesting from a public relations stand point because it’s neutral. Nothing bad has happened, but it isn’t necessarily a great success story. Is political PR different from the rest of the industry? I agree with a quarter of the Utah population: I have no opinion one way or the other about Governor Herbert. Is this a bad thing? Is bad press better than no press at all?
2300: Anything is Possible....Really, look at ReAL
A couple weeks ago our team presented a crisis management program for Real Salt Lake soccer. Their ticket sales were suffering, and their record was dismal. Now, this weekend Real Salt Lake is playing for the MLS Championship cup. Yesterday’s headline in the Salt Lake Tribune read, “Who’s Laughing Now?” Indeed, now instead of being the laughing stock of the MLS, Real Salt Lake has shocked soccer fans by playing an incredible post season.
This made me realized how fast the industry can change in public relations. Nothing is ever certain, and things are constantly changing. Today’s big news is a distant memory within two or three days. A scandal that rocked the nation will eventually be remembered with jokes and a strange sense of fondness. The company that embezzled millions of dollars will recover, and people will invest in them again. People’s opinions are changing constantly, and there are countless opportunities to influence pubic opinion. This is the great part about being a PR professional. Most PR jobs are focused on helping a company present themselves well to the public, and maintaining a positive image. When everything is shifting and changing at such a fast rate, there are always opportunities to showcase a company, and make people aware of what is going on around them. If the campaign is thoroughly researched and organized well, the chances of people listening are good. However, the PR professionals and agencies must be ready. If the Real Salt Lake can go from being the second worst team in the league to playing in the championship game, the possibilities for other companies are endless.
This made me realized how fast the industry can change in public relations. Nothing is ever certain, and things are constantly changing. Today’s big news is a distant memory within two or three days. A scandal that rocked the nation will eventually be remembered with jokes and a strange sense of fondness. The company that embezzled millions of dollars will recover, and people will invest in them again. People’s opinions are changing constantly, and there are countless opportunities to influence pubic opinion. This is the great part about being a PR professional. Most PR jobs are focused on helping a company present themselves well to the public, and maintaining a positive image. When everything is shifting and changing at such a fast rate, there are always opportunities to showcase a company, and make people aware of what is going on around them. If the campaign is thoroughly researched and organized well, the chances of people listening are good. However, the PR professionals and agencies must be ready. If the Real Salt Lake can go from being the second worst team in the league to playing in the championship game, the possibilities for other companies are endless.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
2300: Burger King Blow Up
Yesterday in class we talked about companies that practice great internal PR. Today when I opened up my internet browser, I found a company that may needs some lessons. Burger King franchises sued the company over the new $1 double cheeseburger promotion. Different restaurants say they are experiencing a ten cent loss with each sale. Executives came out with the new promotion with hopes to get more people to eat at Burger King, thereby minimizing the loss. The National Franchise Association, a group that represents over 80 percent of Burger King’s franchise owners says the loss is too much. The spokesperson for Burger King says the litigation against them is “without merit.”
Obviously, there is a lack of communication between the employees and executives in this company. From a public relations standpoint, I want to know how long this battle has been happening. Has the National Franchise Association tried to compromise with the executives? Was this a last resort? I don’t understand why the executives wouldn’t want to listen or maybe try to understand the situation before it turned into a legal battle. I want to know what else is behind the story. Pennsylvania franchise owner Steve Lewis said, “"The current management team has disregarded rights that Burger King franchises have always had.” What is different? I am going to follow this and see what happens. Things don’t look good. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Southern Florida, and Burger King stock shares fell 18 cents to close at $17.12 Thursday. Click here to read the full story.
Here is a link to the story:
Obviously, there is a lack of communication between the employees and executives in this company. From a public relations standpoint, I want to know how long this battle has been happening. Has the National Franchise Association tried to compromise with the executives? Was this a last resort? I don’t understand why the executives wouldn’t want to listen or maybe try to understand the situation before it turned into a legal battle. I want to know what else is behind the story. Pennsylvania franchise owner Steve Lewis said, “"The current management team has disregarded rights that Burger King franchises have always had.” What is different? I am going to follow this and see what happens. Things don’t look good. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Southern Florida, and Burger King stock shares fell 18 cents to close at $17.12 Thursday. Click here to read the full story.
Here is a link to the story:
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
2300: Best Buy's Internal PR
Today in class we talked about internal PR within a company. This summer I worked for Best Buy, and I had a great experience. After the lecture today, I realized that my experience was due to the excellent internal PR. The first thing they did that was practice excellent communication between all levels of employees. As an entry level employee, I talked personally with the Regional executive who oversees all the Best Buy stores in the western United States. They also provided great incentives and benefits for their employees, even though I only worked part-time.
One of the things that impressed me most was the interaction with my immediate supervisor and manager. My manager would talk to me at least once a week and ask me how I was doing. He constantly asked if there was anything he could do for me. He also followed through. If I had concerns, I talked to him, and he did the best he could to resolve my problems. My supervisor was also great to work with and always provided positive encouragement. This atmosphere encouraged me to work hard and do well in my job. Even though I was working retail, I really didn’t dread going to work. I felt satisfied with my job. I know that internal PR works and is effective in a company setting because I have lived it.
One of the things that impressed me most was the interaction with my immediate supervisor and manager. My manager would talk to me at least once a week and ask me how I was doing. He constantly asked if there was anything he could do for me. He also followed through. If I had concerns, I talked to him, and he did the best he could to resolve my problems. My supervisor was also great to work with and always provided positive encouragement. This atmosphere encouraged me to work hard and do well in my job. Even though I was working retail, I really didn’t dread going to work. I felt satisfied with my job. I know that internal PR works and is effective in a company setting because I have lived it.
Final Position Paper
Taylor Adams, Emily Flinders, Lisa Janssen, and Dani Taylor
When people hear the words “Burger Planet,” they think grease, addiction, and Corny the Clown. “I am ashamed to take my kids there,” says one woman. This image of greasy fast food can be changed. We plan to implement three ideas to reach our audience of middle aged women, and help them feel good about eating at Burger Planet. These three features will achieve this goal and in turn, help increase annual revenue. To come up with these features, we studied the company and examined strengths and weaknesses. We also looked at what competitors are doing to change their images, and how successful they were in their pursuits.
First, we are offering healthier menu options. McDonald’s and Wendy’s both offer a variety of salads, fruit slices as a replacement for fries, and milk as a replacement for soda. We tested new menu options to see what was most popular with our target market. As a result of our research, we suggest the following:
Burger Planet Salads:
Type Calories Calories w/dressing
Raspberry vinaigrette spinach 150 300
salad w/ almonds and cheese
Caesar salad 150 300
Spinach salad w/ eggs 150 300
and hot bacon dressing
Burger Planet Fruit:
Apples, bananas, pineapple, peaches, and grapes (150 calories)
*Both salads and fruit come in plastic reusable containers, and can be substituted for fries with no extra cost.
All food products can be made without the bun, making them low in carbohydrates, and South Beach and Atkins diet friendly. This appeals to our audience because these diets are popular for middle aged women. If women are not on a specific diet but looking to eat better, we will be able to fulfill their needs as well.
As stated previously, Wendy’s and McDonald’s have added salads to their menu. The following tables contain the nutrition facts for the competitors’ menus items.
Wendy’s Salads:
Type Calories Calories w/dressing & toppings
Mandrian chicken salad 180 550
Chicken caesar salad 180 370
Chicken BLT salad 470 790
Southwest taco salad 400 645
McDonald’s Salads:
Type Calories Calories w/dressing & croutons
Southwest salad w/chicken 480 640
Bacon ranch salad w/ chicken 260 490
Caesar salad w/chicken 330 580
We want to be able to rival our competitors, if not supersede them. Therefore, all of our salads have a lower calorie count than any of Wendy’s salads and most of McDonald’s, and there is the same amount of options. After developing these items we will put them on the menu, and send out a survey after a three-month time period to test the customer's opinions about the improved menu. We will conduct a survey of 100 women, ages 30 to 40, to see if this change is effective. The survey will ask the following questions:
Have you purchased any of the new menu items?
If so, what ones?
How frequently do you buy them?
How frequently do you come to Burger Planet?
Do you feel the new choices are healthier?
After this survey, we will be able to determine the effectiveness of adding these new menu items. If proven effective, this will help to change the image of Burger Planet. Women don’t have to go there feeling guilty about what they eat, or ashamed to take their kids; women can go to Burger Planet and feel confident about the choice they have made. This will increase the revenue as more women choose Burger Planet, and tell their friends about their choice. These healthy eating options will also benefit children. They can eat healthier, thus eliminating the need for Burger Planet to worry about the lawsuits that are being filed because children are obese from fast food.
Second, we have hired fitness guru Jayne Petersen to help with our campaign. Petersen helped celebrity Opal Whitcomb lose, and keep off, 75 pounds. This is inspiring for the many women who have been through the ups and downs of the diet roller coaster. She emphasizes a message of moderation and variation in dieting, and therefore fits great with our plan. She tells women that a greasy hamburger or soda is not bad every now and again. She relates well with the targeted demographic because she is a part of it.
Petersen will be traveling with Corny the Clown to Burger Planets across the nation to promote the healthy menu options. She will also be providing nutritional packets and advice to consumers. Our goal in doing this is not only to create revenue, but also to establish a feeling of connection between the community and Burger Planet. We value our customers and they need to feel it. We believe that going into the community is the best way to do this. Petersen will also work with the Burger Planet chefs to make tray liners that have nutritional advice.
Pairing Jayne Petersen with Corny the Clown helps to accomplish our third objective, which is improving the image of Corny the Clown. Right now, customers associate Corny with the words greasy and addicting. By going on tour with Jayne and promoting the healthy menu items, we hope to rebuild Corny’s reputation to represent the company in a positive way. Instead of being seen as a symbol of greasy fast food, we want Corny to represent positive change at Burger Planet, and the many options that consumers can enjoy.
After implementing all of these changes, we will evaluate their success. Pre-implementation surveys as well as post-implementation surveys will be given out to customers and community members to evaluate the changes made to improve Burger Planet’s image. By following our three-part objective, we are confident that Burger Planet will experience an image improvement as well as an increase in revenue.
When people hear the words “Burger Planet,” they think grease, addiction, and Corny the Clown. “I am ashamed to take my kids there,” says one woman. This image of greasy fast food can be changed. We plan to implement three ideas to reach our audience of middle aged women, and help them feel good about eating at Burger Planet. These three features will achieve this goal and in turn, help increase annual revenue. To come up with these features, we studied the company and examined strengths and weaknesses. We also looked at what competitors are doing to change their images, and how successful they were in their pursuits.
First, we are offering healthier menu options. McDonald’s and Wendy’s both offer a variety of salads, fruit slices as a replacement for fries, and milk as a replacement for soda. We tested new menu options to see what was most popular with our target market. As a result of our research, we suggest the following:
Burger Planet Salads:
Type Calories Calories w/dressing
Raspberry vinaigrette spinach 150 300
salad w/ almonds and cheese
Caesar salad 150 300
Spinach salad w/ eggs 150 300
and hot bacon dressing
Burger Planet Fruit:
Apples, bananas, pineapple, peaches, and grapes (150 calories)
*Both salads and fruit come in plastic reusable containers, and can be substituted for fries with no extra cost.
All food products can be made without the bun, making them low in carbohydrates, and South Beach and Atkins diet friendly. This appeals to our audience because these diets are popular for middle aged women. If women are not on a specific diet but looking to eat better, we will be able to fulfill their needs as well.
As stated previously, Wendy’s and McDonald’s have added salads to their menu. The following tables contain the nutrition facts for the competitors’ menus items.
Wendy’s Salads:
Type Calories Calories w/dressing & toppings
Mandrian chicken salad 180 550
Chicken caesar salad 180 370
Chicken BLT salad 470 790
Southwest taco salad 400 645
McDonald’s Salads:
Type Calories Calories w/dressing & croutons
Southwest salad w/chicken 480 640
Bacon ranch salad w/ chicken 260 490
Caesar salad w/chicken 330 580
We want to be able to rival our competitors, if not supersede them. Therefore, all of our salads have a lower calorie count than any of Wendy’s salads and most of McDonald’s, and there is the same amount of options. After developing these items we will put them on the menu, and send out a survey after a three-month time period to test the customer's opinions about the improved menu. We will conduct a survey of 100 women, ages 30 to 40, to see if this change is effective. The survey will ask the following questions:
Have you purchased any of the new menu items?
If so, what ones?
How frequently do you buy them?
How frequently do you come to Burger Planet?
Do you feel the new choices are healthier?
After this survey, we will be able to determine the effectiveness of adding these new menu items. If proven effective, this will help to change the image of Burger Planet. Women don’t have to go there feeling guilty about what they eat, or ashamed to take their kids; women can go to Burger Planet and feel confident about the choice they have made. This will increase the revenue as more women choose Burger Planet, and tell their friends about their choice. These healthy eating options will also benefit children. They can eat healthier, thus eliminating the need for Burger Planet to worry about the lawsuits that are being filed because children are obese from fast food.
Second, we have hired fitness guru Jayne Petersen to help with our campaign. Petersen helped celebrity Opal Whitcomb lose, and keep off, 75 pounds. This is inspiring for the many women who have been through the ups and downs of the diet roller coaster. She emphasizes a message of moderation and variation in dieting, and therefore fits great with our plan. She tells women that a greasy hamburger or soda is not bad every now and again. She relates well with the targeted demographic because she is a part of it.
Petersen will be traveling with Corny the Clown to Burger Planets across the nation to promote the healthy menu options. She will also be providing nutritional packets and advice to consumers. Our goal in doing this is not only to create revenue, but also to establish a feeling of connection between the community and Burger Planet. We value our customers and they need to feel it. We believe that going into the community is the best way to do this. Petersen will also work with the Burger Planet chefs to make tray liners that have nutritional advice.
Pairing Jayne Petersen with Corny the Clown helps to accomplish our third objective, which is improving the image of Corny the Clown. Right now, customers associate Corny with the words greasy and addicting. By going on tour with Jayne and promoting the healthy menu items, we hope to rebuild Corny’s reputation to represent the company in a positive way. Instead of being seen as a symbol of greasy fast food, we want Corny to represent positive change at Burger Planet, and the many options that consumers can enjoy.
After implementing all of these changes, we will evaluate their success. Pre-implementation surveys as well as post-implementation surveys will be given out to customers and community members to evaluate the changes made to improve Burger Planet’s image. By following our three-part objective, we are confident that Burger Planet will experience an image improvement as well as an increase in revenue.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
2300: Make-up is a Must
I forgot my make-up bag. I went to put my make-up on after Pilates and realized that I had left it at home. I felt out of sorts, and immediately thought my day had taken a turn for the worse. I felt gross and extremely self-conscious about my appearance. When I arrived at the office where I work and explained my “horrible” morning to the predominately male group there, one of them laughed out loud. He declared that make-up was ridiculous, unnecessary, and a marketing tool that targeted a woman’s self-esteem. I agreed with him that the idea of spending a considerable amount of money to put foreign substances on one’s face was absurd. However, I have no intentions of throwing my make-up away and never wearing it again.
It then occurred to me that this is one of the most brilliant PR and marketing campaigns in existence. Aside from covering up large scars, no woman really needs make-up. However, all of the commercials and magazines convince women that a certain brand of mascara or eye shadow will make her more attractive, and make her lifestyle easier. Most women are convinced they need make-up to be beautiful. Although make-up is a ritual in our culture supported by decades of practice, the concept still amazes me.
I am impressed that so many different brands of cosmetics can co-exist harmoniously, each targeting a specific niche. Each company has successfully convinced women that their product is necessary to enhance their well-being. Advertising campaigns are so successful because every woman has insecurities, and most campaigns give the message that make-up will diminish these insecurities. Women want to feel good about themselves, so they buy make-up. I have to agree with the men in my office. This is a little ridiculous.
It then occurred to me that this is one of the most brilliant PR and marketing campaigns in existence. Aside from covering up large scars, no woman really needs make-up. However, all of the commercials and magazines convince women that a certain brand of mascara or eye shadow will make her more attractive, and make her lifestyle easier. Most women are convinced they need make-up to be beautiful. Although make-up is a ritual in our culture supported by decades of practice, the concept still amazes me.
I am impressed that so many different brands of cosmetics can co-exist harmoniously, each targeting a specific niche. Each company has successfully convinced women that their product is necessary to enhance their well-being. Advertising campaigns are so successful because every woman has insecurities, and most campaigns give the message that make-up will diminish these insecurities. Women want to feel good about themselves, so they buy make-up. I have to agree with the men in my office. This is a little ridiculous.
2300: AG Evaluation
A couple weeks ago, the Attorney General of Utah Mark Shurtleff came to Utah State University. A group of PR students was allowed to do all the public relations for the event. I signed up to be part of this group, and worked with other students for weeks to get everything ready. We executed all the principles that we learn about in class on a daily basis. We were confident in our abilities, and sure that the evening would be a success. When I showed up to listen to his address, there were maybe thirty people in the audience, and the majority of them were PR students. The presentation was informative and everything went well, but hardly anyone showed up. After all the work we did, no one came.
Did we fail? It seemed like our goal was to get the word out that he was coming, to get people to come and listen to him speak. The fact that there were not many people there seems like we didn’t achieve the purpose. Yet after he was done speaking, Shurtleff said that Utah State was the most successful stop on the college tour. So what constitutes success in a PR campaign? I think the answer varies depending on the situation. This is where the evaluation part of the ROPE process is so essential. After everything is done, we can step back and ask ourselves what we did well, what we could have done better, and what didn’t work. Through the attorney general experience I learned that even when you follow all the principles and rules to the letter, it won’t always work out. It was eye opening to experience a real campaign and then evaluate the success of it after wards.
Did we fail? It seemed like our goal was to get the word out that he was coming, to get people to come and listen to him speak. The fact that there were not many people there seems like we didn’t achieve the purpose. Yet after he was done speaking, Shurtleff said that Utah State was the most successful stop on the college tour. So what constitutes success in a PR campaign? I think the answer varies depending on the situation. This is where the evaluation part of the ROPE process is so essential. After everything is done, we can step back and ask ourselves what we did well, what we could have done better, and what didn’t work. Through the attorney general experience I learned that even when you follow all the principles and rules to the letter, it won’t always work out. It was eye opening to experience a real campaign and then evaluate the success of it after wards.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Draft Position Paper
Taylor Adams, Emily Flinders, Lisa Janssen, Dani Taylor
When people hear the words “Burger Planet,” they think grease, addiction, and Corny the Clown. “I am ashamed to take my kids there,” says one woman. This image of greasy fast food can be overcome. We plan to implement three ideas to reach our audience of middle aged women, and help them feel good about eating at Burger Planet. These three features will achieve this goal and in turn, help increase annual revenue. To come up with these features, we studied the company and examined strengths and weaknesses. We also looked at what competitors were doing, and how successful they were in their pursuits.
First, we are offering healthier menu options. McDonald’s and Wendy’s both offer a variety of salads, and fruit slices or milk as a replacement for fries and a soda. We tested all the new menu options to see what ones were most popular with women. After our tests, we developed the following products.
Five different kinds of fruit: apples, bananas, pineapple, peaches, and grapes
Calories: 150
Price: $3.99
Comes in a plastic reusable container, and can substitute for fries with no extra cost.
Gourmet Salads: Raspberry vinaigrette spinach salad with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts, Spinach salad with hot bacon dressing and eggs, and Caesar Salad
Calories: 300, 150 without dressing
Price: $4.99
All food products can be made without the bun, making them low in carbohydrates, and South Beach and Atkins diet friendly. This appeals to our audience because these diets are popular for middle aged women. However if women are not on a diet but looking to eat better, we fulfill their needs as well.
As stated previously, Wendy’s and McDonald’s have also added salads to their menu options. Here is what their nutritional value is:
Wendy’s Salads:
Mandarin Chicken Salad-180 (with dressing, almonds, and crispy noodles: 550)
Chicken Caesar Salad-180 (with dressing and croutons: 370)
Chicken BLT Salad-470 (with dressing and croutons: 790)
Southwest Taco Salad-400 (with dressing, chips, and sour cream: 645)
We wanted to be able to rival our competitors. Therefore, all of our salads have a lower calorie count than any of Wendy’s salads, and there is the same amount of options.
After developing these items, we will put them on the menu, and then do a survey after a three month time period to test their effectiveness. We will conduct a survey of 100 women ages 30-40 to see if this change is effective. The survey will ask the following questions:
Have you purchased any of the new menu items?
If so, what ones?
How frequently do you buy them?
How frequently do you come to burger planet?
Do you feel the new choices are healthier?
After this survey, we will be able to determine the effectiveness of adding these new menu items. If proven effective, this will help to change the image of Burger Planet. Women don’t have to go there feeling guilty about what they eat, or ashamed to take their kids; women can go to Burger Planet and feel confident about the choice they have made. These healthy eating options will also be beneficial to children. They can eat healthier, and this will eliminate the need for Burger Planet to worry about the lawsuits that are being filed because children are obese from fast food.
Next, we have hired fitness guru Jayne Petersen to help with our campaign. She helped celebrity Opal Whitcomb lose 75 pounds that she has kept off. This is inspiring for the many women who have been through the ups and down of the diet roller coaster. She emphasizes a message of moderation and variation in dieting, and therefore fits great with our plan. She tells women that a greasy hamburger or soda is not bad every now and again. She relates well with the targeted demographic because she is a part of it.
She will be traveling with Corny the Clown to Burger Planets across the nation to promote the new healthy menu options. She will also be providing nutritional packets and advice to consumers. Our goal in doing this is not only to create revenue, but also to establish a feeling of connection between the community and Burger Planet. We want our consumers to feel like we value them, and we believe that going into the community is the best way to do this. Jayne will also work with the Burger Planet chefs to make tray liners that have nutritional advice.
Pairing Jayne Petersen with Corny the Clown helps to accomplish our third objective which is improving the image of Corny the Clown. Right now, people associate him with the words greasy and addicting. By going on tour with Jayne and promoting the healthy menu items, we hope to rebuild Corny’s reputation to represent the company in a positive way. Instead of being seen as a symbol of greasy fast food, we want Corny to represent positive change at Burger Planet, and the many options that consumers can enjoy. After implementing all of these changes, we will evaluate their success. Surveys at implementation, and several months after will show the effectiveness of our campaign.
When people hear the words “Burger Planet,” they think grease, addiction, and Corny the Clown. “I am ashamed to take my kids there,” says one woman. This image of greasy fast food can be overcome. We plan to implement three ideas to reach our audience of middle aged women, and help them feel good about eating at Burger Planet. These three features will achieve this goal and in turn, help increase annual revenue. To come up with these features, we studied the company and examined strengths and weaknesses. We also looked at what competitors were doing, and how successful they were in their pursuits.
First, we are offering healthier menu options. McDonald’s and Wendy’s both offer a variety of salads, and fruit slices or milk as a replacement for fries and a soda. We tested all the new menu options to see what ones were most popular with women. After our tests, we developed the following products.
Five different kinds of fruit: apples, bananas, pineapple, peaches, and grapes
Calories: 150
Price: $3.99
Comes in a plastic reusable container, and can substitute for fries with no extra cost.
Gourmet Salads: Raspberry vinaigrette spinach salad with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts, Spinach salad with hot bacon dressing and eggs, and Caesar Salad
Calories: 300, 150 without dressing
Price: $4.99
All food products can be made without the bun, making them low in carbohydrates, and South Beach and Atkins diet friendly. This appeals to our audience because these diets are popular for middle aged women. However if women are not on a diet but looking to eat better, we fulfill their needs as well.
As stated previously, Wendy’s and McDonald’s have also added salads to their menu options. Here is what their nutritional value is:
Wendy’s Salads:
Mandarin Chicken Salad-180 (with dressing, almonds, and crispy noodles: 550)
Chicken Caesar Salad-180 (with dressing and croutons: 370)
Chicken BLT Salad-470 (with dressing and croutons: 790)
Southwest Taco Salad-400 (with dressing, chips, and sour cream: 645)
We wanted to be able to rival our competitors. Therefore, all of our salads have a lower calorie count than any of Wendy’s salads, and there is the same amount of options.
After developing these items, we will put them on the menu, and then do a survey after a three month time period to test their effectiveness. We will conduct a survey of 100 women ages 30-40 to see if this change is effective. The survey will ask the following questions:
Have you purchased any of the new menu items?
If so, what ones?
How frequently do you buy them?
How frequently do you come to burger planet?
Do you feel the new choices are healthier?
After this survey, we will be able to determine the effectiveness of adding these new menu items. If proven effective, this will help to change the image of Burger Planet. Women don’t have to go there feeling guilty about what they eat, or ashamed to take their kids; women can go to Burger Planet and feel confident about the choice they have made. These healthy eating options will also be beneficial to children. They can eat healthier, and this will eliminate the need for Burger Planet to worry about the lawsuits that are being filed because children are obese from fast food.
Next, we have hired fitness guru Jayne Petersen to help with our campaign. She helped celebrity Opal Whitcomb lose 75 pounds that she has kept off. This is inspiring for the many women who have been through the ups and down of the diet roller coaster. She emphasizes a message of moderation and variation in dieting, and therefore fits great with our plan. She tells women that a greasy hamburger or soda is not bad every now and again. She relates well with the targeted demographic because she is a part of it.
She will be traveling with Corny the Clown to Burger Planets across the nation to promote the new healthy menu options. She will also be providing nutritional packets and advice to consumers. Our goal in doing this is not only to create revenue, but also to establish a feeling of connection between the community and Burger Planet. We want our consumers to feel like we value them, and we believe that going into the community is the best way to do this. Jayne will also work with the Burger Planet chefs to make tray liners that have nutritional advice.
Pairing Jayne Petersen with Corny the Clown helps to accomplish our third objective which is improving the image of Corny the Clown. Right now, people associate him with the words greasy and addicting. By going on tour with Jayne and promoting the healthy menu items, we hope to rebuild Corny’s reputation to represent the company in a positive way. Instead of being seen as a symbol of greasy fast food, we want Corny to represent positive change at Burger Planet, and the many options that consumers can enjoy. After implementing all of these changes, we will evaluate their success. Surveys at implementation, and several months after will show the effectiveness of our campaign.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
2300: Real PR Experience with the AG
Tonight the Attorney General of Utah will revisit Utah State University to talk about his Identity Theft campaign. The first time he came, no one was aware that he was even here. Through a series of events, some of the PR students were given the opportunity to promote the event when he revisited Utah State. I signed up to be part of this process. I think it’s great that we as students had the opportunity to take on real experience. I actually applied the concepts I learned in class, and found out many things about PR that I did not know before this experience.
First, it is a lot of work to get published, and get the word out about an event. When I see posters around campus or read articles in the paper, it never occurs to me how much work goes on behind the scenes. Editing and revising the press releases, and then sending them out took a significant amount of time. I scheduled time on the radio and trying to find people to go on the show, coordinating a time, and developing talking points was a lengthy process. It was also a little difficult because most of the communication was over a Google Doc, so sometimes delayed things getting done. I guess what I’m saying, is even though I have been learning about the PR profession all semester, I didn’t really understand the process until now. Even now, I am sure I don’t really have a clue. The good thing is, I think this experience has been great, and I can see myself really enjoying a career in this field.
First, it is a lot of work to get published, and get the word out about an event. When I see posters around campus or read articles in the paper, it never occurs to me how much work goes on behind the scenes. Editing and revising the press releases, and then sending them out took a significant amount of time. I scheduled time on the radio and trying to find people to go on the show, coordinating a time, and developing talking points was a lengthy process. It was also a little difficult because most of the communication was over a Google Doc, so sometimes delayed things getting done. I guess what I’m saying, is even though I have been learning about the PR profession all semester, I didn’t really understand the process until now. Even now, I am sure I don’t really have a clue. The good thing is, I think this experience has been great, and I can see myself really enjoying a career in this field.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
2300: Empowering the Silent voice of Seniors
Health care reform is a hot topic of debate on Capitol Hill and around the nation. I have read many articles about the cuts that could possibly be made to Social Security and Medicare, making life drastically different for senior citizens in America. But what I have not heard is their voice and opinion in the matter.
The RetireSafe Listens campaign provides a voice for the silent majority of seniors. The company Retire Safe conducted a poll and found that 79 percent of more than 626 seniors responding to the poll expressed concerns that they were not represented in Washington. Retire Safe offers surveys that seniors can take, and the results are posted at www.retiresafe.org. Retire Safe will also take the results of the surveys and share them with Congress, The White House, and media organizations. RetireSafe is a grassroots advocacy organization representing over 400,000 supporters.
This is a great Public Relations move on the part of this company. They are representing an organization who is largely without a voice, and communicating their ideas in a somewhat effective manner. Great PR is being practiced by the company through listening to their audience, and then fulfilling the need that exists. They are also attempting to bridge that gap of discrepancy that exists between seniors and the general public. Instead of being viewed as weak and feeble, they are changing the perception, and allowing seniors to be seen as an empowered force with a voice.
Read the press release here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/listening-to-seniors-provides-real-voice-for-older-americans-64755287.html
The RetireSafe Listens campaign provides a voice for the silent majority of seniors. The company Retire Safe conducted a poll and found that 79 percent of more than 626 seniors responding to the poll expressed concerns that they were not represented in Washington. Retire Safe offers surveys that seniors can take, and the results are posted at www.retiresafe.org. Retire Safe will also take the results of the surveys and share them with Congress, The White House, and media organizations. RetireSafe is a grassroots advocacy organization representing over 400,000 supporters.
This is a great Public Relations move on the part of this company. They are representing an organization who is largely without a voice, and communicating their ideas in a somewhat effective manner. Great PR is being practiced by the company through listening to their audience, and then fulfilling the need that exists. They are also attempting to bridge that gap of discrepancy that exists between seniors and the general public. Instead of being viewed as weak and feeble, they are changing the perception, and allowing seniors to be seen as an empowered force with a voice.
Read the press release here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/listening-to-seniors-provides-real-voice-for-older-americans-64755287.html
Monday, October 19, 2009
2300: Public Opinion & The Jay Leno Show
The other night I was watching the Jay Leno show, and he had a Q&A with John McCain. I laughed at the exchange, but thought the situation was interesting. Jay Leno and McCain were both making fun of Obama, specifically his health care plan, and most of the audience was cheering and laughing. However, not so many months ago, McCain was the target for every comedy event, late night or otherwise. This is interesting from a PR standpoint.
I am surprised how fast public opinion can change. On the show, McCain was seen as the good guy comedian instead of the candidate that would surely drive our nation into a fast downward spiral. Obama is receiving more criticism, and many wonder if his policies will be effective, or simply cause a bigger headache. This also made me think of how people in positions of power are under such a large amount of scrutiny. McCain holds no threat, so he becomes the likable comedian, while Obama now has a target on his back. Public opinion can change so fast, and people can switch loyalties in an instant. As a PR professional, this is something to note, and remember. Although people may have deeply held convictions and beliefs, sometimes it doesn’t take much to alter their opinion or view.
I am surprised how fast public opinion can change. On the show, McCain was seen as the good guy comedian instead of the candidate that would surely drive our nation into a fast downward spiral. Obama is receiving more criticism, and many wonder if his policies will be effective, or simply cause a bigger headache. This also made me think of how people in positions of power are under such a large amount of scrutiny. McCain holds no threat, so he becomes the likable comedian, while Obama now has a target on his back. Public opinion can change so fast, and people can switch loyalties in an instant. As a PR professional, this is something to note, and remember. Although people may have deeply held convictions and beliefs, sometimes it doesn’t take much to alter their opinion or view.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Final Media Pitch
For Immediate Release: Oct. 20, 2009
Attn: Patrick Oden
The Utah Statesman
Taggart Center 105
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-0165
Local Organization teaches students and others how to get rich quick
Dear Patrick,
Increasing passive income and lowering expenses is the way to become financially independent, says Preston Parker, president and founder of Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA). This organization was formed to help people manage their finances, and meets every other Thursday at 7:00 pm to discuss and implement smart financial planning. This forum is open to students, and is based around the idea that a financial foundation is started within oneself. I think this could be beneficial to the students of Utah State for several reasons.
First this organization teaches that time, assets, and experience can be invested to establish personal wealth in five areas of investment: social, physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. Many students may see investing as expending time and money to an outward source. However, CVAIA teaches that strong financial foundations start within an individual. After establishing personal well-being, focus is drawn outward to other investments.
Parker says, “We believe people should be able to spend their time doing something they love, not just a job that provides income.” In a university setting where so many students are struggling financially, or looking to find a career that excites them, I think this could be of great use to a large demographic of students. I urge you to consider the great impact this information, and more importantly this organization, could have on the student body at Utah State.
Cache Valley Area Investors Association was founded in 2007 by Preston Parker. It embraces the Law of Attraction, Law of Abundance, and Law of Exchange. The members are from varying geographical locations and all walks of life. They are united under that belief that education mitigates the risks of investing. For more information, please contact me.
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Attn: Patrick Oden
The Utah Statesman
Taggart Center 105
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-0165
Local Organization teaches students and others how to get rich quick
Dear Patrick,
Increasing passive income and lowering expenses is the way to become financially independent, says Preston Parker, president and founder of Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA). This organization was formed to help people manage their finances, and meets every other Thursday at 7:00 pm to discuss and implement smart financial planning. This forum is open to students, and is based around the idea that a financial foundation is started within oneself. I think this could be beneficial to the students of Utah State for several reasons.
First this organization teaches that time, assets, and experience can be invested to establish personal wealth in five areas of investment: social, physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. Many students may see investing as expending time and money to an outward source. However, CVAIA teaches that strong financial foundations start within an individual. After establishing personal well-being, focus is drawn outward to other investments.
Parker says, “We believe people should be able to spend their time doing something they love, not just a job that provides income.” In a university setting where so many students are struggling financially, or looking to find a career that excites them, I think this could be of great use to a large demographic of students. I urge you to consider the great impact this information, and more importantly this organization, could have on the student body at Utah State.
Cache Valley Area Investors Association was founded in 2007 by Preston Parker. It embraces the Law of Attraction, Law of Abundance, and Law of Exchange. The members are from varying geographical locations and all walks of life. They are united under that belief that education mitigates the risks of investing. For more information, please contact me.
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Final Press Release 4
For Immediate Release: Oct. 20, 2009
Mark Steel Jewelry
568 S. Foothill Drive Kamas, UT 84036
435-783-4447
marksteeljewelry@gmail.com
New Products and Services that Sparkle
Mark Steel Jewelry releases new catalog, jewelry styles, and website
KAMAS, Utah- Mark Steel Jewelry recently released a new catalog with new earring styles included. The company also recently launched a new website for the sales reps, where they can do business online. The new catalog highlights the traditional styles of earrings, and also showcases the newly released ones.
Owners Matt Flinders and Mark Soffe say their main goal was to increase customer satisfaction, and make things easier for the sales representatives that work for Mark Steel. The current catalog that was released was over two years ago, and Matt and Mark feel that this catalog showcases the jewelry better. “We work daily to see how we can improve the quality of our product, and showcase it better to customers,” said Soffe. The website used to only be available for viewing selected styles of jewelry, but it now has a wider selection, a store locator for the reps, and contact information of how to order from the company.
“We hope these changes improve our relationship with our customers,” said Flinders. Mark Steel is also working on setting up a store online, so people everywhere can buy jewelry from home. They are unsure of how long this will take, but hope to start the process soon. “We hope these changes will only strengthen the ties of loyalty that people have to our company, and attract new customers as well,” said Soffe.
Mark Steel Jewelry was founded in 1979 by Mark Steel Soffe. The company manufacturers all of the jewelry locally and then ships it out to stores across the United States. They produced hand crafted earrings, finger rings, and toe rings with sterling silver and 14K gold filled. To find out more information visit marksteeljewlry.com or, contact the designated PR specialist listed below.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Mark Steel Jewelry
568 S. Foothill Drive Kamas, UT 84036
435-783-4447
marksteeljewelry@gmail.com
New Products and Services that Sparkle
Mark Steel Jewelry releases new catalog, jewelry styles, and website
KAMAS, Utah- Mark Steel Jewelry recently released a new catalog with new earring styles included. The company also recently launched a new website for the sales reps, where they can do business online. The new catalog highlights the traditional styles of earrings, and also showcases the newly released ones.
Owners Matt Flinders and Mark Soffe say their main goal was to increase customer satisfaction, and make things easier for the sales representatives that work for Mark Steel. The current catalog that was released was over two years ago, and Matt and Mark feel that this catalog showcases the jewelry better. “We work daily to see how we can improve the quality of our product, and showcase it better to customers,” said Soffe. The website used to only be available for viewing selected styles of jewelry, but it now has a wider selection, a store locator for the reps, and contact information of how to order from the company.
“We hope these changes improve our relationship with our customers,” said Flinders. Mark Steel is also working on setting up a store online, so people everywhere can buy jewelry from home. They are unsure of how long this will take, but hope to start the process soon. “We hope these changes will only strengthen the ties of loyalty that people have to our company, and attract new customers as well,” said Soffe.
Mark Steel Jewelry was founded in 1979 by Mark Steel Soffe. The company manufacturers all of the jewelry locally and then ships it out to stores across the United States. They produced hand crafted earrings, finger rings, and toe rings with sterling silver and 14K gold filled. To find out more information visit marksteeljewlry.com or, contact the designated PR specialist listed below.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Monday, October 12, 2009
Draft Media Pitch
For Immediate Release: Oct. 20, 2009
The Utah Statesman
Taggart Center 105
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-0165
Local Organization teaches students and others how to get rich quick
Dear Editor,
Increasing passive income and lowering expenses is the way to become financially independent, says Preston Parker, president and founder of Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA). This organization was formed to help people manage their finances, and meets every other Thursday at 7:00 pm to discuss and implement smart financial planning. This forum is open to students, and is based around the idea that a financial foundation is started within oneself.
Time, assets, and experience can be invested to establish personal wealth in five areas of investment: social, physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. After establishing personal well-being, focus is drawn outward to other investments. Parker says, “We believe people should be able to spend their time doing something they love, not just a job that provides income.” In a university setting where so many students are struggling financially, or looking to find a career that excites them, I urge you to contact this organization.
Cache Valley Area Investors Association was founded in 2007 by Preston Parker.. Anyone is welcome to join and membership is free. Coming to the meetings makes a person an active member, but a person can also join through Facebook or an email list. The members are from varying geographical locations and all walks of life. They are united under that belief that education mitigates the risks of investing.
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
The Utah Statesman
Taggart Center 105
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-0165
Local Organization teaches students and others how to get rich quick
Dear Editor,
Increasing passive income and lowering expenses is the way to become financially independent, says Preston Parker, president and founder of Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA). This organization was formed to help people manage their finances, and meets every other Thursday at 7:00 pm to discuss and implement smart financial planning. This forum is open to students, and is based around the idea that a financial foundation is started within oneself.
Time, assets, and experience can be invested to establish personal wealth in five areas of investment: social, physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. After establishing personal well-being, focus is drawn outward to other investments. Parker says, “We believe people should be able to spend their time doing something they love, not just a job that provides income.” In a university setting where so many students are struggling financially, or looking to find a career that excites them, I urge you to contact this organization.
Cache Valley Area Investors Association was founded in 2007 by Preston Parker.. Anyone is welcome to join and membership is free. Coming to the meetings makes a person an active member, but a person can also join through Facebook or an email list. The members are from varying geographical locations and all walks of life. They are united under that belief that education mitigates the risks of investing.
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Draft Press Release 4
For Immediate Release: Oct. 20, 2009
Mark Steel Jewelry
568 S. Foothill Drive Kamas, UT 84036
435-783-4447
marksteeljewelry@gmail.com
New Products and Services that Sparkle
Mark Steel Jewelry releases new catalog, jewelry styles, and website
KAMAS, UTAH- Mark Steel Jewelry recently released a new catalog with new earring styles included. The company also recently launched a new website for the sales reps, where they can do business online. The new catalog highlights the traditional styles of earrings, and also showcases the newly released ones. Owners Matt Flinders and Mark Soffe say their main goal was to increase customer satisfaction, and make things easier for the sales representatives that work for Mark Steel. The current catalog that was released was over two years ago, and Matt and Mark feel that this catalog showcases the jewelry better. “We work daily to see how we can improve the quality of our product, and showcase it better to customers,” said Soffe. The website used to only be available for viewing selected styles of jewelry, but it now has a wider selection, a store locator for the reps, and contact information of how to order from the company. “We hope these changes improve our relationship with our customers,” said Flinders.
Mark Steel Jewelry was founded in 1979 by Mark Steel Soffe. The company manufacturers all of the jewelry locally and then ships it out to stores across the United States. They produced hand crafted earrings, finger rings, and toe rings with sterling silver and 14K gold filled. To find out more information visit marksteeljewlry.com or, contact the designated PR specialist listed below.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Mark Steel Jewelry
568 S. Foothill Drive Kamas, UT 84036
435-783-4447
marksteeljewelry@gmail.com
New Products and Services that Sparkle
Mark Steel Jewelry releases new catalog, jewelry styles, and website
KAMAS, UTAH- Mark Steel Jewelry recently released a new catalog with new earring styles included. The company also recently launched a new website for the sales reps, where they can do business online. The new catalog highlights the traditional styles of earrings, and also showcases the newly released ones. Owners Matt Flinders and Mark Soffe say their main goal was to increase customer satisfaction, and make things easier for the sales representatives that work for Mark Steel. The current catalog that was released was over two years ago, and Matt and Mark feel that this catalog showcases the jewelry better. “We work daily to see how we can improve the quality of our product, and showcase it better to customers,” said Soffe. The website used to only be available for viewing selected styles of jewelry, but it now has a wider selection, a store locator for the reps, and contact information of how to order from the company. “We hope these changes improve our relationship with our customers,” said Flinders.
Mark Steel Jewelry was founded in 1979 by Mark Steel Soffe. The company manufacturers all of the jewelry locally and then ships it out to stores across the United States. They produced hand crafted earrings, finger rings, and toe rings with sterling silver and 14K gold filled. To find out more information visit marksteeljewlry.com or, contact the designated PR specialist listed below.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Saturday, October 10, 2009
2300: Call it What IT is
Swine flu is everywhere. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, and stay away from the people who are infected. If you don’t, you may end up a carrier of the Swine Flu, also known as the H1N1 Flu. However, no one calls it the H1N1. Most of the media will begin a story saying, “There has been another death caused by the Swine Flu, or H1N1 flu.” People don’t hear the second part. All they hear is Swine Flu. Swine flu actually has genes from birds, swine, and humans. Therefore, the name H1N1 makes sense. This flu is contagious, but the easiest way to contract it is not by eating pork. Coughing and sneezing are the most common ways this virus spreads. Thousands of people die from the normal flu yearly, and this flu is no different. H1N1 can pass within a couple days if the patient rests, stays hydrated, and is not around a lot of people.
Why does the news media and everyone else have to make the situation worse? This is a severe outbreak of influenza, but calling it something as ominous as the “Swine Flu” is not helping matters. This illustrates to me the size of gap that exists between a company or organization and its public can be influenced by small details. What’s the big deal about calling it a different name? They are both referring to the same thing. In this case, I think it’s important. I would rather be diagnosed with H1N1 flu than the Swine Flu.
Why does the news media and everyone else have to make the situation worse? This is a severe outbreak of influenza, but calling it something as ominous as the “Swine Flu” is not helping matters. This illustrates to me the size of gap that exists between a company or organization and its public can be influenced by small details. What’s the big deal about calling it a different name? They are both referring to the same thing. In this case, I think it’s important. I would rather be diagnosed with H1N1 flu than the Swine Flu.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
2300: Blabbing Boozer
While reading the Sports section in The Salt Lake Tribune today, I happened across the headline, “Boozer backs off courtship of Bulls.” This brought all the instances of Boozer’s previous PR failures to the forefront of my mind. Boozer’s problems started with his injury last season. He was out for more than half of the games, and when he played, he was not performing as he had in previous seasons. Additionally, it was the last year of his contract before he had the option to “opt out.” This means he could go to another team if they wanted him, or bargain for more money with the Jazz organization.
When asked about opting out in the middle of the season, Boozer said something to the effect that he would opt out regardless in order to get more money. He said he had to do what was best for his family in this tough economic time. At a later date, late Jazz owner Larry H. Miller said Boozer’s comment was, “one of the top ten stupidest things I have ever heard an NBA player say.” Fans were very upset and many of them quickly lost faith and loyalty in Boozer. The saga continued into the summer, when everyone was speculating and some hoping, that he would be traded. That brings me to the article that was published in the Tribune, citing his interest to play for the Bulls. However, the Bulls are not going to make a trade for him, or offer him a contract so he will play the final year of his contract in Utah. This makes for an interesting PR situation. He is repeatedly quoted saying that he has no problem playing in Utah, yet he also said that he would welcome playing in Chicago, calling it a “great organization…top to bottom.” What are fans supposed to think? He continually makes comments about opting out and being traded after a mediocre season in Utah. Many want to believe that he still has some commitment and loyalty to the Jazz, but it is difficult to believe with the evidence of what he has said.
I think what he really needs is a good PR person to help him when he addresses the media. Although I am disgusted with the situation, I don’t think he’s a bad guy. I do think that if he had good PR people who could advise him and help him, it would help significantly. But maybe he already has PR people who are advising him, and if I was in their position, I would look closely at the ROPE model. After reading the article today, I don’t think their plan has been fully effective yet.
When asked about opting out in the middle of the season, Boozer said something to the effect that he would opt out regardless in order to get more money. He said he had to do what was best for his family in this tough economic time. At a later date, late Jazz owner Larry H. Miller said Boozer’s comment was, “one of the top ten stupidest things I have ever heard an NBA player say.” Fans were very upset and many of them quickly lost faith and loyalty in Boozer. The saga continued into the summer, when everyone was speculating and some hoping, that he would be traded. That brings me to the article that was published in the Tribune, citing his interest to play for the Bulls. However, the Bulls are not going to make a trade for him, or offer him a contract so he will play the final year of his contract in Utah. This makes for an interesting PR situation. He is repeatedly quoted saying that he has no problem playing in Utah, yet he also said that he would welcome playing in Chicago, calling it a “great organization…top to bottom.” What are fans supposed to think? He continually makes comments about opting out and being traded after a mediocre season in Utah. Many want to believe that he still has some commitment and loyalty to the Jazz, but it is difficult to believe with the evidence of what he has said.
I think what he really needs is a good PR person to help him when he addresses the media. Although I am disgusted with the situation, I don’t think he’s a bad guy. I do think that if he had good PR people who could advise him and help him, it would help significantly. But maybe he already has PR people who are advising him, and if I was in their position, I would look closely at the ROPE model. After reading the article today, I don’t think their plan has been fully effective yet.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
2300: Coal Spill Crisis
After discussing crisis management, this article from The New York Times caught my attention. Roane County, Tennessee was the site of a large coal ash spill in December 2008. As a result of this spill, property value was devastated, tourism nearly stopped, and it dramatically slowed the number of retirees settling in Watts Bar Lake. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the company responsible, is giving $43 million to try and repair damage. There are several plans in place to reverse the negative global press this county has received. The thing that interested me was the reaction of the residents.
In theory it seemed like the company was doing a good job. They were trying to compensate for the loss experienced and make up for the discrepancy between them and the public. However, many of the people didn’t change their opinions. One resident said, “It’s another way that TVA is going to project a positive image while so many of us are in really, really bad shape, and TVA has totally ignored that they’ve destroyed our community.”
Although the company seemed to be applying correct principles, it does not seem like they were really listening to their public. They were going through the public relations process, but after they finished, the attitudes had not really changed. The people for the majority still viewed this company in a bad light. Also, the town still had the reputation of being an “unsafe” place to live because of the spill. One resident said, “People are reading the news 2,000 miles away, and they think we’re drowning in ash. That’s where we’re hurt.” Even though new buildings are being constructed and money is being donated, it seems like the public relations people’s time would be better spent interacting with the people and trying to spread news of what the town is like now. I think trying to get media attention about the people and how the town is functioning now would be a more effective campaign.
In theory it seemed like the company was doing a good job. They were trying to compensate for the loss experienced and make up for the discrepancy between them and the public. However, many of the people didn’t change their opinions. One resident said, “It’s another way that TVA is going to project a positive image while so many of us are in really, really bad shape, and TVA has totally ignored that they’ve destroyed our community.”
Although the company seemed to be applying correct principles, it does not seem like they were really listening to their public. They were going through the public relations process, but after they finished, the attitudes had not really changed. The people for the majority still viewed this company in a bad light. Also, the town still had the reputation of being an “unsafe” place to live because of the spill. One resident said, “People are reading the news 2,000 miles away, and they think we’re drowning in ash. That’s where we’re hurt.” Even though new buildings are being constructed and money is being donated, it seems like the public relations people’s time would be better spent interacting with the people and trying to spread news of what the town is like now. I think trying to get media attention about the people and how the town is functioning now would be a more effective campaign.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Final Press Release 3: Cause Promotion
Sept. 24, 2009
Cache Valley Area Investors Association
Cache County Chamber of Commerce
160 N. Main St.
Logan, Utah 84321
Finding Financial Freedom
Organization helps people manage money and become financially independent
LOGAN, UTAH- Increase passive income and lower expenses, this is the way to become financially independent, says Preston Parker, president and founder of Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA). This organization was formed to help people manage their money more effectively. “We believe people should be able to spend their time doing something they love, not just a job that provides an income. Passive income largely makes that possible,” said Parker. The idea of raising passive income and lowering expenses is used by several authors including Suze Orman and Clark Howard. Concepts are also applied in several best-selling books including The Millionaire Next Door and Atlas Shrugged.
Financial independence begins with establishing a financial foundation, which is started within oneself. Time, assets, and experience can be invested to establish personal wealth in five areas of investment: physical, social, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. After establishing personal well-being, focus is drawn outward to other financial investments. Anyone is welcome to join and membership is free. People can join by signing the email list or joining the Facebook page. Coming to the meetings makes a person an active member. Meetings are held every other Thursday at 7:00 p.m. “I want people to be happier. This is America and there are too many opportunities for people to be unhappy in their jobs,” Parker said.
Cache Valley Area Investors Association was founded in 2007 by Preston Parker. It embraces the Law of Attraction, Law of Abundance, and Law of Exchange. The members are from varying geographical locations and all walks of life. They are united under that belief that education mitigates the risks of investing.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Cache Valley Area Investors Association
Cache County Chamber of Commerce
160 N. Main St.
Logan, Utah 84321
Finding Financial Freedom
Organization helps people manage money and become financially independent
LOGAN, UTAH- Increase passive income and lower expenses, this is the way to become financially independent, says Preston Parker, president and founder of Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA). This organization was formed to help people manage their money more effectively. “We believe people should be able to spend their time doing something they love, not just a job that provides an income. Passive income largely makes that possible,” said Parker. The idea of raising passive income and lowering expenses is used by several authors including Suze Orman and Clark Howard. Concepts are also applied in several best-selling books including The Millionaire Next Door and Atlas Shrugged.
Financial independence begins with establishing a financial foundation, which is started within oneself. Time, assets, and experience can be invested to establish personal wealth in five areas of investment: physical, social, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. After establishing personal well-being, focus is drawn outward to other financial investments. Anyone is welcome to join and membership is free. People can join by signing the email list or joining the Facebook page. Coming to the meetings makes a person an active member. Meetings are held every other Thursday at 7:00 p.m. “I want people to be happier. This is America and there are too many opportunities for people to be unhappy in their jobs,” Parker said.
Cache Valley Area Investors Association was founded in 2007 by Preston Parker. It embraces the Law of Attraction, Law of Abundance, and Law of Exchange. The members are from varying geographical locations and all walks of life. They are united under that belief that education mitigates the risks of investing.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Draft Press Release 3: Cause Promotion
Sept. 24, 2009
Cache Valley Area Investors Association
Cache County Chamber of Commerce
160 N. Main St.
Logan, Utah 84321
Finding Financial Freedom
Organization helps people manage money and become financially independent
LOGAN, UTAH- Increase passive income and lower expenses, this is the way to become financially independent, says Preston Parker, president and founder of Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA). This organization was formed to help people manage their money more effectively. “It’s all about networking and education,” said Parker. Anyone is welcome to join and membership is free. People can join by signing the email list or joining the Facebook page. Coming to the meetings makes a person an active member. Meetings are held every other Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Parker said, “I want people to be happier. This is America and there are too many opportunities for people to be unhappy in their jobs.”
The concept of raising passive income and lowering expenses is used by several authors including Suze Orman and Clark Howard. Concepts are also applied in several best selling books including The Millionaire Next Door and Atlas Shrugged.
Cache Valley Area Investors Association was founded in 2007 by Preston Parker. It embraces the Law of Attraction, Law of Abundance, and Law of Exchange. The members are from varying geographical locations and all walks of life. They are united under that belief that education mitigates the risks of investing.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Cache Valley Area Investors Association
Cache County Chamber of Commerce
160 N. Main St.
Logan, Utah 84321
Finding Financial Freedom
Organization helps people manage money and become financially independent
LOGAN, UTAH- Increase passive income and lower expenses, this is the way to become financially independent, says Preston Parker, president and founder of Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA). This organization was formed to help people manage their money more effectively. “It’s all about networking and education,” said Parker. Anyone is welcome to join and membership is free. People can join by signing the email list or joining the Facebook page. Coming to the meetings makes a person an active member. Meetings are held every other Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Parker said, “I want people to be happier. This is America and there are too many opportunities for people to be unhappy in their jobs.”
The concept of raising passive income and lowering expenses is used by several authors including Suze Orman and Clark Howard. Concepts are also applied in several best selling books including The Millionaire Next Door and Atlas Shrugged.
Cache Valley Area Investors Association was founded in 2007 by Preston Parker. It embraces the Law of Attraction, Law of Abundance, and Law of Exchange. The members are from varying geographical locations and all walks of life. They are united under that belief that education mitigates the risks of investing.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
2300: The MIchael Vick Miracle
Michael Vick has wowed millions with his incredible athletic ability and presence in the NFL. However, he amazes me for a completely different reason. The public relations people working his case are incredible. I am shocked that he is playing again so soon after being released from jail after being convicted for dog fighting.
Granted, many high profile people and celebrities commit crimes and the public still likes them. But this was not the case with Vick. When the allegations came out, he denied them and then tried to blame family members. As evidence kept mounting against him, he began confessing in degrees, until it became obvious that he was at the head of the operation. Additionally, he only apologized after he was court ordered by a judge. Vick’s sponsors dropped him and the NFL didn’t support him. The whole scenario was a public relations and image nightmare.
I researched this case about a year ago, and I was convinced that Vick would never play again professionally. I didn’t understand how one person could ruin their image so completely. However, this year he is under contract and playing professionally with a team. I know that there was extensive public relations work that went on behind the scenes in this case. Even if people still hold a negative opinion of him, the fact that he is playing is amazing. I commend the people who worked on his case, and would like to know the process they followed to make this happen.
Granted, many high profile people and celebrities commit crimes and the public still likes them. But this was not the case with Vick. When the allegations came out, he denied them and then tried to blame family members. As evidence kept mounting against him, he began confessing in degrees, until it became obvious that he was at the head of the operation. Additionally, he only apologized after he was court ordered by a judge. Vick’s sponsors dropped him and the NFL didn’t support him. The whole scenario was a public relations and image nightmare.
I researched this case about a year ago, and I was convinced that Vick would never play again professionally. I didn’t understand how one person could ruin their image so completely. However, this year he is under contract and playing professionally with a team. I know that there was extensive public relations work that went on behind the scenes in this case. Even if people still hold a negative opinion of him, the fact that he is playing is amazing. I commend the people who worked on his case, and would like to know the process they followed to make this happen.
Final Press Release 2: Image Management
Sept. 22, 2009
Burger Planet
177 Park St., Gary, IN 84451
971-883-5567
Fast Food and Feeling Fit
New menu options and fitness guru allow consumers to experience a healthier lifestyle
GARY, IND.- Burger Planet has recently added new menu items to give consumers more options. Gourmet salads, five different types of fruit, and all white meat chicken have been added to, “assist women in eating healthy,” said Burger Planet CEO James E Mullenbach III.
Jayne Petersen, fitness guru that worked with talk show host Opal Whitcomb, is also working with the company. She will be traveling to Burger Planet franchises nationwide with Corny the Clown to provide nutritional packets and advice to customers. She emphasizes a “message of moderation.” She says it’s okay to have a burger and fries, but it is also a good idea to integrate some of the new menu items.
There are three different types of salads, each costing $4.99. They are 300 calories, and 150 calories without dressing. Apples, grapes, peaches, pineapple, or bananas are offered in plastic, reusable bags for $3.99, and are 150 calories. Speaking of the changes Mullenbach III said, “For more than seven decades the company has succeeded because it put customers first. We listen to our customers and our customers desire healthy eating choices, of which we offer many.”
Burger Planed was founded in 1934 by James E. Mullenbach I. It has served 52 billion customers and counting. At last count, there were 8,921 franchises in every state and 17 countries. It employs 48,272 people and is headquartered in Gary, Ind. They are the leader of Quick Service Restaurant Industry.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Burger Planet
177 Park St., Gary, IN 84451
971-883-5567
Fast Food and Feeling Fit
New menu options and fitness guru allow consumers to experience a healthier lifestyle
GARY, IND.- Burger Planet has recently added new menu items to give consumers more options. Gourmet salads, five different types of fruit, and all white meat chicken have been added to, “assist women in eating healthy,” said Burger Planet CEO James E Mullenbach III.
Jayne Petersen, fitness guru that worked with talk show host Opal Whitcomb, is also working with the company. She will be traveling to Burger Planet franchises nationwide with Corny the Clown to provide nutritional packets and advice to customers. She emphasizes a “message of moderation.” She says it’s okay to have a burger and fries, but it is also a good idea to integrate some of the new menu items.
There are three different types of salads, each costing $4.99. They are 300 calories, and 150 calories without dressing. Apples, grapes, peaches, pineapple, or bananas are offered in plastic, reusable bags for $3.99, and are 150 calories. Speaking of the changes Mullenbach III said, “For more than seven decades the company has succeeded because it put customers first. We listen to our customers and our customers desire healthy eating choices, of which we offer many.”
Burger Planed was founded in 1934 by James E. Mullenbach I. It has served 52 billion customers and counting. At last count, there were 8,921 franchises in every state and 17 countries. It employs 48,272 people and is headquartered in Gary, Ind. They are the leader of Quick Service Restaurant Industry.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Draft Press Release 2: Image Management
Sept. 22, 2009
Burger Planet
177 Park St., Gary, IN 84451
971-883-5567
Fast Food and Feeling Fit
New menu options and fitness guru allow consumers to experience a healthier lifestyle
GARY, IN- Burger Planet has recently added new menu items to give consumers more options. Gourmet salads, five different types of fruit, and all white meat chicken have been added to, “assist women in eating healthy,” said Burger Planet CEO James E Mullenbach III. Jayne Petersen, fitness guru that worked with talk show host Opal Whitcomb, is also working with the company. She will be traveling to Burger Planets nationwide with Corny the Clown to provide nutritional packets and advice to customers. She emphasizes a “message of moderation,” saying that it’s okay to have a burger and fries, but it is also a good idea to integrate some of the new menu items. There are three different types of salads, and each costs $4.99. It’s only 300 calories, and 150 calories without dressing. Apples, grapes, peaches, pineapple, or bananas are offered in plastic, reusable bags for $3.99. They are 150 calories. Speaking of the changes Mullenbach III said, “For more than seven decades the company has succeeded because it put customers first. We listen to our customers and our customers desire healthy eating choices, of which we offer many.”
Burger Planed was founded in 1934 by James E. Mullenbach I. Burger Planet has served 52 billion customers and counting. At last count, it had 8,921 franchises in every state and 17 countries. It employs 48,272 people and is headquartered in Gary, Indiana. They are the leader of Quick Service Restaurant Industry.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Burger Planet
177 Park St., Gary, IN 84451
971-883-5567
Fast Food and Feeling Fit
New menu options and fitness guru allow consumers to experience a healthier lifestyle
GARY, IN- Burger Planet has recently added new menu items to give consumers more options. Gourmet salads, five different types of fruit, and all white meat chicken have been added to, “assist women in eating healthy,” said Burger Planet CEO James E Mullenbach III. Jayne Petersen, fitness guru that worked with talk show host Opal Whitcomb, is also working with the company. She will be traveling to Burger Planets nationwide with Corny the Clown to provide nutritional packets and advice to customers. She emphasizes a “message of moderation,” saying that it’s okay to have a burger and fries, but it is also a good idea to integrate some of the new menu items. There are three different types of salads, and each costs $4.99. It’s only 300 calories, and 150 calories without dressing. Apples, grapes, peaches, pineapple, or bananas are offered in plastic, reusable bags for $3.99. They are 150 calories. Speaking of the changes Mullenbach III said, “For more than seven decades the company has succeeded because it put customers first. We listen to our customers and our customers desire healthy eating choices, of which we offer many.”
Burger Planed was founded in 1934 by James E. Mullenbach I. Burger Planet has served 52 billion customers and counting. At last count, it had 8,921 franchises in every state and 17 countries. It employs 48,272 people and is headquartered in Gary, Indiana. They are the leader of Quick Service Restaurant Industry.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Draft Press Release 1: Announcement
Sept. 8, 2008
Social Media Club of Cache Valley (SMCCV)
851 N. Main St., Logan UT 84321
661-772-7537
Social Media Club Established
Advocates for social media start chapter in Cache valley
Logan, UT
The Social Media Club of Cache Valley was started in Logan after three Cache valley residents attended a Salt Lake City chapter meeting, and decided to start their own. President Preston Parker says the Logan chapter follows the by lines and mission statement of the global organization. He also said that they strive to educate people who either don’t know about, or want to know more about social media, and to create a network of social media. There is no technology, race, or ethnic target audience for this organization. The club is for all people who are interested in social media.
The Social Media Club of Cache Valley was founded when three Cache valley residents were at a Salt Lake City chapter meeting, and decided to start a club in Logan. There is an executive board comprised of people with different occupations. Meetings are held the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 P.M. Location varies depending on the month. There is no fee to be a member or to attend the meetings. To find out more information, contact the designated PR specialist listed below.
Emily Flinders
PR representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Social Media Club of Cache Valley (SMCCV)
851 N. Main St., Logan UT 84321
661-772-7537
Social Media Club Established
Advocates for social media start chapter in Cache valley
Logan, UT
The Social Media Club of Cache Valley was started in Logan after three Cache valley residents attended a Salt Lake City chapter meeting, and decided to start their own. President Preston Parker says the Logan chapter follows the by lines and mission statement of the global organization. He also said that they strive to educate people who either don’t know about, or want to know more about social media, and to create a network of social media. There is no technology, race, or ethnic target audience for this organization. The club is for all people who are interested in social media.
The Social Media Club of Cache Valley was founded when three Cache valley residents were at a Salt Lake City chapter meeting, and decided to start a club in Logan. There is an executive board comprised of people with different occupations. Meetings are held the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 P.M. Location varies depending on the month. There is no fee to be a member or to attend the meetings. To find out more information, contact the designated PR specialist listed below.
Emily Flinders
PR representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
2300: Politics and PR Campaigns
BBC Monitoring the Middle East published a quote by an Egyptian radio station which reads, “Netanyahu's talk on peace with the Palestinians, and [Israeli President Shimon] Peres' hopes to resume negotiations with the Palestinians by the end of the current month, represent no more than a public relations campaign that aims at buying time.” Although I am no expert concerning the political situation between these two parties, I found this remark interesting when thinking about public relations.
In class this semester, we have talked about how to run an effective PR campaign. The acronym “ROPE” is commonly used which stands for Research, Objectives, Programming, and Evaluation. If a PR practitioner follows these steps and is thorough, the campaign is usually successful. The company has a better relationship with the involved publics, and the public has a higher awareness of that company.
In all the time that I have watched the news and read about the Israel and Palestine conflict, I have never once thought of the involvement of PR campaigns. However, when I thought about it more, I realized that public relations is key in government all over the world. They have a message or purpose that they want to relate to the public. Therefore, they research, plan out objectives, and then put their plan into action. After the plan is executed, they evaluate the strengths and weaknesses, and determine how successful they were. Although this may seem like a simple and obvious observation, I believe there is significance behind it. How many times are we as a public being targeted by systematically formulated messages, and not even realizing it?
In class this semester, we have talked about how to run an effective PR campaign. The acronym “ROPE” is commonly used which stands for Research, Objectives, Programming, and Evaluation. If a PR practitioner follows these steps and is thorough, the campaign is usually successful. The company has a better relationship with the involved publics, and the public has a higher awareness of that company.
In all the time that I have watched the news and read about the Israel and Palestine conflict, I have never once thought of the involvement of PR campaigns. However, when I thought about it more, I realized that public relations is key in government all over the world. They have a message or purpose that they want to relate to the public. Therefore, they research, plan out objectives, and then put their plan into action. After the plan is executed, they evaluate the strengths and weaknesses, and determine how successful they were. Although this may seem like a simple and obvious observation, I believe there is significance behind it. How many times are we as a public being targeted by systematically formulated messages, and not even realizing it?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Final Press Release 1: Announcement
Sept. 8, 2009
Social Media Club of Cache Valley (SMCCV)
851 N. Main St. Logan, Utah 84321
661-772-7537
Social Media Club Established
Advocates for social media start chapter in Cache valley
LOGAN, UTAH- The Social Media Club of Cache Valley was started in Logan after three Cache valley residents attended a Salt Lake City chapter meeting, and decided to start their own chapter. President Preston Parker says the Logan chapter follows the by-lines and mission statement of the global organization which was started three years ago in San Francisco. He also said that they strive to educate people who either don’t know about, or want to know more about social media, and to create a network of social media. There is no technology, race, or ethnic target audience for this organization. The club is for all people who are interested in social media. The first meeting was held August 15th with 22 people in attendance. Speaking of the club, Parker said, “There is nowhere else to learn about social media. This club is the hub of social media.” Parker also said that the club is a great source for people looking to network and get jobs. “You can contribute to society a lot easier if you’re connected.”
The Social Media Club of Cache Valley was started in July 2009. There is an executive board of six people. Meetings are held the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Location varies depending on the month. There is no fee to be a member or to attend the meetings. To find out more information, contact the designated PR specialist listed below.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Social Media Club of Cache Valley (SMCCV)
851 N. Main St. Logan, Utah 84321
661-772-7537
Social Media Club Established
Advocates for social media start chapter in Cache valley
LOGAN, UTAH- The Social Media Club of Cache Valley was started in Logan after three Cache valley residents attended a Salt Lake City chapter meeting, and decided to start their own chapter. President Preston Parker says the Logan chapter follows the by-lines and mission statement of the global organization which was started three years ago in San Francisco. He also said that they strive to educate people who either don’t know about, or want to know more about social media, and to create a network of social media. There is no technology, race, or ethnic target audience for this organization. The club is for all people who are interested in social media. The first meeting was held August 15th with 22 people in attendance. Speaking of the club, Parker said, “There is nowhere else to learn about social media. This club is the hub of social media.” Parker also said that the club is a great source for people looking to network and get jobs. “You can contribute to society a lot easier if you’re connected.”
The Social Media Club of Cache Valley was started in July 2009. There is an executive board of six people. Meetings are held the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Location varies depending on the month. There is no fee to be a member or to attend the meetings. To find out more information, contact the designated PR specialist listed below.
-END-
Emily Flinders
Public Relations representative
emily.flinders@aggiemail.usu.edu
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
2310: United Breaks Guitars
Airports are frustrating places. Blinking lights of DELAYED or CANCELLED crush all hope that travelers have for a smooth journey to wherever they are going. Many people will tell you about the nights they spent curled up in a hard, plastic chair with an inflatable pillow because flights were delayed for rain, sleet, snow, or hurricane conditions. But in all fairness, the airline companies have no control over Mother Nature’s unpredictable patterns. Therefore, airline companies should not be blamed for people’s unbearable, sleepless nights they have spent in airports.
However, what should be done about the customer service given to clients? Specifically in the case regarding Dave Carroll? He was a customer who chose United, and had his $3,400 guitar damaged in the process. He tried to make a claim, but after a nine month process his claim was denied. What was the problem in this case? Could things have been handled more effectively?
To me, the problem isn’t that baggage handlers were rough in handling a guitar, it was everything that happened after the fact. The flight attendants who ignored him and told him it wasn’t their problem, and the run around he received from the company, are the real root of the problem.
On their website, United says, “In the air and on the ground, online and on the telephone, our customers have the right to expect — to demand — respect, courtesy, fairness and honesty from the airline they have selected for travel. “ From his perspective and the perspective of others, Dave Carroll was not receiving any sort of respect. So after nine months of trying to get respect from the company, he decided to try a different approach. I wonder what the outcome would have been if one person was helpful and actually tried to find a solution to the problem. I find it interesting to read their “Customer Commitments,” but then to read someone’s real life experience with the company. When there is such a large discrepancy between the two, I think something needs to change. This is often where a PR professional would be needed or utilized. The company has a philosophy and ideal, but the involved public is not seeing it practiced in everyday interactions. If the company wants to stay in business and be successful, I think this needs to be evaluated and fixed.
Often, the company really can’t do anything about the problem. There are liability laws and legal loop holes that protect them from having to fix the problem. However, if they really wanted to live up to their motto and standard, they would try to find a way to compensate the loss that Dave Carroll experienced. They would also do so in a timely manner, and not drag it out for nine months.
On their website, it also says, “Our Customer Relations representatives have one goal: to acknowledge customer questions and complaints and provide prompt resolution. We will follow-up within 30 days and provide an answer or resolution, or information about next steps in the resolution process.” Dave Carroll says that each time he tried to reach the company it took about a month or longer. They may have been following the 30 day policy, but they didn’t give helpful information to help solve the problem. It just sent him in circles back to where he was before. Also, the customer relations representative that he dealt with didn’t seem to have the goal of providing prompt resolution. When he first contacted one representative, she said she didn’t even know how she could help him, or why someone directed him her way.
In all of this, I understand that Dave Carroll wanted something that probably wasn’t realistically possible. No large, corporate company wants to dish out $3400 for a new guitar, or even $1200 to cover the damage costs. At the same time, I don’t think they like to see their stock drop 10% causing their shareholders to lose $180 million dollars, which was the result of Dave Carroll writing a song about his experience and posting it on YouTube.
However, what should be done about the customer service given to clients? Specifically in the case regarding Dave Carroll? He was a customer who chose United, and had his $3,400 guitar damaged in the process. He tried to make a claim, but after a nine month process his claim was denied. What was the problem in this case? Could things have been handled more effectively?
To me, the problem isn’t that baggage handlers were rough in handling a guitar, it was everything that happened after the fact. The flight attendants who ignored him and told him it wasn’t their problem, and the run around he received from the company, are the real root of the problem.
On their website, United says, “In the air and on the ground, online and on the telephone, our customers have the right to expect — to demand — respect, courtesy, fairness and honesty from the airline they have selected for travel. “ From his perspective and the perspective of others, Dave Carroll was not receiving any sort of respect. So after nine months of trying to get respect from the company, he decided to try a different approach. I wonder what the outcome would have been if one person was helpful and actually tried to find a solution to the problem. I find it interesting to read their “Customer Commitments,” but then to read someone’s real life experience with the company. When there is such a large discrepancy between the two, I think something needs to change. This is often where a PR professional would be needed or utilized. The company has a philosophy and ideal, but the involved public is not seeing it practiced in everyday interactions. If the company wants to stay in business and be successful, I think this needs to be evaluated and fixed.
Often, the company really can’t do anything about the problem. There are liability laws and legal loop holes that protect them from having to fix the problem. However, if they really wanted to live up to their motto and standard, they would try to find a way to compensate the loss that Dave Carroll experienced. They would also do so in a timely manner, and not drag it out for nine months.
On their website, it also says, “Our Customer Relations representatives have one goal: to acknowledge customer questions and complaints and provide prompt resolution. We will follow-up within 30 days and provide an answer or resolution, or information about next steps in the resolution process.” Dave Carroll says that each time he tried to reach the company it took about a month or longer. They may have been following the 30 day policy, but they didn’t give helpful information to help solve the problem. It just sent him in circles back to where he was before. Also, the customer relations representative that he dealt with didn’t seem to have the goal of providing prompt resolution. When he first contacted one representative, she said she didn’t even know how she could help him, or why someone directed him her way.
In all of this, I understand that Dave Carroll wanted something that probably wasn’t realistically possible. No large, corporate company wants to dish out $3400 for a new guitar, or even $1200 to cover the damage costs. At the same time, I don’t think they like to see their stock drop 10% causing their shareholders to lose $180 million dollars, which was the result of Dave Carroll writing a song about his experience and posting it on YouTube.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
2310: Letter to Cousin
Dear Laurel,
I am contacting you in response to your questions about the public relations field and professionals who work in this area. The term “public relations” is very broad, and can therefore be difficult to define. Let me first start by explaining some of the roles and responsibilities of a PR professional.
Practitioners of public relations research a company to determine its strengths and weakness as viewed by the public, or the people that hold interest in that company. They then analyze trends in the company and meet with employees throughout different levels of the company to understand the social dynamics and environment of the company. After extensive research, they then put what they have learned to application, creating a plan to improve the company and their relationship with the involved public. They present it to the leadership of the company and hopefully the plan is put into action. If they are successful in their work, everyone receives the benefits. The company benefits from higher customer satisfaction and profits, and the public involved has a positive experience when interacting with that company.
In my mind, PR professionals act as a liaison between the company they are representing and the public. Their job is to successfully communicate the company’s message in a clear and concise way to those interested. They may write press releases, radio advertisements, reports, and other documents to achieve this purpose. Now that I have explained a little bit about what PR professionals do, I think it is easier to define public relations. Public relations is almost a science of researching and analyzing a company or product, predicting outcomes and potential consequences, and then developing a plan to improve the relationship with the company and public involved.
I hope this has answered some of your questions. I love studying the field of public relations and hope to become more knowledgeable about it. I hope all is well with you. Have a great day!
Sincerely,
Emily
About This Blog
This blog was created to complete assignments for my journalism classes, and to provide easy access to my writing samples. I enjoy writing, but have never done it in this capacity. Although the purpose is professional, I will try to make it fun to read and visually appealing. For the few people who will read this, thanks for taking time to look at my site!
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