Ethics & PR

There has been so much talk about the government releasing photos of Osama Bin Laden's dead body, and whether or not they should be shown. It is a touchy subject and one that could be looked at as a public relations issue. There are certain ethical standards we must live by as we enter the professional world, and I know that I'm personally dreading the day I have to deal with something like this. This issue made me think of the PRSA Code of Ethics and reminded me that we have to build decisions off of our core values. However, it is confusing when you see both sides of the issue. In the case of Osama Bin Laden's photo's, I see how it can be unethical for our country to release the pictures. It can be conveyed as our President running around showing off his accomplishment, which can come off as insensitive and un-classy. On the flip side, I see that it might be a good public relations move to in fact release the photos because people want to feel satisfied by seeing the visual. Therefore, in the event of an ethical issue, sometimes there is no right decision, but you have to be the one to make the call and decide what is the BEST decision.

Osama Bin Laden is Dead

If you haven't heard about Osama bin Laden's death, then you must be living in solitary confinement in a cave in the middle east. Jokes aside, last night was a defining moment in American history. It marked the death of Osama Bin Laden the number one most wanted fugitive for the last ten years. Osama Bin Laden was the brains behind the 9/11 operation and numerous other organized crimes against America. Many college students posted outside the White House last night in celebration of Bin Laden's death. Many concerns of what will happen next with Al Queda still out there is the next topic to be speculated. I know that it was one of my first thoughts when I received the news. The peace of mind has been granted for this country, however, it is an unsettling feeling not knowing what's coming next.

Mock Interviews

Tonight in my PR Campaigns class, we held mock interviews which turned out to be pretty beneficial. I thought they went very well, and I was glad my teacher decided to do it. Although I was not brave enough to sit in the hot seat, I was a keen observer. I took a lot of mental notes on what I thought were good responses and what I thought were the most important things to remember. I actually have an interview coming up so it was especially important for me to gain as much as I could through this "mock" set up. All in all, it was a learning experience that I think the entire class got something out of. Anddddd that's about it for tonight!

Benefits of Foursquare!

Hey all,

I just recently joined foursquare and I've really taken a liking to it! I always thought that telling your friends &/or followers where you were located was a bad idea, and perhaps dangerous. However, when I discovered from a friend that foursquare offers deals to certain places, I was then convinced to "check in." I also didn't really understand it at first but I figured that for internships, and just being in public relations in general, it was a good idea. With foursquare the primary premise is around rewarding members with three different merit systems, mayors, badges and points. A mayor is a person who is defined by the most check-ins. Badges are given for achieving a certain number of check-ins measured throughout the day. Lastly, points are awarded at varying increments based on different factors such as a new venue which may turn into a higher point allocation. The best part though, is the deals. For example, I was at H&M this weekend, and because it was my first check-in, I got 24% ( I know, why not 25% right?) an item, just because I checked into foursquare! It was great, it's the small things social media can do to make me a happy shopper. :)

Monday Nights Event

Hey guys,

So as most of you know, Monday April 11th here at Hofstra, Ellen Frisina was kind enough to put together a seminar of public relations professionals to come speak to seniors. I am having a CRAZY week with school work (right before spring break yay) and was very close to not going. However, I am so happy that I attended because I got a lot out of it. The event consisted of a panel of 5 hiring managers from PR agencies large and small who let us in on the secrets of landing the job. They spoke about interview ettiquette, the questions you can expect to be asked, and special skills they're looking for in a new hire. The seminar definitely gave me some anxiety because hiring managers and human resources people are not easy to interview with, but I was glad to know that basically, they just want you to be yourself in an interview.

Last night @ the Emmy Awards!

Last night I was lucky enough to participate in being a volunteer for the 2011 NY Emmy Awards. The experience was unlike any other, and it opened my eyes to the world of event planning. The volunteers & interns all helped set up the room which included setting the tables with gift bags, chocolates, and program books. Then we took a break and got ready for the actual event. My duties included a range of activities such as working the guest list, grabbing and prompting presenters when bringing them back stage, and guarding the VIP gift bag section. The best part about it was seeing an event the whole way through, top to bottom. When all the guests were seated and enjoying themselves, it was a feeling of accomplishment for those who helped. The night was long, I was there from 11:30am and didn't step back into my apartment until 2am. However, the long day and night was well worth the experience.